Estrogen Signaling in Metabolic Inflammation

Figure 4

Estrogens effects on metabolic improvement may be cause (a) or consequence (b) of regulation of inflammation pathways. Further studies are needed to ascertain the relationship between estrogen signaling, inflammation, and metabolism. It is possible that the anti-inflammatory effects of estrogens, though their influences on processes like energy balance, leptin and glucocorticoid signaling, adipose tissue distribution and cellularity, and activity of immune cells, may culminate on metabolic improvement. However, estrogens have also been demonstrated to directly interfere with such processes, favoring improved inflammatory profile that results in overall metabolic amelioration. Additionally, the two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive. AT: adipose tissue.