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Estrogen Receptor Variants

Meaning

Estrogen Receptor Variants refer to the different molecular forms of the estrogen receptor (ER), the intracellular protein that mediates the biological actions of estrogen hormones. The two main variants, Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ER α) and Estrogen Receptor Beta (ER β), are encoded by separate genes and exhibit distinct tissue distributions and functional profiles. Understanding these variants is clinically relevant because their differential expression dictates how specific tissues respond to estrogen and estrogen-like compounds, influencing therapeutic targeting in conditions like breast cancer and bone health.