Interaction effects between estrogen receptor alpha and vitamin D receptor genes on age at menarche in Chinese women

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2005 Jul;26(7):860-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2005.00122.x.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes are associated with the age at menarche in Chinese women.

Methods: A total of 390 pre-menopausal Chinese women were genotyped at the ER-alpha PvuII, XbaI, and VDR ApaI loci using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Results: Neither the ER-alpha gene nor the VDR gene individually had significant effects on the age at menarche in our subjects (P>0.10). However, evidence of interaction effects between the two genes were observed: with the aa genotype at the VDR ApaI locus, subjects with haplotype PX at the ER-alpha gene had, on average, 6 months later onset of menarche than the non-carriers (P=0.01).

Conclusion: We found that neither the ER-alpha gene or the VDR gene had a significant association with the age at menarche individually. However, potential interaction effects between the two genes were observed in Chinese women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Asian People
  • China
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Menarche / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length*
  • Premenopause
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics*

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Receptors, Calcitriol