Interleukin 2 Up-Regulates Glucocorticoid Receptor Number in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and the Osteosarcoma Cell Line Saos-2 In Vitro

• Published in: Steroids Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 349 - 351
• Main Authors: Sartori, Maria Luisa, Masera, Rosa Gabriella, Staurenghi, Antonio, Racca, Silvia, Angeli, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-05-1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adrenals. Interrenals; Adrenocortical hormones. Regulation; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glucocorticoid receptors; glucocorticoids; Humans; interleukin 2; Interleukin-2 - pharmacology; lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; osteoblast-like cells; Osteoblasts - drug effects; Osteoblasts - metabolism; Protein Binding; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - metabolism; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; Saos-2 cells; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Saos-2 cells; glucocorticoid receptors; osteoblast-like cells; lymphocytes; glucocorticoids; interleukin 2; Osteoarticular system; Human; Regulation(control); Cell line; Interleukin 2; Cytokine; Osteoblast; Bone; Glucocorticoid; Lymphocyte; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0039-128X; 1878-5867
• DOI: 10.1016/S0039-128X(98)00023-3

Glucocorticoids are well-recognized modulators of immunocytes and osteoblasts via specific receptor-mediated mechanisms. We have evaluated the in vitro effect of interleukin 2 (IL-2) on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy donors and osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells. Aliquots of PBMC or Saos-2 cells were incubated for 20 h in the presence or absence of recombinant human IL-2 (100 IU/mL) at 37°C. After incubation, a [
3H]dexamethasone radioligand-binding assay and Scatchard analysis were used to determine GR-binding parameters in both cell populations. Saos-2 cells basally express higher numbers of GR than PBMCs. After IL-2, a significant increase in GR number was found for both PBMCs and Saos-2 cells. The relative increase was higher in Saos-2 cells; in PBMCs, the apparent affinity fell to almost half. These data represent an additional piece of evidence that cytokine and steroid hormones may act in a complementary way to regulate specific cell functions.