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Modulation of NALP3 Inflammasome Genes by Estrogen

Immunity is known to be sexually dimorphic. This dimorphism may be attributed to the action of different hormones. Aluminum is a component of several vaccines and acts as an adjuvant of immunogenicity. The activation of the Nalp3 inflammasome plays a role in aluminum’s adjuvancy. Estrogen affects immune cells by regulating the expression of genes involved in immune-related mechanisms; such as the modulation of cytokine secretion. We hypothesized that estrogen modulates the aluminum-induced secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. Using an ex vivo mouse macrophage model this study examined: (i) the effects of estrogen on Nalp3 inflammasome genes expression and (ii) the estrogen receptor involved in the modulation of these genes. Our results indicate that estrogen up-regulates Nalp3 gene expression via ERα/β heterodimerization, and caspase-1 activity may be indirectly modulated due to the up-regulation of SPI-6 via ERβ.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:GEORGIA/oai:digitalarchive.gsu.edu:biology_theses-1033
Date27 August 2011
CreatorsChesnokov, Anton P, Mr.
PublisherDigital Archive @ GSU
Source SetsGeorgia State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceBiology Theses

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