MENOPAUSE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN BLOOD MONOCYTENUMBER AND A RELATIVE DECREASE IN THE EXPRESSION OF ESTROGEN-RECEPTORS IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL MONOCYTES

PROBLEM: The clinical significance of the differential expression of e strogen receptor (ER) in human monocytes was evaluated. METHOD: Two co lor flow cytometry analysis was used on peripheral blood samples of yo ung and postmenopausal females and postmenopausal females treated with estrogen replacement therapy. In addition, the monocyte and lymphocyt e counts and the blood estrogen levels of each patient were determined . RESULTS: During menopause there is a significant decrease in the per centage of ER positive monocytes, and an increase in blood monocyte nu mber, which declines following estrogen replacement therapy to values of the young. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that estrogen modula tes the monocyte numbers and its effects may be mediated through the E R in the monocytes.