Glucocorticoids up-regulate human chorion 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 / 中国应用生理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the co-localization of glucocorticoid receptor and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11beta-HSD1) and to investigate whether glucocorticoids regulate the reductase activity and expression of 11beta-HSD1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical staining for 11beta-HSD1 in cultured primary human chorionic trophoblasts was performed. Radiometric conversion assay and Northern blot analysis were respectively used to observe the activity and mRNA expression of 11beta-HSD1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>11beta-HSD1 and GR were co-expressed in the same chorionic trophoblast. Both 11beta-HSD1 reductase activity and mRNA levels were increased by dexamethasone (10(-6) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L) in the cultured chorionic trophoblasts, and the effects were blocked by GR antagonist RU486 (10(-6) mol/L).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By binding to GR, glucocorticoids induce the expression of 11beta-HSD1 by a possible intracrine mechanism.</p>