Association of estrogen receptor α polymorphism rs1999805 with asthma

Women have higher rates of asthma and allergic disease as well as increased asthma severity compared with men.1 Premenstrual or perimenstrual worsening of asthma symptoms were reported in 17% of women enrolled in the severe asthma research program, with 52% of these women having severe asthma.2,3 Furthermore, use of birth control medications or hormone replacement therapy during perimenopause or postmenopause was also linked to worsening of asthma in some women.2,4 Mouse models of asthma found estrogen signaling through estrogen receptor (ER) α and not ERβ and increased allergic airway inflammation, mucous production, and/or airway hyperresponsiveness.
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Letters Source Type: research