Relationship between the expressions of glucocorticoid receptors α, β, γ, p and heat shock protein 90 mRNA in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia resistant to the glucocorticoid / 中华血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of GRα, GRβ, GRγ, GRp and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients and their correlations with glucocorticoid resistance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions of glucocorticoid receptors (GRα, GRβ, GRγ, GRp) mRNA and HSP90 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 40 newly diagnosed ITP patients and 29 healthy volunteers were examined by real time PCR. Of them, 28 patients received glucocorticoid (GC) therapy divided into GC sensitive group (GCS) and GC resistant group (GCR) according to GC response. GRα, GRβ, GRγ, GRp, HSP90 mRNA and HSP90/GRα were analyzed in paired groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of HSP90 mRNA was significantly decreased in ITP patients \[0.91(0.48 - 2.21)\] than in normal subjects \[1.41(0.83 - 2.61)\] (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in mRNA expressions of GRα, GRβ, GRγ, GRp and HSP90/GRα between ITP patients and normal controls. The expression of GRα mRNA in GCS patients was significant higher than in GCR patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, no significant differences in mRNA expressions of GRβ, GRγ, GRp and HSP90 and the ratio of HSP90 to GRα were observed between GCS and GCR patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of HSP90 mRNA decreased in adult ITP patients. GC resistance in adult ITP patients was associated with reduced expression of GRα. The very low expression of GRβ mRNA may be not involved in GC resistance in adult ITP.</p>