Conventional DCs from Male and Female Lupus-Prone B6.NZM Sle1/Sle2/Sle3 Mice Express an IFN Signature and Have a Higher Immunometabolism That Are Enhanced by Estrogen (original) (raw)

Estradiol targets T cell signaling pathways in human systemic lupus

Clinical Immunology, 2009

The major risk factor for developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is being female. The present study utilized gene profiles of activated T cells from females with SLE and healthy controls to identify signaling pathways uniquely regulated by estradiol that could contribute to SLE pathogenesis. Selected downstream pathway genes (+/− estradiol) were measured by real time polymerase chain amplification. Estradiol uniquely upregulated six pathways in SLE T cells that control T cell function including interferon-α signaling. Measurement of interferon-α pathway target gene expression revealed significant differences (p = 0.043) in DRIP150 (+/− estradiol) in SLE T cell samples while IFIT1 expression was bimodal and correlated moderately (r = 0.55) with disease activity. The results indicate that estradiol alters signaling pathways in activated SLE T cells that control T cell function. Differential expression of transcriptional coactivators could influence estrogen-dependent gene regulation in T cell signaling and contribute to SLE onset and disease pathogenesis.

Impact of estrogen receptor deficiency on disease expression in the NZM2410 lupus prone mouse

Clinical Immunology, 2008

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occurs nine times more often in females than males. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of estrogen receptor (ER) null genotypes on disease in lupus prone NZM2410 (NZM) and MRL/lpr mice, as a method to define the role of estrogen receptor signaling in lupus. ERα deficient NZM females, but not males, had significantly prolonged survival, reduced proteinuria, renal pathology scores and serum urea nitrogen levels compared to wildtype mice, despite higher serum anti-dsDNA levels. ERα deficient MRL/lpr female, but not male, mice also had significantly less proteinuria and renal pathology scores with no effect on autoantibody levels. Deficiency of ERβ had no effect on disease in either strain or sex. Taken together, these data demonstrate a key role for ERα, but not ERβ, in the development of lupus like disease, but not autoimmunity, in female NZM and MRL/lpr mice. Published by Elsevier Inc. ava i l a b l e a t w w w. s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / yc l i m Clinical Immunology (2008) 128, 259-268

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus : Sex hormones in autoimmunity

International Immunopharmacology, 2001

Ž Estrogens are believed to play a role in the etiology of both human and murine systemic lupus erythematosus lupus;. SLE , presumably through the agency of their cellular receptor proteins. There is now considerable interest in the molecular mechanism of action of estrogens in immune tissues, particularly with regard to autoimmune disorders, which are generally more prevalent in women. In this laboratory, an attempt is being made to characterize estrogen receptors in murine models of SLE and to try and relate this to estrogen receptor function in vivo. The initial aim was to compare binding properties of estrogen receptors in brain, reproductive and immune tissues of BALBrc and MRLrMP-lprrlpr mice. The latter strain Ž. spontaneously develops an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus lupus; SLE. It is hypothesized that estradiol, through its receptors, mediates the progression of murine SLE, and that in autoimmune disease, the estrogen receptor is functionally andror structurally changed. Initial studies suggest that there are differences in estrogen receptors between BALBrc mice, which do not get autoimmune disease, and two strains that do, MRLrMP-lprrlpr and NZBrW mice. In MRL mice, these differences may be reflected in impaired priming of the progesterone receptor.

Estrogen Receptor Signaling and Its Relationship to Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2010

Dysregulation of cytokines is among the main abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, although, estrogens, which are known to be involved in lupus disease, influence cytokine production, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Recent evidence demonstrates the presence of estrogen receptor in various cell types of the immune system, while divergent effects of estrogens on the cytokine regulation are thought to be implicated. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current knowledge as to how estrogen-induced modulation of cytokine production in SLE is mediated by the estrogen receptor while simultaneously clarifying various aspects of estrogen receptor signaling in this disease. The estrogen receptor subtypes, their structure, and the mode of action of estrogens by gene activation and via extranuclear effects are briefly presented. Results regarding the possible correlation between estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and quantitative chan...

estrogen Receptor-Dependent Regulation of Dendritic Cell Development and Function

Autoimmunity, infectious diseases and cancer affect women and men differently. Because they tend to develop more vigorous adaptive immune responses than men, women are less susceptible to some infectious diseases but also at higher risk of autoimmunity. The regulation of immune responses by sex-dependent factors probably involves several non-redundant mechanisms. A privileged area of study, however, concerns the role of sex steroid hormones in the biology of innate immune cells, especially dendritic cells (DCs). In recent years, our understanding of the lineage origin of DC populations has expanded, and the lineage-committing transcription factors shaping peripheral DC subsets have been identified. Both progenitor cells and mature DC subsets express estrogen receptors (ERs), which are ligand-dependent transcription factors. This suggests that estrogens may contribute to the reported sex differences in immunity by regulating DC biology. Here, we review the recent literature and highlight evidence that estrogen-dependent activation of ERα regulates the development or the functional responses of particular DC subsets. The in vitro model of GM-CSF-induced DC differentiation shows that CD11c + CD11b int Ly6c neg cells depend on ERα activation by estrogen for their development, and for the acquisition of competence to activate naive CD4 + T lymphocytes and mount a robust pro-inflammatory cytokine response to CD40 stimulation. In this model, estrogen signaling in conjunction with GM-CSF is necessary to promote early interferon regulatory factor (Irf)-4 expression in macrophage-DC progenitors and their subsequent differentiation into IRF-4 hi CD11c + CD11b int Ly6c neg cells, closely related to the cDC2 subset. The Flt3L-induced model of DC differentiation in turn shows that ERα signaling promotes the development of conventional DC (cDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) with higher capability of pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to TLR stimulation. Likewise, cell-intrinsic ER signaling positively regulates the TLR-driven production of type I interferons (IFNs) in mouse pDCs in vivo. This effect of estrogens likely contributes to the greater proficiency of women's pDCs than men's as regards the production of type I IFNs elicited by TLR7 ligands. In summary, evidence is emerging in support of the notion that estrogen signaling regulates important aspects of cDC and pDC development and/ or effector functions, in both mice and humans.

Estrogen modulation of endosome-associated toll-like receptor 8: An IFNα-independent mechanism of sex-bias in systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical Immunology, 2014

Females of child-bearing age are more resistant to infectious disease and have an increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We hypothesized that estrogen-induced gene expression could establish an immunoactivated state which would render enhanced defense against infection, but may be deleterious in autoimmune development. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we demonstrate enhanced responses with immunogen stimulation in the presence of 17β-estradiol (E2) and gene array analyses reveal toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) as an E2-responsive candidate gene. TLR8 expression levels are up-regulated in SLE and PBMCs stimulated with TLR8 agonist display a female sex-biased, E2-sensitive response. Moreover, we identify a putative ERα-binding region near the TLR8 locus and blocking ERα expression significantly decreases E2-mediated TLR8 induction. Our findings characterize TLR8 as a novel estrogen target gene that can lower the inflammatory threshold and implicate an IFNα-independent inflammatory mechanism that could contribute to higher SLE incidence in women.

Environmental exposure, estrogen and two X chromosomes are required for disease development in an epigenetic model of lupus

Journal of autoimmunity, 2012

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease primarily afflicting women. The reason for the gender bias is unclear, but genetic susceptibility, estrogen and environmental agents appear to play significant roles in SLE pathogenesis. Environmental agents can contribute to lupus susceptibility through epigenetic mechanisms. We used (C57BL/6xSJL)F1 mice transgenic for a dominant-negative MEK (dnMEK) that was previously shown to be inducibly and selectively expressed in T cells. In this model, induction of the dnMEK by doxycycline treatment suppresses T cell ERK signaling, decreasing DNA-methyltransferase expression and resulting in DNA demethylation, overexpression of immune genes Itgal (CD11a) and Tnfsf7 (CD70), and anti-dsDNA antibody. To examine the role of gender and estrogen in this model, male and female transgenic mice were neutered and implanted with time-release pellets delivering placebo or estrogen. Doxycycline induced IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies in intact and ne...

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus

International Immunopharmacology, 2001

Ž Estrogens are believed to play a role in the etiology of both human and murine systemic lupus erythematosus lupus;. SLE , presumably through the agency of their cellular receptor proteins. There is now considerable interest in the molecular mechanism of action of estrogens in immune tissues, particularly with regard to autoimmune disorders, which are generally more prevalent in women. In this laboratory, an attempt is being made to characterize estrogen receptors in murine models of SLE and to try and relate this to estrogen receptor function in vivo. The initial aim was to compare binding properties of estrogen receptors in brain, reproductive and immune tissues of BALBrc and MRLrMP-lprrlpr mice. The latter strain Ž. spontaneously develops an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus lupus; SLE. It is hypothesized that estradiol, through its receptors, mediates the progression of murine SLE, and that in autoimmune disease, the estrogen receptor is functionally andror structurally changed. Initial studies suggest that there are differences in estrogen receptors between BALBrc mice, which do not get autoimmune disease, and two strains that do, MRLrMP-lprrlpr and NZBrW mice. In MRL mice, these differences may be reflected in impaired priming of the progesterone receptor.