Identification of a third distinct estrogen receptor and reclassification of estrogen receptors in teleosts.

This paper describes three distinct estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes: ERalpha, ERbeta, and a unique type, ERgamma, cloned from a teleost fish, the Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus; the first identification of a third type of classical ER in vertebrate species. Phylogenetic analysis shows that ERgamma arose through gene duplication from ERbeta early in the teleost lineage and indicates that ERgamma is present in other teleosts, although it has not been recognized as such. The Atlantic croaker ERgamma shows amino acid differences in regions important for ligand binding and receptor activation that are conserved in all other ERgammas. The three ER subtypes are genetically distinct and have different distribution patterns in Atlantic croaker tissues. In addition, ERbeta and ERgamma fusion proteins can each bind estradiol-17beta with high affinity. The presence of three functional ERs in one species expands the role of ER multiplicity in estrogen signaling systems and provides a unique opportunity to investigate the dynamics and mechanisms of ER evolution.

Comparison between rush immunotherapy with a standardized allergen and an alum adjuved pyridine extracted material in grass pollen allergy.

Rush immunotherapy with a standardized and lyophilized cocksfoot pollen extract was performed in twenty-three allergic subjects and compared with classical immunotherapy done with an alum adjuved, pyridine extracted cocksfoot pollen extract (fifteen subjects) and a control group of ten patients. The three groups were perfectly matched. Clinical benefits were analysed by means of symptom scores. It was shown that rush immunotherapy gave significantly better results when asthma or rhinitis was considered than either classical immunotherapy (P less than 0.02) or in the control group (P less than 0.01 and 0.02). Skin tests were significantly reduced after rush immunotherapy and did not change in the two other groups. After the pollen season the skin test reactivity was increased in the rush immunotherapy group. Cocksfoot pollen specific IgE did not vary significantly in the three groups. Cocksfoot pollen specific IgG was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in the rush immunotherapy group before the pollen season and did not vary significantly in the other groups.