| 1. |
- Amzaleg, Y., et al.
(author)
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Estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators differentially antagonize Runx2 in ST2 mesenchymal progenitor cells
- 2018
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In: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-0760 .- 1879-1220. ; 183, s. 10-17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogens attenuate bone turnover by inhibiting both osteoclasts and osteoblasts, in part through antagonizing Runx2. Apparently conflicting, stimulatory effects in osteoblast lineage cells, however, sway the balance between bone resorption and bone formation in favor of the latter. Consistent with this dualism, 17 beta-estradiol (E2) both stimulates and inhibits Runx2 in a locus-specific manner, and here we provide evidence for such locus specific regulation of Runx2 by E2 in vivo. We also demonstrate dual, negative and positive, regulation of Runx2-driven alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by increasing E2 concentrations in ST2 osteoblast progenitor cells. We further compared the effects of E2 to those of the Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) raloxifene (ral) and lasofoxifene (las) and the phytoestrogen puerarin. We found that E2 at the physiological concentrations of 0.1-1 nM, as well as ral and las, but not puerarin, antagonize Runx2-driven ALP activity. At >= 10 nM, E2 and puerarin, but not ral or las, stimulate ALP relative to the activity measured at 0.1-1 nM. Contrasting the difference between E2 and SERMs in ST2 cells, they all shared a similar dose-response profile when inhibiting preosteoclast proliferation. That ral and las poorly mimic the locus-and concentration-dependent effects of E2 in mesenchymal progenitor cells may help explain their limited clinical efficacy.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Annica, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Roles of activating functions 1 and 2 of estrogen receptor α in lymphopoiesis.
- 2018
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In: The Journal of endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 236:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Apart from the role of sex steroids in reproduction, sex steroids are also important regulators of the immune system. 17β-estradiol (E2) represses T and B cell development, but augments B cell function, possibly explaining the different nature of immune responses in men and women. Both E2 and selective estrogen receptors modulators (SERM) act via estrogen receptors (ER). Activating functions (AF)-1 and 2 of the ER bind to coregulators and thus influence target gene transcription and subsequent cellular response to ER activation. The importance of ERαAF-1 and AF-2 in the immunomodulatory effects of E2/SERM has previously not been reported. Thus, detailed studies of T and B lymphopoiesis were performed in ovariectomized E2-, lasofoxifene- or raloxifene-treated mice lacking either AF-1 or AF-2 domains of ERα, and their wild-type littermate controls. Immune cell phenotypes were analyzed with flow cytometry. All E2 and SERM-mediated inhibitory effects on thymus cellularity and thymic T cell development were clearly dependent on both ERαAFs. Interestingly, divergent roles of ERαAF-1 and ERαAF-2 in E2 and SERM-mediated modulation of bone marrow B lymphopoiesis were found. In contrast to E2, effects of lasofoxifene on early B cells did not require functional ERαAF-2, while ERαAF-1 was indispensable. Raloxifene reduced early B cells partly independent of both ERαAF-1 and ERαAF-2. Results from this study increase the understanding of the impact of ER modulation on the immune system, which can be useful in the clarification of the molecular actions of SERMs and in the development of new SERM.
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| 3. |
- Antonson, P., et al.
(author)
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aP2-Cre-Mediated Inactivation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Causes Hydrometra
- 2014
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In: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study we describe the reproductive phenotypes of a novel mouse model in which Cre-mediated deletion of ER alpha is regulated by the aP2 (fatty acid binding protein 4) promoter. ER alpha-floxed mice were crossed with transgenic mice expressing Cre-recombinase under the control of the aP2 promoter to generate aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) mice. As expected, ER alpha mRNA levels were reduced in adipose tissue, but in addition we also detected an 80% reduction of ER alpha levels in the hypothalamus of aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) mice. Phenotypic analysis revealed that aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) female mice were infertile. In line with this, aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) female mice did not cycle and presented 3.8-fold elevated estrogen levels. That elevated estrogen levels were associated with increased estrogen signaling was evidenced by increased mRNA levels of the estrogen-regulated genes lactoferrin and aquaporin 5 in the uterus. Furthermore, aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) female mice showed an accumulation of intra-uterine fluid, hydrometra, without overt indications for causative anatomical anomalies. However, the vagina and cervix displayed advanced keratosis with abnormal quantities of accumulating squamous epithelial cells suggesting functional obstruction by keratin plugs. Importantly, treatment of aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) mice with the aromatase inhibitor Letrozole caused regression of the hydrometra phenotype linking increased estrogen levels to the observed phenotype. We propose that in aP2-Cre/ER alpha(flox/flox) mice, increased serum estrogen levels cause over-stimulation in the uterus and genital tracts resulting in hydrometra and vaginal obstruction.
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| 4. |
- Antonson, P., et al.
(author)
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Identification of proteins highly expressed in uterine fluid from mice with hydrometra
- 2015
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In: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 466:4, s. 650-655
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) is an important regulator of the estrous cycle and mice with global ER alpha deletion, as well as some conditional knockout mouse lines, have an interruption in the estrous cycle. In this study we observed that conditional ERa knockout mice where the Cre gene is regulated by the rat insulin promoter (RIP), RIP-Cre/ER alpha(KO) mice, have a 3.7-fold increase in serum 17 beta-estradiol levels, blocked estrous cycle, and develop a fluid-filled uterus (hydrometra). Using a proteomics approach, we identified three proteins, lactoferrin, complement C3 and chitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), as highly expressed proteins in hydrometra fluid. The mRNA levels of the corresponding genes were more than 50-fold higher in RIP-Cre/ER alpha(KO) uterus compared to controls. High expression of CHI3L1 in the uterine fluid was not reflected as elevated levels in the serum. The high expression of lactoferrin, complement C3 and CHI3L1 in the uterine fluid, in association with elevated estrogen levels, prompted us to address if the expression of these genes is related to reproduction. However, gonadotropin treatment of mice reduced the uterine expression of these genes in a model of in vitro fertilization. Our findings identify lactoferrin, complement C3 and CHI3L1 as highly expressed proteins in hydrometra fluid in association with chronically elevated serum estradiol levels. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Bergström, I., et al.
(author)
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Prednisolone treatment reduces the osteogenic effects of loading in mice
- 2018
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In: Bone. - : Elsevier BV. - 8756-3282 .- 1873-2763. ; 112, s. 10-18
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glucocorticoid treatment, a major cause of drug-induced osteoporosis and fractures, is widely used to treat inflammatory conditions and diseases. By contrast, mechanical loading increases bone mass and decreases fracture risk. With these relationships in mind, we investigated whether mechanical loading interacts with GC treatment in bone. Three-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were treated with high-dose prednisolone (15 mg/60 day pellets/mouse) or vehicle for two weeks. During the treatment, right tibiae were subjected to short periods of cyclic compressive loading three times weekly, while left tibiae were used as physiologically loaded controls. The bones were analyzed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography, histomorphometry, real-time PCR, three-point bending and Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy. Loading alone increased trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), cortical thickness, cortical area, osteoblast-associated gene expression, osteocyte- and osteoclast number, and bone strength. Prednisolone alone decreased cortical area and thickness and osteoblast-associated gene expression. Importantly, prednisolone treatment decreased the load-induced increase in trabecular vBMD by 57% (p < 0.001) and expression of osteoblast-associated genes, while completely abolishing the load-induced increase in cortical area, cortical thickness, number of osteocytes and osteoclasts, and bone strength. When combined, loading and prednisolone decreased the collagen content. In conclusion, high-dose prednisolone treatment strongly inhibits the loading-induced increase in trabecular BMD, and abolishes the loading-induced increase in cortical bone mass. This phenomenon could be due to prednisolone inhibition of osteoblast differentiation and function.
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| 6. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(author)
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Roles of transactivating functions 1 and 2 of estrogen receptor-alpha in bone.
- 2011
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424. ; 108:15, s. 6288-6293
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The bone-sparing effect of estrogen is primarily mediated via estrogen receptor-α (ERα), which stimulates target gene transcription through two activation functions (AFs), AF-1 in the N-terminal and AF-2 in the ligand binding domain. To evaluate the role of ERα AF-1 and ERα AF-2 for the effects of estrogen in bone in vivo, we analyzed mouse models lacking the entire ERα protein (ERα(-/-)), ERα AF-1 (ERαAF-1(0)), or ERα AF-2 (ERαAF-2(0)). Estradiol (E2) treatment increased the amount of both trabecular and cortical bone in ovariectomized (OVX) WT mice. Neither the trabecular nor the cortical bone responded to E2 treatment in OVX ERα(-/-) or OVX ERαAF-2(0) mice. OVX ERαAF-1(0) mice displayed a normal E2 response in cortical bone but no E2 response in trabecular bone. Although E2 treatment increased the uterine and liver weights and reduced the thymus weight in OVX WT mice, no effect was seen on these parameters in OVX ERα(-/-) or OVX ERαAF-2(0) mice. The effect of E2 in OVX ERαAF-1(0) mice was tissue-dependent, with no or weak E2 response on thymus and uterine weights but a normal response on liver weight. In conclusion, ERα AF-2 is required for the estrogenic effects on all parameters evaluated, whereas the role of ERα AF-1 is tissue-specific, with a crucial role in trabecular bone and uterus but not cortical bone. Selective ER modulators stimulating ERα with minimal activation of ERα AF-1 could retain beneficial actions in cortical bone, constituting 80% of the skeleton, while minimizing effects on reproductive organs.
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| 7. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(author)
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SERMs have substance-specific effects on bone, and these effects are mediated via ER alpha AF-1 in female mice
- 2016
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In: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 310:11, s. E912-E918
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The bone-sparing effect of estrogens is mediated primarily via estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, which stimulates gene transcription through activation function (AF)-1 and AF-2. The role of ER alpha AF-1 for the estradiol (E-2) effects is tissue specific. The selective ER modulators (SERMs) raloxifene (Ral), lasofoxifene (Las), and bazedoxifene (Bza) can be used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. They all reduce the risk for vertebral fractures, whereas Las and partly Bza, but not Ral, reduce the risk for nonvertebral fractures. Here, we have compared the tissue specificity of Ral, Las, and Bza and evaluated the role of ER alpha AF-1 for the effects of these SERMs, with an emphasis on bone parameters. We treated ovariectomized (OVX) wild-type (WT) mice and OVX mice lacking ER alpha AF-1 (ER alpha AF-1(0)) with E-2, Ral, Las, or Bza. All three SERMs increased trabecular bone mass in the axial skeleton. In the appendicular skeleton, only Las increased the trabecular bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular number, whereas both Ral and Las increased the cortical bone thickness and strength. However, Ral also increased cortical porosity. The three SERMs had only a minor effect on uterine weight. Notably, all evaluated effects of these SERMs were absent in ovx ER alpha AF-1(0) mice. In conclusion, all SERMs had similar effects on axial bone mass. However, the SERMs had slightly different effects on the appendicular skeleton since only Las increased the trabecular bone mass and only Ral increased the cortical porosity. Importantly, all SERM effects require a functional ER alpha AF-1 in female mice. These results could lead to development of more specific treatments for osteoporosis.
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| 8. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(author)
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The role of activation functions 1 and 2 of estrogen receptor-alpha for the effects of estradiol and selective estrogen receptor modulators in male mice
- 2013
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In: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. - : Wiley. - 0884-0431 .- 1523-4681. ; 28:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estradiol (E2) is important for male skeletal health and the effect of E2 is mediated via estrogen receptor (ER)-. This was demonstrated by the findings that men with an inactivating mutation in aromatase or a nonfunctional ER had osteopenia and continued longitudinal growth after sexual maturation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of different domains of ER for the effects of E2 and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) on bone mass in males. Three mouse models lacking either ERAF-1 (ERAF-10), ERAF-2 (ERAF-20), or the total ER (ER/) were orchidectomized (orx) and treated with E2 or placebo. E2 treatment increased the trabecular and cortical bone mass and bone strength, whereas it reduced the thymus weight and bone marrow cellularity in orx wild type (WT) mice. These parameters did not respond to E2 treatment in orx ER/ or ERAF-20 mirx ERAF-10 mice were tissue-dependent, with a clear response in cortical bone parameters and bone marrow cellularity, but no response in trabecular bone. To determine the role of ERAF-1 for the effects of SERMs, we treated orx WT and ERAF-10 mice with raloxifene (Ral), lasofoxifene (Las), bazedoxifene (Bza), or vehicle. These SERMs increased total body areal bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular volumetric BMD to a similar extent in orx WT mice. Furthermore, only Las increased cortical thickness significantly and only Bza increased bone strength significantly. However, all SERMs showed a tendency toward increased cortical bone parameters. Importantly, all SERM effects were absent in the orx ERAF-10 mice. In conclusion, ERAF-2 is required for the estrogenic effects on all evaluated parameters, whereas the role of ERAF-1 is tissue-specific. All evaluated effects of Ral, Las and Bza are dependent on a functional ERAF-1. Our findings might contribute to the development of bone-specific SERMs in males. (c) 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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| 9. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(author)
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The role of estrogen receptor-alpha and its activation function-1 for growth plate closure in female mice
- 2012
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In: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 302:11, s. E1381-E1389
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Borjesson AE, Windahl SH, Karimian E, Eriksson EE, Lagerquist MK, Engdahl C, Antal MC, Krust A, Chambon P, Savendahl L, Ohlsson C. The role of estrogen receptor-alpha and its activation function-1 for growth plate closure in female mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 302: E1381-E1389, 2012. First published March 13, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00646.2011.-High estradiol levels in late puberty induce growth plate closure and thereby cessation of growth in humans. In mice, the growth plates do not fuse after sexual maturation, but old mice display reduced longitudinal bone growth and high-dose estradiol treatment induces growth plate closure. Estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha stimulates gene transcription via two activation functions (AFs), AF-1 and AF-2. To evaluate the role of ER alpha and its AF-1 for age-dependent reduction in longitudinal bone growth and growth plate closure, female mice with inactivation of ER alpha (ER alpha(-/-)) or ER alpha AF-1 (ER alpha AF-1(0)) were evaluated. Old (16- to 19-mo-old) female ER alpha(-/-) mice showed continued substantial longitudinal bone growth, resulting in longer bones (tibia: +8.3%, P < 0.01) associated with increased growth plate height (+18%, P < 0.05) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, the longitudinal bone growth ceased in old ER alpha AF-1(0) mice (tibia: -4.9%, P < 0.01). Importantly, the proximal tibial growth plates were closed in all old ER alpha AF-1(0) mice while they were open in all WT mice. Growth plate closure was associated with a significantly altered balance between chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis in the growth plate. In conclusion, old female ER alpha(-/-) mice display a prolonged and enhanced longitudinal bone growth associated with increased growth plate height, resembling the growth phenotype of patients with inactivating mutations in ER alpha or aromatase. In contrast, ER alpha AF-1 deletion results in a hyperactive ER alpha, altering the chondrocyte proliferation/apoptosis balance, leading to growth plate closure. This suggests that growth plate closure is induced by functions of ER alpha that do not require AF-1 and that ER alpha AF-1 opposes growth plate closure.
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| 10. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(author)
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The role of estrogen receptor-alpha in growth plate cartilage for longitudinal bone growth.
- 2010
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In: Journal of bone and mineral research. - : Wiley. - 1523-4681 .- 0884-0431. ; 25:12, s. 2414-24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogens enhance skeletal growth during early sexual maturation while high estradiol levels during late puberty result in growth plate fusion in humans. Although the growth plates do not fuse directly after sexual maturation in rodents, a reduction in growth plate height is seen by treatment with a high dose of estradiol. It is unknown whether the effects of estrogens on skeletal growth are mediated directly via estrogen receptors (ERs) in growth plate cartilage and/or indirectly via other mechanisms such as the GH/IGF-I axis. To determine the role of ERalpha in growth plate cartilage for skeletal growth, we developed a mouse model with cartilage-specific inactivation of ERalpha. Although mice with total ERalpha inactivation displayed affected longitudinal bone growth associated with alterations in the GH/IGF-I axis, the skeletal growth was normal during sexual maturation in mice with cartilage-specific ERalpha inactivation. High dose estradiol treatment of adult mice reduced the growth plate height as a consequence of attenuated proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes in control mice but not in cartilage-specific ERalpha(-/-) mice. Adult cartilage-specific ERalpha(-/-) mice continued to grow after four months of age while growth was limited in control mice, resulting in increased femur length in one-year-old cartilage-specific ERalpha(-/-) mice compared with control mice. We conclude that during early sexual maturation ERalpha in growth plate cartilage is not important for skeletal growth. In contrast, it is essential for high dose estradiol to reduce the growth plate height in adult mice and for reduction of longitudinal bone growth in elderly mice. (c) 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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