Expression of the Functional Glucocorticoid Receptor in Mouse and Human Lens Epithelial Cells

Abstract

These results demonstrate expression of the functional glucocorticoid receptor in mouse and human lens epithelial cells. This finding suggests that glucocorticoids may act on the mouse and human lens directly during normal lens development and/or cataractogenesis.

High-resolution magic angle spinning 1H NMR spectroscopy of metabolic changes in rabbit lens after treatment with dexamethasone combined with UVB exposure

“…It is synthesised within the lens, and a common feature of most types of cataracts is a decrease in the GSH level [34]. It has been suggested that glucocorticoid activity mediated through a glucocorticoid receptor [15] is responsible for loss of lenticular GSH, and thereby leading to cataractogenesis [6]. In the present study, the concentration of GSH decreased considerably after the combined treatment.…”

“…However, the exact mechanism of steroid-induced cataract is not known [15]. Biochemical changes such as the occurrence of glucocorticoid-protein adducts [2] and loss of glutathione [42] have been observed within the lens in animal experiments.…”

Inhibition of glucocorticoid-induced changes of Na+, K+-ATPase in rat lens by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486

“…In considering the mechanism for glucocorticoid effect on the lens, it should be noted that RU486 blocked the changes in gene expression and protein metabolism in lens epithelium treated with dexamethasone. Previous studies have shown that the GR present in the rat lens epithelial cells is able to bind with the classic glucocorticoid response element (GRE) and modulate the expression of a target gene [59,60]. In our current study, a statistically significant decrease in the protein expression levels of vimentin was observed under the treatment of 5 µM dexamethasone, but not in the negative control.…”

Dexamethasone Induces Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells in a Mouse Strain-Specific Manner

“…The RT-PCR assay was performed to detect the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene using glucocorticoid receptor primers, forward 5Ј-CAAAGCCGTTTCACTGTCC-3Ј and reverse 5Ј-ACAATTTCACACTGCCACC-3Ј. 16 The PCR protocol was as follows: 94°C for 2 minutes, followed by 30 cycles at 94°C for 1 minute, 56°C for 1 minute, and 72°C for 1 minute, and ending with 72°C for 7 minutes. Real-time quantitative one-step RT-PCR assay was performed to quantify CTGF, TGF-␤1, fibronectin EIIIA isoform (FN-EIIIA), ␣1 chain of type I procollagen (␣1COLI), angiotensinogen, and GAPDH mRNAs using QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR (Qiagen) and an ABI Prism 7700 sequence detection system (Applied Biosystems, Tokyo, Japan).…”