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Differential expression of oestrogen receptor isoforms and androgen receptor in the normal vulva and vagina compared with vulval lichen sclerosus and chronic vaginitis
Author(s) -
Taylor A.H.,
Guzail M.,
AlAzzawi F.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08371.x
Subject(s) - vulva , lichen sclerosus , vagina , androgen receptor , estrogen , estrogen receptor , biology , medicine , endocrinology , pathology , anatomy , cancer , prostate cancer , breast cancer
Summary Background Although the expression of the oestrogen receptor (ER) α isoform and androgen receptor (AR) has been examined in vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS), the distribution pattern of ERα, ERβ and AR has not been described in chronic atrophic vaginitis nor correlated with markers of proliferation (Ki‐67) in either of these diseased tissues. Objectives To measure the levels and distribution of ERα, ERβ and AR immunoreactivity in relation to Ki‐67 in normal and diseased vulva and vagina. Methods The expression of ERα, ERβ and AR in relation to the proliferation marker Ki‐67 in VLS, squamous hyperplasia of the vulva and chronic atrophic vaginitis was determined by immunohistomorphometric analysis and compared with that in normal vulva and vagina. Results VLS showed similar ERα and ERβ expression in the ‘epidermal’ and ‘dermal’ tissue layers to that of normal vulvae, whereas AR expression appeared to be absent in most cases. ERβ and Ki‐67 expression was correlated with ERα expression but only in the ‘fibrovascular’ layer of the vulva. ERα expression was absent from the ‘fibromuscular’ layer of diseased vulvae, while ERβ expression was absent in normal tissues but was highly expressed in diseased vulvae. ERα expression was significantly correlated with AR expression in the fibrovascular layer of the vagina and inversely correlated with Ki‐67 staining in the parabasal cells of the epidermis in patients with chronic atrophic vaginitis. Conclusions These data suggest that ER expression and levels may be implicated in the aetiopathology of VLS and chronic atrophic vaginitis.