ERβ expression in the endothelium ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-mediated oxidative burst and vascular injury

Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Jul:96:223-33. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.04.029. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract

Estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERs) have been reported to play protective roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-mediated injury, but the detailed mechanism remains to be fully understood. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) also play important roles in the I/R process; however, due to the lack of sensitive and reproducible in vivo monitoring systems, we still do not have direct evidence for the effect of NO and ROS in vivo. In this study, we have established reliable in vivo monitoring systems to measure the variations in circulating ROS and NO during the I/R. We found that during the first few minutes of post-ischemia reperfusion, an oxidative burst occurred concurrent with a rapid loss of NO. Expression of ERβ in the endothelium reduced these effects that accompanied an attenuation in myocardial infarction and vascular damage. Further investigation showed that Tie2-driven lentivirus delivery of ERβ to the vascular wall in rats increased the expression of its target genes in the endothelium, including ERRα, SOD2 and eNOS. These changes modulate ROS generation, DNA damage, and mitochondrial function in rat endothelial cells. We also found that ERβ expression in the endothelium reduced ROS generation and restored mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes; this may be due to ERβ-mediated NO formation and its high diffusibility to cardiomyocytes. We conclude that ERβ expression in the endothelium ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-mediated oxidative burst and vascular injury.

Keywords: Mitochondria; Nitric oxide; Oxidative stress; SOD2; Vascular biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Damage / genetics
  • ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / genetics*
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics*
  • Reperfusion Injury / genetics*
  • Reperfusion Injury / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • Respiratory Burst / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics*
  • Vascular System Injuries / genetics
  • Vascular System Injuries / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • superoxide dismutase 2