title: The relevance of estrogen/estrogen receptor system on the gender difference in cardiovascular risk.
abstract: It has been reported that the incidence of thrombotic events can display a gender disparity. In particular, a lower thrombotic risk has been described in female gender. The mechanisms underlying this disparity are still poorly understood. Of great interest is the hypothesis that hormones, estrogen in particular, could play a key role. In fact, the possibility that some hormonal factors could protect women from thrombotic events appears well documented in literature. For instance, several studies aimed at the analysis of the impact of estrogen and estrogen receptors in thrombogenesis claim for the implication of these hormones either in megakaryocyte differentiation or, more intriguingly, directly affecting platelet integrity and function. In consideration of the absence of the nucleus, platelet susceptibility appears quite striking and probably due to the non-nuclear estrogen receptor function. In this review we briefly summarize our knowledge as concerns the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in determining megakaryocyte/platelet functions and thrombogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Principe
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietraforte
authors.affiliation: General Pediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Internal Care Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy; Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Straface
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: malorni@iss.it.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: Estrogen; Estrogen receptors; Megakaryocytes; Platelets; Thrombogenesis