Evidence for glucocorticoid receptor in human leukocytes.

The glucocorticoid uptake in vitro by human periferal leukocytes was studied. The uptake showed 2 main components, one saturable and one non-saturable. The saturable component was compared with the uptake by the specific glucocorticoid receptor in rabbit granulocytes. The similarities with the rabbit receptor in structural specificity, time course of uptake at 37 degrees C, sensitivity to metabolic inhibition by PCMS and the physiological concentration for half saturation indicate that the saturable component corresponds to a specific glucocorticoid receptor. Cells from chronic lymphatic leukemia and chronic myeloic leukemia were also studied. Only the former had a saturable glucocorticoid uptake.