Ulcerative Colitis: Wen ZH

Zhang H, Ouyang Q, Wen ZH, Fiocchi C, Liu WP, Chen DY, Li FY. · Department of Gastroenterology, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. · World J Gastroenterol. · Pubmed #15793862 links to  free full text

Abstract: AIM: Glucocorticoid (GC) resistant ulcerative colitis (UC) remains a serious disease and is difficult to manage. Although the molecular basis of GC insensitivity is still unknown, GC receptors (GRalpha and GRbeta) may play an important role in it. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the expression of GRalpha and GRbeta in colonic mucosal cells of patients with UC, the efficacy of GC therapy and the intensity of inflammation. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of UC were classified into: GC sensitive (n = 16) and GC resistant (n = 9) cases. Patients consisted of mild (n = 6), moderate (n = 8) and severe (n = 11) cases. GRalpha and GRbeta expression in colonic mucosal specimens were investigated by immunohistochemistry, and compared between GC resistant and sensitive groups, and also among various degrees of inflammation. RESULTS: All cases were positive for GRalpha and GRbeta expression. Both positive association between GRalpha expression and the response of UC to GC and strong negative association between GRbeta expression and the response of UC to GC were identified. There was no significant association between GRalpha/GRbeta expression and the degree of inflammation of UC. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both GRalpha and GRbeta may play an important role in the action of GC, and that GRbeta functions as a dominant negative inhibitor of GRalpha. Expression of GRalpha and GRbeta in colonic mucosal cells of patients with UC may serve as predictors of glucocorticoid response, but can not function as markers of inflammatory intensity.

Zhang H, Ouyang Q, Wen ZH, Liu WP, Chen DY, Li FY. · Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. · Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. · Pubmed #15460404 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of the expression of GRalpha and GRbeta in the colonic mucosal cell of patients with ulcerative colitis to the efficacy of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and the intensity of inflammation. METHODS: GRalpha expression and GRbeta expression in the colonic mucosal specimens were assessed by means of immunohistochemistry. Then comparative analyses were made on the GRalpha and GRbeta expression between the GC resistant group and GC sensitive group at various levels of inflammation. A normal response group was observed for comparison. RESULTS: The staining intensities of both GRalpha and GRbeta in colonic mucosal specimens showed significant differences between the GC resistant group, GC sensitive group and normal response group. No association between the expression of GRalpha and GRbeta and the degree of inflammation was found. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both GRalpha and GRbeta play an important role in the mechanism of the action of GC, and GRbeta functions as a dominant negative inhibitor of GRalpha in there. The expression of GRalpha and GRbeta in the colonic mucosal cell of patients with ulcerative colitis may serve as predictors of glucocorticoid response, but cannot be used as the markers of the severity of inflammation.