Immune cell-mediated neuroprotection is independent of estrogen action through estrogen receptor-alpha. Journal Article


Authors: Xin, J.; Fargo, K. N.; Tanzer, L.; Sanders, V. M.; Jones, K. J.
Article Title: Immune cell-mediated neuroprotection is independent of estrogen action through estrogen receptor-alpha.
Abstract: It has been well documented that both estrogen and immune cells (CD4+ T cells) mediate neuroprotection in the mouse facial nerve axotomy model. Estrogen has been shown to play an important role in regulating the immune response. However, it is unclear whether immune cell-mediated neuroprotection is dependent on estrogen signaling. In this study, using FACS staining, we confirmed that the majority of CD4+ T cells express high levels of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha), suggesting that CD4+ T cell-mediated neuroprotection may be modulated by estrogen signaling. We previously found that immunodeficient Rag-2KO mice showed a significant increase in axotomy-induced facial motoneuron death compared to immunocompetent wild-type mice. Therefore, we investigated axotomy-induced facial motoneuron loss in immunodeficient Rag-2KO mice that received 17beta-estradiol treatment or adoptive transfer of immune cells from mice lacking functional ERalpha. Our results indicate that while estradiol treatment failed to rescue facial motoneurons from axotomy-induced cell death in Rag-2KO mice, immune cells lacking ERalpha successfully restored facial motoneuron survival in Rag-2 KO mice to a wild-type level. Collectively, we concluded that CD4+ T cell-mediated neuroprotection is independent of estrogen action through ERalpha.
Journal Title: Metabolic brain disease
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1573-7365
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2012
Start Page: 23
End Page: 28
Language: English
DOI/URL:
Notes: ID: 12365; Record Owner: From MEDLINE, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.; Status: MEDLINE; Publishing Model: Journal available in: Print Citation processed from: Internet; NLM Journal Code: m9l, 8610370; CAS Registry/EC Number/Name of Substance: 0 (DNA-Binding Proteins). 0 (Estrogen Receptor alpha). 0 (Estrogens). 0 (Rag2 protein, mouse). 50-28-2 (Estradiol).; Grant Number: NS40433 (United States NINDS NIH HHS); Entry Date: 20120605