17β-Estradiol and 17α-Ethinyl Estradiol Exhibit Immunologic and Epigenetic Regulatory Effects in NZB/WF1 Female Mice.

ABSTRACT: 17α-Ethinyl estradiol (EE), a synthetic analog of natural estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2), is extensively used in hormonal contraceptives and estrogen replacement therapy, and it has also been found in sewage effluents. Given that E2 is a well-known immunomodulator, surprisingly there has been only limited information on the cellular and molecular immunologic consequences of exposure to EE. To address this fundamental gap, we directly compared the effects of EE with E2 on splenic leukocytes of New Zealand Black × New Zealand White F1 progeny (NZB/WF1) mice during the preautoimmune period. We found that EE and E2 have common, as well as distinctive, immunologic effects, with EE exposure resulting in more profound effects. Both EE and E2 increased numbers of splenic neutrophils, enhanced neutrop

SUBMITTER: Dai R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6305969 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature