Topical application of potent glucocorticoids augments epidermal beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response in vivo.

The effects of topical application of glucocorticoids on the epidermal beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response were investigated. A significant increase in this receptor response was observed 24 h following topical application of potent glucocorticoid ointments (0.12% betamethasone-17-valerate, 0.05% clobetasol-17-propionate). The application of a relatively weak glucocorticoid, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate, revealed no augmentation effect. There was no significant difference in other adenylate cyclase responses (adenosine-, and histamine-) between control and glucocorticoid-treated epidermis. UVB irradiation is known to augment the beta-adrenergic response of epidermis. Comparison of the effects revealed that topical glucocorticoid treatment had less effect than UVB irradiation, and when the UVB irradiation was combined with glucocorticoid treatment, the beta-adrenergic augmentation effect was not enhanced. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities were not significantly altered by the glucocorticoid-, UVB-, or combined treatments. Our data indicate that epidermal beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response is affected by topical application of 'potent' glucocorticoids in vivo. Although the effect is weaker than that induced by UVB irradiation, we believe the system might be a useful tool for dissecting the glucocorticoidal potency of topical preparations using the epidermal keratinocyte response in vivo.