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Morin-Grandmont A, Walsh-Wilkinson É, Labbé EA, Thibodeau SÈ, Dupont É, Boudreau DK, Arsenault M, Bossé Y, Couet J. Biological sex, sex steroids and sex chromosomes contribute to mouse cardiac aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:7553-7577. [PMID: 38742935 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
After menopause, the incidence of cardiovascular disease rapidly rises in women. The disappearing protection provided by sex steroids is a consequence of the development of many risk factors. Preclinical studies are necessary to understand better the effects of ovarian hormones loss cardiac aging. To mimic menopause in mice and study its consequences, we delayed ovariectomy at 12 months and followed animals for 12 months. Using RNA sequencing, we investigated changes in the myocardial exome with aging. In addition, with four-core genotypes (FCG) transgenic mice, we studied sex chromosome effects on cardiac aging. Heart weight increased from 3 to 24 months (males + 35%, females + 29%). In males, 75% of this increase had occurred at 12 months; in females, only 30%. Gonadectomy of mice at 12 months blocked cardiac hypertrophy in both sexes during the second year of life. The dosage of the X chromosomes did not influence cardiac growth in young and older mice. We performed an RNA sequencing study in young and old mice. We identified new highly expressed genes modulated during aging (Bdh, Myot, Cpxm2, and Slc38a1). The myocardial exome in older animals displayed few differences related to the animal's sex or the presence or absence of sex steroids for a year. We show that the morphological evolution of the heart depends on the biological sex via gonadal sex hormone actions. The myocardial exome of old male and female mice is relatively similar. Our study emphasizes the need to consider sex steroid effects in studying cardiac aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Morin-Grandmont
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Élisabeth Walsh-Wilkinson
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Emylie-Ann Labbé
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Sara-Ève Thibodeau
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Élizabeth Dupont
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Dominique K Boudreau
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Arsenault
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Yohan Bossé
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Jacques Couet
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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2
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Yang ML, Xu C, Gupte T, Hoffmann TJ, Iribarren C, Zhou X, Ganesh SK. Sex-specific genetic architecture of blood pressure. Nat Med 2024; 30:818-828. [PMID: 38459180 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02858-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The genetic and genomic basis of sex differences in blood pressure (BP) traits remain unstudied at scale. Here, we conducted sex-stratified and combined-sex genome-wide association studies of BP traits using the UK Biobank resource, identifying 1,346 previously reported and 29 new BP trait-associated loci. Among associated loci, 412 were female-specific (Pfemale ≤ 5 × 10-8; Pmale > 5 × 10-8) and 142 were male-specific (Pmale ≤ 5 × 10-8; Pfemale > 5 × 10-8); these sex-specific loci were enriched for hormone-related transcription factors, in particular, estrogen receptor 1. Analyses of gene-by-sex interactions and sexually dimorphic effects identified four genomic regions, showing female-specific associations with diastolic BP or pulse pressure, including the chromosome 13q34-COL4A1/COL4A2 locus. Notably, female-specific pulse pressure-associated loci exhibited enriched acetylated histone H3 Lys27 modifications in arterial tissues and a female-specific association with fibromuscular dysplasia, a female-biased vascular disease; colocalization signals included Chr13q34: COL4A1/COL4A2, Chr9p21: CDKN2B-AS1 and Chr4q32.1: MAP9 regions. Sex-specific and sex-biased polygenic associations of BP traits were associated with multiple cardiovascular traits. These findings suggest potentially clinically significant and BP sex-specific pleiotropic effects on cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Lee Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chang Xu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Trisha Gupte
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas J Hoffmann
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Institute for Human Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Santhi K Ganesh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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3
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Lindsey ML, Usselman CW, Ripplinger CM, Carter JR, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Sex as a biological variable for cardiovascular physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H459-H469. [PMID: 38099847 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00727.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
There have been ongoing efforts by federal agencies and scientific communities since the early 1990s to incorporate sex and/or gender in all aspects of cardiovascular research. Scientific journals provide a critical function as change agents to influence transformation by encouraging submissions for topic areas, and by setting standards and expectations for articles submitted to the journal. As part of ongoing efforts to advance sex and gender in cardiovascular physiology research, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology recently launched a call for papers on Considering Sex as a Biological Variable. This call was an overwhelming success, resulting in 78 articles published in this collection. This review summarizes the major themes of the collection, including Sex as a Biological Variable Within: Endothelial Cell and Vascular Physiology, Cardiovascular Immunity and Inflammation, Metabolism and Mitochondrial Energy, Extracellular Matrix Turnover and Fibrosis, Neurohormonal Signaling, and Cardiovascular Clinical and Epidemiology Assessments. Several articles also focused on establishing rigor and reproducibility of key physiological measurements involved in cardiovascular health and disease, as well as recommendations and considerations for study design. Combined, these articles summarize our current understanding of sex and gender influences on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and provide insight into future directions needed to further expand our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Research Service, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States
| | - Jason R Carter
- Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States
| | - Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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4
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Usselman CW, Lindsey ML, Robinson AT, Habecker BA, Taylor CE, Merryman WD, Kimmerly D, Bender JR, Regensteiner JG, Moreau KL, Pilote L, Wenner MM, O'Brien M, Yarovinsky TO, Stachenfeld NS, Charkoudian N, Denfeld QE, Moreira-Bouchard JD, Pyle WG, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Guidelines on the use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H238-H255. [PMID: 37999647 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00535.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In cardiovascular research, sex and gender have not typically been considered in research design and reporting until recently. This has resulted in clinical research findings from which not only all women, but also gender-diverse individuals have been excluded. The resulting dearth of data has led to a lack of sex- and gender-specific clinical guidelines and raises serious questions about evidence-based care. Basic research has also excluded considerations of sex. Including sex and/or gender as research variables not only has the potential to improve the health of society overall now, but it also provides a foundation of knowledge on which to build future advances. The goal of this guidelines article is to provide advice on best practices to include sex and gender considerations in study design, as well as data collection, analysis, and interpretation to optimally establish rigor and reproducibility needed to inform clinical decision-making and improve outcomes. In cardiovascular physiology, incorporating sex and gender is a necessary component when optimally designing and executing research plans. The guidelines serve as the first guidance on how to include sex and gender in cardiovascular research. We provide here a beginning path toward achieving this goal and improve the ability of the research community to interpret results through a sex and gender lens to enable comparison across studies and laboratories, resulting in better health for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Research Service, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Austin T Robinson
- Neurovascular Physiology Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States
| | - Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry and Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Chloe E Taylor
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - W David Merryman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Derek Kimmerly
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Bender
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Judith G Regensteiner
- Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Ludeman Family Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Kerrie L Moreau
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Louise Pilote
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Megan M Wenner
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Myles O'Brien
- School of Physiotherapy and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Timur O Yarovinsky
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Nina S Stachenfeld
- John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Nisha Charkoudian
- Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Quin E Denfeld
- School of Nursing and Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Jesse D Moreira-Bouchard
- Q.U.E.E.R. Lab, Programs in Human Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - W Glen Pyle
- IMPART Team Canada Network, Dalhousie Medicine, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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Edwards A, Ralph DL, Mercado A, McDonough AA. Angiotensin II hypertension along the female rat tubule: predicted impact on coupled transport of Na + and K . Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F733-F749. [PMID: 37823196 PMCID: PMC10878725 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00232.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infusion of subpressor level of angiotensin II (ANG II) increases the abundance of Na+ transporters along the distal nephron, balanced by suppression of Na+ transporters along the proximal tubule and medullary thick ascending limb (defined as "proximal nephron"), which impacts K+ handling along the entire renal tubule. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the impact of chronic ANG II on the renal handling of Na+ and K+ in female rats, using a computational model of the female rat renal tubule. Our results indicate that the downregulation of proximal nephron Na+ reabsorption (TNa), which occurs in response to ANG II-triggered hypertension, involves changes in both transporter abundance and trafficking. Our model suggests that substantial (∼30%) downregulation of active NHE3 in proximal tubule (PT) microvilli is needed to reestablish the Na+ balance at 2 wk of ANG II infusion. The 35% decrease in SGLT2, a known NHE3 regulator, may contribute to this downregulation. Both depression of proximal nephron TNa and stimulation of distal ENaC raise urinary K+ excretion in ANG II-treated females, while K+ loss is slightly mitigated by cortical NKCC2 and NCC upregulation. Our model predicts that K+ excretion may be more significantly limited during ANG II infusion by ROMK inhibition in the distal nephron and/or KCC3 upregulation in the PT, which remain open questions for experimental validation. In summary, our analysis indicates that ANG II hypertension triggers a series of events from distal TNa stimulation followed by compensatory reduction in proximal nephron TNa and accompanying adjustments to limit excessive K+ secretion.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used a computational model of the renal tubule to assess the impact of 2-wk angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion on the handling of Na+ and K+ in female rats. ANG II strongly stimulates distal Na+ reabsorption and K+ secretion. Simulations indicate that substantial downregulation of proximal tubule NHE3 is needed to reestablish Na+ balance at 2 wk. Proximal adaptations challenge K+ homeostasis, and regulation of distal NCC and specific K+ channels likely limit urinary K+ losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Edwards
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Donna L Ralph
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Adriana Mercado
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alicia A McDonough
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Vanden Noven ML, Anselmo M, Tahsin CT, Carter JR, Keller-Ross ML. A review of the historical use of sex as a biological variable in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H768-H773. [PMID: 37594486 PMCID: PMC10643001 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00278.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite National Institute of Health (NIH) mandates requiring sex as a biological variable (SABV), female underrepresentation persists in research, driving the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (Am J Physiol-Heart Circ) to publish SABV expectations in 2021. To determine progress within the Am J Physiol-Heart Circ, this mini-review evaluated SABV during the first 6 mo of each decade from 1980 to 2020, and 2019, to mitigate pandemic influence. Of the 1,205 articles published, 1,087 articles were included in this review (articles without original research subjects were excluded), of which 72.9% identified subjects. There were consistently fewer female human participants than males, except within 2019 (1980: females n = 3, males n = 5; 1990: females n = 70, males n = 199; 2000: females n = 305, males n = 355; 2010: females n = 186, males n = 472; 2019: females n = 1,695, males n = 1,550; 2020: females n = 1,157, males n = 1,222) and fewer female animals than males (1980: females n = 58, males n = 1,291; 1990: females n = 447, males n = 2,628; 2000: females n = 590, males n = 3,083; 2010: females n = 663, males n = 4,517; 2019: females n = 338, males n = 1,340; 2020: females n = 1,372, males n = 1,973). Only 16 (12.3%) articles including humans discussed SABV from 1980 to 2020. There are persistent SABV disparities within Am J Physiol-Heart Circ with some improvements in recent years. It is imperative that organizations such as the American Physiological Society and NIH foster an expectation of SABV as the norm, not the exception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnie L Vanden Noven
- Department of Exercise Science, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Miguel Anselmo
- Division of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Chowdhury Tasnova Tahsin
- Division of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jason R Carter
- Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States
| | - Manda L Keller-Ross
- Division of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
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Loeffler I, Ziller N. Sex-Related Aspects in Diabetic Kidney Disease-An Update. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12082834. [PMID: 37109170 PMCID: PMC10145498 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences between the sexes exist in many diseases, and in most cases, being a specific sex is considered a risk factor in the development and/or progression. This is not quite so clear in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the development and severity of which depends on many general factors, such as the duration of diabetes mellitus, glycemic control, and biological risk factors. Similarly, sex-specific factors, such as puberty or andro-/menopause, also determine the microvascular complications in both the male and female sex. In particular, the fact that diabetes mellitus itself influences sex hormone levels, which in turn seem to be involved in renal pathophysiology, highlights the complexity of the question of sex differences in DKD. The major objective of this review is to summarize and simplify the current knowledge on biological sex-related aspects in the development/progression but also treatment strategies of human DKD. It also highlights findings from basic preclinical research that may provide explanations for these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Nadja Ziller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
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8
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Conlon FL, Arnold AP. Sex chromosome mechanisms in cardiac development and disease. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:340-350. [PMID: 37808586 PMCID: PMC10558115 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00256-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Many human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, show differences between men and women in pathology and treatment outcomes. In the case of cardiac disease, sex differences are exemplified by differences in the frequency of specific types of congenital and adult-onset heart disease. Clinical studies have suggested that gonadal hormones are a factor in sex bias. However, recent research has shown that gene and protein networks under non-hormonal control also account for cardiac sex differences. In this review, we describe the sex chromosome pathways that lead to sex differences in the development and function of the heart and highlight how these findings affect future care and treatment of cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank L Conlon
- Departments of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Mishra M, Kane AE, Young AP, Howlett SE. Age, sex, and frailty modify the expression of common reference genes in skeletal muscle from ageing mice. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 210:111762. [PMID: 36509213 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Changes in gene expression with age are typically normalised to constitutively expressed reference genes (RGs). However, RG expression may be affected by age or overall health and most studies use only male animals. We investigated whether expression of common RGs (Gapdh, Gusb, Rplp0, B2m, Tubb5, Rpl7l1, Hprt, Rer1) was affected by age, sex and/or overall health (frailty index) in skeletal muscle from young (4-mos) and aged (25-26-mos) mice. Standard RG selection programs recommended Gapdh (RefFinder/Genorm/NormFinder) or Rpl7l1 (BestKeeper) without considering age and sex. Analysis of raw Cq values showed only Rplp0 was stable in both sexes at both ages. When qPCR data were normalised to Rplp0, age affected RG expression, especially in females. For example, Hprt expression declined with age (Hprt=9.8 ×10-2 ± 4.7 ×10-2 vs. 6.5 ×10-3 ± 8.8 ×10-4; mean±SEM), while Gusb expression increased (6.0 ×10-4 ± 5.5 ×10-5 vs. 1.7 ×10-3 ± 3.1 ×10-4; n = 5/group; p < 0.05). These effects were not seen in males. Tubb5 and Gapdh were not affected by age or sex when normalised to Rplp0. Similar results were seen with normalisation by Gapdh or the Rplp0/Gapdh pair. Interestingly, RG expression was graded not only by age but by frailty. These data demonstrate that age, sex, and frailty of animals must be carefully considered when selecting RGs to normalise mRNA abundance data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Alice E Kane
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Blavatnik Institute, Department of Genetics, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Alexander P Young
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Susan E Howlett
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Bienvenu LA, Bell JR, Weeks KL, Delbridge LMD, Young MJ. New Perspectives on Sex Steroid and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Cardiac Ischemic Injury. Front Physiol 2022; 13:896425. [PMID: 35846011 PMCID: PMC9277457 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.896425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The global burden of ischemic heart disease is burgeoning for both men and women. Although advances have been made, the need for new sex-specific therapies targeting key differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes in men and women remains. Mineralocorticoid receptor directed treatments have been successfully used for blood pressure control and heart failure management and represent a potentially valuable therapeutic option for ischemic cardiac events. Clinical and experimental data indicate that mineralocorticoid excess or inappropriate mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation exacerbates ischemic damage, and many of the intracellular response pathways activated in ischemia and subsequent reperfusion are regulated by MR. In experimental contexts, where MR are abrogated genetically or mineralocorticoid signaling is suppressed pharmacologically, ischemic injury is alleviated, and reperfusion recovery is enhanced. In the chronic setting, mineralocorticoid signaling induces fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which can predispose to ischemic events and exacerbate post-myocardial infarct pathologies. Whilst a range of cardiac cell types are involved in mineralocorticoid-mediated regulation of cardiac function, cardiomyocyte-specific MR signaling pathways are key. Selective inhibition of cardiomyocyte MR signaling improves electromechanical resilience during ischemia and enhances contractile recovery in reperfusion. Emerging evidence suggests that the MR also contribute to sex-specific aspects of ischemic vulnerability. Indeed, MR interactions with sex steroid receptors may differentially regulate myocardial nitric oxide bioavailability in males and females, potentially determining sex-specific post-ischemic outcomes. There is hence considerable impetus for exploration of MR directed, cell specific therapies for both women and men in order to improve ischemic heart disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Bienvenu
- Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne VIC, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James R. Bell
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: James R. Bell,
| | - Kate L. Weeks
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne VIC, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lea M. D. Delbridge
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Morag J. Young
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne VIC, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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11
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Hoffman MJ, Takizawa A, Jensen ES, Schilling R, Grzybowski M, Geurts AM, Dwinell MR. Btg2 mutation induces renal injury and impairs blood pressure control in female rats. Physiol Genomics 2022; 54:231-241. [PMID: 35503009 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00167.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is a complex disease influenced by heritable genetic elements and environmental interactions. Dietary salt is among the most influential modifiable factors contributing to increased blood pressure (BP). It is well established that men and women develop BP impairment in different patterns and a recent emphasis has been placed on identifying mechanisms leading to the differences observed between the sexes in HTN development. The current work reported here builds on an extensive genetic mapping experiment which sought to identify genetic determinants of salt sensitive (SS) HTN using the Dahl SS rat. BTG anti-proliferation factor 2 (Btg2) was previously identified by our group as a candidate gene contributing to SS HTN in female rats. In the current study, Btg2 was mutated using TALEN targeted gene disruption on the SSBN congenic rat background. The Btg2 mutated rats exhibited impaired BP and proteinuria responses to a high salt diet compared to wild type rats. Differences in body weight, mutant pup viability, skeletal morphology, and adult nephron density suggest a potential role for Btg2 in developmental signaling pathways. Subsequent cell cycle gene expression assessment provides several additional signaling pathways that Btg2 may function through during salt handling in the kidney. The expression analysis also identified several potential upstream targets that can be explored to further isolate therapeutic approaches for SS HTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Hoffman
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Akiko Takizawa
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Eric S Jensen
- Biomedical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Rebecca Schilling
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Michael Grzybowski
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Aron M Geurts
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Melinda R Dwinell
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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12
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Shi W, Sheng X, Dorr KM, Hutton JE, Emerson JI, Davies HA, Andrade TD, Wasson LK, Greco TM, Hashimoto Y, Federspiel JD, Robbe ZL, Chen X, Arnold AP, Cristea IM, Conlon FL. Cardiac proteomics reveals sex chromosome-dependent differences between males and females that arise prior to gonad formation. Dev Cell 2021; 56:3019-3034.e7. [PMID: 34655525 PMCID: PMC9290207 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex disparities in cardiac homeostasis and heart disease are well documented, with differences attributed to actions of sex hormones. However, studies have indicated sex chromosomes act outside of the gonads to function without mediation by gonadal hormones. Here, we performed transcriptional and proteomics profiling to define differences between male and female mouse hearts. We demonstrate, contrary to current dogma, cardiac sex disparities are controlled not only by sex hormones but also through a sex-chromosome mechanism. Using Turner syndrome (XO) and Klinefelter (XXY) models, we find the sex-chromosome pathway is established by X-linked gene dosage. We demonstrate cardiac sex disparities occur at the earliest stages of heart formation, a period before gonad formation. Using these datasets, we identify and define a role for alpha-1B-glycoprotein (A1BG), showing loss of A1BG leads to cardiac defects in females, but not males. These studies provide resources for studying sex-biased cardiac disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shi
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xinlei Sheng
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Kerry M Dorr
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Josiah E Hutton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - James I Emerson
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haley A Davies
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tia D Andrade
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lauren K Wasson
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Todd M Greco
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Yutaka Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Joel D Federspiel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Zachary L Robbe
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xuqi Chen
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ileana M Cristea
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Frank L Conlon
- Department of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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13
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Kane AE, Bisset ES, Heinze-Milne S, Keller KM, Grandy SA, Howlett SE. Maladaptive Changes Associated With Cardiac Aging Are Sex-Specific and Graded by Frailty and Inflammation in C57BL/6 Mice. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:233-243. [PMID: 32857156 PMCID: PMC7812442 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether late-life changes in cardiac structure and function were related to high levels of frailty and inflammation in male and female mice. Frailty (frailty index), ventricular structure/function (echocardiography), and serum cytokines (multiplex immunoassay) were measured in 16- and 23-month-old mice. Left ventricular (LV) mass and septal wall thickness increased with age in both sexes. Ejection fraction increased with age in males (60.4 ± 1.4 vs 68.9 ± 1.8%; p < .05) but not females (58.8 ± 2.5 vs 62.6 ± 2.4%). E/A ratios declined with age in males (1.6 ± 0.1 vs 1.3 ± 0.1; p < .05) but not females (1.4 ± 0.1 vs 1.3 ± 0.1) and this was accompanied by increased ventricular collagen levels in males. These changes in ejection fraction (r = 0.52; p = .01), septal wall thickness (r = 0.59; p = .002), E/A ratios (r = -0.49; p = .04), and fibrosis (r = 0.82; p = .002) were closely graded by frailty scores in males. Only septal wall thickness and LV mass increased with frailty in females. Serum cytokines changed modestly with age in both sexes. Nonetheless, in males, E/A ratios, LV mass, LV posterior wall thickness, and septal wall thickness increased as serum cytokines increased (eg, IL-6, IL-3, IL-1α, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, eotaxin, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α), while ejection fraction declined with increasing IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. Cardiac outcomes were not correlated with inflammatory cytokines in females. Thus, changes in cardiac structure and function in late life are closely graded by both frailty and markers of inflammation, but this occurs primarily in males. This suggests poor overall health and inflammation drive maladaptive changes in older male hearts, while older females may be resistant to these adverse effects of frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice E Kane
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Charles Perkins Center, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Elise S Bisset
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Stefan Heinze-Milne
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kaitlyn M Keller
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Scott A Grandy
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Susan E Howlett
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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14
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Haller PM, Gyöngyösi M, Chacon-Alberty L, Hochman-Mendez C, Sampaio LC, Taylor DA. Sex-Based Differences in Autologous Cell Therapy Trials in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Subanalysis of the ACCRUE Database. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:664277. [PMID: 34124198 PMCID: PMC8187782 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.664277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Sex-based differences are under-studied in cardiovascular trials as women are commonly underrepresented in dual sex studies, even though major sex-based differences in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease have been reported. We examined sex-based differences in patient characteristics, outcome, and BM-CD34+ frequency of the ACCRUE (Meta-Analysis of Cell-based CaRdiac studies) database involving patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) randomized to autologous cell-based or control treatment. Methods: We compared baseline characteristics and 1-year follow-up clinical data: composite major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (primary endpoint), and changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic (EDV), and end-systolic volumes (ESV) (secondary efficacy endpoint) in women and men (N = 1,252; 81.4% men). Secondary safety endpoints included freedom from hard clinical endpoints. Results: In cell-treated groups, women but not men had a lower frequency of stroke, AMI, and mortality than controls. The frequency of BM-CD34+ cells was significantly correlated with baseline EDV and ESV and negatively correlated with baseline LVEF in both sexes; a left shift in regression curve in women indicated a smaller EDV and ESV was associated with higher BM-CD34+ cells in women. Conclusions: Sex differences were found in baseline cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac function and in outcome responses to cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Haller
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mariann Gyöngyösi
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Luiz C Sampaio
- Department of Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation, University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Doris A Taylor
- Regenerative Medicine Research, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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15
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Deegan DF, Nigam P, Engel N. Sexual Dimorphism of the Heart: Genetics, Epigenetics, and Development. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:668252. [PMID: 34124200 PMCID: PMC8189176 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.668252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The democratization of genomic technologies has revealed profound sex biases in expression patterns in every adult tissue, even in organs with no conspicuous differences, such as the heart. With the increasing awareness of the disparities in cardiac pathophysiology between males and females, there are exciting opportunities to explore how sex differences in the heart are established developmentally. Although sexual dimorphism is traditionally attributed to hormonal influence, expression and epigenetic sex biases observed in early cardiac development can only be accounted for by the difference in sex chromosome composition, i.e., XX in females and XY in males. In fact, genes linked to the X and Y chromosomes, many of which encode regulatory factors, are expressed in cardiac progenitor cells and at every subsequent developmental stage. The effect of the sex chromosome composition may explain why many congenital heart defects originating before gonad formation exhibit sex biases in presentation, mortality, and morbidity. Some transcriptional and epigenetic sex biases established soon after fertilization persist in cardiac lineages, suggesting that early epigenetic events are perpetuated beyond early embryogenesis. Importantly, when sex hormones begin to circulate, they encounter a cardiac genome that is already functionally distinct between the sexes. Although there is a wealth of knowledge on the effects of sex hormones on cardiac function, we propose that sex chromosome-linked genes and their downstream targets also contribute to the differences between male and female hearts. Moreover, identifying how hormones influence sex chromosome effects, whether antagonistically or synergistically, will enhance our understanding of how sex disparities are established. We also explore the possibility that sexual dimorphism of the developing heart predicts sex-specific responses to environmental signals and foreshadows sex-biased health-related outcomes after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Deegan
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Priya Nigam
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nora Engel
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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16
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James BD, Guerin P, Allen JB. Let's Talk About Sex-Biological Sex Is Underreported in Biomaterial Studies. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001034. [PMID: 33043626 PMCID: PMC7791002 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine aims to better individualize healthcare. It requires that biomaterials be designed for the physiological characteristics of a specific patient. To make this a reality, biomaterials research and development must address differences of biological sex. More specifically, biomaterials should be designed with properties optimized and appropriate for male and female patients. In analyzing research articles from seven prominent biomaterials journals, sex as a biological variable is missing from an overwhelming majority of in vitro biomaterial studies. From the survey, the reporting of the sex of primary cell cultures happened only 10.3% of the time. Contributing to this trend is that commercial vendors bias cell lines toward one sex or another by not disclosing information of cell line sex at the time of purchase; researchers do not communicate this pertinent information in published studies; and many journal policies have little to no requirements for reporting cell line characteristics. Omitting this valuable information leads to a gap in the understanding of sex-specific cell-biomaterial interactions and it creates a bias in research findings towards one sex or another. To curb this concerning trend and make precision biomaterials a reality will require the biomaterials field to "talk about sex" by reporting cell sex more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D James
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, 206 Rhines Hall, PO Box 116400, Gainesville, FL, 32611-6400, USA
| | - Paxton Guerin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, 206 Rhines Hall, PO Box 116400, Gainesville, FL, 32611-6400, USA
| | - Josephine B Allen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, 206 Rhines Hall, PO Box 116400, Gainesville, FL, 32611-6400, USA
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17
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An acute estrogen receptor agonist enhances protective effects of cardioplegia in hearts from aging male and female mice. Exp Gerontol 2020; 141:111093. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.111093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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18
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McLellan MA, Skelly DA, Dona MSI, Squiers GT, Farrugia GE, Gaynor TL, Cohen CD, Pandey R, Diep H, Vinh A, Rosenthal NA, Pinto AR. High-Resolution Transcriptomic Profiling of the Heart During Chronic Stress Reveals Cellular Drivers of Cardiac Fibrosis and Hypertrophy. Circulation 2020; 142:1448-1463. [PMID: 32795101 PMCID: PMC7547893 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.119.045115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Cardiac fibrosis is a key antecedent to many types of cardiac dysfunction including heart failure. Physiological factors leading to cardiac fibrosis have been recognized for decades. However, the specific cellular and molecular mediators that drive cardiac fibrosis, and the relative effect of disparate cell populations on cardiac fibrosis, remain unclear. Methods: We developed a novel cardiac single-cell transcriptomic strategy to characterize the cardiac cellulome, the network of cells that forms the heart. This method was used to profile the cardiac cellular ecosystem in response to 2 weeks of continuous administration of angiotensin II, a profibrotic stimulus that drives pathological cardiac remodeling. Results: Our analysis provides a comprehensive map of the cardiac cellular landscape uncovering multiple cell populations that contribute to pathological remodeling of the extracellular matrix of the heart. Two phenotypically distinct fibroblast populations, Fibroblast-Cilp and Fibroblast-Thbs4, emerged after induction of tissue stress to promote fibrosis in the absence of smooth muscle actin–expressing myofibroblasts, a key profibrotic cell population. After angiotensin II treatment, Fibroblast-Cilp develops as the most abundant fibroblast subpopulation and the predominant fibrogenic cell type. Mapping intercellular communication networks within the heart, we identified key intercellular trophic relationships and shifts in cellular communication after angiotensin II treatment that promote the development of a profibrotic cellular microenvironment. Furthermore, the cellular responses to angiotensin II and the relative abundance of fibrogenic cells were sexually dimorphic. Conclusions: These results offer a valuable resource for exploring the cardiac cellular landscape in health and after chronic cardiovascular stress. These data provide insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote pathological remodeling of the mammalian heart, highlighting early transcriptional changes that precede chronic cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheal A McLellan
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (M.A.M., D.A.S., G.T.S., R.P., N.A.R.).,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA (M.A.M.)
| | - Daniel A Skelly
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (M.A.M., D.A.S., G.T.S., R.P., N.A.R.)
| | - Malathi S I Dona
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., G.E.F., T.L.G., C.D.C., A.R.P.)
| | - Galen T Squiers
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (M.A.M., D.A.S., G.T.S., R.P., N.A.R.)
| | - Gabriella E Farrugia
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., G.E.F., T.L.G., C.D.C., A.R.P.)
| | - Taylah L Gaynor
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., G.E.F., T.L.G., C.D.C., A.R.P.)
| | - Charles D Cohen
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., G.E.F., T.L.G., C.D.C., A.R.P.)
| | - Raghav Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (M.A.M., D.A.S., G.T.S., R.P., N.A.R.)
| | - Henry Diep
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.L.G, C.D.C., H.D., A.V., A.R.P.)
| | - Antony Vinh
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.L.G, C.D.C., H.D., A.V., A.R.P.)
| | - Nadia A Rosenthal
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME (M.A.M., D.A.S., G.T.S., R.P., N.A.R.)
| | - Alexander R Pinto
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., G.E.F., T.L.G., C.D.C., A.R.P.).,Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.L.G, C.D.C., H.D., A.V., A.R.P.)
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19
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Age, Sex and Overall Health, Measured As Frailty, Modify Myofilament Proteins in Hearts From Naturally Aging Mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10052. [PMID: 32572088 PMCID: PMC7308399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66903-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated effects of age, sex and frailty on contractions, calcium transients and myofilament proteins to determine if maladaptive changes associated with aging were sex-specific and modified by frailty. Ventricular myocytes and myofilaments were isolated from middle-aged (~12 mos) and older (~24 mos) mice. Frailty was assessed with a non-invasive frailty index. Calcium transients declined and slowed with age in both sexes, but contractions were largely unaffected. Actomyosin Mg-ATPase activity increased with age in females but not males; this could maintain contractions with smaller calcium transients in females. Phosphorylation of myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C), desmin, tropomyosin and myosin light chain-1 (MLC-1) increased with age in males, but only MyBP-C and troponin-T increased in females. Enhanced phosphorylation of MyBP-C and MLC-1 could preserve contractions in aging. Interestingly, the age-related decline in Hill coefficients (r = −0.816; p = 0.002) and increase in phosphorylation of desmin (r = 0.735; p = 0.010), tropomyosin (r = 0.779; p = 0.005) and MLC-1 (r = 0.817; p = 0.022) were graded by the level of frailty in males but not females. In these ways, cardiac remodeling at cellular and subcellular levels is graded by overall health in aging males. Such changes may contribute to heart diseases in frail older males, whereas females may be resistant to these effects of frailty.
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20
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Veiras LC, McFarlin BE, Ralph DL, Buncha V, Prescott J, Shirvani BS, McDonough JC, Ha D, Giani J, Gurley SB, Mamenko M, McDonough AA. Electrolyte and transporter responses to angiotensin II induced hypertension in female and male rats and mice. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2020; 229:e13448. [PMID: 31994810 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIM Sexual dimorphisms are evident along the nephron: Females (F) exhibit higher ratios of renal distal to proximal Na+ transporters' abundance, greater lithium clearance (CLi ) more rapid natriuresis in response to saline infusion and lower plasma [K+ ] vs. males (M). During angiotensin II infusion hypertension (AngII-HTN) M exhibit distal Na+ transporter activation, lower proximal and medullary loop transporters, blunted natriuresis in response to saline load, and reduced plasma [K+ ]. This study aimed to determine whether responses of F to AngII-HTN mimicked those in M or were impacted by sexual dimorphisms evident at baseline. METHODS Sprague Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice were AngII infused via osmotic minipumps 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, and assessed by metabolic cage collections, tail-cuff sphygmomanometer, semi-quantitative immunoblotting of kidney and patch-clamp electrophysiology. RESULTS In F rats, AngII-infusion increased BP to 190 mm Hg, increased phosphorylation of cortical NKCC2, NCC and cleavage of ENaC two to threefold, increased ENaC channel activity threefold and aldosterone 10-fold. K+ excretion increased and plasma [K+ ] decreased. Evidence of natriuresis in F included increased urine Na+ excretion and CLi , and decreased medullary NHE3, NKCC2 and Na,K-ATPase abundance. In C57BL/6 mice, AngII-HTN increased abundance of distal Na+ transporters, suppressed proximal-medullary transporters and reduced plasma [K+ ] in both F and M. CONCLUSION Despite baseline sexual dimorphisms, AngII-HTN provokes similar increases in BP, aldosterone, distal transporters, ENaC channel activation and K+ loss accompanied by similar suppression of proximal and loop Na+ transporters, natriuresis and diuresis in females and males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana C. Veiras
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Brandon E. McFarlin
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Donna L. Ralph
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Vadym Buncha
- Department of Physiology Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Augusta GA USA
| | - Jessica Prescott
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Borna S. Shirvani
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jillian C. McDonough
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Darren Ha
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jorge Giani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Susan B. Gurley
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Oregon Health and Science University Portland OR USA
| | - Mykola Mamenko
- Department of Physiology Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Augusta GA USA
| | - Alicia A. McDonough
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Keck School of Medicine of USC Los Angeles CA USA
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21
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Brown KD, Waggy ED, Nair S, Robinson TJ, Schmitt EE, Bruns DR, Thomas DP. Sex Differences in Cardiac AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Following Exhaustive Exercise. Sports Med Int Open 2020; 4:E13-E18. [PMID: 32232123 PMCID: PMC7101246 DOI: 10.1055/a-1115-6373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease presents with significant differences between sexes. Endurance exercise protects the heart against ischemic disease and also distinctly impacts male and female patients through unidentified mechanisms, though some evidence implicates 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of training and sex on cardiac AMPK activation following exhaustive exercise. AMPK activation was measured in trained and sedentary mice of both sexes. Trained mice ran on a treadmill at progressively increasing speeds and duration for 12 weeks. Trained and sedentary mice of both sexes were euthanized immediately following exhaustive exercise and compared to sedentary controls. Endurance training elicited adaptations indicative of aerobic adaptation including higher max running velocities and cardiac hypertrophy with no differences between males and females. AMPK activity was higher in male compared to females, and trained exhibited higher AMPK activity compared to sedentary mice. In response to training, male mice activated AMPK more robustly than female mice. Chronic exercise training increases the ability to activate cardiac AMPK in response to exhaustive exercise in a sex-specific manner. Understanding the interaction between exercise and sex is vital for use of exercise as medicine for heart disease in both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Brown
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Laramie, United States
| | - Edward D Waggy
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Laramie, United States
| | - Sreejayan Nair
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States.,WWAMI Medical Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States
| | | | - Emily E Schmitt
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Laramie, United States.,WWAMI Medical Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States
| | - Danielle R Bruns
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Laramie, United States.,WWAMI Medical Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States
| | - D Paul Thomas
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, Laramie, United States
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22
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Walsh-Wilkinson E, Beaumont C, Drolet MC, Roy ÈM, Le Houillier C, Beaudoin J, Arsenault M, Couet J. Effects of the loss of estrogen on the heart's hypertrophic response to chronic left ventricle volume overload in rats. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7924. [PMID: 31656705 PMCID: PMC6812667 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aortic valve regurgitation (AR) can result in heart failure from chronic overloading of the left ventricle (LV). Little is known of the role of estrogens in the LV responses to this condition. The aim of the study was to compare LV remodeling in female rats with severe AR in absence of estrogens by ovariectomy (Ovx). In a first study, we investigated over 6 months the development of hypertrophy in four groups of female Wistar rats: AR or sham-operated (sham) and Ovx or not. Ovx reduced normal heart growth. As expected, volume overload (VO) from AR resulted in significant LV dilation (42% and 32% increase LV end-diastolic diameter in intact and Ovx groups vs. their respective sham group; p < 0.0001). LV weight was also significantly and similarly increased in both AR groups (non-Ovx and Ovx). Increase in stroke volume or cardiac output and loss of systolic function were similar between AR intact and AR Ovx groups compared to sham. We then investigated what were the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2; 0.03 mg/kg/day) treatment on the parameters studied in Ovx rats. Ovx reduced uterus weight by 85% and E2 treatment restored up to 65% of the normal weight. E2 also helped normalize heart size to normal values. On the other hand, it did not influence the extent of the hypertrophic response to AR. In fact, E2 treatment further reduced LV hypertrophy in AR Ovx rats (41% over Sham Ovx + E2). Systolic and diastolic functions parameters in AR Ovx + E2 were similar to intact AR animals. Ovx in sham rats had a significant effect on the LV gene expression of several hypertrophy markers. Atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa) gene expression was reduced by Ovx in sham-operated females whereas brain natriuretic peptide (Nppb) expression was increased. Alpha (Myh6) and beta (Myh7) myosin heavy chain genes were also significantly modulated by Ovx in sham females. In AR rats, LV expression of both Nppa and Nppb genes were increased as expected. Ovx further increased it of AR rats for Nppa and did the opposite for Nppb. Interestingly, AR in Ovx rats had only minimal effects on Myh6 and Myh7 genes whereas they were modulated as expected for intact AR animals. In summary, loss of estrogens by Ovx in AR rats was not accompanied by a worsening of hypertrophy or cardiac function. Normal cardiac growth was reduced by Ovx in sham females but not the hypertrophic response to AR. On the other hand, Ovx had important effects on LV gene expression both in sham and AR female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Walsh-Wilkinson
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Beaumont
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Drolet
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ève-Marie Roy
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Charlie Le Houillier
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Beaudoin
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Arsenault
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Jacques Couet
- Groupe de Recherche sur les Valvulopathies, Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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23
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DeLeon-Pennell KY, Lindsey ML. Somewhere over the sex differences rainbow of myocardial infarction remodeling: hormones, chromosomes, inflammasome, oh my. Expert Rev Proteomics 2019; 16:933-940. [PMID: 31483157 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2019.1664293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in both men and women. While women are protected until the onset of menopause, after menopause women have increased risk of adverse cardiovascular disease events. Animal models of myocardial infarction recapitulate many of the sex differences observed in humans, and proteomics evaluations offer mechanistic insights to explain sex differences.Areas covered: In this review, we will discuss how proteomics has helped us understand the hormonal, chromosomal, and immune mechanisms behind sex differences in response to ischemic injury and the development of heart failure.Expert opinion: There are a number of ways in which proteomics has and will continue to facilitate our understanding of sex differences in cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, and Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Merry L Lindsey
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Heart and Vascular Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Research Service, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, USA
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24
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Bonnet S, Boucherat O, Paulin R, Wu D, Hindmarch CCT, Archer SL, Song R, Moore JB, Provencher S, Zhang L, Uchida S. Clinical value of non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and muscle diseases. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2019; 318:C1-C28. [PMID: 31483703 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00078.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although a majority of the mammalian genome is transcribed to RNA, mounting evidence indicates that only a minor proportion of these transcriptional products are actually translated into proteins. Since the discovery of the first non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in the 1980s, the field has gone on to recognize ncRNAs as important molecular regulators of RNA activity and protein function, knowledge of which has stimulated the expansion of a scientific field that quests to understand the role of ncRNAs in cellular physiology, tissue homeostasis, and human disease. Although our knowledge of these molecules has significantly improved over the years, we have limited understanding of their precise functions, protein interacting partners, and tissue-specific activities. Adding to this complexity, it remains unknown exactly how many ncRNAs there are in existence. The increased use of high-throughput transcriptomics techniques has rapidly expanded the list of ncRNAs, which now includes classical ncRNAs (e.g., ribosomal RNAs and transfer RNAs), microRNAs, and long ncRNAs. In addition, splicing by-products of protein-coding genes and ncRNAs, so-called circular RNAs, are now being investigated. Because there is substantial heterogeneity in the functions of ncRNAs, we have summarized the present state of knowledge regarding the functions of ncRNAs in heart, lungs, and skeletal muscle. This review highlights the pathophysiologic relevance of these ncRNAs in the context of human cardiovascular, pulmonary, and muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Bonnet
- Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Biology Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olivier Boucherat
- Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Biology Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roxane Paulin
- Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Biology Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Danchen Wu
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles C T Hindmarch
- Queen's Cardiopulmonary Unit, Translational Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen L Archer
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rui Song
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Joseph B Moore
- Diabetes and Obesity Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,The Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Steeve Provencher
- Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Biology Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Shizuka Uchida
- Diabetes and Obesity Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,The Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
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25
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Walsh-Wilkinson É, Drolet MC, Le Houillier C, Roy ÈM, Arsenault M, Couet J. Sex differences in the response to angiotensin II receptor blockade in a rat model of eccentric cardiac hypertrophy. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7461. [PMID: 31404429 PMCID: PMC6686841 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Men and women differ in their susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, though the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Heart disease symptoms, evolution and response to treatment are often sex-specific. This has been studied in animal models of hypertension or myocardial infarction in the past but has received less attention in the context of heart valve regurgitation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the development of cardiac hypertrophy (CH) in response to left ventricle (LV) volume overload (VO) caused by chronic aortic valve regurgitation (AR) in male and female rats treated or not with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), valsartan. We studied eight groups of Wistar rats: male or female, AR or sham-operated (sham) and treated or not with valsartan (30 mg/kg/day) for 9 weeks starting one week before AR surgical induction. Results. As expected, VO from AR resulted for both male and female rats in significant LV dilation (39% vs. 40% end-diastolic LV diameter increase, respectively; p < 0.0001) and CH (53% vs. 64% heart weight increase, respectively; p < 0.0001) compared to sham. Sex differences were observed in LV wall thickening in response to VO. In untreated AR males, relative LV wall thickness (a ratio of wall thickness to end-diastolic diameter) was reduced compared to sham, whereas this ratio in females remained unchanged. ARB treatment did not prevent LV dilation in both male and female animals but reversed LV wall thickening in females. Systolic and diastolic functions in AR animals were altered similarly for both sexes. ARB treatment did not improve systolic function but helped normalizing diastolic parameters such as left atrial mass and E wave slope in female AR rats. Increased LV gene expression of Anp and Bnp was normalized by ARB treatment in AR females but not in males. Other hypertrophy gene markers (Fos, Trpc6, Klf15, Myh6 and Myh7) were not modulated by ARB treatment. The same was true for genes related to LV extracellular matrix remodeling (Col1a1, Col3a1, Fn1, Mmp2, Timp1 and Lox). In summary, ARB treatment of rats with severe AR blocked the female-specific hypertrophic response characterized by LV chamber wall thickening. LV dilation, on the other hand, was not significantly decreased by ARB treatment. This also indicates that activation of the angiotensin II receptor is probably more involved in the early steps of LV remodeling caused by AR in females than in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élisabeth Walsh-Wilkinson
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Drolet
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Charlie Le Houillier
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Ève-Marie Roy
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Arsenault
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jacques Couet
- Université Laval, Groupe de recherche sur les valvulopathies, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, Québec, Québec, Canada
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26
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Li XC, Zhu D, Chen X, Zheng X, Zhao C, Zhang J, Soleimani M, Rubera I, Tauc M, Zhou X, Zhuo JL. Proximal Tubule-Specific Deletion of the NHE3 (Na +/H + Exchanger 3) in the Kidney Attenuates Ang II (Angiotensin II)-Induced Hypertension in Mice. Hypertension 2019; 74:526-535. [PMID: 31352824 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study directly tested the hypothesis that the NHE3 (Na+/H+ exchanger 3) in the proximal tubules of the kidney is required for the development of Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced hypertension using PT-Nhe3-/- (proximal tubule-specific NHE3 knockout) mice. Specifically, PT-Nhe3-/- mice were generated using the SGLT2-Cre/Nhe3loxlox approach, whereas Ang II-induced hypertension was studied in 12 groups (n=5-12 per group) of adult male and female wild-type (WT) and PT-Nhe3-/- mice. Under basal conditions, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly lower in male and female PT-Nhe3-/- than WT mice (P<0.01). A high pressor, 1.5 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneal or a slow pressor dose of Ang II, 0.5 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneal for 2 weeks significantly increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure in male and female WT mice (P<0.01), but the hypertensive response to Ang II was markedly attenuated in male and female PT-Nhe3-/- mice (P<0.01). Ang II impaired the pressure-natriuresis response in WT mice, whereas proximal tubule-specific deletion of NHE3 improved the pressure-natriuresis response in Ang II-infused PT-Nhe3-/- mice (P<0.01). AT1 receptor blocker losartan completely blocked Ang II-induced hypertension in both WT and PT-Nhe3-/- mice (P<0.01). However, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester had no effect on Ang II-induced hypertension in WT or PT-Nhe3-/- mice (not significant). Furthermore, Ang II-induced hypertension was significantly attenuated by an orally absorbable NHE3 inhibitor AVE0657. In conclusion, NHE3 in the proximal tubules of the kidney may be a therapeutical target in hypertension induced by Ang II or with increased NHE3 expression in the proximal tubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao C Li
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine (X.C.L., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
| | - Dongmin Zhu
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Far East Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, China (D.Z.)
| | - Xu Chen
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
| | - Xiaowen Zheng
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China (X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z.)
| | - Chunling Zhao
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China (X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z.)
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China (X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z.)
| | - Manoocher Soleimani
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH (M.S.)
| | - Isabelle Rubera
- Laboratoire de Physiomédecine Moléculaire, LP2M, UMR-CNRS 7370, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice Cedex 2, France (I.R., M.T.)
| | - Michel Tauc
- Laboratoire de Physiomédecine Moléculaire, LP2M, UMR-CNRS 7370, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice Cedex 2, France (I.R., M.T.)
| | - Xinchun Zhou
- Department of Pathology (X. Zhou), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
| | - Jia L Zhuo
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (X.C.L., D.Z., X.C., X. Zheng, C.Z., J.Z., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine (X.C.L., J.L.Z.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
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27
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Blodgett JM, Theou O, Mitnitski A, Howlett SE, Rockwood K. Associations between a laboratory frailty index and adverse health outcomes across age and sex. Aging Med (Milton) 2019; 2:11-17. [PMID: 31942508 PMCID: PMC6880698 DOI: 10.1002/agm2.12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early frailty may be captured by a frailty index (FI) based entirely on vital signs and laboratory tests. Our aim was to examine associations between a laboratory-based FI (FI-Lab) and adverse health outcomes, and investigate how this changed with age. METHODS Up to 8988 individuals aged 20+ years from the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cohorts were included. Characteristics of the FI-Lab were compared to those of a self-reported clinical FI. Associations between each FI and health care use, self-reported health, and disability were examined in the full sample and across age groups. RESULTS Laboratory-based FI scores increased with age but did not demonstrate expected sex differences. Women aged 20-39 years had higher FI scores than men; this pattern reversed after age 60 years. FI-Lab scores were associated with poor self-reported health (odds ratio[95% confidence interval]: 1.46[1.39-1.54]), high health care use (1.35[1.29-1.42]), and high disability (1.41[1.32-1.50]), even among those aged 20-39 years. CONCLUSION Higher FI-Lab scores were associated with poor health outcomes at all ages. Associations in the youngest group support the notion that deficit accumulation occurs across the lifespan. FI-Lab scores could be utilized as an early screening tool to identify deficit accumulation at the cellular and molecular level before they become clinically visible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olga Theou
- Geriatric MedicineDepartment of MedicineDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Arnold Mitnitski
- Geriatric MedicineDepartment of MedicineDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Susan E. Howlett
- Geriatric MedicineDepartment of MedicineDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
- Department of PharmacologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Kenneth Rockwood
- Geriatric MedicineDepartment of MedicineDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
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28
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29
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Banga S, Heinze-Milne SD, Howlett SE. Rodent models of frailty and their application in preclinical research. Mech Ageing Dev 2019; 179:1-10. [PMID: 30703384 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In clinical medicine, the concept of frailty is viewed as a state of high vulnerability to adverse health outcomes in people of the same age. Frailty is an important challenge because the loss of physiological reserve means that even minor stressors can lead to disability and death in those who are frail. Even so, the biology of frailty is not well understood. Rodent models of frailty are stimulating research into the biology of frailty. These pre-clinical models are based on "reverse-translation". Investigators have adapted either the "frailty phenotype" approach or the "frailty index" approach, originally developed in humans, for use in animals. This review briefly describes rodent models of frailty, discusses how these models have been used to explore mechanisms of frailty and how they have been employed to assess the impact of frailty on various experimental outcomes. The review also highlights studies that have used rodent models to investigate interventions to attenuate frailty, including drug treatment, dietary modifications and exercise. The ability to model frailty in animals is an exciting development that promises to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into new clinical interventions, and situates frailty research in the larger context of geroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Banga
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | | | - Susan E Howlett
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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30
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Alterman T, Tsai R, Ju J, Kelly KM. Trust in the Work Environment and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Findings from the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16020230. [PMID: 30650574 PMCID: PMC6352238 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16020230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
This study examined associations between trust, an important aspect of workplace social capital, with seven cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 (LS7)): smoking, obesity, low physical activity, poor diet, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Data are from the U.S. Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index (2010–2012), a nationally representative telephone survey of U.S. workers (n = 412,884). The independent variable was the response to a work environment (WE) question as to whether their supervisor always creates an open and trusting environment. Regression models were adjusted for demographic characteristics with each of the LS7 CVD risk factors as dependent variables. Twenty-one percent of workers reported that their supervisor did not create an open and trusting environment. Trust was associated with increased adjusted odds of having many of the LS7 CVD risk factors. Among those workers whose supervisor created a mistrustful environment, the odds ratios were greatest (>20%) for having four or more of the LS7 CVD risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Alterman
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, (MS-R17), 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.
| | - Rebecca Tsai
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, (MS-R17), 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.
| | - Jun Ju
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, (MS-R17), 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.
| | - Kevin M Kelly
- UI Healthier Workforce Center, The University of Iowa, UI Research Park, IREH #106, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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31
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Louis XL, Raj P, Chan L, Zieroth S, Netticadan T, Wigle JT. Are the cardioprotective effects of the phytoestrogen resveratrol sex-dependent? 1. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 97:503-514. [PMID: 30576226 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2018-0544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in both men and women. Younger women have a lower risk for CVD, but their risk increases considerably after menopause when estrogen levels decrease. The cardiovascular protective properties of estrogen are mediated through decreasing vascular inflammation and progression of atherosclerosis, decreasing endothelial cell damage by preventing apoptosis and anti-hypertrophic mechanisms. Estrogen also regulates glucose and lipid levels, which are 2 important risk factors for CVD. Resveratrol (RES), a cardioprotective polyphenolic compound, is classified as a phytoestrogen due its capacity to bind to and modulate estrogen receptor signalling. Due to its estrogen-like property, we speculate that the cardioprotective effects of RES treatment could be sex-dependent. Based on earlier reports and more recent data from our lab presented here, we found that RES treatment may have more favourable cardiovascular outcomes in females than in males. This review will discuss estrogen- and phytoestrogen-mediated cardioprotection, with a specific focus on sex-dependent effects reported in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Lieben Louis
- a Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.,b Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R2E 3N4, Canada
| | - Pema Raj
- c Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R2E 0J9, Canada.,d Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen, Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada
| | - Laura Chan
- a Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.,b Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R2E 3N4, Canada
| | - Shelley Zieroth
- c Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R2E 0J9, Canada.,e Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada
| | - Thomas Netticadan
- d Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen, Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.,f Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3G7, Canada
| | - Jeffrey T Wigle
- a Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.,b Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R2E 3N4, Canada
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Moreno JM, Tapia A, Martinez CM, Reverte V, Oltra L, Llinas MT, Salazar FJ. Sex-dependent differences in the adverse renal changes induced by an early in life exposure to a high-fat diet. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2018; 316:F332-F340. [PMID: 30516421 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00394.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examines whether the intake of a high-fat diet very early in life leads to changes in arterial pressure and renal function and evaluates whether the mechanisms involved in these changes are sex-dependent. Experiments were performed in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed a normal or high-fat diet from weaning to 4 mo of age. This exposure to a high-fat diet lead to an angiotensin II-dependent elevation in arterial pressure and to significant increments in fat abdominal volume and plasma leptin that were similar in both sexes. In addition, the angiotensin II-induced increment in renal vascular resistance was greater ( P < 0.05) in male (106 ± 14%) and female (97 ± 15%) rats fed a high-fat diet than in rats fed a normal-fat diet (51 ± 8%). However, the high-fat intake during early life induced increments in albuminuria, interleukin-6, and infiltration of CD3 lymphocytes in the renal parenchyma that were greater ( P < 0.05) in male than in female rats. Other sex-dependent differences in response to high-fat intake were that adiponectin levels only decreased in females (21%, P < 0.05), and renal NF-κB expression only increased in males (31%, P < 0.05). In summary, the early exposure to a high-fat diet leads to angiotensin II-dependent arterial pressure elevations and to increments in abdominal fat and in the renal sensitivity to angiotensin II that are similar in both sexes. However, the mechanisms involved in the renal changes associated with early exposure to a high-fat diet are different in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Moreno
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Antonio Tapia
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Carlos M Martinez
- Pathology Unit, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Virginia Reverte
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Lidia Oltra
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Maria Teresa Llinas
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Salazar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
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Goodwin SF, Howlett SE. Editorial overview: Daylighting sex differences in physiology. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Tsou PL, Wu CJ. Sex-Dimorphic Association of Plasma Fatty Acids with Cardiovascular Fitness in Young and Middle-Aged General Adults: Subsamples from NHANES 2003⁻2004. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10101558. [PMID: 30347828 PMCID: PMC6213878 DOI: 10.3390/nu10101558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore the potential association of plasma fatty acids (FAs) and cardiovascular fitness level (CVFL), data of 449 subjects from 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Among these 249 men and 200 women, aged 20–50 years (33.4 ± 8.4 year, mean ± Standard Deviation), 79 low, 166 moderate and 204 high CVFL were categorized by age- and gender- specific percentile, respectively. Twenty-four fatty acids were quantified from fasting plasma. Higher levels of 2 very long-chain saturated FAs (VLSFAs): Arachidic acid (AR1, C20:0) and Docosanoic acid (DA1, C22:0) as well as 2 n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs): Arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) and Docosatetraenoic acid (DTA, C22:4n-6) were observed in the subjects with low CVFL. Notably this association exists only in men. Estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), the marker for cardiorespiratory fitness, was used for further regression analysis. After the adjustment of potential confounding factors (age, smoking, hypertension status, body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance status, and C-reactive protein (CRP), AA was the only FA correlated with low VO2max in women; while in men AR1, DA1, AA, and DTA remain negatively associated with VO2max. This preliminary analysis suggests a sex-dimorphic relationship between these plasma VLSFAs and n-6 PUFAs with CVFL and merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ling Tsou
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, 3SCR5.4101, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
| | - Chang-Jiun Wu
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, 3SCR5.4101, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
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Sex-dependent expression of brain medullary MAP and PI3 kinases in adult sheep with antenatal betamethasone exposure. Clin Sci (Lond) 2018; 132:1953-1962. [PMID: 30026259 DOI: 10.1042/cs20180417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Antenatal betamethasone (BM) therapy for women in jeopardy of premature delivery accelerates the lung development in preterm infants and reduces infant mortality rates, but may induce early programming events with chronic cardiovascular consequences. In a sheep model of fetal programming, in utero BM-exposed (BMX) offspring as adults exhibit elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP), decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) for the control of heart rate and insulin resistance accompanied by dysregulation of the brain renin-angiotensin (Ang) system (RAS). However, the status of signaling mechanisms in the brain dorsomedial medulla (DMM) of the BMX sheep that comprise both the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) cellular pathways is unknown. Given the importance of these signaling pathways in the actions of Ang peptides as well as baroreflex function and autonomic integration, we applied both a kinase signaling array and associated individual immunoblots of the dorsomedial brain medulla from adult female and male sheep with antenatal BMX. MAPK and PI3K pathways were altered significantly in the BMX sheep in a sex-dependent manner. A protein array for kinases (PathScan® Intracellular Signaling Array Kit, Cell Signaling) and subsequent verification by immunoblot revealed that within the DMM, female BMX sheep exhibit lower expression of proteins in the PI3K pathway, while male BMX sheep show greater expression of p-MAPK pathway proteins extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. We conclude that maladaptive changes in these two kinase pathways in the DMM may contribute to the chronic dysregulation of blood pressure in this model of fetal programming.
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Maric-Bilkan C, Galis ZS. Trends in NHLBI-Funded Research on Sex Differences in Hypertension. Circ Res 2018; 119:591-5. [PMID: 27539972 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.308963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Maric-Bilkan
- From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Vascular biology and Hypertension Branch, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Zorina S Galis
- From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Vascular biology and Hypertension Branch, Bethesda, MD
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Williams R. Doris Taylor: All Heart. Circ Res 2018; 123:18-20. [PMID: 29929971 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.313456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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38
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Decreased Count and Dysfunction of Circulating EPCs in Postmenopausal Hypercholesterolemic Females via Reducing NO Production. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:2543847. [PMID: 29760721 PMCID: PMC5924981 DOI: 10.1155/2018/2543847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to the endogenous endothelial repair program during hypercholesterolemia. EPC count and migratory and proliferative capacities remain unchanged in the premenopausal female with hypercholesterolemia. However, the changes of count and activity of circulating EPCs in the hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal females are unknown. Here, we find that the migratory and proliferative capacities of circulating EPCs were decreased in patients with hypercholesterolemia versus normocholesterolemia. No significant differences were found between postmenopausal females and age-matched males. NO production showed positive correlation with the activity and count of circulating EPCs in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) is directly interrelated with EPC counts and function. Our findings reveal that decreased EPC count and endothelial dysfunction lead to less NO production in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal females. Maintaining the EPC numbers and activity might be emerging as a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular injury in elder women.
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Rovella V, Anemona L, Cardellini M, Scimeca M, Saggini A, Santeusanio G, Bonanno E, Montanaro M, Legramante IM, Ippoliti A, Di Daniele N, Federici M, Mauriello A. The role of obesity in carotid plaque instability: interaction with age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2018; 17:46. [PMID: 29598820 PMCID: PMC5874994 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-018-0685-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade, several studies have reported an unexpected and seemingly paradoxical inverse correlation between BMI and incidence of cardiovascular diseases. This so called "obesity paradox effect" has been mainly investigated through imaging methods instead of histologic evaluation, which is still the best method to study the instability of carotid plaque. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate by histology the role of obesity in destabilization of carotid plaques and the interaction with age, gender and other major cerebrovascular risk factors. METHODS A total of 390 carotid plaques from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients submitted to endarterectomy, for whom complete clinical and laboratory assessment of major cardiovascular risk factors was available, were studied by histology. Patients with a BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 were considered as obese. Data were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression and for each variable in the equation the estimated odds ratio (OR) was calculated. RESULTS Unstable carotid plaque OR for obese patients with age < 70 years was 5.91 (95% CI 1.17-29.80), thus being the highest OR compared to that of other risk factors. Unstable carotid plaque OR decreased to 4.61 (95% CI 0.54-39.19) in males ≥ 70 years, being only 0.93 (95% CI 0.25-3.52) among women. When obesity featured among metabolic syndrome risk factors, the OR for plaque destabilization was 3.97 (95% CI 1.81-6.22), a significantly higher value compared to OR in non-obese individuals with metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 0.86-2.31). Similar results were obtained when assessing the occurrence of acute cerebrovascular symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Results from our study appear to do not confirm any paradoxical effect of obesity on the carotid artery district. Conversely, obesity is confirmed to be an independent risk factor for carotid plaque destabilization, particularly in males aged < 70 years, significantly increasing such risk among patients with metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Rovella
- Hypertension and Nephrology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Anemona
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Cardellini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Scimeca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy
- OrchideaLab S.r.l, Via del Grecale 6, Morlupo, Rome, RM Italy
| | - Andrea Saggini
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Santeusanio
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bonanno
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Montanaro
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Arnaldo Ippoliti
- Vascular Surgery, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Di Daniele
- Hypertension and Nephrology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Federici
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mauriello
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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40
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Ventura-Clapier R, Dworatzek E, Seeland U, Kararigas G, Arnal JF, Brunelleschi S, Carpenter TC, Erdmann J, Franconi F, Giannetta E, Glezerman M, Hofmann SM, Junien C, Katai M, Kublickiene K, König IR, Majdic G, Malorni W, Mieth C, Miller VM, Reynolds RM, Shimokawa H, Tannenbaum C, D'Ursi AM, Regitz-Zagrosek V. Sex in basic research: concepts in the cardiovascular field. Cardiovasc Res 2018; 113:711-724. [PMID: 28472454 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvx066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Women and men, female and male animals and cells are biologically different, and acknowledgement of this fact is critical to advancing medicine. However, incorporating concepts of sex-specific analysis in basic research is largely neglected, introducing bias into translational findings, clinical concepts and drug development. Research funding agencies recently approached these issues but implementation of policy changes in the scientific community is still limited, probably due to deficits in concepts, knowledge and proper methodology. This expert review is based on the EUGenMed project (www.eugenmed.eu) developing a roadmap for implementing sex and gender in biomedical and health research. For sake of clarity and conciseness, examples are mainly taken from the cardiovascular field that may serve as a paradigm for others, since a significant amount of knowledge how sex and oestrogen determine the manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been accumulated. As main concepts for implementation of sex in basic research, the study of primary cell and animals of both sexes, the study of the influence of genetic vs. hormonal factors and the analysis of sex chromosomes and sex specific statistics in genome wide association studies (GWAS) are discussed. The review also discusses methodological issues, and analyses strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in implementing sex-sensitive aspects into basic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Ventura-Clapier
- Signalisation et Physiopathologie Cardiovasculaire UMR-S 1180, Inserm, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296 Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Elke Dworatzek
- Institute of Gender in Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Seeland
- Institute of Gender in Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgios Kararigas
- Institute of Gender in Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Francois Arnal
- Faculté Médecine Toulouse-Rangueil, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Sandra Brunelleschi
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Thomas C Carpenter
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institut für Kardiogenetik, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany
| | - Flavia Franconi
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sassari,Sassari, Italy
| | - Elisa Giannetta
- Ricercatore TD in Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Fisiopatologia Medica, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Marek Glezerman
- International Society for Gender Medicine, Research Center for Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, and Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Susanna M Hofmann
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der LMU München, Munich 80336, Germany; Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Claudine Junien
- BDR Biologie du Développement et Reproduction Developmental Biology and Reproduction UMR, INRA, France
| | - Miyuki Katai
- Section of Gender Medicine, Department of General Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 162-8666 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Karolina Kublickiene
- Centre for Gender Medicine and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Renal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inke R König
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität zu Lübeck, 235620 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Gregor Majdic
- Institute for Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana & Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Walter Malorni
- National Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Christin Mieth
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Germany.,Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rebecca M Reynolds
- Center for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hiroaki Shimokawa
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Cara Tannenbaum
- Institute of Gender and Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canada
| | - Anna Maria D'Ursi
- Medicinal Chemistry DIFARMA, Università di Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Institute of Gender in Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
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Howlett SE. Coxsackievirus B3-Induced Myocarditis: New Insights Into a Female Advantage. Can J Cardiol 2018; 34:354-355. [PMID: 29455949 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2018.01.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Howlett
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine (Geriatric Medicine), Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Robinet P, Milewicz DM, Cassis LA, Leeper NJ, Lu HS, Smith JD. Consideration of Sex Differences in Design and Reporting of Experimental Arterial Pathology Studies-Statement From ATVB Council. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2018; 38:292-303. [PMID: 29301789 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.117.309524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There are many differences in arterial diseases between men and women, including prevalence, clinical manifestations, treatments, and prognosis. The new policy of the National Institutes of Health, which requires the inclusion of sex as a biological variable for preclinical studies, aims to foster new mechanistic insights and to enhance our understanding of sex differences in human diseases. The purpose of this statement is to suggest guidelines for designing and reporting sex as a biological variable in animal models of atherosclerosis, thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, and peripheral arterial disease. We briefly review sex differences of these human diseases and their animal models, followed by suggestions on experimental design and reporting of animal studies for these vascular pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Robinet
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.)
| | - Dianna M Milewicz
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.)
| | - Lisa A Cassis
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.)
| | - Nicholas J Leeper
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.)
| | - Hong S Lu
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.)
| | - Jonathan D Smith
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (P.R., J.D.S.); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (D.M.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.) and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology (H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA (N.J.L.).
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43
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Hall PS, Nah G, Howard BV, Lewis CE, Allison MA, Sarto GE, Waring ME, Jacobson LT, Manson JE, Klein L, Parikh NI. Reproductive Factors and Incidence of Heart Failure Hospitalization in the Women's Health Initiative. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 69:2517-2526. [PMID: 28521890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.03.557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive factors reflective of endogenous sex hormone exposure might have an effect on cardiac remodeling and the development of heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVES This study examined the association between key reproductive factors and the incidence of HF. METHODS Women from a cohort of the Women's Health Initiative were systematically evaluated for the incidence of HF hospitalization from study enrollment through 2014. Reproductive factors (number of live births, age at first pregnancy, and total reproductive duration [time from menarche to menopause]) were self-reported at study baseline in 1993 to 1998. We employed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis in age- and multivariable-adjusted models. RESULTS Among 28,516 women, with an average age of 62.7 ± 7.1 years at baseline, 1,494 (5.2%) had an adjudicated incident HF hospitalization during an average follow-up of 13.1 years. After adjusting for covariates, total reproductive duration in years was inversely associated with incident HF: hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.99 per year (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98 to 0.99 per year) and 0.95 per 5 years (95% CI: 0.91 to 0.99 per 5 years). Conversely, early age at first pregnancy and nulliparity were significantly associated with incident HF in age-adjusted models, but not after multivariable adjustment. Notably, nulliparity was associated with incident HF with preserved ejection fraction in the fully adjusted model (HR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.16 to 6.52). CONCLUSIONS In post-menopausal women, shorter total reproductive duration was associated with higher risk of incident HF, and nulliparity was associated with higher risk for incident HF with preserved ejection fraction. Whether exposure to endogenous sex hormones underlies this relationship should be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip S Hall
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gregory Nah
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Barbara V Howard
- MedStar Health Research Institute and Georgetown/Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Hyattsville, Maryland
| | - Cora E Lewis
- Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Matthew A Allison
- Division of Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Gloria E Sarto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Molly E Waring
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Lisette T Jacobson
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, Kansas
| | - JoAnn E Manson
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Liviu Klein
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Nisha I Parikh
- Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Aberrant activation of the human sex-determining gene in early embryonic development results in postnatal growth retardation and lethality in mice. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28646221 PMCID: PMC5482865 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04117-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphisms are prevalent in development, physiology and diseases in humans. Currently, the contributions of the genes on the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) in these processes are uncertain. Using a transgene activation system, the human sex-determining gene hSRY is activated in the single-cell embryos of the mouse. Pups with hSRY activated (hSRYON) are born of similar sizes as those of non-activated controls. However, they retard significantly in postnatal growth and development and all die of multi-organ failure before two weeks of age. Pathological and molecular analyses indicate that hSRYON pups lack innate suckling activities, and develop fatty liver disease, arrested alveologenesis in the lung, impaired neurogenesis in the brain and occasional myocardial fibrosis and minimized thymus development. Transcriptome analysis shows that, in addition to those unique to the respective organs, various cell growth and survival pathways and functions are differentially affected in the transgenic mice. These observations suggest that ectopic activation of a Y-located SRY gene could exert male-specific effects in development and physiology of multiple organs, thereby contributing to sexual dimorphisms in normal biological functions and disease processes in affected individuals.
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Arnold AP, Cassis LA, Eghbali M, Reue K, Sandberg K. Sex Hormones and Sex Chromosomes Cause Sex Differences in the Development of Cardiovascular Diseases. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2017; 37:746-756. [PMID: 28279969 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.116.307301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes recent evidence concerning hormonal and sex chromosome effects in obesity, atherosclerosis, aneurysms, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and hypertension. Cardiovascular diseases occur and progress differently in the 2 sexes, because biological factors differing between the sexes have sex-specific protective and harmful effects. By comparing the 2 sexes directly, and breaking down sex into its component parts, one can discover sex-biasing protective mechanisms that might be targeted in the clinic. Gonadal hormones, especially estrogens and androgens, have long been found to account for some sex differences in cardiovascular diseases, and molecular mechanisms mediating these effects have recently been elucidated. More recently, the inherent sexual inequalities in effects of sex chromosome genes have also been implicated as contributors in animal models of cardiovascular diseases, especially a deleterious effect of the second X chromosome found in females but not in males. Hormonal and sex chromosome mechanisms interact in the sex-specific control of certain diseases, sometimes by opposing the action of the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- From the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles (A.P.A.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington (L.A.C.); Department of Anesthesiology (M.E.) and Department of Human Genetics (K.R.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; and Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC (K.S.).
| | - Lisa A Cassis
- From the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles (A.P.A.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington (L.A.C.); Department of Anesthesiology (M.E.) and Department of Human Genetics (K.R.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; and Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC (K.S.)
| | - Mansoureh Eghbali
- From the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles (A.P.A.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington (L.A.C.); Department of Anesthesiology (M.E.) and Department of Human Genetics (K.R.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; and Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC (K.S.)
| | - Karen Reue
- From the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles (A.P.A.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington (L.A.C.); Department of Anesthesiology (M.E.) and Department of Human Genetics (K.R.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; and Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC (K.S.)
| | - Kathryn Sandberg
- From the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles (A.P.A.); Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington (L.A.C.); Department of Anesthesiology (M.E.) and Department of Human Genetics (K.R.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; and Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC (K.S.)
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46
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Hermosilla S, You P, Aifah A, Abildayev T, Akilzhanova A, Kozhamkulov U, Muminov T, Darisheva M, Zhussupov B, Terlikbayeva A, El-Bassel N, Schluger N. Identifying risk factors associated with smear positivity of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kazakhstan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172942. [PMID: 28249005 PMCID: PMC5332099 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sputum smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) patients have a high risk of transmission and are of great epidemiological and infection control significance. Little is known about the smear-positive populations in high TB burden regions, such as Kazakhstan. The objective of this study is to characterize the smear-positive population in Kazakhstan and identify associated modifiable risk factors. Methods Data on incident TB cases’ (identified between April 2012 and March 2014) socio-demographic, risk behavior, and comorbidity characteristics were collected in four regions of Kazakhstan through structured survey and medical record review. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with smear positivity. Results Of the total sample, 193 (34.3%) of the 562 study participants tested smear-positive. In the final adjusted multivariable logistic regression model, sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.0, 95% CI:1.3–3.1, p < 0.01), incarceration (aOR = 3.6, 95% CI:1.2–11.1, p = 0.03), alcohol dependence (aOR = 2.6, 95% CI:1.2–5.7, p = 0.02), diabetes (aOR = 5.0, 95% CI:2.4–10.7, p < 0.01), and physician access (aOR = 2.7, 95% CI:1.3–5.5p < 0.01) were associated with smear-positivity. Conclusions Incarceration, alcohol dependence, diabetes, and physician access are associated with smear positivity among incident TB cases in Kazakhstan. To stem the TB epidemic, screening, treatment and prevention policies should address these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hermosilla
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Paul You
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Angela Aifah
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, United States of America
| | | | - Ainur Akilzhanova
- Center for Life Sciences, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave., Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Ulan Kozhamkulov
- Center for Life Sciences, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave., Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Talgat Muminov
- National Association for TB Specialists, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Meruert Darisheva
- Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Baurzhan Zhussupov
- Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Assel Terlikbayeva
- Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nabila El-Bassel
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Neil Schluger
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, United States of America
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47
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Rockwood K, Blodgett JM, Theou O, Sun MH, Feridooni HA, Mitnitski A, Rose RA, Godin J, Gregson E, Howlett SE. A Frailty Index Based On Deficit Accumulation Quantifies Mortality Risk in Humans and in Mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43068. [PMID: 28220898 PMCID: PMC5318852 DOI: 10.1038/srep43068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although many common diseases occur mostly in old age, the impact of ageing itself on disease risk and expression often goes unevaluated. To consider the impact of ageing requires some useful means of measuring variability in health in animals of the same age. In humans, this variability has been quantified by counting age-related health deficits in a frailty index. Here we show the results of extending that approach to mice. Across the life course, many important features of deficit accumulation are present in both species. These include gradual rates of deficit accumulation (slope = 0.029 in humans; 0.036 in mice), a submaximal limit (0.54 in humans; 0.44 in mice), and a strong relationship to mortality (1.05 [1.04–1.05] in humans; 1.15 [1.12–1.18] in mice). Quantifying deficit accumulation in individual mice provides a powerful new tool that can facilitate translation of research on ageing, including in relation to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Rockwood
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - J M Blodgett
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - O Theou
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - M H Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - H A Feridooni
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - A Mitnitski
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - R A Rose
- Department of Physiology &Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - J Godin
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - E Gregson
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
| | - S E Howlett
- Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S., Canada
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48
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Posod A, Odri Komazec I, Kager K, Pupp Peglow U, Griesmaier E, Schermer E, Würtinger P, Baumgartner D, Kiechl-Kohlendorfer U. Former Very Preterm Infants Show an Unfavorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile at a Preschool Age. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168162. [PMID: 27959909 PMCID: PMC5154574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Evidence points towards an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile of former preterm infants in adolescence and adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine whether cardiovascular risk predictors are detectable in former very preterm infants at a preschool age. Five- to seven-year-old children born at <32 weeks’ gestational age were included in the study. Same-aged children born at term served as controls. Basic data of study participants were collected by means of follow-up databases and standardized questionnaires. At study visit, anthropometric data, blood pressure readings and aortic intima-media thickness were assessed. Blood samples were obtained after an overnight fast. In comparison to children born at term, former preterm infants had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1-SD higher blood pressure level 3.2 [2.0–5.0], p<0.001 and 1.6 [1.1–1.2], p = 0.008), fasting glucose levels (OR [95% CI] 5.2 [2.7–10.1], p<0.001), homeostasis model assessment index (OR [95% CI] 1.6 [1.0–2.6], p = 0.036), and cholesterol levels (OR [95% CI] 2.1 [1.3–3.4], p = 0.002). Systolic prehypertension (23.7% vs. 2.2%; OR [95% CI] 13.8 [3.1–60.9], p = 0.001), elevated glucose levels (28.6% vs. 5.9%; OR [95% CI] 6.4 [1.4–28.8], p = 0.016), and hypercholesterolemia (77.4% vs. 52.9%; OR [95% CI] 3.0 [1.3–7.1], p = 0.010) were significantly more prevalent in the preterm group. As former very preterm infants display an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile already at a preschool age, implementation of routine cardiovascular follow-up programs might be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Posod
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Irena Odri Komazec
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics III (Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katrin Kager
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Pupp Peglow
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke Griesmaier
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Schermer
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics III (Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Philipp Würtinger
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniela Baumgartner
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics III (Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Division for Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Feridooni HA, MacDonald JK, Ghimire A, Pyle WG, Howlett SE. Acute exposure to progesterone attenuates cardiac contraction by modifying myofilament calcium sensitivity in the female mouse heart. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2016; 312:H46-H59. [PMID: 27793852 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00073.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Acute application of progesterone attenuates cardiac contraction, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated whether progesterone modified contraction in isolated ventricular myocytes and identified the Ca2+ handling mechanisms involved in female C57BL/6 mice (6-9 mo; sodium pentobarbital anesthesia). Cells were field-stimulated (4 Hz; 37°C) and exposed to progesterone (0.001-10.0 μM) or vehicle (35 min). Ca2+ transients (fura-2) and cell shortening were recorded simultaneously. Maximal concentrations of progesterone inhibited peak contraction by 71.4% (IC50 = 160 ± 50 nM; n = 12) and slowed relaxation by 75.4%. By contrast, progesterone had no effect on amplitudes or time courses of underlying Ca2+ transients. Progesterone (1 µM) also abbreviated action potential duration. When the duration of depolarization was controlled by voltage-clamp, progesterone attenuated contraction and slowed relaxation but did not affect Ca2+ currents, Ca2+ transients, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) content, or fractional release of SR Ca2+ Actomyosin MgATPase activity was assayed in myofilaments from hearts perfused with progesterone (1 μM) or vehicle (35 min). While maximal responses to Ca2+ were not affected by progesterone, myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity was reduced (EC50 = 0.94 ± 0.01 µM for control, n = 7 vs. 1.13 ± 0.05 μM for progesterone, n = 6; P < 0.05) and progesterone increased phosphorylation of myosin binding protein C. The effects on contraction were inhibited by lonaprisan (progesterone receptor antagonist) and levosimendan (Ca2+ sensitizer). Unlike results in females, progesterone had no effect on contraction or myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in age-matched male mice. These data indicate that progesterone reduces myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in female hearts, which may exacerbate manifestations of cardiovascular disease late in pregnancy when progesterone levels are high. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated myocardial effects of acute application of progesterone. In females, but not males, progesterone attenuates and slows cardiomyocyte contraction with no effect on calcium transients. Progesterone also reduces myofilament calcium sensitivity in female hearts. This may adversely affect heart function, especially when serum progesterone levels are high in pregnancy.Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/acute-progesterone-modifies-cardiac-contraction/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirad A Feridooni
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Anjali Ghimire
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - W Glen Pyle
- Centre for Cardiovascular Investigations, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Susan E Howlett
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; .,Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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50
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Dayton A, Exner EC, Bukowy JD, Stodola TJ, Kurth T, Skelton M, Greene AS, Cowley AW. Breaking the Cycle: Estrous Variation Does Not Require Increased Sample Size in the Study of Female Rats. Hypertension 2016; 68:1139-1144. [PMID: 27672030 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.116.08207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the striking differences between male and female physiology, female physiology is understudied. In response, the National Institutes of Health is promulgating new policies to increase the use of female organisms in preclinical research. Females are commonly believed to have greater variability than males because of the estrous cycle, but recent studies call this belief into question. Effects of estrous cycling on mean arterial pressure were assessed in female Dahl S rats using telemetry and vaginal cytometry and found that estrous cycling did not affect mean arterial pressure magnitude or variance. Data from the PhysGen arm of the Program for Genomic Applications was used to compare male and female variance and coefficient of variation in 142 heart, lung, vascular, kidney, and blood phenotypes, each measured in hundreds to thousands of individual rats from over 50 inbred strains. Seventy-four of 142 phenotypes from this data set demonstrated a sex difference in variance; however, 59% of these phenotypes exhibited greater variance in male rats rather than female. Remarkably, a retrospective power analysis demonstrated that only 16 of 74 differentially variable phenotypes would be detected when using an experimental cohort large enough to detect a difference in magnitude. No overall difference in coefficient of variation between male and female rats was detected when analyzing these 142 phenotypes. We conclude that variability of 142 traits in male and female rats is similar, suggesting that differential treatment of males and females for the purposes of experimental design is unnecessary until proven otherwise, rather than the other way around.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dayton
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Eric C Exner
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - John D Bukowy
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Timothy J Stodola
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Theresa Kurth
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Meredith Skelton
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Andrew S Greene
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Allen W Cowley
- From the Department of Physiology (A.D., E.C.E., J.D.B., T.J.S., T.K., M.S., A.S.G., A.W.C.) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (A.S.G.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
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