Fig. 2

Protection against cytotoxicity provided by cortisol (CORT) and dexamethasone (DEX) is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. a Viability courses of MCF7 cells treated for 24, 48, and 72 h with (a) ETOH, TNF, CORT, CORT + TNF, 10 μM RU486 (RU486), RU486 + TNF, RU486 + CORT, or RU486 + CORT + TNF; p < 0.005. b Same as in a) except with DEX instead of CORT. The values of all treatment groups were lower than that of the ETOH group; P < 0.005. c and d Luciferase (Luc) activity as an indirect measure of GR-dependent transcription. c Treatment with 1 μM CORT, 1 μM RU486 and 1 ng/mL TNF for 24 h and analyzed by Luc/β-Gal; p < 0.05. d Treatment with 1 μM DEX instead of CORT; p < 0.005. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD); n = 3