title: [Role of glucocorticoid receptor in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expressions of GRα mRNA and GRβ mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus  erythematosus (SLE) patients, in order to reveal the role of GR mRNA in the pathogenesis of SLE and analyze the relationship between GR mRNA and  SLEDAI score, dsDNA, cardiovascular involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was applied  to semiquantitatively analyze GRα mRNA and GRβ mRNA expressions in 104 SLE patients and 56 volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of GRα mRNA was  lower in the SLE group (the relative level was 1.24±0.97)than in the control group (the relative level was 2.31±1.42, P<0.05), and the level of GRβ mRNA  was higher in the SLE group(the relative level was 0.61±1.23) than in the control group(the relative level was 0.18±0.21, P<0.05). The level of GRα was  lower in the active group (the relative level was 0.68±0.40) than in the inactive group(the relative level was 1.65±1.06, P<0.01), but the level of GRβ was  higher in the active group(the relative level was 0.88±1.56) than in the inactive group(the relative level was 0.24±0.23, P<0.01); GRα mRNA was related  negatively to the SLEDAI score and dsDNA, but GRβ mRNA was related positively to the SLEDAI score and dsDNA(P<0.01).The level of GRα  mRNA  was lower in the dsDNA positive group(the relative level was 0.89±0.66) than in the dsDNA negative group (the level was 1.54±1.10), the level of GRβ  mRNA was higher in the dsDNA positive group (the relative level was 0.95±1.60) than in the dsDNA negative group (the relative level was 0.22±0.21). The  level of GRβ mRNA and the value of GRβ mRNA/ GRα mRNA was obviously higher in the SLE group with cardiac involvement (the relative level was 1.02 ±1.76, the valve of GRβ / GRα was 1.10±2.02)than in the SLE group without cardiac involvement (the relative level was 0.28±0.31, the valve of GRβ / GRα  was 0.32±0.32, P<0.05), and the level of GRα mRNA wasn't significant in the two groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of GRα mRNA and GRβ  mRNA maybe play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. And the levels of GRα mRNA and GRβ mRNA are related to the activity of SLE. The  level of GRβ mRNA and the value of GRβ mRNA/ GRα mRNA are related with cardiovascular involvement in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China. wyf5168@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yong-fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Xiu-fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Xiu-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha; C121943:glucocorticoid receptor beta