The sex hormone 17b-estradiol (E2) is the most abundant and active estrogen in premenopausal
women. Studies have shown that high circulating levels of E2 are cardioprotective
and are associated with reduced risk of developing heart disease in women of reproductive
age. Estrogen receptors (ERs) are divided into three subtypes, namely ERa, ERb, and GPR30,
and these receptors have been shown to play important roles in E2-mediated pathways
that protect cardiomyocytes from various cardiac insults, such as hypoxia, ischemicreperfusion
injury, sepsis, and hypertrophic agents. This review focuses on the role that
estrogen and ER-mediated signaling pathways play in protecting cardiomyocytes against
various stresses. Moreover, the therapeutic implication of selective ER-agonists on
cardiomyopathy along with remaining unanswered issues are further discussed.
Copyright ª 2011, China Medical University. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights
reserved
