Characterization of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in uterine leiomyoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
Cellular and subcellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in uterine leiomyomas.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University of La Laguna (ULL) and Canary University Hospital (HUC).


METHODS
Premenopausal and postmenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas.


METHODS
Hysterectomy and myomectomy.


RESULTS
Estrogen receptor alpha was only present in smooth muscle cells with variation in the subcellular location in different leiomyomas. Estrogen receptor beta was widely distributed in smooth muscle, endothelial, and connective tissue cells with nuclear location in all cases studied; variations were only found in the muscle cells for this receptor.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogens operate in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells through different receptors, alpha and beta. However they only act through the ERbeta in endothelial and connective cells.
Valladares
Francisco
F
Departamento de Anatomía, Anatomía Patológica e Histología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Frías
Ignacio
I
Báez
Delia
D
García
Candelaria
C
López
Francisco J
FJ
Fraser
James D
JD
Rodríguez
Yurena
Y
Reyes
Ricardo
R
Díaz-Flores
Lucio
L
Bello
Aixa R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins