Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis: The Role of Estrogen Receptors

E-ISSN： 1875-533x|22|22|2651-2665

ISSN： 0929-8673

Source： Current Medicinal Chemistry, Vol.22, Iss.22, 2015-08, pp. : 2651-2665

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Abstract

Estrogen receptors mediate numerous favorable effects on cells and molecules implicated invascular inflammation and atherogenic process. However, harmful effects have also been suggested.Actually, premenopausal women have a significantly lower risk for cardiovascular disease comparedto postmenopausal women or age matched males while the incidence of cardiovascular disease isgreater in postmenopausal than premenopausal women of the same age. The balance between the expressionof ER subtypes may play an important role in the paradoxical characterization of estrogens asboth beneficial and harmful. The activation of the newly discovered estrogen receptor GPR30 appearsto be of great potential as therapeutic target in coronary heart disease, though the signaling mechanisms mediated GPR30function still have not fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the roleof each estrogen receptor subtype in mediating the direct estrogen actions on different cellular components that participatein the atherosclerotic inflammatory process. We hope this knowledge will shed some light on the cause of the paradoxicalcharacterization of estrogens as both beneficial and harmful, and advance the research in the development of specific ERagonists/antagonists with improved benefit/risk ratio.