Inhibition of Transplant Coronary Arteriosclerosis in Rabbits by Chronic Estradiol Treatment Is Associated With Abolition of MHC Class II Antigen Expression

Abstract

Estradiol treatment of cardiac allograft recipients abolishes MHC class II antigen expression in the coronary arteries and decreases macrophage infiltration in all three layers of the vessel wall, whereas T-lymphocyte infiltration is decreased only in the myointima. These findings are associated with estradiol inhibition of myointimal proliferation. Thus, estradiol treatment may have a beneficial effect on graft arteriosclerosis through immune mechanisms.