[The expression and clinical implications of glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in myasthenia gravis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) alpha and GRbeta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients of myasthenia gravis (MG). To investigate the relationship between the expression level of GR and glucocorticoid (GC) therapeutic effects to MG patients.


METHODS
The clinical score was recorded and used to assessing the therapeutic effects. Then the expression level of GRalpha and GRbeta in PBMC by immunocytochemistry was measured. We analysed the relationship of the therapeutic effects with expression level of GR.


RESULTS
The scores of GRalpha positive PBMC score were same in healthy-control group, GC sensitive group, and GC dependent group. But GRalpha positive PBMC score in GC resistance group was decreased compared with the others (P < 0.01). The scores of GRbeta positive PBMC score were same in healthy-control group, GC sensitive group, and GC resistant group. But GRbeta positive PBMC score in GC dependent group was increased compared with the others (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of GRalpha in GC resistant group are decreased, and the expression of GRbeta in GC dependence group is increased. The expression level of GRalpha or GRbeta is associated with the effect of GC in treatment of MG.
Xie
Yan-chen
YC
Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
Jiao
Yu-juan
YJ
Xu
Xian-hao
XH
Wang
Hong
H
Yin
Jian
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha; C121943:glucocorticoid receptor beta