Effect of glucocorticosteroid treatment on glucocorticoid receptor expression in human adipocytes

The influence of glucocorticoid excess on expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and beta-adrenoceptor subtype was studied in isolated adipocytes obtained by sc fat biopsies from 17 healthy individuals. The biopsies were taken before and after 7 days of treatment with 25 mg prednisolone, given orally. GR and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were measured with a solution hybridization assay, and the number of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor binding sites was determined in radioligand binding experiments. GR protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis using an anti-GR antibody. Both GR protein and GR mRNA levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by about 50% after treatment, whereas no significant changes were demonstrated in either beta 1- or beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA levels. The number of beta 2-adrenoceptor-binding sites, however, increased by 70% after treatment (P < 0.05), whereas the number of beta 1-adrenoceptor binding sites was not affected. The affinity of each receptor subtype was not significantly altered by steroid treatment. In conclusion, an in vivo glucocorticoid excess decreases GR mRNA as well as GR protein levels and selectively increases beta 2-adrenoceptor density in sc fat cells of healthy individuals. This indicates that glucocorticoids modulate human adipose metabolism by altering the expression of regulatory proteins at various mRNA and post-mRNA levels.