Association of the estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with osteoporosis in the Mexican population

Clin Genet. 2007 Dec;72(6):574-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00898.x. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Abstract

The estrogen receptor gene (ER alpha) has been implicated in the development of osteoporosis. In this study, the association of two ER alpha gene polymorphic markers (a TA dinucleotide repeat and a single nucleotide polymorphism, G2014A) with osteoporosis was tested in 70 osteoporotic women, 70 non-osteoporotic women and 500 subjects from the Mexican population. According to the genetic analysis of the Mexican population using eight unlinked polymorphic markers, we found that our population is structured into three subpopulations; therefore, the allele-phenotype relationship was analyzed with a statistical method that considered population stratification. We found that the G2014A polymorphism is associated with the presence of osteoporosis while the TA dinucleotide repeat is not. The G allele and the GG genotype frequencies of the G2014A marker were significantly higher in osteoporotic than in non-osteoporotic women. Likewise, subjects bearing the G allele in heterozygous or homozygous displayed lower values for lumbar bone mineral density and T score than those who did not present any G allele. The effect of confounders for osteoporosis on the association of G allele-osteoporosis was ruled out. In summary, we conclude that the G2014 polymorphism may become a useful marker for genetic studies of osteoporosis in the Mexican population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Bone Density / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Dinucleotide Repeats
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genotype
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Mexico
  • Osteoporosis / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Genetic Markers