title: Glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms and glucocorticoid sensitivity of subdermal blood vessels and leukocytes.
abstract: A considerable variability in the sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) exists between individuals and these differences have been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric diseases such as depression. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphisms might account in part for variability in GC responsiveness. We assessed the association between four common GR gene (NR3C1) polymorphisms (ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI, 9beta) and markers of glucocorticoid sensitivity in two target tissues (subdermal blood vessels, peripheral leukocytes) in 206 healthy individuals. The BclI GG genotype group showed the least degree of skin blanching, reflecting a lower GC sensitivity of subdermal blood vessels (p=.01). No association between GR genotype and GC sensitivity of peripheral leukocytes was observed. In the same subjects we previously observed an association between GR genotype and GC sensitivity of the pituitary. Polymorphism of the GR gene might constitute a vulnerability or protection factor for stress related disorders and altered GC sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Theoretical and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumsta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Entringer
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koper
authors.forename: E F C
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hellhammer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wüst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; C497713:NR3C1 protein, human; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone