Estrogen receptor beta gene variants may be associated with more favorable metabolic profile in postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography.
OBJECTIVE
Estrogen action is exerted on the vasculature through estrogen receptors ER alpha and ER beta. We have previously reported significant association of ER alpha gene (ESR1) variants with more severe coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women. The influence of ER beta gene (ESR2) variants on the cardiovascular system is not well established. We investigated the association of common ESR2 variants with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and with the severity of CAD in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
ESR2 polymorphisms Alu I (1730 G > A) and Rsa I (1082 G > A) were studied in 174 postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography (age 45 - 88 yrs). The severity of CAD (0 - 3 vessels with > 50 % stenosis), indices of obesity and other predisposing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, biochemical and hormonal parameters were recorded.


RESULTS
75 women had 0, 39 had one, 37 had two and 23 had three vessels with severe stenosis in the coronary angiography. There was no association between Alu I (allele frequency = 40.2 %) and Rsa I (allele frequency = 2.6 %) variants and CAD severity. Carriers of Alu I had lower BMI (p = 0.044), lower waist perimeter (p = 0.029) and lower total cholesterol (p = 0.033) and LDL levels (p = 0.029). There was no association between Rsa I polymorphism and any metabolic risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
ESR2 Alu I polymorphism may have a favorable influence on risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity indices and cholesterol levels. It does not appear to be associated with the severity of CAD in women.
Saltiki
K
K
Department Medical Therapeutics, ALEXANDRA Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, Greece. saze@otenet.gr
Mantzou
E
E
Doukas
C
C
Kanakakis
I
I
Zotos
P
P
Lazaros
L
L
Georgiou
I
I
Alevizaki
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D055442:Metabolome / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol