title: Molecular analysis of the estrogen receptor alpha gene in men with coronary artery disease: association with disease status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vasoprotective effects of estrogens are known to be mediated by their respective estrogen receptors (ER) alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta), which are present on the vascular wall. The amino-terminal part of the ERalpha appears to be important; genetic alterations in this region have been associated with arterial hypertension. This region has not been studied in atherosclerotic disease. In the present study, we examined the association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and alterations of the NH(2)-terminal part of ERalpha coding region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA was isolated from 50 healthy men and 40 men with CAD confirmed by coronary angiography. The coding sequences of exons 1 and 2 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by either denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) or single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP), or both, sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), as appropriate. In the same subjects, biochemical and vascular parameters were also determined by using the appropriate methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In exon 1, the codon 10 polymorphism was detected in both patients and healthy men either in heterozygous or homozygous form. The codon 87 polymorphism was detected mainly in homozygous form and only five individuals were heterozygotes. No mutations were found in exon 2. Statistical analysis of the allele distribution for either codon 10 or 87 between patients and healthy men showed no significant difference. In patients, the biochemical parameters were not statistically significantly different between ERalpha codon 10 genotypes or alleles. However, there was a clear effect of the TCT/TCT genotype and TCT allele on the vascular parameters whereas the right internal carotid artery (RICA) intima-media thickness was significantly associated with TCT/TCT genotype and TCT allele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that ERalpha genotypes play no role in the incidence of CAD disease, however, ERalpha codon 10 may be a genetic factor controlling some vessels' angiographic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National University of Athens, 75 M. Asias str., Goudi, 115 27, Athens, Greece. pmoutsatsou@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evangelopoulos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alevizaki
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekakis
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cimponeriu
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papamichael
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kominakis
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalofoutis
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moutsatsou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen