OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on behavior, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cortisol in the serum, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hippocampus in rats with hypothyroidism complicated with depression, and to explore the possible mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion on improving depression in rats with hypothyroidism. METHODS: A total of 32 SPF SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a medication group and a wheat-grain moxibustion group, 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the rats in the remaining groups were treated with intragastric administration of 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU) suspension at 1 mL/100 g, once a day for 4 weeks to establish the rat model of hypothyroidism, and whether the rats were accompanied with depression-like behavior determined through behavioristics evaluation. The rats in the medication group were intervened with euthyrox at 0.9 mL/100 g, once a day, for 4 weeks; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Mingmen" (GV 4), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Pishu" (BL 20), 7 cones each acupoint, once a day, six times a week for 4 weeks. After the intervention, the depression status was observed by behavioristics test; the contents of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), 5-HT and cortisol in the serum were detected by ELISA; the protein expressions of MR and GR in hippocampus were detected by Western blot; the expressions of MR mRNA and GR mRNA in the hippocampus were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Before the intervention, compared with the blank group, the scores of open field test (OFT) were decreased and the immobility time of tail suspension test (TST) was prolonged (P<0.05); the serum TSH contents were increased and TT4 contents were decreased (P<0.01) in the other three groups. After the intervention, compared with the model group, the vertical score of OFT was increased and the immobility time of forced swimming test (FST) was prolonged in the medication group (P<0.05), while the scores of three items of OFT were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the immobility time of FST and TST was shortened in the wheat-grain moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the medication group, the immobility time of TST and FST in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was shorter (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the contents of serum TSH and cortisol were increased (P<0.01, P<0.001), while the contents of serum TT4 and 5-HT were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001). Compared with the model group, the contents of serum TT4 and 5-HT were increased, while the contents of serum TSH and cortisol were decreased in the medication group and wheat-grain moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the protein and mRNA expression of MR, GR in the hippocampus in the model group was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001); compared with the model group, the protein and mRNA expression of MR in the hippocampus in the medication group were increased (P<0.05), and the protein expression of MR, GR and mRNA expression of MR in the hippocampus in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the expression of MR mRNA in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Wheat-grain moxibustion could significantly improve thyroid function and depression in rats with hypothyroidism. Its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the protein and mRNA expression of MR and GR in the hippocampus, and then affecting the expression of serum cortisol and 5-HT.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Depression/therapy* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Hydrocortisone/metabolism* ; Hypothyroidism/therapy* ; Moxibustion ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism* ; Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/metabolism* ; Serotonin ; Thyrotropin/metabolism* ; Triticum/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of PPP2R5C to the activity of Molt-4 cells in childhood acute T lymphocytic leukemia and its mechanism. METHODS: The small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology targeting PPP2R5C gene was used to down-regulate the expression of PPP2R5C in Molt-4 cells. At the same time, a blank control group, a negative control group and a 17-DMAG group were set up. The cells in the negative control group were transfected with siRNA-NC, the cells in 17-DMAG group were treated with the HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG at a final concentration of 6.4 μmol/L for 48 h. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect transfection efficiency; CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activity of the cells in each group, EdU was used to detect the proliferation level of the cells in each group, flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle distribution ratio of the cells in each group, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to detect the apoptosis of the cell, RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression changes of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) of the cells in each group. RESULTS: After Molt-4 cells were transfected with siRNA-PPP2R5C, the expression of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein in the cells were down-regulated significantly compared with those in the blank control group and the si-NC group (P<0.05); compared with cells in the blank control group and the si-NC group, the proliferation activity of the cells in the siRNA-PPP2R5C group and the 17-DMAG group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the rate of EdU positive cells was significantly reduced (P<0.05); the proportion of the cells in G1 phase decreased while the proportion of the cells in G₂ phase increased (P<0.05), the apoptosis rate of the cells also increased significantly (P<0.05); in addition, the expression of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein of the cells in siRNA-PPP2R5C group was significantly down-regulated compared with those in the blank control group and si-NC group (P<0.05). The expressions of PPP2R5C mRNA and protein in the 17-DMAG group were also significantly down-regulated compared with those in the blank control group and si-NC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Down-regulation of PPP2R5C gene expression can inhibit Molt-4 cell activity in childhood acute T lymphocytic leukemia, block the cells in G₂ phase, and promote cell apoptosis, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of HSP90-GR signaling pathway.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Child ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a type of disease with high mortality and rapid progression with no specific treatment methods currently available. Glucocorticoids exert beneficial clinical effects on therapy for ALF. However, the mechanism of this effect remains unclear and when to use glucocorticoids in patients with ALF is difficult to determine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specific immunological mechanism of dexamethasone (Dex) on treatment of ALF induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) in mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were given LPS and D-GaIN by intraperitoneal injection to establish an animal model of ALF. Dex was administrated to these mice and its therapeutic effect was observed. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine liver pathology. Multicolor flow cytometry, cytometric bead array (CBA) method, and next-generation sequencing were performed to detect changes of messenger RNA (mRNA) in immune cells, cytokines, and Kupffer cells, respectively. RESULTS: A mouse model of ALF can be constructed successfully using LPS/D-GaIN, which causes a cytokine storm in early disease progression. Innate immune cells change markedly with progression of liver failure. Earlier use of Dex, at 0 h rather than 1 h, could significantly improve the progression of ALF induced by LPS/D-GaIN in mice. Numbers of innate immune cells, especially Kupffer cells and neutrophils, increased significantly in the Dex-treated group. In vivo experiments indicated that the therapeutic effect of Dex is exerted mainly via the glucocorticoid receptor (Gr). Sequencing of Kupffer cells revealed that Dex could increase mRNA transcription level of nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (Nr4a1), and that this effect disappeared after Gr inhibition. CONCLUSIONS In LPS/D-GaIN-induced ALF mice, early administration of Dex improved ALF by increasing the numbers of innate immune cells, especially Kupffer cells and neutrophils. Gr-dependent Nr4a1 upregulation in Kupffer cells may be an important ALF effect regulated by Dex in this process.
Animals ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kupffer Cells/physiology* ; Liver Failure, Acute/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1/physiology* ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/physiology*

Glucocorticoid (GC) is currently the most effective drug for controlling persistent asthma; however, there is a significant difference in the response to GC among patients with asthma. Steroid-resistant asthma is one of the subtypes of asthma and has poor response to high-dose GC treatment. It may affect the quality of life of patients and even threaten their lives. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant asthma and related targeted treatment strategy. In recent years, a variety of pathogeneses have been found to participate in the development and progression of steroid-resistant asthma, including the reduction in the binding between GC receptor and GC, the increase in the expression of GC receptor β, over-activation of nuclear transcription factor activating protein 1 and nuclear factor-κB, abnormality in histone acetylation, and immune-mediated cytokine dysregulation. In addition, many studies have shown that vitamin D can improve the sensitivity to GC among patients with steroid-resistant asthma. This article reviews the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant asthma and the influence of vitamin D.
Asthma ; Drug Resistance ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Vitamin D

OBJECTIVES: To investigate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) gene expression and protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with severe or profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and to explore the roles of GRs and HDAC2 in glucocorticoid (GC) insensitivity. METHODS: Fifty-five severe or profound SSNHL patients were enrolled in the study. According to hearing improvement after GC treatment, patients were assigned into two groups: GC-sensitive and GC-resistant. A normal reference group included 20 healthy volunteers without hearing loss. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were used to detect the relative expression of GRα, GRβ, and HDAC2 in PBMCs at the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The protein levels of GRs and HDAC2 in PBMCs of SSNHL patients were lower than the normal reference values before GC treatment. Compared with the GC-resistant group, both the mRNA and protein levels of GRα and HDAC2 were significantly increased in the GC-sensitive group after GC treatment. CONCLUSION: A lack of GRα and HDAC2 induction following steroid treatment in GC-resistant SSNHL patients may play a fundamental mechanistic role in GC insensitivity. Response of GRα and HDAC2 to steroid treatment may, thus, predict the prognosis of hearing improvement in SSNHL patients.
Blotting, Western ; Gene Expression ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Histone Deacetylase 2 ; Histone Deacetylases ; Histones ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Reference Values ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: Psychological stress has been known to increase the risk of schizophrenia. Because stress responses are mainly mediated by cortisol, the action of the glucocorticoid receptors (Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 3 Group C Member 1, NR3C1) is possibly related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the associations between polymorphisms of NR3C1 and schizophrenia.METHODS: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs17100236, rs2963155, rs9324924, and rs7701443) of NR3C1 were genotyped in 208 patients with schizophrenia and 339 healthy individuals. A chi-square test was performed to test differences in allele distributions among groups. A multiple logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and multiple inheritance models to analyze the associations between schizophrenia and SNPs (the dominant, recessive and additive models).RESULTS: The minor allele frequencies of two SNPs were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group than in those of the control group (rs2963155 G > A : 0.25 vs. 0.18, p = 0.0066 ; rs7701443 A > G : 0.40 vs. 0.33, p = 0.012). The genotype frequencies of two SNPs were found to be significantly different between patients with schizophrenia and controls in the dominant model (rs2963155 : AG/GG vs. AA, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.16–2.38, p = 0.0055, rs7701443 : AG/AA vs. GG, OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.11–2.34, p = 0.01) and the log-additive model (rs2963155 : AG vs. GG vs. AA, OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.13–2.10, p = 0.0067).CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant associations between NR3C1 polymorphisms and schizophrenia. It suggests that NR3C1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Schizophrenia ; Stress, Psychological ; Wills

Escin, as an internally applied anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in the treatment of inflammation and edema resulting from trauma or operation in the clinic. However, the effect of its external use on cutaneous inflammation and edema remains unexplored. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects of external use of escin were studied in carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced capillary permeability in rats, paraxylene-induced ear swelling in mice, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Effects of external use of escin gel on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored by detecting the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with Western blotting and Real-time PCR analyses, with further exploration of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions. We demonstrated that external use of escin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in different animal models and its anti-inflammatory effects might be related to down-regulation of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The results also showed that escin exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the expression of GR, with the possible mechanism being inhibition of the expressions of GR-related signaling molecules such as NF-κB and AP-1.
Aesculus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Dinoprostone ; immunology ; Edema ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Escin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; genetics ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Background: Glucocorticoid (GC) is the first-line therapy for asthma, but some asthmatics are insensitive to it. Glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 gene (GLCCI1) is reported to be associated with GCs efficiency in asthmatics, while its exact mechanism remains unknown. Methods: A total of 30 asthmatic patients received fluticasone propionate for 12 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) and GLCCI1 expression were detected. Asthma model was constructed in wild-type and GLCCI1 knockout (GLCCI1) mice. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression were detected by polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting (WB). The phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was also detected by WB. Results: In asthmatic patients, the change of FEV was well positively correlated with change of GLCCI1 expression (r = 0.430, P = 0.022). In animal experiment, GR and MKP-1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in asthmatic mice than in control mice (wild-type: GR: 0.769 vs. 1.000, P = 0.022; MKP-1: 0.493 vs. 1.000, P < 0.001. GLCCI1: GR: 0.629 vs. 1.645, P < 0.001; MKP-1: 0.377 vs. 2.146, P < 0.001). Hydroprednisone treatment significantly increased GR and MKP-1 mRNA expression levels than in asthmatic groups; however, GLCCI1 asthmatic mice had less improvement (wild-type: GR: 1.517 vs. 0.769, P = 0.023; MKP-1: 1.036 vs. 0.493, P = 0.003. GLCCI1: GR: 0.846 vs. 0.629, P = 0.116; MKP-1: 0.475 vs. 0.377, P = 0.388). GLCCI1 asthmatic mice had more obvious phosphorylation of p38 MAPK than wild-type asthmatic mice (9.060 vs. 3.484, P < 0.001). It was still higher even though after hydroprednisone treatment (6.440 vs. 2.630, P < 0.001). Conclusions: GLCCI1 deficiency in asthmatic mice inhibits the activation of GR and MKP-1 and leads to more obvious phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, leading to a decremental sensitivity to GCs. Trial Registration ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-RCC-13003634; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=5926.
Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; genetics ; physiology ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Phosphorylation ; genetics ; physiology ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to excess cortisol. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels contribute to hepatic steatosis. We hypothesized that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) could attenuate hepatic steatosis through glucocorticoid receptor (GR) acetylation in experimental CS. To induce CS, we administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 40 ng/kg/day) to Sprague-Dawley rats by subcutaneous infusion with osmotic mini-pumps. We administered the HDACi, sodium valproate (VPA; 0.71% w/v), in the drinking water. Treatment with the HDACi decreased steatosis and the expression of lipogenic genes in the livers of CS rats. The enrichment of GR at the promoters of the lipogenic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (Srebp1c), was markedly decreased by VPA. Pan-HDACi and an HDAC class I-specific inhibitor, but not an HDAC class II a-specific inhibitor, attenuated dexamethasone (DEX)-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. The transcriptional activity of Fasn was decreased by pretreatment with VPA. In addition, pretreatment with VPA decreased DEX-induced binding of GR to the glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Treatment with VPA increased the acetylation of GR in ACTH-infused rats and DEX-induced HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that HDAC inhibition attenuates hepatic steatosis hrough GR acetylation in experimental CS.
Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase ; Acetylation ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Animals ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Dexamethasone ; Drinking Water ; Hep G2 Cells ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Histone Deacetylases* ; Histones* ; Hydrocortisone ; Infusions, Subcutaneous ; Lipogenesis ; Liver ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Response Elements ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; Valproic Acid

OBJECTIVES: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the major cause of the common cold. Currently there is no registered, clinically effective, antiviral chemotherapeutic agent to treat diseases caused by HRVs. In this study, the antiviral activity of dexamethasone (DEX) against HRV1B was examined. METHODS: The anti–HRV1B activity of DEX was assessed by sulforhodamine B assay in HeLa cells, and by RT-PCR in the lungs of HRV1B-infected mice. Histological evaluation of HRV1B-infected lungs was performed and a histological score was given. Anti-HRV1B activity of DEX via the glucocorticoid receptor (GCR)-dependent autophagy activation was assessed by blocking with chloroquine diphosphate salt or bafilomycin A1 treatment. RESULTS: In HRV1B-infected HeLa cells, treatment with DEX in a dose-dependent manner, resulted in a cell viability of > 70% indicating that HRV1B viral replication was reduced by DEX treatment. HRV1B infected mice treated with DEX, had evidence of reduced inflammation and a moderate histological score. DEX treatment showed antiviral activity against HRV1B via GCR-dependent autophagy activation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that DEX treatment showed anti-HRV1B activity via GCR-dependent autophagy activation in HeLa cells and HRV1B infected mice. Further investigation assessing the development of topical formulations may enable the development of improved DEX effectiveness.
Animals ; Autophagy* ; Cell Survival ; Chloroquine ; Common Cold ; Dexamethasone* ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Mice ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Rhinovirus*