title: Estrogen receptor-beta signaling protects epidermal cytokine expression and immune function from UVB-induced impairment in mice.
abstract: A previous study in the hairless mouse, in which the photoimmune protective properties of a topical phytoestrogen or 17-beta-estradiol were abrogated by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, revealed that estrogen receptor (Er) signaling is involved in the regulation of the suppression of immune function by UVB (290-320 nm) radiation. Here we identify the expression of Er-beta but not Er-alpha mRNA in hairless mouse skin, whereas Er-alpha and Er-beta mRNA were present in normal haired mouse skin. This suggests that the non-classical estrogen target Er-beta is involved in the photoimmune modulation, and is consistent with Er-alpha being more closely associated with hair growth control, as indicated by other studies. In mice with a null mutation for Er-beta, there was a significant exacerbation of the solar simulated UV (290-400 nm)-induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the Er-beta deficiency inhibited the normally immunoprotective upregulation by the UVA (320-400 nm) waveband of the epidermal expression of the cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-12. Er-beta deficiency also significantly increased the UVB-induced expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10. Thus Er signalling via the Er-beta is evidently a major regulator of the UVA and UVB waveband interactions that determine the skin's immune functional status, and achieves this by normalization of the cutaneous cytokine array in the UV-irradiated skin.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jun-Lae
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Munif
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allanson
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domanski
authors.forename: Sondur J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Arun
authors.forename: Vivienne E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Reeve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010081:Oxazolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010081:Oxazolone