Gluco- and mineralocorticoid receptors in human liver and kidney

Abstract

Human liver GR appeared similar to rat liver GR by all criteria. Renal atrophy in lithiasis, hydronephrosis, and some tumors was associated with diminished aldosterone binding. By saturation characteristics, MR were similar in normal human and rat kidneys, though not in human renal neoplasia. On DEAE-52 columns, whereas rat kidney MR 4 (=MR 3), MR 2 and MR 1 were saturated, respectively, by deoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, human kidney did not exhibit MR 2; rather, human renal MR 1 and MR 4 were saturated by deoxycorticosterone > progesterone > aldosterone. Furthermore, although rat kidney MR 4 binds mineralocorticoid antagonists: progesterone = 1; R-5020 = 20, human kidney did not bind R-5020 at all. These differences may be of prime importance in future interpretations and experimental designs.