Atherogenesis: Estrogen Induction of Polysialylated NCAM Blocks Monocyte Capture by Vascular Endothelial Cells

The study concluded that estrogen had an anti-atherogenic effect by inducing the polysialylation of neural cell adhesion molecule (nCAM) on vascular endothelial cells, which inhibited the capture of monocytes, a critical step in the formation of atheromas. In vitro experiments with human endothelial cells treated with estradiol showed significantly fewer monocytes were captured compared to untreated cells, and this effect was blocked by an estrogen receptor antagonist. Similar results were observed with other sex steroids, suggesting their interaction with estrogen receptors. This mechanism could potentially disrupt the early stages of atherogenesis and atherosclerosis.