Effect of inflammatory arthritis on dexamethasone receptors in phagocytes--a possible role for plasma factors.

Synovial tissue cells from patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis bind dexamethasone in a similar fashion to the classical steroid receptors on other cells. In contrast, synovial fluid cells and blood PMNLs from these patients bind dexamethasone with much reduced affinity. Some component of plasma may interfere with the binding of dexamethasone to its receptor.