title: Intranuclear expression of progesterone receptors in smooth muscle cells of renovascular fibromuscular dysplasia: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) remains poorly understood. Yet, understanding this mechanism has taken on new urgency after recent evidence indicating that FMD is not as rare as previously thought. We speculated that hormonal receptors in the walls of dysplastic renal arteries were implicated in the pathogenesis of FMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a pilot prospective case-control study comparing histologic findings from renal arteries that were surgically removed in 2 patient groups. The case group included 6 samples from FMD patients who underwent surgery for stenosis or aneurysm caused by FMD. The control group included 3 FMD-free patients who underwent nephrectomy for nonvascular causes. Surgical specimens were sent to the histology laboratory. FMD was defined preoperatively using conventional radiologic criteria and was confirmed by histologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical staining detected intense progesterone receptor expression in the nuclei of smooth muscle cells in FMD patients. No progesterone receptor expression was found in the FMD-free patients. Estrogen receptor expression was not noted in the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary finding may suggest that progesterone plays a key role in the pathogenesis of FMD and opens the fields of genetic and therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Hypertension Artérielle, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silhol
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Hypertension Artérielle, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France. Electronic address: gabriellesarlon@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarlon-Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomo-Pathologie, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie Vasculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomo-Pathologie, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lepidi
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piquet
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Michel Alain
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Hypertension Artérielle, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaïsse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005352:Fibromuscular Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011980:Receptors, Progesterone