Relationship between estrogen receptor-alpha polymorphism and serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, C-reactive protein and homocysteine in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Genetic variation in the estrogen receptor-gene (ERalpha) may influence the risk of cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. This effect, at least in part, may be dependent on the decrease in expression of injury and inflammatory markers in the vascular wall. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between ERalpha PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms and serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Subjects of the study were 64 postmenopausal women. PvuII and XbaI ERalpha gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.


RESULTS
Mean sVCAM-1 level was significantly higher in pp homozygotes in comparison with PP homozygotes and Pp heterozygotes, as well as higher in xx homozygotes in comparison with XX homozygotes and Xx heterozygotes. Levels of sVCAM-1 were also significantly higher in women with px haplotype compared with PX and Px haplotypes. There were no relationships between investigated genotypes or haplotypes and levels of sICAM-1, CRP and homocysteine.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study suggest that genetic variation in ER gene may influence blood levels of VCAM-1 in women after the menopause.
Jakimiuk
Artur J
AJ
Second Department of Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. jakimiuk@yahoo.com
Bogusiewicz
Michał
M
Skorupski
Paweł
P
Adamiak
Aneta
A
Miotła
Paweł
P
Haczyński
Józef
J
Rechberger
Tomasz
T
D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D006710:Homocysteine; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein