Altered Skin Development and Impaired Proliferative and Inflammatory Responses in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing the Glucocorticoid Receptor

The study investigated the effects of overexpressing the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in transgenic mice, focusing on skin development and inflammatory responses. The mice exhibited altered skin development, including epidermal hypoplasia, underdeveloped hair follicles, and in severe cases, absence of skin in certain regions. These abnormalities were similar to ectodermal dysplasia in humans. The study found that GR overexpression led to impaired proliferative and inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the lack of hyperplasia and reduced proinflammatory cytokine induction upon TPA application. This anti-inflammatory effect was partly due to GR's interference with NF-κB activity, reducing κB-binding without affecting IκBα transcription.