17-? Estradiol reduces atherosclerosis without exacerbating lupus in ovariectomized systemic lupus erythematosus-susceptible LDLr(-/-) mice.
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ABSTRACT: To test the hypothesis that estrogen treatment in a radiation chimera mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and atherosclerosis will increase SLE-associated atherosclerosis by increasing autoantibody production and inflammation.We used a radiation chimera mouse model in which bone marrow from the polygenic B6.Sle1.2.3 model of SLE was transferred to the low density lipoprotein receptor knock out (LDLr(-/-)) model of atherosclerosis on a C57BL/6 background (Sle/LDLr(-/-)). Ovariectomized chimeric mice were treated for 10 weeks with either 5.6 ?g/day of 17?-estradiol or placebo; outcomes included atherosclerosis plaque size, anti-dsDNA autoantibody production and renal pathology.Mean atherosclerosis plaque size was 67.4 ± 7.6% smaller in the estrogen treated group (p < 0.0001). Estrogen treated Sle/LDLr(-/-) mice had no significant difference in serum cholesterol concentration, lipoprotein distribution, anti-dsDNA autoantibody concentration, antibody isotype concentration and renal histopathology score compared to placebo. However, they had significantly lower mean urine protein to urine creatinine ratio (UP:UC). There was no correlation between atherosclerosis lesion size and either the renal histology score or UP:UC ratio in Sle/LDLr(-/-) mice.These results indicate that 17?-estradiol is atheroprotective within the context of murine SLE independent of changes in serum cholesterol concentration, autoantibody concentration, or renal pathology. The SLE phenotype in Sle/LDLr(-/-) mice is not exacerbated by exogenous 17?-estradiol administration, and the reduced UP:UC ratio suggests a protective effect against lupus nephritis.
SUBMITTER: Shelton KA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3618855 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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