Expression of oestrogen receptor beta was negatively correlated with disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease involving the terminal ileum

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2018Source: SteroidsAuthor(s): Hongxia Li, Hong Chen, Lu Chen, Duo Shen, Xiaoxin XuAbstractCrohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease. The recurrence and remission of symptoms in CD patients are associated with changes in hormones, such as in puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause, reflecting that oestrogen and its receptor might play an important role in CD. The study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of oestrogen receptor in patients with CD involving the terminal ileum. Expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ) of 37 patients with CD involving the terminal ileum and 21 healthy controls was determined by immunohistochemistry. Disease activity was assessed by Harvey-Bradshow Crohn’s disease activity index(Harvey-Bradshow CDAI). Expression of ERα was negative for all cases. Moreover, a reduction of ERβ expression in patients with CD involving the terminal ileum was found, and ERβ expression had a negative correlation with the disease activity index. These data indicate that ERβ might be a predictor of CD activity and a new target for further study in CD endocrine therapy.
Source: Steroids - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research