The effects of estrogens on atherosclerosis risk

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16775
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ito Fumitake 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (60756849)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ホルモン補充療法 / 動脈硬化 / 接着因子 / エクイリン / エストラジオール

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate the association between various estrogen types and atherosclerosis risk, we examined their effect on adhesion-molecule expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In estrogen-treated HUVECs, the mRNA and protein expression levels of adhesion molecules were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay. Additionally, a flow-chamber system was used to assess the effects of estrogens on the adherence of U937 monocytoid cells to HUVECs. Equilin, but not 17β-estradiol (E2) or other types of estrogen, significantly increased the mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein (P < 0.05) expression of the adhesion molecules E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as compared with levels in controls.

Free Research Field

女性ヘルスケア

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

閉経後女性における標準的なホルモン補充療法で使用されるCEEに含まれるEqが動脈硬化発症のリスクとなることが示唆され、天然型のE2はホルモン補充療法レジメンにより適していると考えられる。しかし、in vitroでの研究による限界も存在するため今後in vivoでの検討および大規模臨床試験による個別のエストロゲン製剤の作用効果につき検討が必要であると考えられた。