Correlating Androgen and Estrogen Steroid Receptor Expression with Coronary Calcification and Atherosclerosis in Men without Known Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

We conclude that both AR and ER beta are important in relatively early coronary atherosclerosis, but inversely so, because decreasing AR and increasing ER beta expression correlate with more extensive atherosclerosis. ER beta seems to be the predominate ER in coronary arteries harvested from men without known coronary artery disease. Interventional studies are required to assess the functional significance of these observations.

Association of Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Levels with Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Risk Factors

“…Consequently, the meaning of DHEA-S in association with endothelial function may be different between men and women. Gender differences in other steroid hormones and steroid hormone receptor expression in arteries (34,35) might play a mechanistic role.…”

Polymorphisms and Haplotypes of the Estrogen Receptor-β Gene (ESR2) and Cardiovascular Disease in Men and Women

“…Particularly in women, ER-␤ is the estrogen receptor that is predominantly expressed in human vascular smooth muscle (9 ). In autopsy studies, ER-␤ expression positively correlated with increased coronary artery plaque area in both women and men (10,11 ). Some studies suggest that increased ESR2 expression may be a secondary or compensatory phenomenon.…”

“…ER-␤ has been associated with coronary plaque (9 ). In autopsy studies, ER-␤ expression positively correlates with increased coronary artery plaque area in both women and men (10,11 ). Polymorphisms of ESR2 have been associated with left ventricular mass and left ventricular wall thickness in women but not men (12 ).…”

Severity of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women: associations with common estrogen receptor α polymorphic variants

“…ERa is expressed in endothelial cells (13) and vascular smooth muscle cells (14)(15)(16)(17), where it affects the transcription of several genes involved in vascular function (6,8,9). Genetic polymorphisms of the ERs may affect the transcriptional function of the ERs and thus the tissue response to estrogen.…”