Estrogen/Estrogen Receptor Alpha Signaling in Mouse Posterofrontal Cranial Suture Fusion

نویسندگان

  • Aaron W. James
  • Alexander A. Theologis
  • Samantha A. Brugmann
  • Yue Xu
  • Antoine L. Carre
  • Philipp Leucht
  • Katherine Hamilton
  • Kenneth S. Korach
  • Michael T. Longaker
چکیده

BACKGROUND While premature suture fusion, or craniosynostosis, is a relatively common condition, the cause is often unknown. Estrogens are associated with growth plate fusion of endochondral bones. In the following study, we explore the previously unknown significance of estrogen/estrogen receptor signaling in cranial suture biology. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Firstly, estrogen receptor (ER) expression was examined in physiologically fusing (posterofrontal) and patent (sagittal) mouse cranial sutures by quantitative RT-PCR. Next, the cranial suture phenotype of ER alpha and ER beta knockout (alphaERKO, betaERKO) mice was studied. Subsequently, mouse suture-derived mesenchymal cells (SMCs) were isolated; the effects of 17-beta estradiol or the estrogen antagonist Fulvestrant on gene expression, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation were examined in vitro. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed in which Fulvestrant was administered subcutaneously to the mouse calvaria. Results showed that increased ERalpha but not ERbeta transcript abundance temporally coincided with posterofrontal suture fusion. The alphaERKO but not betaERKO mouse exhibited delayed posterofrontal suture fusion. In vitro, addition of 17-beta estradiol enhanced both osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation in suture-derived mesenchymal cells, effects reversible by Fulvestrant. Finally, in vivo application of Fulvestrant significantly diminished calvarial osteogenesis, inhibiting suture fusion. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Estrogen signaling through ERalpha but not ERbeta is associated with and necessary for normal mouse posterofrontal suture fusion. In vitro studies suggest that estrogens may play a role in osteoblast and/or chondrocyte differentiation within the cranial suture complex.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Estrogenic responses in estrogen receptor-alpha deficient mice reveal a distinct estrogen signaling pathway.

Estrogens are thought to regulate female reproductive functions by altering gene transcription in target organs primarily via the nuclear estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha). By using ER-alpha "knock-out" (ERKO) mice, we demonstrate herein that a catecholestrogen, 4-hydroxyestradiol-17beta (4-OH-E2), and an environmental estrogen, chlordecone (kepone), up-regulate the uterine expression of an es...

متن کامل

Mouse Estrogen Receptor b Forms Estrogen Response Element- Binding Heterodimers with Estrogen Receptor a

The recent discovery that an additional estrogen receptor subtype is present in various rat tissues has advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying estrogen signaling. Here we report on the cloning of the cDNA encoding the mouse homolog of estrogen receptor-b (ERb) and the functional characterization of mouse ERb protein. ERb is shown to have overlapping DNA-binding specificity with...

متن کامل

Role of Estrogen Receptor-Alpha in an Experimental Model of Bronchial Asthma

Background: Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase the risk of adult-onset asthma in women. Various in vitro studies have reported that estradiol stimulates human mast cell lines causing release of allergic mediators which was not observed in estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) knockout mice. Thus, estrogen might be a key element in occurrence of asthma. In the present study, we p...

متن کامل

Estrogenic Activity of Some Phytoestrogens on Bovine Oxytocin and Thymidine Kinase-ERE Promoter through Estrogen Receptor-α in MDA-MB 231 Cells

Background: Phytoestrogens, a group of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds have recently come into considerable attention due to the increasing information on their potential adverse effects in human health. Some of phytoestrogens show estrogenic activity that may be carcinogenic for human. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptional effects of variety of phytoestrogens&nbsp...

متن کامل

Estrogen Receptor Beta Expression in Melanomas Versus Dysplastic Nevi

Dear Editor-in-ChiefMalignant melanoma is a tumor arising from melanocyte; this tumor rarely occurs before puberty, with higher mortality rate in males and better survival rate in female patients affected by metastatic melanoma (1, 2). These facts propose that a relationship and association may exist between estrogens and melanoma. The effects of estrogens are mediated by...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 4  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2009