Estradiol Accelerates Liver Regeneration in Mice

The liver is the most regenerative organ in mammals, capable of regrowing lost sections, albeit imperfectly in comparison to the capabilities of highly regenerative species such as salamanders. Researchers here demonstrate that the sex hormone estradiol is involved in the regulation of liver regeneration, and that regeneration can be accelerated via artificially increased levels of estradiol. This is particularly interesting in the context of recent work showing that loss of estradiol with aging is involved in loss of muscle mass, due to effects on stem cell activity. One might wonder if this sort of mechanism will show up in other tissues as well. The endogenous hormone estradiol is widely recognized as a stress signaling molecule. It is mainly produced by the ovary, and its production can be induced under certain contexts and stimuli such as during the estrus cycle and in late pregnancy. Estradiol exerts its multiple functions by binding to GPR30, estrogen receptor (ER) α, or ERβ, which are members of the nuclear receptor super family. Estradiol production is also induced after liver resection/injury, suggesting this hormone plays a role in liver regeneration. Several genes that participate in liver regeneration have been identified, including those encoding the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). In particular, we have previously focused on the molecules essential for triggering liver regeneration after par...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs