Do patients with ulcerative colitis responding to steroid treatment up-regulate glucocorticoid receptor levels in colorectal mucosa?
GR levels increase in UC-patients responding to GCS-therapy but not in steroid resistant patients and may be the reason for the lack of steroid-efficacy. Increasing NF-κB levels were found in responders attaining remission, possibly reflecting a lower turnover. A decrease in DNA-binding of NF-κB was found in these patients, perhaps because of the increased GR levels counteracting NF-κB activity.
The effectiveness of this therapy was not demonstrated, likely due to incomplete compliance along the therapeutic chain, beginning with the PT's report, through a variety of possible responses, and ending with patient outcome.