Morphological observation of immunological alterations in the spleens from estrogen receptor deficient mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate some immunological parameters in the spleens from estrogen receptor(ER) deficient mice.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analysis were used in the study.


RESULTS
Multiple alterations were found in the spleens of ER deficient mice, especially in ERbeta deficient mice, such as increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase, elevated number of proliferating splenocytes and increased IgM/IgG production. Moreover, The splenocytes lack of ERbeta were resistant towards estrogen's suppression on proliferation. The activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in ERbeta deficient spleens may account for the above hyperactivity.


CONCLUSIONS
ER, especially ERbeta, plays a key role in mediating the modulation of immune response by estrogen. ERbeta disruption may increase the sensibility towards autoimmune diseases.
Zhang
Qing-hong
QH
Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Xi'an 710032, China. z_qinghong@hotmail.com
Cao
Jun
J
Hu
Yu-zhen
YZ
Huang
Yan-hong
YH
Lü
Shun-yan
SY
Wei
Geng-ze
GZ
Zhao
Yu-feng
YF
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
D016207:Cytokines; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse