| 1. |
- Andersson, Annica, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Estrogen regulates T helper 17 phenotype and localization in experimental autoimmune arthritis
- 2015
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354. ; 17:32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The incidence and progression of many autoimmune diseases are sex-biased, which might be explained by the immunomodulating properties of endocrine hormones. Treatment with estradiol potently inhibits experimental autoimmune arthritis. Interleukin-17-producing T helper cells (Th17) are key players in several autoimmune diseases, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of estrogen on Th17 cells in experimental arthritis. Methods: Ovariectomized DBA/1 mice treated with 17 beta-estradiol (E2) or placebo were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), and arthritis development was assessed. Th17 cells in joints and lymph nodes were studied by flow cytometry. Lymph node Th17 cells were also examined in ovariectomized estrogen receptor a-knockout mice (ERa-/-) and wild-type littermates, treated with E2 or placebo and subjected to antigen-induced arthritis. Results: E2-treated mice with established CIA showed reduced severity of arthritis and fewer Th17 cells in joints compared with controls. Interestingly, E2-treated mice displayed increased Th17 cells in lymph nodes during the early phase of the disease, dependent on ER alpha. E2 increased the expression of C-C chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) on lymph node Th17 cells as well as the expression of the corresponding C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) within lymph nodes. Conclusions: This is the first study in which the effects of E2 on Th17 cells have been characterized in experimental autoimmune arthritis. We report that E2 treatment results in an increase of Th17 cells in lymph nodes during the early phase of arthritis development, but leads to a decrease of Th17 in joints during established arthritis. Our data suggest that this may be caused by interference with the CCR6-CCL20 pathway, which is important for Th17 cell migration. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of estrogen in the development of autoimmune arthritis and opens up new fields for research concerning the sex bias in autoimmune disease.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Annica, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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IL-17-producing γδT cells are regulated by estrogen during development of experimental arthritis.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.). - : Elsevier BV. - 1521-7035 .- 1521-6616. ; 161:2, s. 324-32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interleukin-17 (IL-17) drives inflammation and destruction of joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The female sex hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) inhibits experimental arthritis. γδT cells are significant producers of IL-17, thus the aim of this study was to investigate if E2 influenced IL-17(+) γδT cells during arthritis development using a variety of experimental RA models: collagen-induced arthritis (CIA); antigen-induced arthritis (AIA); and collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA). We demonstrate that E2 treatment decreases IL-17(+) γδT cell number in joints, but increases IL-17(+) γδT cells in draining lymph nodes, suggesting an E2-mediated prevention of IL-17(+) γδT cell migration from lymph nodes to joints, in concert with our recently reported effects of E2 on Th17 cells (Andersson et al., 2015). E2 did neither influence the general γδT cell population nor IFNγ(+) γδT cells, implying a selective regulation of IL-17-producing cells. In conclusion, this study contributes to the understanding of estrogen's role in autoimmune disease.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Annica, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Roles of activating functions 1 and 2 of estrogen receptor α in lymphopoiesis.
- 2018
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Ingår i: The Journal of endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 236:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 4. |
- Barrett, Aidan, et al.
(författare)
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Role of estrogen signaling in fibroblastic reticular cells for innate and adaptive immune responses in antigen-induced arthritis
- 2024
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Ingår i: IMMUNOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY. - 0818-9641 .- 1440-1711. ; 102:7, s. 578-592
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Women are more prone to develop rheumatoid arthritis, with peak incidence occurring around menopause. Estrogen has major effects on the immune system and is protective against arthritis. We have previously shown that treatment with estrogen inhibits inflammation and joint destruction in murine models of arthritis, although the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are specialized stromal cells that generate the three-dimensional structure of lymph nodes (LNs). FRCs are vital for coordinating immune responses from within LNs and are characterized by the expression of the chemokine CCL19, which attracts immune cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether the influence of estrogen on innate and adaptive immune cells in arthritis is mediated by estrogen signaling in FRCs. Conditional knockout mice lacking estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) in CCL19-expressing cells (Ccl19-CreER alpha fl/fl) were generated and tested. Ccl19-CreER alpha fl/fl mice and littermate controls were ovariectomized, treated with vehicle or estradiol and subjected to the 28-day-long antigen-induced arthritis model to enable analyses of differentiated T- and B-cell populations and innate cells in LNs by flow cytometry. The results reveal that while the response to estradiol treatment in numbers of FRCs per LN is significantly reduced in mice lacking ER alpha in FRCs, estrogen does not inhibit joint inflammation or markedly affect immune responses in this arthritis model. Thus, this study validates the Ccl19-CreER alpha fl/fl strain for studying estrogen signaling in FRCs within inflammatory diseases, although the chosen arthritis model is deemed unsuitable for addressing this question. This study investigated the influence of signaling through estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) on innate and adaptive immune responses using a mouse model where ER alpha was conditionally deleted in CCL19-expressing cells. The results reveal that the deletion of ER alpha in FRCs does not affect the FRC phenotype or LN architecture at steady state while the response of FRCs to estrogen treatment during experimental arthritis is significantly reduced in the conditional knock-out mice. However, ER alpha signaling via FRCs does not inhibit joint inflammation or markedly affect immune responses in the antigen-induced arthritis model. image
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| 5. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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Roles of transactivating functions 1 and 2 of estrogen receptor-alpha in bone.
- 2011
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Ingår i: 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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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 6. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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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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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 310:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 7. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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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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Ingår i: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. - : Wiley. - 0884-0431 .- 1523-4681. ; 28:5, s. 1117-1126
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 8. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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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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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 302:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 9. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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The role of estrogen receptor-alpha in growth plate cartilage for longitudinal bone growth.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of bone and mineral research. - : Wiley. - 1523-4681 .- 0884-0431. ; 25:12, s. 2414-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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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| 10. |
- Börjesson, Anna E, et al.
(författare)
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The role of estrogen receptor α in the regulation of bone and growth plate cartilage.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1420-9071 .- 1420-682X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogens are important endocrine regulators of skeletal growth and maintenance in both females and males. Studies have demonstrated that the estrogen receptor (ER)-α is the main mediator of these estrogenic effects in bone. Therefore, estrogen signaling via ERα is a target both for affecting longitudinal bone growth and bone remodeling. However, treatment with estradiol (E2) leads to an increased risk of side effects such as venous thromboembolism and breast cancer. Thus, an improved understanding of the signaling pathways of ERα will be essential in order to find better bone specific treatments with minimal adverse effects for different estrogen-related bone disorders. This review summarizes the recent data regarding the intracellular signaling mechanisms, in vivo, mediated by the ERα activation functions (AFs), AF-1 and AF-2, and the effect on bone, growth plate and other estrogen responsive tissues. In addition, we review the recent cell-specific ERα-deleted mouse models lacking ERα specifically in neuronal cells or growth plate cartilage. The newly characterized signaling pathways of estrogen, described in this review, provide a better understanding of the ERα signaling pathways, which may facilitate the design of new, bone-specific treatment strategies with minimal adverse effects.
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