How Different Forms of Stress Hormone Receptors Affect the Body’s Internal Clock in Human Adrenal Cells

Rhythmic expression of clock genes was observed in the human adrenocortical cell line H295R.

• Synchronization with serum shock confirmed rhythmic oscillation of clock genes PER1, PER2, REV-ERBα, and ARNTL.
• H295R cells exhibited rhythmic expression of PER1, PER2, CRY1, and ARNTL even without serum shock.
• Glucocorticoid treatment induced rapid changes in PER1, PER2, and CRY1 levels in a GRα-dependent manner.
• Continuous glucocorticoid stimulation after 6 hours suppressed REV-ERBα expression.
• Administration of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist disrupted the circadian oscillation of clock genes.
• Overexpression of the GRß isoform did not change clock gene expression but prevented GRα-related suppression of REV-ERBα.

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