Protect bone with estrogen replacements

During menopause there is a sharp drop in the blood’s estrogen level, resulting in a greatly increased risk of osteoporosis in women. The hormone estrogen is responsible for keeping the production and breakdown of bone in balance and because of this is important to the quality of the bone. This protective effect on bone can in part be attributed to inhibition of the production of cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that play an essential role in defense and inflammatory responses, but they also activate the cells that break down bone. Monique Quaedackers did research into a safer form of hormone replacement therapy.
Estrogen exerts its biological influence by binding to the estrogen receptor. This receptor is what is known as a transcription factor: a protein that can activate the production of other proteins. Quaedackers shows that the production of cytokine is inhibited because the estrogen receptor inhibits the activity of NF-kappaB, the most important transcription factor for activating the production of many cytokines. Quadackers provides insight into the molecular mechanism. She also compares the effect of estrogen with a number of synthetic estrogens used clinically.

Monique Quaedackers

Inhibition of NF-kB transcriptional activity by the estrogen receptor - Insights into the molecular mechanism

PhD advisor: Prof. R.H.A. Plasterk
Co-advisor: Dr. P.T. van der Saag