[Role of glucocorticoid receptor in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus].

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).

Conclusion: 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.