Women and Inflammation

Our research

The projects focus, among others, on determining whether the effects of estrogen on development, activation and function of the immune system during autoimmune diseases and associated osteoporosis are mediated by stromal cells in primary and secondary lymphoid organs. Another focus area is to define the mechanisms involved in the effects of estrogen on immune responses during infection- and allergy-induced airway inflammation. The projects range from basic research (in vitro and in vivo), to clinical studies in collaboration with medical doctors at the Sahlgrenska University hospital.

Main research projects

Effects of estrogen on the immune system in autoimmune diseases and associated osteoporosis  

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting in joint inflammation and development of osteoporosis. Women have increased risk of developing RA compared to men, and the peak incidence coincides with the time of menopause when the levels of estrogen rapidly decrease.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which to app. 90% affects women and essentially can affect all organs in the body. The disease often debuts during the reproductive age when the levels of estrogen are high and women with SLE have an increased to develop osteoporosis.

Estrogen inhibits RA but worsens SLE, while it protects against osteoporosis in both diseases. The three-dimensional structure of lymphoid organs is made by stromal cells, but stromal cells also have major effects on the activation and function of immune cells. The mechanisms underlying the opposing effects of estrogen in RA and SLE are unclear and defining them would provide opportunities to develop new and better therapies for many inflammatory conditions that are affected by estrogen. The aims of this project are:

1) to identify the mechanisms underlying the opposing effects of estrogen on immune responses in RA and SLE;

2) to explore if the effects of estrogen on immune responses are mediated via stromal cells in primary and secondary lymphoid organs; and

3) to define whether the protective effects of estrogen on osteoporosis development in RA and SLE are mediated by bone marrow stromal cells.  

Sex bias and effects of estrogen on immune response during airway inflammation

Sex hormones affect the development and function of the immune system, which can be illustrated by a stronger immune response in females towards e.g., influenza virus infection, and by the increased risk for women in the fertile age to develop asthma.

The specific mechanisms underlying the sex difference in immune responses during airway inflammation is not clear. However, it is well known that estrogen can display either stimulatory or inhibitory effects on different parts of the immune system depending on the settings. For example, estrogen stimulates the secretion of antibodies from B cells but decreases the production of different pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The aims of this project are:

1) to identify the mechanisms involved in the effects of estrogen on immune responses during allergen- and virus-induced airway inflammation, and

2) to determine the importance of stromal cells in primary and secondary lymphoid organs for the estrogen-mediated regulation of immune responses.