{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression Pattern in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Changes Drastically within the First Week of Life.
{Author}: Yamamoto A;Motokura K;Iwanaga K;Niwa F;Takita J;Kawai M;
{Journal}: Horm Res Paediatr
{Volume}: 96
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: Sep 2023 28
{Factor}: 4.275
{DOI}: 10.1159/000526915
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>We herein examined changes in expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor subtypes GRα and GRβ in very low birth weight (VLBW) and term infants to clarify time-dependent changes in glucocorticoid sensitivity after birth.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Whole blood samples were collected at birth and on postnatal days 4-7, and the mRNA expression levels of GRα and GRβ were measured using RT-qPCR. The relative gene expression levels of GRα and GRβ as the target genes normalized to actin beta as the endogenous control were calculated by the comparative cycle threshold method.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The GRα/GRβ expression ratio at birth was significantly lower in 32 VLBW cesarean section (CS) infants than in term planned CS infants (median [IQR], 1.5 [1.1-1.8]- and 1.1 [0.7-1.6]-fold change, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the GRα/GRβ expression ratio increased from day 0 to days 4-7 (1.0 [0.6-1.4]- and 1.7 [0.6-1.4]-fold change, p < 0.01) in 43 VLBW infants.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The present results suggest that glucocorticoid sensitivity in VLBW infants increases after birth and this rapid change may play a role in surviving critical postnatal events.