title: Estrogen receptor alpha mediates estrogen's immune protection in autoimmune disease.
abstract: Estrogens are known to influence a variety of autoimmune diseases, but it is not known whether their actions are mediated through classic estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). The presence of a functional ER was demonstrated in secondary lymphoid tissues, then ERalpha expression was shown at both the RNA and protein levels in these tissues. Use of ERalpha knockout mice revealed that both the estrogen-induced disease protection and the estrogen-induced reduction in proinflammatory cytokines were dependent upon ERalpha in the prototypic Th1-mediated autoimmune disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These findings are central to the design of selective ER modifiers which aim to target biologic responses in specific organ systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Reed Neurological Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Hong-biao
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kyi Kyi
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palaszynski
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashouri
authors.forename: Dennis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lubahn
authors.forename: Rhonda R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Voskuhl
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004964:Estriol