title: Physiological dose of estrogen regulates extrathymic T cells in female mice.
abstract: Bilateral ovariectomy was performed in female C57BL/6 mice to investigate whether extrathymic T cells in the liver are regulated by physiological doses of estrogen or progesterone. Extrathymic T cells were identified using a two-color immunofluorescence test for CD3 and interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2R beta) antigens. The T cells were identified as intermediate CD3+ cells with a high expression of IL-2R beta. It was further demonstrated that the proportion and number of intermediate CD3+ cells decreased in response to ovariectomy, an effect that was countered by estrogen administration. These results suggest that the activation of extrathymic T cells may be regulated by physiological levels of estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yahata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurabayashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone