Expression analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor and the nuclear factor-kB subunit p50 in lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To study a possible relationship between expression of the transcription factor glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which mediates antiinflammatory effects, and the transcription factor p50, which mediates proinflammatory effects, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Expression analysis of GR and nuclear factor-kB subunit p50 in PBMC was performed by semiquantitative immunoblotting.


RESULTS
GR and p50 expression in PBMC were significantly increased in patients with RA who had never received corticosteroids. In contrast, GR density is decreased in glucocorticoid treated RA patients. In addition, a dependency between increased GR expression and increased p50 expression was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathogenesis of RA is not reflected in diminished GR expression but rather in an increased expression level of GR, as well as increased p50 expression in PBMC. Corticosteroids as the major therapeutic drugs result in a reduction of these increased GR and p50 expression levels.
Eggert
Martin
M
Klinikum Südstadt, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Rostock, Germany.
Klüter
Andreas
A
Rusch
Dietrich
D
Schmidt
Klaus L
KL
Dotzlaw
Helmut
H
Schulz
Martin
M
Pabst
Wolfgang
W
Böke
Jörn
J
Renkawitz
Rainer
R
Neeck
Gunther
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016328:NF-kappa B; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011239:Prednisolone