ERβ and Inflammation

• Estrogen, through the regulation of cytokine production, can act both as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals dependent on the tissue context. In breast cancer cells, ERα is known to modulate inflammatory signaling through interaction with NFκB. Whether ERβ has a role in inflammation is less explored. Low levels of ERβ have been corroborated in several immune-related organs and, for example, in colonic epithelial cells. Specifically, an impact of ERβ on colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) is experimentally supported, using ERβ-selective agonists, full-body ERβ knockout mice and, most recently, intestinal epithelial-specific knockout mice. An intricate crosstalk between ERβ and TNFα/NFκB signaling in the colon is supported, and ERβ activation appears to reduce macrophage infiltration also during high fat diet (HFD)-induced colon inflammation. Finally, the gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of colitis and ERβ has been indicated to modulate the microbiota diversity during colitis and colitis-induced CRC. ERβ is thus proposed to protect against colitis, by modulating NFκB signaling, immune cell infiltration, and/or microbiota composition. Selective activation of ERβ may therefore constitute a suitable preventative approach for the treatment of for example colitis-associated CRC. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Circadian clock

Colon

Colorectal cancer

Estrogen receptor

Gut microbiota

NFκB

Animals

Colitis

Estrogen Receptor alpha

Estrogen Receptor beta

Estrogens

Inflammation

Mice

Mice

Knockout

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

tumor necrosis factor

estrogen

cell infiltration

colitis-associated cancer

epithelium cell

immunocompetent cell

intestine flora

lipid diet

macrophage

NF kB signaling

nonhuman

pathogenesis

animal

genetics

knockout mouse

mouse

pathology

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kap (subject category)