title: Lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptor expression level and hormone-binding properties differ between war trauma-exposed men with and without PTSD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be associated with altered glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity. We studied the expression and functional properties of the receptor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from non-traumatized healthy individuals (healthy controls; n=85), and war trauma-exposed individuals with current PTSD (n=113), with life-time PTSD (n=61) and without PTSD (trauma controls; n=88). The aim of the study was to distinguish the receptor alterations related to PTSD from those related to trauma itself or to resilience to PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional status of the receptor was assessed by radioligand binding and lysozyme synthesis inhibition assays. The level of GR gene expression was measured by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current PTSD patients had the lowest, while trauma controls had the highest number of glucocorticoid binding sites (Bmax) in PBMCs. Hormone-binding potential (Bmax/KD ratio) of the receptor was diminished in the current PTSD group in comparison to all other study groups. Correlation between Bmax and KD that normally exists in healthy individuals was decreased in the current PTSD group. Contrasting Bmax data, GR protein level was lower in trauma controls than in participants with current or life-time PTSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current PTSD is characterized by reduced lymphocyte GR hormone-binding potential and by disturbed compensation between Bmax and hormone-binding affinity. Resilience to PTSD is associated with enlarged fraction of the receptor molecules capable of hormone binding, within the total receptor molecule population in PBMCs.
authors: University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković, Department of Biochemistry, Belgrade, Serbia. gormatic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs
authors: Gordana
authors: G
authors: Matić
authors: Danijela Vojnović
authors: DV
authors: Milutinović
authors: Jelena
authors: J
authors: Nestorov
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Elaković
authors: Sanja Manitašević
authors: SM
authors: Jovanović
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Perišić
authors: Jadranka
authors: J
authors: Dunđerski
authors: Svetozar
authors: S
authors: Damjanović
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Knežević
authors: Željko
authors: Ž
authors: Špirić
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Vermetten
authors: Danka
authors: D
authors: Savić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055771:Serbia; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006728:Hormones; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D009113:Muramidase