Estrogen deficiency accelerates progression of glomerulosclerosis in susceptible mice

Sharon J. Elliot, Michael Karl, Mariana Berho, Mylene Potier, Feng Zheng, Baudouin Leclercq, Gary E. Striker, Liliane J. Striker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

Estrogen deficiency may contribute to the development and progression of glomerulosclerosis in postmenopausal women. The responsiveness to estrogens could be controlled by genetic traits related to those that determine the susceptibility to glomerular scarring. This study was undertaken to determine whether the intensity of the sclerotic response was modified by the estrogen status in sclerosis-prone ROP Os/+ mice. Orvariectomized ROP Os/+ mice developed more severe renal dysfunction and glomerulosclerosis than intact, ie, estrogen sufficient agematched female mice. Ovariectomized ROP Os/+ exhibited increased accumulation of extracellular matrix, predominantly of laminin, and a marked distortion of the glomerular architecture. We found an increase in macrophage infiltration in the mesangium of ovariectomized ROP Os/+. Estrogen deficiency decreased glomerular estrogen receptor expression in ROP Os/+ mice, which we had previously found to be low in the parental ROP strain. Thus, although physiological estrogen levels in young ROP Os/+ mice could not prevent the development of glomerulosclerosis, estrogen deficiency accelerated the progression of glomerular scarring in this mouse strain. This suggests that estrogen replacement will slow but not prevent the progression of glomerulosclerosis. It underscores the importance of the genetic composition of individuals that determines the susceptibility to diseases as well as the response to treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1441-1448
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Pathology
Volume162
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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