The role of estrogen signaling in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease: a Helicobacter hepaticus model. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is due in part to interactions between the immune system, genetics, the environment, and endogenous microbiota. Gonadal sex hormones (GSH), such as estrogen, are thought to be involved in the development of IBD as variations in disease severity occur during pregnancy, menopause, or oral contraceptives use. In certain strains of mice, infection with Helicobacter hepaticus triggers IBD-like mucosal inflammation that is more severe in female mice than in males, suggesting a role for GSH in this model. To determine the role of estrogen signaling in microbiota-induced intestinal inflammation, estrogen receptor (ER) and knock-out (KO) mice, ER agonists, and adoptive transfers were utilized. We demonstrate that, when signaling is limited to ER on a non-CD4+ cell subset, disease is less severe and this correlates with decreased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.

published proceedings

  • PLoS One

altmetric score

  • 0.25

author list (cited authors)

  • Cook, L. C., Hillhouse, A. E., Myles, M. H., Lubahn, D. B., Bryda, E. C., Davis, J. W., & Franklin, C. L.

citation count

  • 32

complete list of authors

  • Cook, Lydia C||Hillhouse, Andrew E||Myles, Matthew H||Lubahn, Dennis B||Bryda, Elizabeth C||Davis, J Wade||Franklin, Craig L

editor list (cited editors)

  • Cominelli, F.

publication date

  • April 2014