The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates the secretion of glucoco rticoids in response to environmental challenges.In the brain,a nuclear receptor transcription fa ctor,the glucocorticoid recepto r,is an impo...The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates the secretion of glucoco rticoids in response to environmental challenges.In the brain,a nuclear receptor transcription fa ctor,the glucocorticoid recepto r,is an important component of the hypothalamicpituitary-a d renal axis's negative feedback loop and plays a key role in regulating cognitive equilibrium and neuroplasticity.The glucoco rticoid receptor influences cognitive processes,including glutamate neurotransmission,calcium signaling,and the activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated pathways,through a combination of genomic and non-genomic mechanisms.Protein interactions within the central nervous system can alter the expression and activity of the glucocorticoid receptor,there by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-a d renal axis and stress-related cognitive functions.An appropriate level of glucocorticoid receptor expression can improve cognitive function,while excessive glucocorticoid receptors or long-term exposure to glucoco rticoids may lead to cognitive impairment.Patients with cognitive impairment-associated diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,aging,depression,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,stroke,and addiction,often present with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid receptor expression.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the functions of the glucoco rticoid receptor in the hypothalamic-pituitary-a d renal axis and cognitive activities.It emphasizes that appropriate glucocorticoid receptor signaling fa cilitates learning and memory,while its dysregulation can lead to cognitive impairment.This provides clues about how glucocorticoid receptor signaling can be targeted to ove rcome cognitive disability-related disorders.展开更多
BACKGROUND Thymic epithelial neoplasms are rare malignant neoplasms originating in the thymus gland.There have been case reports of patients with advanced thymomas treated with a methylprednisolone pulse or with gluco...BACKGROUND Thymic epithelial neoplasms are rare malignant neoplasms originating in the thymus gland.There have been case reports of patients with advanced thymomas treated with a methylprednisolone pulse or with glucocorticoid(GCs)shock be-fore surgery,followed by surgical treatment,all of whom achieved good results.The effect of GCs on thymomas is related mainly to the action on GC receptors in thymic lymphocytes and epithelial cells.GC receptor expression has been asso-ciated with a better prognosis in patients with thymomas,including those with surgically removed thymomas.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a patient with thymoma who had a significant response to preoperative low-dose GC therapy.A mediastinal tumor was detected in the patient via computerized tomography upon admission.The tumor was initially suspected to be a thymic tumor,but lymphoma could not be ruled out.The tumor shrank significantly after low-dose(5 mg/day)GC therapy.Thoracoscopic thy-moma resection was performed after puncture pathology was confirmed.The patient recovered well after the operation and is currently performing well with no recurrence of the tumor.CONCLUSION This case highlights that low-dose GCs are effective in the treatment of thymomas,and we believe that GCs should be applied more frequently and studied more thoroughly in the treatment of thymomas.展开更多
Glucocorticoids(GCs)such as prednisolone are widely used in conditions like nephrotic syndrome,asthma,and autoimmune diseases.However,prolonged or high-dose use may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis...Glucocorticoids(GCs)such as prednisolone are widely used in conditions like nephrotic syndrome,asthma,and autoimmune diseases.However,prolonged or high-dose use may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,leading to secondary adrenal insufficiency(AI).This condition occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce adequate cortisol,which is essential for regulating metabolism,immune response,and stress adaptation.Corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)from the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),which then triggers cortisol production in the adrenal glands.Prolonged GC use disrupts this system by inhibiting CRH and ACTH secretion,leading to adrenal atrophy and reduced cortisol production.HPA axis suppression is primarily diagnosed through dynamic tests.Early morning cortisol levels above>18 ng/mL typically indicate normal function,while levels<3 ng/mL suggest AI.Intermediate values require additional testing,such as the insulin tolerance test,ACTH stimulation test,and metyrapone test.Prednisolone in nephrotic syndrome suppresses the HPA axis,heightening AI risk,influenced by dose,duration,and timing of administration.Careful GC management is essential to balance disease control with risks of HPA axis suppression.Early recognition and timely intervention can prevent adrenal crises and improve outcomes in pediatric patients.展开更多
Prenatal caffeine exposure(PCE)leads to intrauterine growth retardation and altered glucose homeostasis after birth,but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.This study aims to investigate the alteration of pancrea...Prenatal caffeine exposure(PCE)leads to intrauterine growth retardation and altered glucose homeostasis after birth,but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.This study aims to investigate the alteration of pancreatic development and insulin biosynthesis in the PCE female offspring and explore the intrauterine programming mechanism.Pregnant rats were orally treated with 120 mg/(kg·day)of caffeine from gestational day(GD)9 to 20.Results showed that fetal pancreaticβ-cells in the PCE group exhibited reduced mass and impaired insulin synthesis function,as evidenced by decreased expression of developmental and functional genes and reduced pancreatic insulin content.At postnatal week(PW)12,the PCE offspring exhibited glucose intolerance,diminishedβ-cell mass,and lower blood insulin levels.However,by PW28,glucose tolerance showed some improvement.Both in vivo and in vitro findings collectively indicated that excessive serum corticosterone(CORT)levels of the PCE fetuses may act through the activation of the pancreatic glucocorticoid receptor(GR)and recruitment of histone deacetylase 9(HDAC9),leading to H3K9 deacetylation in promoter and downregulation of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1),thereby inhibiting pancreatic islet morphogenesis and insulin synthesis in fetal rats.Furthermore,the PCE offspring after birth exhibited decreased blood CORT levels,increased H3K9 acetylation in promoter and upregulated gene expression of the pancreatic IGF1 promoter region,accompanied by elevated insulin biosynthesis.However,when exposed to chronic stress,the above changes were totally reversed.Conclusively,“glucocorticoid-insulin like growth factor 1(GC-IGF1)axis”programming may be involved in pancreaticβ-cell dysplasia and dysfunction in the PCE female offspring.展开更多
Nicotine,ethanol,and caffeine are the most common exogenous substances in the men’s living environment,but their effects on the cartilage quality in the father and offspring have not been reported.According to the av...Nicotine,ethanol,and caffeine are the most common exogenous substances in the men’s living environment,but their effects on the cartilage quality in the father and offspring have not been reported.According to the average daily intake of adult men,we constructed a male rat model of paternal mixed exposure(PME)to low-dose nicotine(0.1 mg/(kg·day)),ethanol(0.5 g/(kg·day)),and caffeine(7.5 mg/(kg·day))for 8 weeks.Then,the male rats mated with normal female rats to obtain offspring.The results showed that PME reduced the cartilage quality of paternal and offspring rats.Among them,the paternal cartilage was damaged by enhancing matrix degradation,while the offspring cartilage was damaged by reducing matrix synthesis.The cartilage damage in male offspring rats was more evident than in female offspring.It was further confirmed that differential GC regulation mechanisms were the main reasons for the intergenerational differential damage of paternal/offspring cartilage quality caused by PME.In addition,the androgen receptor(AR)and estrogen receptor beta(ERβ)mediated the sex difference of PME-induced fetal cartilage dysplasia by affecting the binding degree of GR/P300.This study provided a theoretical and experimental basis for guiding male healthy lifestyle and exploring early prevention and treatment strategies for paternal diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores ...BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores the potential of retroauricular subperiosteal injection as a localized drug delivery method for a more effective and safe treatment.AIM To compare the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous glucocorticoid(GC)administration for SD in patients with DM and assess the effects on blood glucose levels.METHODS A total of 128 cases of type 2 DM(T2DM)with SD diagnosed and treated in Zibo Central Hospital from February 2021 to July 2023 were divided into two groups:An observation group(66 cases receiving retroauricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone)and a control group(62 cases receiving systemic intravenous administration of methylprednisolone).The two groups were compared in terms of therapeutic efficacy,hearing recovery,blood glucose level changes,and incidence of adverse reactions.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting therapeutic efficacy.RESULTS The observation group showed a significantly higher total effective rate(90.91%)compared with the control group(75.81%,P<0.05).Additionally,pure-tone hearing threshold,fasting plasma glucose,and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose were significantly lower in the observation group compared with the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was also lower in the observation group than in the control group(7.58%vs 22.58%,P<0.05).A T2DM course longer than 5 years and systemic intravenous GC administration were identified as independent risk factors for treatment inefficacy(P<0.05).INTRODUCTION Sudden deafness(SD)is a clinical emergency characterized by rapid-onset hearing loss that is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as tinnitus and vertigo[1].Although its pathogenesis remains unclear,it is supposedly associated with factors,including inner ear microcirculation disorders,autoimmune diseases,and viral infections[2,3].Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to microvascular complications due to poor long-term glycemic control,affecting the ear’s microcirculation,subsequently increasing the risk of SD[4].Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),a chronic metabolic disease,causes multiple microvascular damages throughout the body,complicating SD treatment in patients with diabetes[5,6].Inner ear microcirculation disturbances in patients with diabetes may exacerbate the risk of SD,and its pathological process may be related to vascular endothelial dysfunction,inflammatory reactions,and hemorrhological changes caused by diabetes mellitus(DM)[7].Current SD treatments include glucocorticoids(GCs),vasodilators,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy[8].GCs are widely used due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects[9].However,systemic GCs may cause blood glucose(BG)fluctuations and even increase the risk of complications in patients with DM,limiting their clinical use in this population[10].Therefore,there is a compelling and immediate need for a local alternative solution that minimally affects the metabolic mechanisms.In recent years,retroauricular subperiosteal injection has emerged as a localized administration modality for treating SD[11].This method allows drugs to directly act on the inner ear,avoiding the side effects of systemic administration and having a minor impact on BG levels,providing a potentially effective treatment for patients with diabetes[12].However,there is limited clinical evidence to compare the efficacy and glycaemic effects of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous GC administration in patients with SD and diabetes.This study aimed to explore the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection and systemic intravenous GC administration for treating patients with SD and DM and their effects on BG,providing a safer and more effective clinical treatment approach.展开更多
There is an interaction between tacrolimus(TAC) and glucocorticoids where glucocorticoids is a known CYP3A4 and P-gp inducer.However, the dose of glucocorticoids reported is low but not pulse therapy.We retrospectivel...There is an interaction between tacrolimus(TAC) and glucocorticoids where glucocorticoids is a known CYP3A4 and P-gp inducer.However, the dose of glucocorticoids reported is low but not pulse therapy.We retrospectively studied 63 renal transplant recipients receiving TAC after transplantation.All the patients were classified as 500 mg(POD 1–3), 30 mg(POD 4–10), 25 mg(POD 11–17), 20 mg(POD 18–24), 15 mg(POD 25–31), 10 mg(POD 32–60) and 10 mg(POD 61–90).We recorded daily data for each patient from the day of transplantation until POD 90.There was no difference in TAC blood levels within the 3 months after transplantation in the glucocorticoids groups.However, the average daily dose of TAC was significantly lower by weekly reductions of 5 mg dose.The TAC daily dose was not changed from POD 1–4, but the blood concentrations of TAC were significantly lower after the glucocorticoid dose was changed from 500 mg to 30 mg.We demonstrated the induction effect of low-dose glucocorticoids on TAC in renal transplant recipients, and found that the high-dose of glucocorticoids might play a role in substrate competition.We proposed that monitoring of the blood concentrations of TAC was needed when the glucocorticoid dose was changed in the patient undergoing renal transplantation.展开更多
Objective It is well documented that epilepsy can increase neurogenesis in certain brain regions and cause behavioral alternations in patients and different epileptic animal models. A series of experimental studies ha...Objective It is well documented that epilepsy can increase neurogenesis in certain brain regions and cause behavioral alternations in patients and different epileptic animal models. A series of experimental studies have demonstrated that neurogenesis is regulated by various factors including glucocorticoid （CORT）, which can reduce neurogenesis. Most of studies in animal have been focused on adulthood stage, while the effect of recurrent seizures to immature brain in neonatal period has not been well established. This study was designed to investigate how the recurrent seizures occurred in the neonatal period affected the immature brain and how CORT regulated neurogenesis in immature animals. Methods Neonatal rats were subjected to 3 pilocarpine-induced seizures from postnatal day 1 to day 7. Then neurogenesis at different postnatal ages （i.e. P8, P12, P22, P50） was observed. Behavioral performance was tested when the rats were mature （P40）, and plasma CORT levels following recurrent seizures were simultaneously monitored. Results Rats with neonatal seizures had a significant reduction in the number of Bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） labeled cells in the dentate gyrus compared with the control groups when the animals were euthanized on P8 or P12 （P 〈 0.05）; whereas there was no difference between the two groups on P22. Until P50, rats with neonatal seizures had increased number of BrdU-labeled cells compared with the control group （P 〈 0.05）. In Morris water maze task, pilocarpine-treated rats were significantly slower than the control rats at the first and second day, and there were no differences at other days. In probe trial, there was no significant difference in time spent in the goal quadrant between the two groups. Endocrine studies showed a correla- tion between the number of BrdU positive cells and the CORT level. Sustained increase in circulating CORT levels was observed following neonatal seizures on P8 and P12. Conclusion Neonatal recurrent seizures can biphasely modulate neurogenesis over different time windows with a down-regulation at early time and up-regulation afterwards, cause persistent deficits in cognitive functions of adults, and increase the circulating CORT levels. CORT levels are related with the morphological and behavioral consequences of recurrent seizures.展开更多
Objective To explore the role of glucocorticoid （GC） receptor （GR） in rapamycin＇s reversion of GC resistance in humanGC-resistant T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia （ALL） CEM-C1 cells. Methods CEM-C1 cells were cul...Objective To explore the role of glucocorticoid （GC） receptor （GR） in rapamycin＇s reversion of GC resistance in humanGC-resistant T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia （ALL） CEM-C1 cells. Methods CEM-C1 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with rapamycin at different concentrations with or without 1 μmol/L dexamethasone （Dex）. 3-（4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） test was performed to assess cell proliferation. The cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of GRα mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of GR, p-70S6K, Mcl-1, and Bim proteins was detected by Western blot. Results When incubated with rapamycin at different concentrations, CEM-C1 cells showed significant growth inhibition in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The growth inhibition was synergistically increased when CEM-C1 cells were treated with rapamycin plus 1 μmol/L Dex. CEM-C1 cells treated with rapamycin alone showed no apparent apoptosis, and were arrested at G0/G1 phase. After the treatment with Dex plus rapamycin, CEM-C1 cells demonstrated apparent apoptosis and increased the cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 phase. Rapamycin combined with Dex up-regulated GRα, phosphorylated GR（p-GR）, and pro-apoptotic protein Bim-EL in CEM-C1 cells, but inhibited the expression of p-p70S6K, a downstream target protein ofmTOR （mammalian target of rapamycin）. Conclusion After the treatment with rapamycin plus Dex, Dex resistant CEM-C1 cells induce growth inhibition and apoptosis. The underlying mechanism may involve inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway and also be associated with up-regulation of GR expression and activation of GC-GR signaling pathway.展开更多
Glucocorticoids(GCs)have been widely used as immunosuppressants and antiinflammatory agents to treat a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,and they fully exert their anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating...Glucocorticoids(GCs)have been widely used as immunosuppressants and antiinflammatory agents to treat a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,and they fully exert their anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects in the body.The effect of GCs on white blood cells is an important part of their action.GCs can cause changes in peripheral blood white blood cell counts by regulating the proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis of white blood cells.Although the total number of white blood cells,neutrophil counts,lymphocytes,and eosinophils increases,the counts of basic granulocytes and macrophages decreases.In addition,GCs can regulate the activation and secretion of white blood cells,inhibit the secretion of a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines,the expression of chemokines,and promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.For patients on GC therapy,the effects of GCs on leukocytes were similar to the changes in peripheral blood caused by bacterial infections.Thus,we suggest that clinicians should be more cautious in assessing the presence of infection in children with long-term use of GCs and avoid overuse of antibiotics in the presence of elevated leukocytes.GCs work through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms in the human body,which are mediated by GC receptors.In recent years,studies have not fully clarified the mechanism of GCs,and further research on these mechanisms will help to develop new therapeutic strategies.展开更多
Glucocorticoids have been used in the treatment of prostate cancer to slow disease progression, improve pain control and offset side effects of chemo- and hormonal therapy. However, they may also have the potential to...Glucocorticoids have been used in the treatment of prostate cancer to slow disease progression, improve pain control and offset side effects of chemo- and hormonal therapy. However, they may also have the potential to drive prostate cancer growth via mutated androgen receptors or glucocorticoid receptors （GRs）. In this review we examine historical and contemporary use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of prostate cancer, review potential mechanisms by which they may inhibit or drive prostate cancer growth, and describe potential means of defining their contribution to the biology of prostate cancer.展开更多
AIM： To determine how glucocorticoids （GCs） may affect the growth and chemosensitivity of common carcinoma cells. METHODS： The effect of dexamethasone （DEX） on growth and chemosensitivity was assessed in 14 carc...AIM： To determine how glucocorticoids （GCs） may affect the growth and chemosensitivity of common carcinoma cells. METHODS： The effect of dexamethasone （DEX） on growth and chemosensitivity was assessed in 14 carcinoma cell lines. The function of GC receptors （GR） was assessed by MMTV reporter assay. Overexpression of GR was done by in vitro transfection and expression of a GR-expressing vector. Immunohistochemical stain of tissues and ceils were done by PA1-511A, an anti-GR monodonal antibody. RESULTS： DEX inhibited cell growth of four （MCF-7, MCF- 7/MXR1, MCF-7/TPT300, and HeLa）, increased cisplatin cytoxicity of one （SiHa）, and decreased dsplatin cytotoxicity of two （H460 and Hep3B） cell lines. The GR content of the seven cell lines affected by DEX was significantly higher than those of the seven cell lines unaffected by DEX （5.2±2.5×10^4 sites/cell vs1.3±1.4×10^4 sites/cell, P= 0.005）. Only two DEX-unresponsive cell lines {NPC-TW01 and NPC- TW04） oontained high GR amounts in the range （1.9-8.1×10^4 sites/cell） of the seven DEX-responsive cell lines. The GR function of NPC-TW01 and NPC-TW04, however, was foundto be impaired. The importance of high cellular amount of GR in mediating DEX susceptibility of the cells was further exemplified by GR dose-dependent drug resistance to cisplatin of AGS, a cell line with low GR content and was unaffected by DEX before transfection of GR-expressing vector. Immunohistochemical studies of human cancer tissues showed that 5 of the 45 （11.1%） breast cancer and 43 of the 85 （50.6%） non-small cell lung cancer had high GR contents at the ranges of the GC-responsive carcinoma cell lines. CONCLUSION： The growth and chemosensitivity of human carcinomas with high GR contents may be affected by GC. However, in light of the heterogeneous and even contradictive effects of GC on these cells, routine examination of GR contents of human carcinoma tissues may not be clinically useful until other markers that help predict the ultimate effect of GC on individual patients are identified.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis(RA)effect of Escin combined with low dose of GCs(dexameth⁃asone,Dex)and its underlying mechanism.METHODS Adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis rats and LPS-injure...OBJECTIVE To investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis(RA)effect of Escin combined with low dose of GCs(dexameth⁃asone,Dex)and its underlying mechanism.METHODS Adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis rats and LPS-injured RAW 264.7 were used to investigate the anti-RA effects of Escin combined with low dose Dex in vivo and in vitro.In vivo experiment:rats were randomly divided into model group(AIA),dexamethasone high dose(Dex,0.2 mg·kg^-1)group,dexamethasone low dose(Dex,0.05 mg·kg^-1)group,Escin 10 mg·kg^-1 group,Dex 0.05+Escin group,10 rats in each group,another 10 were used as normal control group.The vehicle and the corresponding drug were administered intragastrically(ig)daily for 14 d.In vitro experiment:LPS was used to stimulate RAW 264.7 macrophages for inflammatory models,which were divided into control group,LPS group,Dex with high dose(50 nmol·L^-1)group,and Dex with low dose(12.5 nmol·L^-1)group.In the Escin 10μmol·L^-1 group and the Dex+Escin(12.5 nmol·L^-1+10μmol·L^-1)group,the corresponding drugs were added to each well.After 2 h,LPS was added to induce inflammation.RESULTS Escin combined with low dose Dex significantly decreased arthritic index,serum IL-6 and TNF-α,improved paw swelling,and ameliorated the joint pathology immune organ pathology significantly.Gene chip results revealed that Nr3c1(GR)altered significantly.And that GR activation by Escin and low dose Dex was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro.Furthermore,Escin combined with low dose Dex also significant increase GR mRNA expression.However,when suppression of GR by its specific inhibitor,the anti-RA effect of Escin combined with low dose Dex was abolished.CONCLUSION Escin combined with Dex reduces the dose of Dex,and exerts significant anti-RA effects,which could also reduce the adverse effects of Dex.This combination might be attributed to GR activation.This study might provide a new combination drugs for the treatment of RA.展开更多
The effect of dexamethasone with different concentrations and different stimulating periods on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors （GRα, GRβ） protein was investigated in human monocyte cell line THP-1. The ...The effect of dexamethasone with different concentrations and different stimulating periods on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors （GRα, GRβ） protein was investigated in human monocyte cell line THP-1. The cultured human monocyte line THP-1 cells were stimulated by dexamethasone with different concentrations and different periods. The expression of GRα and GRβ protein was detected by Western hlotting. The results showed that the expression of GRα and GRβ was detected in the THP-1 cells, The quantity of GRα expression was reduced by dexamethasone under the same concentration with the prolongation of expression was increased by dexamethasone treatment the stimulating periods. The quantity of GRβ in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It was concluded that dexamethasone stimulation time-dependently reduced the GRα expression in THP-1 cells. Dexamethasone stimulation time- and dose-dependently increased the GRβ expression in THP- 1 cells. The expression of GRα and GRβas regulated by glucocorticoid.展开更多
In this report we studied the relationship between hydrocortisone(F) concentration and its inductive effect on tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, and the regulation of rat...In this report we studied the relationship between hydrocortisone(F) concentration and its inductive effect on tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, and the regulation of rat liver high- and low-affinity glucocorticoid receptors (GRH and GRL) by glucocorticoids (GC). When F concentration was 1-10 nmol/L, the dose-response relationship showed a tendency of saturation. TAT activity was much higher when F concentration was between 10 nmol/L and 10 μmol/l. When F concentration reached 10 μmol/L the induction of TAT could be completely inhibited by RU486, a competitive antagonist of GRH and GRL. These results indicate that induction of TAT by high F concentration was mediated by GRL. The concentration of GC in plasma remained over 10-6 mol/L for 3 d by subcutaneous injection of F in polyvinyl alcohol into the rats. The binding capacity (Ro) of GRH decreased significantly 1 h after injection and remained at a low level,while Ro of GRL increased at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h after injection. It may be concluded that GC could down-regulate GRH and up-regulate GRL. The pathophysiological and clinical significance of these results is discussed.展开更多
The effect of forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, on glucocorticoid-induced modulation of proliferation and differentiation of a human osteosarcoma cell line(HOS-8603) was iniually studied. It was found that...The effect of forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, on glucocorticoid-induced modulation of proliferation and differentiation of a human osteosarcoma cell line(HOS-8603) was iniually studied. It was found that forskolin could significantly augment展开更多
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common,highly disabling,and burdensome disease.Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid medication plays a key role in its treatment;however,glucocorticoid resistance in patients wit...Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common,highly disabling,and burdensome disease.Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid medication plays a key role in its treatment;however,glucocorticoid resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease considerably weakens the effects of the treatment.Despite recent advances in determining the mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating such patients remains unclear.In this review,we reviewed the mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related glucocorticoid resistance with reference to the glucocorticoid receptor,the important signaling pathways(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and interferon-γ/Janus kinase/stransducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway),histone deacetylase,nuclear transcription factor-κB,exosomes,and microRNA.Moreover,the methods of establishing the glucocorticoid resistance model associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and advances in therapeutic approaches including traditional Chinese medicine to restore chronic obstructive pulmonary disease glucocorticoid sensitivity have also been reviewed.This review shows that traditional Chinese medicine reverses glucocorticoid resistance mainly by regulating the expression of glucocorticoid receptor,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling,histone deacetylase 2,and nuclear transcription factor-κB in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease models.Future research is suggested to evaluate traditional Chinese medicine understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related glucocorticoid resistance in relation to exosomes,microRNA,and other signaling pathways.展开更多
AIM: To report the effects of intravenous high-dose glucocorticoids(iv GC) and orbital decompression(OD) surgery for treatment of sight-threatening thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS: A retrospective revie...AIM: To report the effects of intravenous high-dose glucocorticoids(iv GC) and orbital decompression(OD) surgery for treatment of sight-threatening thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records from patients with sight-threatening TAO [definite or highly suspected dysthyroid optic neuropathy(DON)] treated with iv GC(60 cases) and OD(25 cases) was conducted at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center between January 2001 and January 2009. Patients were initially treated with iv GC(iv GC group). If no significant improvement in visual function was obtained, they then received OD surgery(OD group). The pre-versus post-treatment efficacies of either iv GC or OD in these patients were assessed using several indices, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, ocular alignment, ocular motility, and exophthalmos. RESULTS: Nighty-one eyes had definite DON while 79 were considered to have highly suspected DON. In the iv GC group, 51 individuals(85.0%) eventually demonstrated normal vision, while 10 patients(16.7%) demonstrated a reduction in deviation(P<0.01), and 35 cases(58.3%) showed slight improvements in ocular motility(P<0.01). In OD group, visual acuity improved in 24 cases(96.0%, P<0.01) and all patients showed varying reductions of exophthalmos(mean: 4.35±1.13 mm, P<0.01). Eight cases(32.0%) experienced an 8-15 PD reduction of deviation and ocular motility improved in 12 cases(48.0%), while 3 patients(12.0%) developed new-onset strabismus with diplopia post-surgically(P<0.01). Patients were followed up at an average of 1.55±1.07 y. CONCLUSION: Both iv GC and OD show good therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of sight-threatening TAO. Thepresence of extremely poor eyesight(≥0.5 log MAR) was corrected in some patients with iv GC alone, thus sparing these patients from subsequent OD surgery. In patients who were refractory to steroids, subsequent OD surgery often provided satisfactory outcomes, however, new-onset strabismus with diplopia was observed in 12.0% of these cases.展开更多
Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely employed in a number of inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases, and, despite the introduction of novel therapies, remain the first-line treatment for in...Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely employed in a number of inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases, and, despite the introduction of novel therapies, remain the first-line treatment for inducing remission in moderate to severe active Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Despite their extensive therapeutic use and the proven effectiveness, considerable clinical evidence of wide inter-individual differences in GC efficacy among patients has been reported, in particular when these agents are used in inflammatory diseases. In recent years, a detailed knowledge of the GC mechanism of action and of the genetic variants affecting GC activity at the molecular level has arisen from several studies. GCs interact with their cytoplasmic receptor, and are able to repress inflammatory gene expression through several distinct mechanisms. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is therefore crucial for the effects of these agents: mutations in the GR gene (NR3C1, nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1) are the primary cause of a rare, inherited form of GC resistance; in addition, several polymorphisms of this gene have been described and associated with GC response and toxicity.However, the GR is not self-standing in the cell and the receptor-mediated functions are the result of a complex interplay of GR and many other cellular partners. The latter comprise several chaperonins of the large cooperative hetero-oligomeric complex that binds the hormonefree GR in the cytosol, and several factors involved in the transcriptional machinery and chromatin remodeling, that are critical for the hormonal control of target genes transcription in the nucleus. Furthermore, variants in the principal effectors of GCs (e.g. cytokines and their regulators) have also to be taken into account for a comprehensive evaluation of the variability in GC response. Polymorphisms in genes involved in the transport and/or metabolism of these hormones have also been suggested as other possible candidates of interest that could play a role in the observed inter-individual differences in efficacy and toxicity. The best-characterized example is the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, a membrane transporter that extrudes GCs from cells, thereby lowering their intracellular concentration. This protein is encoded by the ABCB1/ MDR1 gene; this gene presents different known polymorphic sites that can influence its expression and function. This editorial reviews the current knowledge on this topic and underlines the role of genetics in predicting GC clinical response. The ambitious goal of pharmacogenomic studies is to adapt therapies to a patient’s specific genetic background, thus improving on efficacy and safety rates.展开更多
In spite of the introduction in therapy of highly effective biological agents,glucocorticoids(GCs)are still employed to induce remission in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),but considerable inter-in...In spite of the introduction in therapy of highly effective biological agents,glucocorticoids(GCs)are still employed to induce remission in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),but considerable inter-individual differences in their efficacy and side effects have been reported.The effectiveness of these drugs is indeed very variable and side effects,particularly severe in pediatric patients,are common and often unpredictable:the understanding of the complex gene regulation mediated by GCs could shed light on the causes of this variability.In this context,microRNAs(miRNAs)represent a new and promising field of research.miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that suppress gene expression at post-transcriptional level,and are fine-tuning regulators of diverse biological processes,including the development and function of the immune system,apoptosis,metabolism and inflammation.Emerging data have implicated the deregulated expression of certain miRNA networks in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,such as IBD.There is a great interest in the identification of the role of miRNAs in the modulation of pharmacological response;however,the association between miRNA and GC response in patients with IBD has not yet been evaluated in a prospective clinical study.The identification of miRNAs differently expressed as a consequence of GC treatment in comparison to diagnosis,represents an important innovative approach that could be translated into clinical practice.In this review we highlight the altered regulation of proteins involved in GC molecular mechanism by miRNAs,and their potential role as molecular markers useful for predicting in advance GC response.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82371444(to YZ)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province,No.2022CFB216(to XC)the Key Research Project of Ministry of Science and Technology of China,No.2022ZD021160(to YZ)。
文摘The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates the secretion of glucoco rticoids in response to environmental challenges.In the brain,a nuclear receptor transcription fa ctor,the glucocorticoid recepto r,is an important component of the hypothalamicpituitary-a d renal axis's negative feedback loop and plays a key role in regulating cognitive equilibrium and neuroplasticity.The glucoco rticoid receptor influences cognitive processes,including glutamate neurotransmission,calcium signaling,and the activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated pathways,through a combination of genomic and non-genomic mechanisms.Protein interactions within the central nervous system can alter the expression and activity of the glucocorticoid receptor,there by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-a d renal axis and stress-related cognitive functions.An appropriate level of glucocorticoid receptor expression can improve cognitive function,while excessive glucocorticoid receptors or long-term exposure to glucoco rticoids may lead to cognitive impairment.Patients with cognitive impairment-associated diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,aging,depression,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,stroke,and addiction,often present with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid receptor expression.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the functions of the glucoco rticoid receptor in the hypothalamic-pituitary-a d renal axis and cognitive activities.It emphasizes that appropriate glucocorticoid receptor signaling fa cilitates learning and memory,while its dysregulation can lead to cognitive impairment.This provides clues about how glucocorticoid receptor signaling can be targeted to ove rcome cognitive disability-related disorders.
文摘BACKGROUND Thymic epithelial neoplasms are rare malignant neoplasms originating in the thymus gland.There have been case reports of patients with advanced thymomas treated with a methylprednisolone pulse or with glucocorticoid(GCs)shock be-fore surgery,followed by surgical treatment,all of whom achieved good results.The effect of GCs on thymomas is related mainly to the action on GC receptors in thymic lymphocytes and epithelial cells.GC receptor expression has been asso-ciated with a better prognosis in patients with thymomas,including those with surgically removed thymomas.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a patient with thymoma who had a significant response to preoperative low-dose GC therapy.A mediastinal tumor was detected in the patient via computerized tomography upon admission.The tumor was initially suspected to be a thymic tumor,but lymphoma could not be ruled out.The tumor shrank significantly after low-dose(5 mg/day)GC therapy.Thoracoscopic thy-moma resection was performed after puncture pathology was confirmed.The patient recovered well after the operation and is currently performing well with no recurrence of the tumor.CONCLUSION This case highlights that low-dose GCs are effective in the treatment of thymomas,and we believe that GCs should be applied more frequently and studied more thoroughly in the treatment of thymomas.
文摘Glucocorticoids(GCs)such as prednisolone are widely used in conditions like nephrotic syndrome,asthma,and autoimmune diseases.However,prolonged or high-dose use may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,leading to secondary adrenal insufficiency(AI).This condition occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce adequate cortisol,which is essential for regulating metabolism,immune response,and stress adaptation.Corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)from the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),which then triggers cortisol production in the adrenal glands.Prolonged GC use disrupts this system by inhibiting CRH and ACTH secretion,leading to adrenal atrophy and reduced cortisol production.HPA axis suppression is primarily diagnosed through dynamic tests.Early morning cortisol levels above>18 ng/mL typically indicate normal function,while levels<3 ng/mL suggest AI.Intermediate values require additional testing,such as the insulin tolerance test,ACTH stimulation test,and metyrapone test.Prednisolone in nephrotic syndrome suppresses the HPA axis,heightening AI risk,influenced by dose,duration,and timing of administration.Careful GC management is essential to balance disease control with risks of HPA axis suppression.Early recognition and timely intervention can prevent adrenal crises and improve outcomes in pediatric patients.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0803900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20407,82414020,81703631)the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2024AFB742)。
文摘Prenatal caffeine exposure(PCE)leads to intrauterine growth retardation and altered glucose homeostasis after birth,but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.This study aims to investigate the alteration of pancreatic development and insulin biosynthesis in the PCE female offspring and explore the intrauterine programming mechanism.Pregnant rats were orally treated with 120 mg/(kg·day)of caffeine from gestational day(GD)9 to 20.Results showed that fetal pancreaticβ-cells in the PCE group exhibited reduced mass and impaired insulin synthesis function,as evidenced by decreased expression of developmental and functional genes and reduced pancreatic insulin content.At postnatal week(PW)12,the PCE offspring exhibited glucose intolerance,diminishedβ-cell mass,and lower blood insulin levels.However,by PW28,glucose tolerance showed some improvement.Both in vivo and in vitro findings collectively indicated that excessive serum corticosterone(CORT)levels of the PCE fetuses may act through the activation of the pancreatic glucocorticoid receptor(GR)and recruitment of histone deacetylase 9(HDAC9),leading to H3K9 deacetylation in promoter and downregulation of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1),thereby inhibiting pancreatic islet morphogenesis and insulin synthesis in fetal rats.Furthermore,the PCE offspring after birth exhibited decreased blood CORT levels,increased H3K9 acetylation in promoter and upregulated gene expression of the pancreatic IGF1 promoter region,accompanied by elevated insulin biosynthesis.However,when exposed to chronic stress,the above changes were totally reversed.Conclusively,“glucocorticoid-insulin like growth factor 1(GC-IGF1)axis”programming may be involved in pancreaticβ-cell dysplasia and dysfunction in the PCE female offspring.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U22A20362,U23A20407,82030111,82104301)Hubei Province’s Outstanding Medical Academic Leader program.
文摘Nicotine,ethanol,and caffeine are the most common exogenous substances in the men’s living environment,but their effects on the cartilage quality in the father and offspring have not been reported.According to the average daily intake of adult men,we constructed a male rat model of paternal mixed exposure(PME)to low-dose nicotine(0.1 mg/(kg·day)),ethanol(0.5 g/(kg·day)),and caffeine(7.5 mg/(kg·day))for 8 weeks.Then,the male rats mated with normal female rats to obtain offspring.The results showed that PME reduced the cartilage quality of paternal and offspring rats.Among them,the paternal cartilage was damaged by enhancing matrix degradation,while the offspring cartilage was damaged by reducing matrix synthesis.The cartilage damage in male offspring rats was more evident than in female offspring.It was further confirmed that differential GC regulation mechanisms were the main reasons for the intergenerational differential damage of paternal/offspring cartilage quality caused by PME.In addition,the androgen receptor(AR)and estrogen receptor beta(ERβ)mediated the sex difference of PME-induced fetal cartilage dysplasia by affecting the binding degree of GR/P300.This study provided a theoretical and experimental basis for guiding male healthy lifestyle and exploring early prevention and treatment strategies for paternal diseases.
文摘BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores the potential of retroauricular subperiosteal injection as a localized drug delivery method for a more effective and safe treatment.AIM To compare the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous glucocorticoid(GC)administration for SD in patients with DM and assess the effects on blood glucose levels.METHODS A total of 128 cases of type 2 DM(T2DM)with SD diagnosed and treated in Zibo Central Hospital from February 2021 to July 2023 were divided into two groups:An observation group(66 cases receiving retroauricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone)and a control group(62 cases receiving systemic intravenous administration of methylprednisolone).The two groups were compared in terms of therapeutic efficacy,hearing recovery,blood glucose level changes,and incidence of adverse reactions.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting therapeutic efficacy.RESULTS The observation group showed a significantly higher total effective rate(90.91%)compared with the control group(75.81%,P<0.05).Additionally,pure-tone hearing threshold,fasting plasma glucose,and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose were significantly lower in the observation group compared with the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was also lower in the observation group than in the control group(7.58%vs 22.58%,P<0.05).A T2DM course longer than 5 years and systemic intravenous GC administration were identified as independent risk factors for treatment inefficacy(P<0.05).INTRODUCTION Sudden deafness(SD)is a clinical emergency characterized by rapid-onset hearing loss that is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as tinnitus and vertigo[1].Although its pathogenesis remains unclear,it is supposedly associated with factors,including inner ear microcirculation disorders,autoimmune diseases,and viral infections[2,3].Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to microvascular complications due to poor long-term glycemic control,affecting the ear’s microcirculation,subsequently increasing the risk of SD[4].Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),a chronic metabolic disease,causes multiple microvascular damages throughout the body,complicating SD treatment in patients with diabetes[5,6].Inner ear microcirculation disturbances in patients with diabetes may exacerbate the risk of SD,and its pathological process may be related to vascular endothelial dysfunction,inflammatory reactions,and hemorrhological changes caused by diabetes mellitus(DM)[7].Current SD treatments include glucocorticoids(GCs),vasodilators,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy[8].GCs are widely used due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects[9].However,systemic GCs may cause blood glucose(BG)fluctuations and even increase the risk of complications in patients with DM,limiting their clinical use in this population[10].Therefore,there is a compelling and immediate need for a local alternative solution that minimally affects the metabolic mechanisms.In recent years,retroauricular subperiosteal injection has emerged as a localized administration modality for treating SD[11].This method allows drugs to directly act on the inner ear,avoiding the side effects of systemic administration and having a minor impact on BG levels,providing a potentially effective treatment for patients with diabetes[12].However,there is limited clinical evidence to compare the efficacy and glycaemic effects of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous GC administration in patients with SD and diabetes.This study aimed to explore the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection and systemic intravenous GC administration for treating patients with SD and DM and their effects on BG,providing a safer and more effective clinical treatment approach.
文摘There is an interaction between tacrolimus(TAC) and glucocorticoids where glucocorticoids is a known CYP3A4 and P-gp inducer.However, the dose of glucocorticoids reported is low but not pulse therapy.We retrospectively studied 63 renal transplant recipients receiving TAC after transplantation.All the patients were classified as 500 mg(POD 1–3), 30 mg(POD 4–10), 25 mg(POD 11–17), 20 mg(POD 18–24), 15 mg(POD 25–31), 10 mg(POD 32–60) and 10 mg(POD 61–90).We recorded daily data for each patient from the day of transplantation until POD 90.There was no difference in TAC blood levels within the 3 months after transplantation in the glucocorticoids groups.However, the average daily dose of TAC was significantly lower by weekly reductions of 5 mg dose.The TAC daily dose was not changed from POD 1–4, but the blood concentrations of TAC were significantly lower after the glucocorticoid dose was changed from 500 mg to 30 mg.We demonstrated the induction effect of low-dose glucocorticoids on TAC in renal transplant recipients, and found that the high-dose of glucocorticoids might play a role in substrate competition.We proposed that monitoring of the blood concentrations of TAC was needed when the glucocorticoid dose was changed in the patient undergoing renal transplantation.
文摘Objective It is well documented that epilepsy can increase neurogenesis in certain brain regions and cause behavioral alternations in patients and different epileptic animal models. A series of experimental studies have demonstrated that neurogenesis is regulated by various factors including glucocorticoid （CORT）, which can reduce neurogenesis. Most of studies in animal have been focused on adulthood stage, while the effect of recurrent seizures to immature brain in neonatal period has not been well established. This study was designed to investigate how the recurrent seizures occurred in the neonatal period affected the immature brain and how CORT regulated neurogenesis in immature animals. Methods Neonatal rats were subjected to 3 pilocarpine-induced seizures from postnatal day 1 to day 7. Then neurogenesis at different postnatal ages （i.e. P8, P12, P22, P50） was observed. Behavioral performance was tested when the rats were mature （P40）, and plasma CORT levels following recurrent seizures were simultaneously monitored. Results Rats with neonatal seizures had a significant reduction in the number of Bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） labeled cells in the dentate gyrus compared with the control groups when the animals were euthanized on P8 or P12 （P 〈 0.05）; whereas there was no difference between the two groups on P22. Until P50, rats with neonatal seizures had increased number of BrdU-labeled cells compared with the control group （P 〈 0.05）. In Morris water maze task, pilocarpine-treated rats were significantly slower than the control rats at the first and second day, and there were no differences at other days. In probe trial, there was no significant difference in time spent in the goal quadrant between the two groups. Endocrine studies showed a correla- tion between the number of BrdU positive cells and the CORT level. Sustained increase in circulating CORT levels was observed following neonatal seizures on P8 and P12. Conclusion Neonatal recurrent seizures can biphasely modulate neurogenesis over different time windows with a down-regulation at early time and up-regulation afterwards, cause persistent deficits in cognitive functions of adults, and increase the circulating CORT levels. CORT levels are related with the morphological and behavioral consequences of recurrent seizures.
基金supported by the research funds from the University Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team(No.IRT0935)the National Natural Science Fund Project(No.30973237)grants from the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province(No.2008JY0029-1,No.07FG002-024,and No.2010JY0004)
文摘Objective To explore the role of glucocorticoid （GC） receptor （GR） in rapamycin＇s reversion of GC resistance in humanGC-resistant T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia （ALL） CEM-C1 cells. Methods CEM-C1 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with rapamycin at different concentrations with or without 1 μmol/L dexamethasone （Dex）. 3-（4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） test was performed to assess cell proliferation. The cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of GRα mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of GR, p-70S6K, Mcl-1, and Bim proteins was detected by Western blot. Results When incubated with rapamycin at different concentrations, CEM-C1 cells showed significant growth inhibition in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The growth inhibition was synergistically increased when CEM-C1 cells were treated with rapamycin plus 1 μmol/L Dex. CEM-C1 cells treated with rapamycin alone showed no apparent apoptosis, and were arrested at G0/G1 phase. After the treatment with Dex plus rapamycin, CEM-C1 cells demonstrated apparent apoptosis and increased the cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 phase. Rapamycin combined with Dex up-regulated GRα, phosphorylated GR（p-GR）, and pro-apoptotic protein Bim-EL in CEM-C1 cells, but inhibited the expression of p-p70S6K, a downstream target protein ofmTOR （mammalian target of rapamycin）. Conclusion After the treatment with rapamycin plus Dex, Dex resistant CEM-C1 cells induce growth inhibition and apoptosis. The underlying mechanism may involve inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway and also be associated with up-regulation of GR expression and activation of GC-GR signaling pathway.
基金Supported by Provinces Co-construction Program of Medical Science and Technique Foundation of Henan Province,No.SB201901042Key Scientific Research Project of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province,No.21A320070.
文摘Glucocorticoids(GCs)have been widely used as immunosuppressants and antiinflammatory agents to treat a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,and they fully exert their anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects in the body.The effect of GCs on white blood cells is an important part of their action.GCs can cause changes in peripheral blood white blood cell counts by regulating the proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis of white blood cells.Although the total number of white blood cells,neutrophil counts,lymphocytes,and eosinophils increases,the counts of basic granulocytes and macrophages decreases.In addition,GCs can regulate the activation and secretion of white blood cells,inhibit the secretion of a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines,the expression of chemokines,and promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.For patients on GC therapy,the effects of GCs on leukocytes were similar to the changes in peripheral blood caused by bacterial infections.Thus,we suggest that clinicians should be more cautious in assessing the presence of infection in children with long-term use of GCs and avoid overuse of antibiotics in the presence of elevated leukocytes.GCs work through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms in the human body,which are mediated by GC receptors.In recent years,studies have not fully clarified the mechanism of GCs,and further research on these mechanisms will help to develop new therapeutic strategies.
文摘Glucocorticoids have been used in the treatment of prostate cancer to slow disease progression, improve pain control and offset side effects of chemo- and hormonal therapy. However, they may also have the potential to drive prostate cancer growth via mutated androgen receptors or glucocorticoid receptors （GRs）. In this review we examine historical and contemporary use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of prostate cancer, review potential mechanisms by which they may inhibit or drive prostate cancer growth, and describe potential means of defining their contribution to the biology of prostate cancer.
基金Supported by grants from the National Science Council No.NSC 93-2314-B-002-006, Taiwan, and grants from National Taiwan University Hospital 91-N006
文摘AIM： To determine how glucocorticoids （GCs） may affect the growth and chemosensitivity of common carcinoma cells. METHODS： The effect of dexamethasone （DEX） on growth and chemosensitivity was assessed in 14 carcinoma cell lines. The function of GC receptors （GR） was assessed by MMTV reporter assay. Overexpression of GR was done by in vitro transfection and expression of a GR-expressing vector. Immunohistochemical stain of tissues and ceils were done by PA1-511A, an anti-GR monodonal antibody. RESULTS： DEX inhibited cell growth of four （MCF-7, MCF- 7/MXR1, MCF-7/TPT300, and HeLa）, increased cisplatin cytoxicity of one （SiHa）, and decreased dsplatin cytotoxicity of two （H460 and Hep3B） cell lines. The GR content of the seven cell lines affected by DEX was significantly higher than those of the seven cell lines unaffected by DEX （5.2±2.5×10^4 sites/cell vs1.3±1.4×10^4 sites/cell, P= 0.005）. Only two DEX-unresponsive cell lines {NPC-TW01 and NPC- TW04） oontained high GR amounts in the range （1.9-8.1×10^4 sites/cell） of the seven DEX-responsive cell lines. The GR function of NPC-TW01 and NPC-TW04, however, was foundto be impaired. The importance of high cellular amount of GR in mediating DEX susceptibility of the cells was further exemplified by GR dose-dependent drug resistance to cisplatin of AGS, a cell line with low GR content and was unaffected by DEX before transfection of GR-expressing vector. Immunohistochemical studies of human cancer tissues showed that 5 of the 45 （11.1%） breast cancer and 43 of the 85 （50.6%） non-small cell lung cancer had high GR contents at the ranges of the GC-responsive carcinoma cell lines. CONCLUSION： The growth and chemosensitivity of human carcinomas with high GR contents may be affected by GC. However, in light of the heterogeneous and even contradictive effects of GC on these cells, routine examination of GR contents of human carcinoma tissues may not be clinically useful until other markers that help predict the ultimate effect of GC on individual patients are identified.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(8187303981973547)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2017MH068)
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis(RA)effect of Escin combined with low dose of GCs(dexameth⁃asone,Dex)and its underlying mechanism.METHODS Adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis rats and LPS-injured RAW 264.7 were used to investigate the anti-RA effects of Escin combined with low dose Dex in vivo and in vitro.In vivo experiment:rats were randomly divided into model group(AIA),dexamethasone high dose(Dex,0.2 mg·kg^-1)group,dexamethasone low dose(Dex,0.05 mg·kg^-1)group,Escin 10 mg·kg^-1 group,Dex 0.05+Escin group,10 rats in each group,another 10 were used as normal control group.The vehicle and the corresponding drug were administered intragastrically(ig)daily for 14 d.In vitro experiment:LPS was used to stimulate RAW 264.7 macrophages for inflammatory models,which were divided into control group,LPS group,Dex with high dose(50 nmol·L^-1)group,and Dex with low dose(12.5 nmol·L^-1)group.In the Escin 10μmol·L^-1 group and the Dex+Escin(12.5 nmol·L^-1+10μmol·L^-1)group,the corresponding drugs were added to each well.After 2 h,LPS was added to induce inflammation.RESULTS Escin combined with low dose Dex significantly decreased arthritic index,serum IL-6 and TNF-α,improved paw swelling,and ameliorated the joint pathology immune organ pathology significantly.Gene chip results revealed that Nr3c1(GR)altered significantly.And that GR activation by Escin and low dose Dex was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro.Furthermore,Escin combined with low dose Dex also significant increase GR mRNA expression.However,when suppression of GR by its specific inhibitor,the anti-RA effect of Escin combined with low dose Dex was abolished.CONCLUSION Escin combined with Dex reduces the dose of Dex,and exerts significant anti-RA effects,which could also reduce the adverse effects of Dex.This combination might be attributed to GR activation.This study might provide a new combination drugs for the treatment of RA.
文摘The effect of dexamethasone with different concentrations and different stimulating periods on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors （GRα, GRβ） protein was investigated in human monocyte cell line THP-1. The cultured human monocyte line THP-1 cells were stimulated by dexamethasone with different concentrations and different periods. The expression of GRα and GRβ protein was detected by Western hlotting. The results showed that the expression of GRα and GRβ was detected in the THP-1 cells, The quantity of GRα expression was reduced by dexamethasone under the same concentration with the prolongation of expression was increased by dexamethasone treatment the stimulating periods. The quantity of GRβ in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It was concluded that dexamethasone stimulation time-dependently reduced the GRα expression in THP-1 cells. Dexamethasone stimulation time- and dose-dependently increased the GRβ expression in THP- 1 cells. The expression of GRα and GRβas regulated by glucocorticoid.
文摘In this report we studied the relationship between hydrocortisone(F) concentration and its inductive effect on tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, and the regulation of rat liver high- and low-affinity glucocorticoid receptors (GRH and GRL) by glucocorticoids (GC). When F concentration was 1-10 nmol/L, the dose-response relationship showed a tendency of saturation. TAT activity was much higher when F concentration was between 10 nmol/L and 10 μmol/l. When F concentration reached 10 μmol/L the induction of TAT could be completely inhibited by RU486, a competitive antagonist of GRH and GRL. These results indicate that induction of TAT by high F concentration was mediated by GRL. The concentration of GC in plasma remained over 10-6 mol/L for 3 d by subcutaneous injection of F in polyvinyl alcohol into the rats. The binding capacity (Ro) of GRH decreased significantly 1 h after injection and remained at a low level,while Ro of GRL increased at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h after injection. It may be concluded that GC could down-regulate GRH and up-regulate GRL. The pathophysiological and clinical significance of these results is discussed.
文摘The effect of forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, on glucocorticoid-induced modulation of proliferation and differentiation of a human osteosarcoma cell line(HOS-8603) was iniually studied. It was found that forskolin could significantly augment
基金the Science and Technology Planning Project of Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(2021YJ0465)the 2020 Xinglin Scholars Scientific Research Promotion Plan of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,and the Hundred Talents Plan Project of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(20-Q07).
文摘Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common,highly disabling,and burdensome disease.Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid medication plays a key role in its treatment;however,glucocorticoid resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease considerably weakens the effects of the treatment.Despite recent advances in determining the mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating such patients remains unclear.In this review,we reviewed the mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related glucocorticoid resistance with reference to the glucocorticoid receptor,the important signaling pathways(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,and interferon-γ/Janus kinase/stransducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway),histone deacetylase,nuclear transcription factor-κB,exosomes,and microRNA.Moreover,the methods of establishing the glucocorticoid resistance model associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and advances in therapeutic approaches including traditional Chinese medicine to restore chronic obstructive pulmonary disease glucocorticoid sensitivity have also been reviewed.This review shows that traditional Chinese medicine reverses glucocorticoid resistance mainly by regulating the expression of glucocorticoid receptor,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling,histone deacetylase 2,and nuclear transcription factor-κB in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease models.Future research is suggested to evaluate traditional Chinese medicine understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related glucocorticoid resistance in relation to exosomes,microRNA,and other signaling pathways.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81670885)the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province, China (No.2013B020400003)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China (No.15570001)
文摘AIM: To report the effects of intravenous high-dose glucocorticoids(iv GC) and orbital decompression(OD) surgery for treatment of sight-threatening thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records from patients with sight-threatening TAO [definite or highly suspected dysthyroid optic neuropathy(DON)] treated with iv GC(60 cases) and OD(25 cases) was conducted at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center between January 2001 and January 2009. Patients were initially treated with iv GC(iv GC group). If no significant improvement in visual function was obtained, they then received OD surgery(OD group). The pre-versus post-treatment efficacies of either iv GC or OD in these patients were assessed using several indices, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, ocular alignment, ocular motility, and exophthalmos. RESULTS: Nighty-one eyes had definite DON while 79 were considered to have highly suspected DON. In the iv GC group, 51 individuals(85.0%) eventually demonstrated normal vision, while 10 patients(16.7%) demonstrated a reduction in deviation(P<0.01), and 35 cases(58.3%) showed slight improvements in ocular motility(P<0.01). In OD group, visual acuity improved in 24 cases(96.0%, P<0.01) and all patients showed varying reductions of exophthalmos(mean: 4.35±1.13 mm, P<0.01). Eight cases(32.0%) experienced an 8-15 PD reduction of deviation and ocular motility improved in 12 cases(48.0%), while 3 patients(12.0%) developed new-onset strabismus with diplopia post-surgically(P<0.01). Patients were followed up at an average of 1.55±1.07 y. CONCLUSION: Both iv GC and OD show good therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of sight-threatening TAO. Thepresence of extremely poor eyesight(≥0.5 log MAR) was corrected in some patients with iv GC alone, thus sparing these patients from subsequent OD surgery. In patients who were refractory to steroids, subsequent OD surgery often provided satisfactory outcomes, however, new-onset strabismus with diplopia was observed in 12.0% of these cases.
文摘Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely employed in a number of inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases, and, despite the introduction of novel therapies, remain the first-line treatment for inducing remission in moderate to severe active Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Despite their extensive therapeutic use and the proven effectiveness, considerable clinical evidence of wide inter-individual differences in GC efficacy among patients has been reported, in particular when these agents are used in inflammatory diseases. In recent years, a detailed knowledge of the GC mechanism of action and of the genetic variants affecting GC activity at the molecular level has arisen from several studies. GCs interact with their cytoplasmic receptor, and are able to repress inflammatory gene expression through several distinct mechanisms. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is therefore crucial for the effects of these agents: mutations in the GR gene (NR3C1, nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1) are the primary cause of a rare, inherited form of GC resistance; in addition, several polymorphisms of this gene have been described and associated with GC response and toxicity.However, the GR is not self-standing in the cell and the receptor-mediated functions are the result of a complex interplay of GR and many other cellular partners. The latter comprise several chaperonins of the large cooperative hetero-oligomeric complex that binds the hormonefree GR in the cytosol, and several factors involved in the transcriptional machinery and chromatin remodeling, that are critical for the hormonal control of target genes transcription in the nucleus. Furthermore, variants in the principal effectors of GCs (e.g. cytokines and their regulators) have also to be taken into account for a comprehensive evaluation of the variability in GC response. Polymorphisms in genes involved in the transport and/or metabolism of these hormones have also been suggested as other possible candidates of interest that could play a role in the observed inter-individual differences in efficacy and toxicity. The best-characterized example is the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, a membrane transporter that extrudes GCs from cells, thereby lowering their intracellular concentration. This protein is encoded by the ABCB1/ MDR1 gene; this gene presents different known polymorphic sites that can influence its expression and function. This editorial reviews the current knowledge on this topic and underlines the role of genetics in predicting GC clinical response. The ambitious goal of pharmacogenomic studies is to adapt therapies to a patient’s specific genetic background, thus improving on efficacy and safety rates.
基金Supported by Italian Ministry of Health,No.44/GR-2010-2300447
文摘In spite of the introduction in therapy of highly effective biological agents,glucocorticoids(GCs)are still employed to induce remission in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),but considerable inter-individual differences in their efficacy and side effects have been reported.The effectiveness of these drugs is indeed very variable and side effects,particularly severe in pediatric patients,are common and often unpredictable:the understanding of the complex gene regulation mediated by GCs could shed light on the causes of this variability.In this context,microRNAs(miRNAs)represent a new and promising field of research.miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that suppress gene expression at post-transcriptional level,and are fine-tuning regulators of diverse biological processes,including the development and function of the immune system,apoptosis,metabolism and inflammation.Emerging data have implicated the deregulated expression of certain miRNA networks in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,such as IBD.There is a great interest in the identification of the role of miRNAs in the modulation of pharmacological response;however,the association between miRNA and GC response in patients with IBD has not yet been evaluated in a prospective clinical study.The identification of miRNAs differently expressed as a consequence of GC treatment in comparison to diagnosis,represents an important innovative approach that could be translated into clinical practice.In this review we highlight the altered regulation of proteins involved in GC molecular mechanism by miRNAs,and their potential role as molecular markers useful for predicting in advance GC response.
