Reduction in glucocorticoid receptors in renal biopsies of patients with lupus nephritis.
OBJECTIVE
The first-line treatment for lupus nephritis is the administration of glucocorticoids (GC) that mediate their effects via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of GR protein in the cortical area of renal parenchyma of normal and diseased renal biopsies from treated and untreated patients.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical EnVision/HRP technique was performed on renal tissue to detect GR protein. Statistical analysis was performed by SAS (2001).


RESULTS
The antigen was mainly detected in glomerular podocytes and in tubules. The number of GR-positive podocytes of the controls was significantly higher than in the untreated patients, which was accordingly higher than in patients who were under medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower number of GR-positive cells in the diseased kidney compared to controls is possibly linked to tissue-specific GC resistance, whereas the decreased GR expression in podocytes of treated compared to untreated patients may be due to a down-regulation effect after GCs' administration.
Tziraki
Anna A
AA
Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 115 27, Athens, Greece.
Sotsiou
Flora K
FK
Tzirakis
Michael A
MA
Kominakis
Antonios P
AP
Hadjiconstantinou
Valsamakis F
VF
Nikolopoulou
Nikoletta I
NI
Moutsatsou
Paraskevi C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050199:Podocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid