Fig. 1.

Expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) in human (h) airway smooth muscle (ASM). A: full-length ER isoforms -α (ERα-66) and -β (ERβ-56) are expressed in both ASM and pulmonary artery (PA) from lungs of female patients. Rat uterus (Ut.) was used as a positive control in both cases. B: densitometric analysis of relative ER expression normalized to GAPDH levels shows ERα is more prominent than ERβ in ASM. Values are means ± SE. *Significant difference between ERα and ERβ (P < 0.05). AU, arbitrary units.