A Western blot and molecular genetic investigation of the estrogen receptor beta in giant cell arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
The epidemiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) may indicate a pathogenetic relationship between GCA and female sex hormone metabolism; GCA is two to four times more common in women compared with men. Our previous analyses gave no support for the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of GCA should be related to somatic mutations in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene. The object of the present study was to investigate the size of the estrogen receptor beta (ERBeta), and the size and nucleotide sequence of the ERBeta gene in temporal arteries in GCA.


METHODS
The ERBeta protein was analyzed by Western blot technique and the ERBeta gene by RT-PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR product.


RESULTS
Western blot analysis revealed an ERBeta of normal size. There were no aberrations in size or nucleotide sequence in the ERBeta gene in the GCA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present observations gave no support for the hypothesis that somatic mutations in the ERBeta gene should be involved in the pathogenesis of GCA.
Larsson
K
K
Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Nordborg
C
C
Moslemi
A-R
AR
Nordborg
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000737:chemistry
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta