Related Experiment Videos
Lack of endogenous estrogens effects on circulating adhesion molecule ICAM-1
V M Jasonni1, M Buemi, R D'Anna
1Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, University of Messina, Italy.
Insights
Estrogen
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Immunology
Background:
- Atherogenesis involves vascular adhesion molecules like ICAM-1.
- Estrogens are known to have anti-atherogenic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the anti-atherogenic effects of estrogens involve Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1).
Main Methods:
- Serum ICAM-1 levels were measured in three groups of women: fertile, postmenopausal, and pregnant.
- Plasma estrogen levels varied significantly across these groups.
Main Results:
- Serum ICAM-1 concentrations were similar across fertile (331 ± 35 ng/ml), postmenopausal (333 ± 28 ng/ml), and pregnant (302 ± 53 ng/ml) women.
- These findings were observed despite substantial differences in natural estrogen levels.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen's anti-atherogenic action does not appear to be mediated through ICAM-1.
- This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of estrogen's cardiovascular protective effects.
Abstract:
The serum vascular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 that is involved in atherogenesis was determined in fertile, postmenopausal and at term pregnant women. The aim of the study was to ascertain if the antiatherogenic estrogens action may involve this adhesion molecule. The serum ICAM-1 concentrations resulted similar in the three groups studied: 331 +/- 35 ng/ml, 333 +/- 28 ng/ml and 302 +/- 53 ng/ml in fertile, postmenopausal and pregnant subjects respectively, despite the very different estrogen plasma levels. These data, the first on the ICAM-1 serum levels in women with different natural hormonal milieu, demonstrate that estrogens antiatherogenic action is not involving ICAM-1.