Hui Gao , Ph.D.  Office phone: +46-(0)8-6089145 Lab phone: +46-(0)8-6089144 Fax: +46-(0)8-7745538 e-mail: hui.gao@biosci.ki.se

Genome-wide expression analysis as an approach to investigate the molecular mechanism of estrogen in relation to metabolic and cardiovascular disease

Estrogen has traditionally been connected with female reproduction. The importance of this hormone for the male reproductive system and non-reproductive processes, such as metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease, has been established. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes are leading causes of death in the industrialized countries. CVD and diabetes are tightly related to each other.

The metabolic disorders, such as obesity and insulin resistance, are important risk factors simultaneously affecting the development of CVD and diabetes mellitus. There are evidence in both humans and rodents which link estrogen to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and protection of the cardiovascular system. The molecular mechanisms for those effects are, however, not well characterized. We are using gene expression profiling to study effects of estrogen on mouse heart, aorta and liver. The aims of the project are 1.) To elucidate the molecular mechanism for the cardiovascular and anti-diabetic effects of estrogen by identifying estrogen receptor target genes in those tissues. 2.) To derive estrogen-signaling networks for tissues relevant to aim 1.

Reference

Otsuki M, Gao H, Dahlman-Wright K, Ohlsson C, Eguchi N, Urade Y, Gustafsson J-Å. Specific regulation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in mouse heart by estrogen receptor beta.
Mol Endocrinol. 2003 Sep;17(9):1844-55.