title: Expression of glucocorticoid receptors in mononuclear cells in nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: Coulter flow cytometry was used to determine glucocorticoid receptors (GCR) in the peripheral blood cells of patients with nephrotic syndrome. The expression of GCR in the lymphocytes (CD3/GCR) and monocytes (CD14/GCR) of peripheral blood of 23 (age 4.9+/-2.7 years) children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome was assessed before treatment (proteinuria >50 mg/kg per 24 h), after 4-6 weeks of prednisone treatment, without proteinuria, and in remission, without proteinuria and without any treatment. Before treatment the expression of CD3/GCR was 61.8+/-18.3% and CD14/GCR 43.6.8+/-20.3%; this did not differ from the results of the normal control group ( P>0.05). However, after treatment GCR expression in lymphocytes was 50% ( P<0.001) and in monocytes about 20% lower ( P<0.05). In remission, the GCR expression increased and did not differ from the results before treatment ( P>0.05). A positive correlation between the serum cortisol concentration and the expression of CD3/GCR was found ( r=0.504, P=0.02). In summary, we report that in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome, prednisone treatment causes the temporary decrease of the expression of GCR in lymphocytes. A positive correlation between GCR expression and serum cortisol was found. A decrease in GCR expression in monocytes did not correlate with cortisol concentration.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Białystok, Białystok, Poland. annwasil@interia.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wasilewska
authors.forename: Walentyna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zoch-Zwierz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomaszewska
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wierciński
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stasiak-Barmuta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone