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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Estrogen attenuates the spondyloarthritis manifestations of the SKG arthritis model

Authors: Hyemin Jeong, Eun-Kyung Bae, Hunnyun Kim, Yeong Hee Eun, In Young Kim, Hyungjin Kim, Jaejoon Lee, Chan Hong Jeon, Eun-Mi Koh, Hoon-Suk Cha

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a male-predominant disease, and radiographic evidence of damage is also more severe in males. Estrogen modulates immune-related processes such as T cell differentiation and cytokine production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of estrogen on the disease activity of spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods

The effects of estrogen on the development of arthritis were evaluated by performing ovariectomy and 17β-estradiol (E2) pellet implantation in zymosan-treated SKG mice. Clinical arthritis scores were measured, and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) small-animal positron emission tomography/computed tomography performed to quantify joint inflammation. The expression of inflammatory cytokines in joint tissue was measured.

Results

E2-treated mice showed remarkable suppression of arthritis clinically and little infiltration of inflammatory cells in the Achilles tendon and intervertebral disc. ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was significantly lower in E2-treated mice than in sham-operated (sham) and ovariectomized mice. Expression of TNF, interferon-γ, and IL-17A was significantly reduced in E2-treated mice, whereas expression of sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 was increased in E2-treated mice compared with sham and ovariectomized mice.

Conclusions

Estrogen suppressed arthritis development in SKG mice, a model of SpA. Results of this study suggest that estrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect on the spondyloarthritis manifestations of the SKG arthritis model.

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Title: Estrogen attenuates the spondyloarthritis manifestations of the SKG arthritis model
Authors: Hyemin Jeong
Eun-Kyung Bae
Hunnyun Kim
Yeong Hee Eun
In Young Kim
Hyungjin Kim
Jaejoon Lee
Chan Hong Jeon
Eun-Mi Koh
Hoon-Suk Cha
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-017-1407-9

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