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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI118774
Molecular Cardiobiology, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812, USA.
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Molecular Cardiobiology, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812, USA.
Find articles by Watson, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Molecular Cardiobiology, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812, USA.
Find articles by Pardi, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Molecular Cardiobiology, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812, USA.
Find articles by Bender, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Published July 1, 1996 - More info
One of the earliest events in atherosclerosis is interaction of circulating mononuclear leukocytes and the endothelium. Endothelial cell (EC) activation by cytokines results in expression of adhesion molecules and production of chemotactic factors, augmenting leukocyte adhesion and recruitment, respectively. The incidence of atherosclerosis in premenopausal women is significantly less than that observed in age-matched males with similar risk profiles. Because estrogen has gene regulatory effects, we investigated whether 17beta-estradiol (E2) can inhibit cytokine-mediated EC adhesion molecule transcriptional activation. Cultured human umbilical vein EC (estrogen receptor-positive) were propagated in gonadal hormone-free medium and were E2-pretreated for 48 h before IL-1 activation. Detected by FACS analysis, E2 strongly (60-80%) inhibited IL-1-mediated membrane E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 induction, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 hyperinduction. 17alpha-estradiol (an inactive E2 stereoisomer) had no effect. This inhibition correlated with similar reductions in steady state-induced E-selectin mRNA levels, and was abrogated by the E2 antagonist ICI 164,384, demonstrating a specific, estrogen receptor-mediated effect. Nuclear run-offs confirmed suppression at the transcriptional level. The implications of these results for the cardiovascular protective role of estrogen are discussed.