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Estrogen in vascular smooth muscle cells: A friend or a foe?

Hassan Dehaini1, Manal Fardoun2, Haissam Abou-Saleh3

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Vascular Pharmacology
|September 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Estrogen

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular physiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality.
  • Estrogen's role in cardiovascular health is debated, with conflicting evidence from clinical studies.
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has not definitively proven cardiovascular benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complex effects of estrogen on vascular smooth muscle cells.
  • To explore the 'timing and opportunity' theory explaining estrogen's paradoxical cardiovascular effects.
  • To discuss signaling pathways and molecular players involved in estrogen's vascular actions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vitro, in vivo, and observational studies on estrogen and cardiovascular disease.
  • Critical analysis of cellular mechanisms, focusing on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration.
  • Discussion of key signaling pathways and molecular mediators.

Main Results:

  • Estrogen exhibits both potentially protective and pathological effects on vascular smooth muscle cells.
  • The 'timing and opportunity' theory suggests age-dependent estrogen effects are crucial.
  • Conflicting outcomes are linked to specific cellular processes like proliferation and migration.

Conclusions:

  • Estrogen's cardiovascular impact is complex and context-dependent, particularly regarding cell function.
  • The age at which estrogen is administered significantly influences its effects.
  • Further research into molecular mechanisms is needed to reconcile paradoxical findings.

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseEstrogenMAPKVascular smooth muscle cells

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