Estrogen and progesterone receptors in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Estrogens are believed to play a role in the etiology of both human and murine systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus; SLE), presumably through the agency of their cellular receptor proteins. There is now considerable interest in the molecular mechanism of action of estrogens in immune tissues, particularly with regard to autoimmune disorders, which are generally more prevalent in women. In this laboratory, an attempt is being made to characterize estrogen receptors in murine models of SLE and to try and relate this to estrogen receptor function in vivo. The initial aim was to compare binding properties of estrogen receptors in brain, reproductive and immune tissues of BALB/c and MRL/MP-lpr/lpr mice. The latter strain spontaneously develops an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus; SLE). It is hypothesized that estradiol, through its receptors, mediates the progression of murine SLE, and that in autoimmune disease, the estrogen receptor is functionally and/or structurally changed. Initial studies suggest that there are differences in estrogen receptors between BALB/c mice, which do not get autoimmune disease, and two strains that do, MRL/MP-lpr/lpr and NZB/W mice. In MRL mice, these differences may be reflected in impaired priming of the progesterone receptor.
Greenstein
B
B
Arizona Arthritis Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5093, USA. bdg@u.arizona.edu
Roa
R
R
Dhaher
Y
Y
Nunn
E
E
Greenstein
A
A
Khamashta
M
M
Hughes
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone