Estrogen-induced neuroimmunomodulation as facilitator of and barrier to reproductive aging in brain and lymphoid organs

Publication date: Available online 2 March 2018 Source:Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy Author(s): Srinivasan ThyagaRajan, Lalgi Hima, Uday P. Pratap, Hannah P. Priyanka, Ramasamy Vasantharekha Reproductive aging in females is marked by alterations in gonadal hormones, estrogen and progesterone, that facilitate cessation of reproductive cycles and onset of female-specific diseases such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, hormone-dependent cancers, and osteoporosis. Bidirectional communication between the three homeostatic systems, nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system, is essential for the maintenance of health and any dysfunction in the cross-talk promotes the development of diseases and cancer. The pleiotropic effects of estrogen on neural-immune interactions may promote either neuroprotection or inflammatory conditions depending on the site of action, dose and duration of treatment, type of estrogen receptors and its influence on intracellular signaling pathways, etc. Our studies involving treatment of early middle-aged female rats with low and high doses of estrogen and examining the brain areas, thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes revealed that estrogen-induced changes in neural-immune interactions are markedly affected in thymus followed by spleen and lymph nodes while it confers neuroprotection in the brain areas. These alterations are determined by antioxidant enzyme status, growth factors, intracellular signaling pathways involved in cell s...
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research