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Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biologic Responses to Estrogens: Histologic, Immunohistochemical, Biochemical, and Molecular Methods

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Estrogen Receptors

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1366))

Abstract

Atherogenesis is a multifactorial pathologic process influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as diet, exercise, stress, and other exposures. Estrogen receptors (ER) are expressed in cells of the arterial wall, suggesting that estrogen receptor ligands (estradiol, natural and pharmacologic ligands) may directly affect arterial biology and atherogenesis. Ligand bound estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ERα, ERβ) can influence physiology through direct binding to estrogen response elements in the DNA, through interactions with other transcription factors such as NF-κB, or through rapid effects not dependent on gene expression changes but instead through non-nuclear membrane sites involving ERα, ERβ, or G-coupled protein ER (GPER1).

Elucidation of potential direct effects of estrogens on the artery wall requires careful evaluation of arterial biologic responses to estrogens. We have developed a comprehensive approach to understand the mechanisms of estrogen action which employs histologic measures of the size and other characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions, immunohistochemical assessments of cellular composition, evaluation of chemical, molecular, and genomic changes in the arterial environment, and determination of the relationships between arterial estrogen receptor expression and atherogenesis. This approach can provide important insights into the mechanisms of action of estrogen and other mediators of atherogenesis.

The original version of this chapter was revised. An erratum to this chapter can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3127-9_46

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Source of Funding

This project was supported by NIH grants AG18170 (TCR), AG28641 (TCR), and HL45666 (TBC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Section on Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA

    Thomas C. Register Ph.D., Susan E. Appt D.V.M. & Thomas B. Clarkson D.V.M.

Authors
  1. Thomas C. Register Ph.D.
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  2. Susan E. Appt D.V.M.
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  3. Thomas B. Clarkson D.V.M.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas C. Register Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA

    Kathleen M. Eyster

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Register, T.C., Appt, S.E., Clarkson, T.B. (2016). Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biologic Responses to Estrogens: Histologic, Immunohistochemical, Biochemical, and Molecular Methods. In: Eyster, K.M. (eds) Estrogen Receptors. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1366. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3127-9_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3127-9_40

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3126-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3127-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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