Estrogen augments the T cell-dependent but not the T-independent immune response.
Estrogen plays a critical regulatory role in the development and maintenance of immunity. Its role in the regulation of antibody synthesis in vivo is still not completely clear. Here, we have compared the effect of estrogen on T cell-dependent (TD) and T cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) antibody responses. The results provide the first evidence that estrogen enhances the TD but not the TI-2 response. Ovariectomy significantly decreased, while estrogen re-administration increased the number of hapten-specific IgM- and IgG-producing cells in response to TD antigen. In vitro experiments also show that estrogen may have a direct impact on B and T cells by inducing rapid signaling events, such as Erk and AKT phosphorylation, cell-specific Ca(2+) signal, and NFkappaB activation. These non-transcriptional effects are mediated by classical estrogen receptors and partly by an as yet unidentified plasma membrane estrogen receptor. Such receptor- mediated rapid signals may modulate the in vivo T cell-dependent immune response.
Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Mónika
M
Adori
Endre
E
Kiss
Zsuzsanna
Z
Barad
Klaudia
K
Barabás
Edda
E
Kiszely
Andrea
A
Schneider
Dorottya
D
Kövesdi
Erna
E
Sziksz
István M
IM
Abrahám
János
J
Matkó
Gabriella
G
Sármay
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D016328:NF-kappa B; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases