Estrogen Signaling and Cardiovascular Disease

• Published in: Circulation research Vol. 109; no. 6; pp. 687 - 696
• Main Author: Murphy, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD American Heart Association, Inc 02-09-2011; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiotonic Agents - metabolism; Cardiotonic Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Estrogens - physiology; Estrogens - therapeutic use; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Medical sciences; Receptors, Estrogen - physiology; Signal Transduction - physiology; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Signal transduction; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Ischemia reperfusion; Nitric oxide; Estrogen; Cardiovascular disease; Hormone replacement therapy; Circulatory system; ischemia-reperfusion; Sex steroid hormone; Ovarian hormone
• ISSN: 0009-7330; 1524-4571
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.110.236687

Estrogen has pleiotropic effects on the cardiovascular system. The mechanisms by which estrogen confers these pleiotropic effects are undergoing active investigation. Until a decade ago, all estrogen signaling was thought to occur by estrogen binding to nuclear estrogen receptors (estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β), which bind to DNA and function as ligand-activated transcription factors. Estrogen binding to the receptor alters gene expression, thereby altering cell function. Estrogen also binds to nuclear estrogen receptors that are tethered to the plasma membrane, resulting in acute activation of signaling kinases such as PI3K. An orphan G-protein-coupled receptor, G-protein-coupled receptor 30, can also bind estrogen and activate acute signaling pathways. Thus, estrogen can alter cell function by binding to different estrogen receptors. This article reviews the different estrogen receptors and their signaling mechanisms, discusses mechanisms that regulate estrogen receptor levels and locations, and considers the cardiovascular effects of estrogen signaling.