Ablation of estrogen receptor alpha in fibroblasts significantly inhibits lower abdominal muscle fibrosis and inguinal hernia formation, which affects half of men by age 75. Researchers utilized a humanized mouse model to demonstrate that estrogen receptor alpha drives fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Pharmacological inhibition effectively reversed existing hernias while restoring normal muscle structure. These findings suggest new potential medical strategies for treating fibrotic conditions and offer non-surgical options for managing inguinal hernias.
Journal Article by Potluri T, You T (…) Bulun SE et 7 al. in J Clin Invest