Human recombinant IL-1 alters glucocorticoid receptor function in Reuber hepatoma cells

Exposure of Reuber hepatoma cells (RHC) to 30 and 300 fM human rIL-1 (hurIL-1) for 4 h significantly decreased cytosolic glucocorticoid binding. Scatchard analysis indicated that the 30 and 300 fM doses of hurIL-1 significantly decreased the Bmax (maximum number of available binding sites), but did not alter the Kd (affinity of the glucocorticoid receptor for ligand). The decrease in cytosolic glucocorticoid binding, expressed relative to cytosol protein, did not result from increased intracellular protein in hurIL-1-treated RHC. In addition, the receptor binding reaction in RHC treated with 300 fM hurIL-1 could be resolved only by computer application of a three-parameter model. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation analysis confirmed significantly less untransformed (8 to 10S) receptor-ligand complexes in hurIL-1-treated RHC, which is biologically significant because hurIL-1 (300 fM) also inhibited the glucocorticoid induction of the gluconeogenic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Altered transformation of the receptor-ligand complex, a possible mechanism of action for hurIL-1-mediated inhibition of PEPCK induction, was examined. However, receptor transformation, verified by in vitro activation by high salt (0.3 M KCl) of glucocorticoid receptor-ligand complexes and subsequent sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation analysis, was not affected by hurIL-1. Furthermore, cytoplasmic glucocorticoid binding, determined in intact cell dexamethasone uptake experiments, was decreased in hurIL-1-treated RHC. The decrease in cytoplasmic glucocorticoid binding was reflected subsequently in decreased nuclear binding. The results support our hypothesis that, during acute infection and inflammation, mediators alter metabolic pathways in the liver by interfering with glucocorticoid action.