Cytokine networks and corticosteroid receptors

The role of the inflammatory cytokines on glucocorticosteroid binding (GCSB) and glucocorticosteroid receptor (GR) level was studied. We incubated a B cell line--CESS--, a promonocytic cell line--U937--and a hepatoma cell line--HepG2--in the presence of varying concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha for 24 hours. Glucocorticosteroid binding was determined by the method of "whole cell uptake," and characterized by Scatchard analysis. A considerable increase in the glucocorticosteroid binding was induced by all the three cytokines. Northern analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor expression demonstrates that the action of the cytokines is likely not pretranslational. Present data suggest that local imbalance in the ratio of these three cytokines in different pathological cases might influence the glucocorticosteroid sensitivity of the lymphocytes, monocytes and hepatocytes as target cells.