title: Sex, stroke, and inflammation: the potential for estrogen-mediated immunoprotection in stroke.
abstract: Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the primary cause of disability in the developed world. Experimental and clinical data indicate that stroke is a sexually dimorphic disease, with males demonstrating an enhanced intrinsic sensitivity to ischemic damage throughout most of their lifespan. The neuroprotective role of estrogen in the female brain is well established, however, estrogen exposure can also be deleterious, especially in older women. The mechanisms for this remain unclear. Our current understanding is based on studies examining estrogen as it relates to neuronal injury, yet cerebral ischemia also induces a robust sterile inflammatory response involving local and systemic immune cells. Despite the potent anti-inflammatory effects of estrogen, few studies have investigated the contribution of estrogen to sex differences in the inflammatory response to stroke. This review examines the potential role for estrogen-mediated immunoprotection in ischemic injury.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Neuroscience, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
authors.forename: Rodney M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ritzel
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.forename: Louise D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: McCullough
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D035683:MicroRNAs