Inhibition of estrogen receptor alpha stabilizes regulatory T cell function in autoimmune hepatitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Regulatory T cell (Treg) dysfunction is a hallmark of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a serious hepatopathy often progressing to end-stage liver disease despite immunosuppression. Treg impairment in AIH has been linked to defective signaling through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a modulator of adaptive immunity. Herein, we investigated whether increased estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), an AhR non-canonical binding partner, impacts Treg immunity and contributes to the sex bias observed in AIH.

Methods

Tregs were isolated from the peripheral blood of pre-menopausal, post-menopausal and male patients with AIH, as well as controls. Their function, stability, transcriptome and response to AhR were assessed in the absence or presence of methylpiperidinopyrazole

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12804619 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature