Estrogen receptor-β ligand treatment modulates dendritic cells in the target organ during autoimmune demyelinating disease.

ABSTRACT: Estrogens act upon nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) to ameliorate cell-mediated autoimmune disease. As most immunomodulatory effects of estrogens in EAE have been attributed to the function of ER-α, we previously demonstrated that ER-β ligand treatment reduced disease severity without affecting peripheral cytokine production or levels of CNS inflammation, suggesting a direct neuroprotective effect; however, the effect of ER-β treatment on the function of immune cells within the target organ remained unknown. Here, we used adoptive transfer studies to show that ER-β ligand treatment was protective in the effector, but not the induction phase of EAE, as shown by decreased clinical disease severity with the preservation of axons and myelin in spinal cords. The analysis of the immune cell infil

SUBMITTER: Du S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3042725 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature