Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Visualization of Estrogen Receptors in Colons of Mice with TNBS-Induced Crohn's Disease using Immunofluorescence
Published on: March 12, 2020
The induction of the lupus phenotype by estrogen is via an estrogen receptor-alpha-dependent pathway
Feng Feng1, Jennifer Nyland, Michelle Banyai
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Abstract:
In order to investigate the roles of ER subtypes in the estrogen-induced lupus phenotype, ERalpha-deficient (ERalpha(-/-)) and wild-type mice (WT) were injected monthly with estradiol (E-2) starting at 8 weeks. In WT mice, E-2 treatment induced a lupus phenotype, with accelerated death and increased kidney damage, as well as Th2-type serum cytokine and autoantibody production. In contrast, only minimal changes were observed in ERalpha(-/-) mice after E-2 treatment. In a separate study, we found that in immune cells of autoimmune-prone SNF(1) and non-autoimmune DBF(1) mice, both ERalpha and ERbeta were differentially expressed and modulated by E-2. In SNF(1) mice, there were more CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells constitutively expressing ERalpha, and the percentages of ERalpha+ dendritic cells and macrophages were increased after E-2 exposure compared to DBF(1) mice. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest a role for ERalpha in E-2-induced development of the lupus phenotype.
Related Concept Videos
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Chemical Signaling in the Endocrine System
Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones, demonstrate an intracellular action. These hormones traverse cell membranes due to their lipid nature. Once inside the target cell, they...
Signal Transduction: Overview
Typically, signal transduction involves three...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...
