RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A human glucocorticoid receptor gene variant that increases the stability of the glucocorticoid receptor beta-isoform mRNA is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 2383 OP 2388 VO 28 IS 11 A1 R H Derijk A1 M J Schaaf A1 G Turner A1 N A Datson A1 E Vreugdenhil A1 J Cidlowski A1 E R de Kloet A1 P Emery A1 E M Sternberg A1 S D Detera-Wadleigh YR 2001 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/11/2383.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence and function of polymorphism in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We used single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing to study the hGR gene in 30 patients with RA, 40 with SLE, and 24 controls. A newly identified polymorphism was transfected in COS-1 cells and the stability of the mRNA containing the polymorphism was tested using real-time PCR. RESULTS: A polymorphism in the hGR gene in exon9beta, in an "ATTTA" motif, was found to be significantly associated with RA. Introduction of this polymorphism in the hGRb mRNA was found to significantly increase stability in vitro compared to the wild-type sequence. CONCLUSION: Our findings show an association between RA and a previously unreported polymorphism in the hGR gene. This polymorphism increased stability of hGRbeta mRNA, which could contribute to an altered glucocorticoid sensitivity since the hGRbeta is thought to function as an inhibitor of hGRalpha activity.