title: Glucocorticoid receptors in human epicardial adipose tissue: role of coronary status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is in close contact with coronary vessels and therefore could alter coronary homeostasis. Glucocorticoids are pathophysiological mediators of visceral fat deposition and its associated atherogenic complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated in EAT the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its various (A, B, C) promoters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and EAT biopsies were obtained from 15 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 12 patients without CAD (NCAD). GR and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 protein (11β-HSD-1, the enzyme which converts inactive cortisone into active cortisol) were studied by immunohistochemistry and GR and its various promoters were studied by mRNA quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GR and 11β-HSD-1 protein were expressed in adipocytes, stromal areas, isolated stromal cells close to adipocytes, and blood vessels. Total GR mRNA levels did not differ in SAT obtained from NCAD or CAD patients and were decreased in EAT, irrespectively of the coronary status, with parallel changes in promoter B- and C-, but not promoter A-associated transcripts. Total GR mRNA and adipocyte surface in EAT obtained from CAD patients were correlated negatively (p<0.035, r=0.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that in EAT, GR gene promoters could play a role in tissue- specific GR expression levels. EAT may be less sensitive to glucocorticoids than SAT, preventing the EAT mass development in CAD patients and suggesting a protective role on coronary homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: County Emergency Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silaghi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silaghi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scridon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Achard
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D048429:Cell Size; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010496:Pericardium; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; C468386:HSD11B1 protein, human