Corticosteroid receptor expression and in vivo glucocorticoid sensitivity in multiple sclerosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2014 Nov 15;276(1-2):159-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.07.004. Epub 2014 Jul 15.

Abstract

To estimate the efficiency of glucocorticoid signaling in multiple sclerosis in vivo, we measured mRNA expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and four genes regulated by GR and implicated in immune function, in whole blood. GR expression and MR expression were significantly lower in 52 patients than in 18 controls. In contrast, expression of GR regulated genes was increased (significantly for glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper, GILZ), especially in mildly impaired patients. Reduced GR expression appears to be compensated, either by hyperactive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis or by intracellular adaptations.

Keywords: Corticosteroid; Glucocorticoid receptor (GR); Hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis; Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR); Multiple sclerosis (MS).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / genetics
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Glucocorticoids / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / genetics
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / genetics
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / metabolism
  • Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
  • TSC22D3 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • DUSP1 protein, human
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1
  • Tacrolimus Binding Proteins
  • tacrolimus binding protein 5