Immune cell-mediated neuroprotection is independent of estrogen action through estrogen receptor-alpha

Metab Brain Dis. 2012 Mar;27(1):23-8. doi: 10.1007/s11011-011-9265-7.

Abstract

It has been well documented that both estrogen and immune cells (CD4+ T cells) mediate neuroprotection in the mouse facial nerve axotomy model. Estrogen has been shown to play an important role in regulating the immune response. However, it is unclear whether immune cell-mediated neuroprotection is dependent on estrogen signaling. In this study, using FACS staining, we confirmed that the majority of CD4+ T cells express high levels of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), suggesting that CD4+ T cell-mediated neuroprotection may be modulated by estrogen signaling. We previously found that immunodeficient Rag-2KO mice showed a significant increase in axotomy-induced facial motoneuron death compared to immunocompetent wild-type mice. Therefore, we investigated axotomy-induced facial motoneuron loss in immunodeficient Rag-2KO mice that received 17β-estradiol treatment or adoptive transfer of immune cells from mice lacking functional ERα. Our results indicate that while estradiol treatment failed to rescue facial motoneurons from axotomy-induced cell death in Rag-2KO mice, immune cells lacking ERα successfully restored facial motoneuron survival in Rag-2 KO mice to a wild-type level. Collectively, we concluded that CD4+ T cell-mediated neuroprotection is independent of estrogen action through ERα.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Axotomy / methods
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / immunology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Estrogens / metabolism*
  • Facial Nerve / immunology
  • Facial Nerve / pathology
  • Facial Nerve / surgery
  • Facial Nerve Injuries / immunology
  • Facial Nerve Injuries / pathology*
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Neurons / cytology
  • Motor Neurons / immunology
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism
  • Motor Neurons / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogens
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • Estradiol