Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-11-4
pubmed:abstractText
Estrogens affect the development, maturation, and function of multiple organ systems, including the immune system. One of the main targets of estrogens in the immune system is the thymus, which undergoes atrophy and phenotypic alterations when exposed to elevated levels of estrogen. To determine how estrogens influence the thymus and affect T cell development, estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) knockout (ERKO) mice were examined. ERKO mice have significantly smaller thymi than their wild-type (WT) littermates. Construction of ER radiation bone marrow chimeras indicated that the smaller thymi were due to a lack of ERalpha in radiation-resistant tissues rather than hemopoietic elements. ERKO mice were also susceptible to estradiol-induced thymic atrophy, but the extent of their atrophy was less than what was seen in WT mice. The estradiol-treated ERKO mice failed, however, to manifest alterations in their thymic CD4/CD8 phenotypes compared with WT mice. Therefore, ERalpha is essential in nonhemopoietic cells to obtain a full-sized thymus, and ERalpha also mediates some of the response of the thymus to elevated estrogen levels. Finally, these results suggest that in addition to ERalpha, another receptor pathway is involved in estradiol-induced thymic atrophy.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
163
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
4168-74
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Adjuvants, Immunologic, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Atrophy, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Cell Size, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Estradiol, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Estrogen Receptor alpha, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Female, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Hematopoietic Stem Cells, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Immunophenotyping, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Lymphocyte Count, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Male, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Mice, Inbred C57BL, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Mice, Knockout, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Radiation Chimera, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Receptors, Estrogen, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Stromal Cells, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-T-Lymphocytes, pubmed-meshheading:10510352-Thymus Gland
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Estrogen receptor alpha is necessary in thymic development and estradiol-induced thymic alterations.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Microbiology, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse 13210, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.