Genetic variation in estrogen receptor, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen does not predict the plasma levels of inflammation markers after longterm hormone replacement therapy

Moniek P. M. de Maat; Jonna Skov Madsen; Bente Langdahl; Else Marie Bladbjerg; Charlotte Landbo Tofteng; Bo Abrahamsen; Lars Rejnmark; Kim Brixen; Kaare Christensen; Jørgen Jespersen; Søren Risom Kristensen

doi:10.1160/TH06-08-0426

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2007; 97(02): 234-239
DOI: 10.1160/TH06-08-0426

Wound Healing and Inflammation/Infection

Schattauer GmbH

Genetic variation in estrogen receptor, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen does not predict the plasma levels of inflammation markers after longterm hormone replacement therapy

Moniek P. M. de Maat

¹Dept. for Thrombosis Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark and Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Denmark

²Dept. Hematology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

,

Jonna Skov Madsen

³Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

,

Bente Langdahl

⁴Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus, Denmark

,

Else Marie Bladbjerg

¹Dept. for Thrombosis Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark and Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Denmark

,

Charlotte Landbo Tofteng

⁵Osteoporosis Research Unit, Dept. of Endocrinology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark

,

Bo Abrahamsen

⁴Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus, Denmark

,

Lars Rejnmark

⁶Depart. of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

,

Kim Brixen

⁴Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus, Denmark

,

Kaare Christensen

⁷The Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

,

Jørgen Jespersen

¹Dept. for Thrombosis Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark and Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Denmark

,

Søren Risom Kristensen

⁸Depart. of Clinical Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen, are associated with the risk of atherothrombosis. Plasma levels of these markers of inflammation are affected by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and modulated by smoking. We studied whether genetic variation in the estrogen receptor- 1 (ESR1), CRP and fibrinogen-β genes influences the plasma levels of inflammation markers after HRT. Plasma CRP and fibrinogen were measured after five years follow-up in healthy postmenopausal women (per-protocol group) who were randomised to hormone therapy (n=187) or no treatment (n=249). The effect of HRT, smoking and genetic variations in ESR1 (PvuII and XbaI), CRP (1444C/T) and fibrinogen-β ( FGB, –455G/A) were determined. The plasma concentration of CRP was higher in the HRT group than in the control group (2.03 mg/l and 1.41 mg/l, respectively; p < 0.001), while the concentration of fibrinogen was lower in the HRT group than in the control group (3.02 g/l and 3.20 g/l, respectively; p < 0.001), indicating that it is unlikely that inflammation is the common underlying pathway. There was a significant interaction between smoking and HRT on the ibrinogen (p=0.02), but not on the CRP concentration (n.s.). Genetic polymorphisms in ESR1, CRP and fibrinogen were not associated with an effect of HRT on the CRP and fibrinogen plasma levels, and no significant interaction with smoking was observed. In conclusion, higher plasma levels of CRP and lower plasma levels of fibrinogen were observed in women using HRT; however, genetic polymorphisms in ESR1, CRP and FGB were not associated with these effects of HRT.

Keywords

Genetic variation - estrogen - hormone replacement therapy - fibrinogen - C-reactive protein

Full Text

References

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