Glucocorticoid receptor subunit gene expression in parotid gland and adenomas

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the expressions of glucocorticoid receptor-alpha (GR-alpha) and -beta (GR-beta) messenger RNA (mRNA) in normal parotid and adenoma tissues. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Eighteen pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland and 12 parotid gland tissues adjacent to adenomas were studied by using real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: The expression of both GR-alpha and GR-beta mRNA in parotid adenoma were higher than that in normal parotid glands (P < 0.001), the GR-alpha/GR-beta ratios in parotid adenoma were lower than that in normal parotid glands (P < 0.001), and there were no differences of both GR-alpha and GR-beta mRNA as well as GR-alpha/GR-beta ratios in male and female (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our results showed that the mRNA expression of both GR-alpha and GR-beta were detectable in all studied specimens. The mRNA levels of these 2 GRs were higher, whereas the GR-alpha/GR-beta ratios were lower in adenomas tissues than that in the parotid gland; no differences of these 2 GRs as well as GR-alpha/GR-beta ratios were found between sexes. These data indicate that the relationship between the expressions of GRs and the clinical significance in parotid adenomas need further and profound investigation. (c) 2006 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.