ER agonist rescues male ArKO liver steatosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is more common in men than women, suggesting a protective effect of estrogen. Male ArKO mice exhibit hepatic steatosis - excessive triglyceride accumulation in the liver. Chow and colleagues sought to investigate whether estrogen receptor (ER) α or ERβ regulates triglyceride homeostasis by treating mice with ERα- or ER β-specific agonists. No reversal of the ArKO phenotype was seen in mice treated with the ERβ-specific agonist. Only ERα was expressed in the mouse liver. Mice treated with the ERα-specific agonist exhibited normal liver histology and ameliorated hepatic steatosis. The ERα agonist also reduced the expression of key enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and reduced liver triglyceride levels. Estrogen thus acts mostly via ERα-mediated pathways and suggest that estrogen replacement can be used to reverse hepatic steatosis in male ArKO mice. Chow et al. (2011) Journal of Endocrinology 210 323-334.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JOE-10-0462.