Objective: To study the molecular mechanism contributing to hormone resistance of nephrotic syndrome.
Methods: The specific hormone binding sites of receptor was determined by radioligand binding assay. Messenger RNA of receptor was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: No significant differences of specific hormone binding sites of peripheral white blood cells were observed among hormone-sensitive patients, hormone-resistant patients and healthy volunteers. However, in hormone-resistant patients, GR alpha/GR beta mRNA ratio decreased significantly as compared with that of hormone-sensitive patients and healthy volunteers.
Conclusion: Results of the experiments indicated that the increased expression of GR beta, which leads to the decrease of the GR alpha/GR beta ratio, may be one of the mechanism responsible for hormone resistance in some nephrotic syndrome patients.