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Implication of glucocorticoid receptors in the stimulation of human glioma cell proliferation by dexamethasone
Author(s) -
Langeveld C. H.,
van Waas M. P.,
Stoof J. C.,
Suianto W.,
de Kloet E. R.,
Wolbers J. G.,
Heimans J. J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490310316
Subject(s) - dexamethasone , antiglucocorticoid , glucocorticoid receptor , mifepristone , glucocorticoid , cell growth , cell culture , receptor , glioma , endocrinology , stimulation , medicine , biology , chemistry , cancer research , biochemistry , pregnancy , genetics
Abstract Dexamethasone is frequently used in the therapy of brain tumor patients. We investigated the effect of dexamethasone on the proliferation of three short‐term and four established human glioma cell lines in vitro, using a microculture tetrazolium assay to determine growth rates. In one short‐term culture and in one established cell line dexamethasone consistently stimulated the proliferation in concentration‐dependent way. The proliferation was maximally enhanced at a concentration of approximately 0.1 μM. In these two cell lines a relatively high level of glucocorticoid receptors was present, whereas low levels of glucocorticoid receptors were found in the other cell lines. In addition, we demonstrated that the stimulatory effects of dexamethasone on the proliferation of the glioma cell lines can be antagonized by the antiglucocorticoid RU38486. The results demonstrate unequivocally that the glucocorticoid receptor plays a role in the growth stimulating effect of dexamethasone.