Effect of estradiol on chemokine receptor CXCR2 expression in rats: implications for atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of 17beta-estradiol on expression of chemokine receptor CXCR2 in monocytes in vivo.


METHODS
Expressions of chemokine receptor CXCR2 mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively.


RESULTS
In both ovary-intact and ovariectomized (OVX) rats, CXCR2 protein and mRNA expression were significantly increased in rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet for 6 weeks. The cholesterol-induced increases in CXCR2 protein and mRNA expression were significantly attenuated in OVX rats injected with estradiol-17beta (17beta-E2) (5 and 20 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). In normal diet rats, CXCR2 protein and mRNA expression were increased in OVX rats compared with ovary-intact rats, and this increase was prevented by 17beta-E2.


CONCLUSIONS
Both basal and hypercholesterolemia-induced increases in chemokine receptor CXCR2 are modulated by physiological concentrations of estradiol.
Lei
Zhu-Bin
ZB
Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Ji'nan Military Area, Ji'nan 250031, China. leizhubin88@email.com.cn
Fu
Xu-Jie
XJ
Lu
Zhao-Tong
ZT
Wang
Bao-Cheng
BC
Liu
Xian-Liang
XL
You
Nai-Zhen
NZ
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002469:Cell Separation; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B; D004958:Estradiol