moxestrol and Lupus-Erythematosus--Systemic

The aim was to compare binding properties of estrogen receptors in brain, reproductive and immune tissues of immature and adult female BALB/c mice, and in the same tissues of MRL/MP-lpr/lpr mice. The latter strain spontaneously develops an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus; SLE). It is hypothesized that estradiol, through its receptors, mediates the progression of murine SLE. High-speed cytosols were prepared from hypothalamus, spleen, thymus and uterus of both strains, and incubated with the synthetic estrogen (3)H-moxestrol (NEN). Scatchard plots were derived from binding isotherms obtained after in vitro incubation. In addition, cervical lymph nodes from MRL mice could be used, but were too small in BALB/c mice. There was a significant increase in the affinity of the binding reaction i.e. a decrease in the apparent molar dissociation constant (Kd), in immune tissues and uterus with maturation in MRL but not BALB/c mice, whose tissues had, overall, a lower affinity for (3)H-moxestrol. Receptor concentrations were significantly higher in spleen and cervical lymph nodes of adult compared with immature MRL mice, but the opposite pattern was observed in BALB/c mouse spleen on maturation. These properties of estrogen receptors in MRL mice may underlie estrogen-mediated exacerbation of murine SLE.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; Receptors, Estrogen; Species Specificity

Binding properties of estrogen receptors in liver, thymus and uterus of BALB/c and (NZBxNZW) F1 mice were compared. (NZBxNZW) F1 mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is hypothesized that estradiol, through its receptors, mediates the progression of murine SLE. High-speed cytosols were prepared from liver, thymus and uterus and incubated with the synthetic estrogen 3H-moxestrol (NEN). Scatchard plots were derived from binding isotherms obtained. Rectilinear Scatchard plots were obtained from all tissues, which is consistent with the presence of only one class of binding sites, or of more than one class but with the same affinity. There were, however, strain differences in that the affinity of the binding reaction was significantly higher in cytosols from BALB/c liver in males and females. In thymus, the situation was reversed in that the affinity was significantly higher in cytosols from (NZBxNZW) F1 mice. Thymic cytosols from BALB/c mice contained significantly more estrogen receptors per mg cytosol protein than did those from (NZBxNZW) F1 mice. The exacerbation of murine SLE may be due, at least in part, to these properties of estrogen receptors in liver and thymus.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Liver; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; Mice, Inbred NZB; Receptors, Estrogen; Thymus Gland