A Western blot and molecular genetic investigation of the estrogen receptor beta in giant cell arteritis

CER2773
2006 Vol.24, N°2 ,Suppl.41
PI 0017, PF 0019
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PMID: 16859590 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
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 (ERα) gene. The object of the present study was to investigate the size of the estrogen receptor beta (ERΒ), and the size and nucleotide sequence of the ERΒ gene in temporal arteries in GCA.
METHODS:
The ERΒ protein was analyzed by Western blot technique and the ERΒ gene by RT-PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR product.
RESULTS:
Western blot analysis revealed an ERΒof normal size. There were no aberrations in size or nucleotide sequence in the ERΒ gene in the GCA patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present observations gave no support for the hypothesis that somatic mutations in the ERΒ gene should be involved in the pathogenesis of GCA.