1
|
Krzyżewska A, Kurakula K. Sex Dimorphism in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated With Autoimmune Diseases. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:2169-2190. [PMID: 39145392 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.320886] [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] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, incurable, and progressive disease. Although there is increasing evidence that immune disorders, particularly those associated with connective tissue diseases, are a strong predisposing factor in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), there is currently a lack of knowledge about the detailed molecular mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Exploring this topic is crucial because patients with an immune disorder combined with PAH have a worse prognosis and higher mortality compared with patients with other PAH subtypes. Moreover, data recorded worldwide show that the prevalence of PAH in women is 2× to even 4× higher than in men, and the ratio of PAH associated with autoimmune diseases is even higher (9:1). Sexual dimorphism in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease was explained for many years by the action of female sex hormones. However, there are increasing reports of interactions between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, and differences in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease may be controlled not only by sex hormones but also by sex chromosome pathways that are not dependent on the gonads. This review discusses the role of estrogen and genetic factors including the role of genes located on the X chromosome, as well as the potential protective role of the Y chromosome in sexual dimorphism, which is prominent in the occurrence of PAH associated with autoimmune diseases. Moreover, an overview of animal models that could potentially play a role in further investigating the aforementioned link was also reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Krzyżewska
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, Poland (A.K.)
| | - Kondababu Kurakula
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Free University Medical Center, the Netherlands (K.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ryan MJ, Clemmer JS, Mathew RO, Faulkner JL, Taylor EB, Abais-Battad JM, Hollis F, Sullivan JC. Revisiting sex as a biological variable in hypertension research. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e180078. [PMID: 39225093 PMCID: PMC11364402 DOI: 10.1172/jci180078] [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] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Half of adults in the United States have hypertension as defined by clinical practice guidelines. Interestingly, women are generally more likely to be aware of their hypertension and have their blood pressure controlled with treatment compared with men, yet hypertension-related mortality is greater in women. This may reflect the fact that the female sex remains underrepresented in clinical and basic science studies investigating the effectiveness of therapies and the mechanisms controlling blood pressure. This Review provides an overview of the impact of the way hypertension research has explored sex as a biological variable (SABV). Emphasis is placed on epidemiological studies, hypertension clinical trials, the genetics of hypertension, sex differences in immunology and gut microbiota in hypertension, and the effect of sex on the central control of blood pressure. The goal is to offer historical perspective on SABV in hypertension, highlight recent studies that include SABV, and identify key gaps in SABV inclusion and questions that remain in the field. Through continued awareness campaigns and engagement/education at the level of funding agencies, individual investigators, and in the editorial peer review system, investigation of SABV in the field of hypertension research will ultimately lead to improved clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Ryan
- Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - John S. Clemmer
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Roy O. Mathew
- Loma Linda VA Health Care System, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | | | - Erin B. Taylor
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | | | - Fiona Hollis
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Carman BL, Qin S, Predescu DN, Jana M, Cortese R, Aldred MA, Gozal D, Mokhlesi B, Predescu SA. Dysregulation of the Long Noncoding RNA X-Inactive-Specific Transcript Expression in Male Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:1592-1606. [PMID: 38705381 PMCID: PMC11284765 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a sex-biased disease with female sex as a significant risk factor. Increased expression of the long noncoding RNA X-inactive-specific transcript (Xist), as induced by an intersectin-1s protein fragment with proliferative potential (EHITSN), may explain the sexual dimorphism of female pulmonary artery endothelial cells (ECs) and at least in part, the imbalance sex/ratio of PAH. Xist is essential for X-chromosome inactivation and dosage compensation of X-linked genes. Herein, increased Xist expression was detected in a subset of ECs and lung tissue samples of male patients with PAH. The role of different Xist expression levels in ECs of male patients with PAH (ECPAH) was studied in several lines of male ECPAH in conjunction with molecular, biochemical, morphologic, and functional approaches. Male ECPAH showed on average 10.3-fold increase in high Xist versus low Xist, a significant association between Xist levels and their proliferative potential, and a heterogeneous methylation of the Xist/XIST antisense RNA (Tsix) locus. Interestingly, Xist up-regulation in male ECPAH decreased the expression of Krueppel-like factor 2 (Klf2), via EHITSN interaction with enhancer of zeste polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2. Moreover, the studies demonstrate that EHITSN-triggered p38/ETS domain-containing protein Elk1/AP-1 transcription factor subunit (c-Fos) signaling is a pathologic mechanism central to ECPAH proliferation and the dynamic crosstalk with cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin A1/cyclin D2 and Xist-EZH2-Klf2 interaction participate directly and differentially in establishing the proliferative profile of male ECPAH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Carman
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Shanshan Qin
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Dan N Predescu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Malabendu Jana
- Department of Neurological Science, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rene Cortese
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Micheala A Aldred
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - David Gozal
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Babak Mokhlesi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sanda A Predescu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Choudhury P, Dasgupta S, Kar A, Sarkar S, Chakraborty P, Bhattacharyya P, Roychowdhury S, Chaudhury K. Bioinformatics analysis of hypoxia associated genes and inflammatory cytokine profiling in COPD-PH. Respir Med 2024; 227:107658. [PMID: 38704051 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with worse clinical outcomes and decreased survival rates. In absence of disease specific diagnostic/therapeutic targets and unclear pathophysiology, there is an urgent need for the identification of potential genetic/molecular markers and disease associated pathways. The present study aims to use a bioinformatics approach to identify and validate hypoxia-associated gene signatures in COPD-PH patients. Additionally, hypoxia-related inflammatory profile is also explored in these patients. Microarray dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in a hypoxic PH mice model. The top three hub genes identified were further validated in COPD-PH patients, with chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) and CXCL12 showing significant changes in comparison to healthy controls. Furthermore, multiplexed analysis of 10 inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, IL-18 and IL-21 was also performed. These markers showed significant changes in COPD-PH patients as compared to controls. They also exhibited the ability to differentially diagnose COPD-PH patients in comparison to COPD. Additionally, IL-6 and IL-17 showed significant positive correlation with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP). This study is the first report to assess the levels of CXCL9 and CXCL12 in COPD-PH patients and also explores their link with the inflammatory profile of these patients. Our findings could be extended to better understand the underlying disease mechanism and possibly used for tailoring therapies exclusive for the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Choudhury
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Sanjukta Dasgupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Brainware University, Barasat, West Bengal, India
| | - Abhik Kar
- Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Sagartirtha Sarkar
- Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | | | | | | | - Koel Chaudhury
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu T, Xu S, Yang J, Xing X. Roles of LncRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Hypertension. Rev Cardiovasc Med 2024; 25:217. [PMID: 39076325 PMCID: PMC11270120 DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2506217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a persistently progressive, incurable, multifactorial associated fatal pulmonary vascular disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in regulating pathological processes such as pulmonary vasoconstriction, thickening, remodeling, and inflammatory cell infiltration in PH by acting on different cell types. Because of their differential expression in PH patients, as demonstrated by the observation that some lncRNAs are significantly upregulated while others are significantly downregulated in PH patients, lncRNAs are potentially useful biomarkers for assessing disease progression and diagnosis or prognosis in PH patients. This article provides an overview of the different mechanisms by which lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of PH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of
Yunnan University, 650021 Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Graduate School, Kunming Medical University,
650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shuanglan Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of
Yunnan University, 650021 Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated
Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 650032 Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiqian Xing
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of
Yunnan University, 650021 Kunming, Yunnan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wei S, Ling D, Zhong J, Chang R, Ling X, Chen Z, Duan R. Elk1 enhances inflammatory cell infiltration and exacerbates acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome by suppressing Fcgr2b transcription. Mol Med 2024; 30:53. [PMID: 38649840 PMCID: PMC11034135 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-00820-z] [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: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are associated with significant mortality rates. The role of Fcgr2b in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the functions of Fcgr2b in ALI/ARDS and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS Methods: In this study, rat models of ARDS and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) injury models were established through the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression levels of Fcgr2b and Elk1 were quantified in both LPS-induced ARDS rats and PMVECs. Subsequent gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted, followed by comprehensive assessments of lung tissue for pathomorphological changes, edema, glycogen storage, fibrosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Additionally, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was analyzed for T-helper 17 (Th17) cell infiltration, inflammatory response, and microvascular permeability to evaluate lung injury severity in ARDS models. Furthermore, the activity, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and angiogenic potential of PMVECs were assessed to gauge cell injury. The interaction between Elk1 and Fcgr2b was also examined to confirm their regulatory relationship. RESULTS In the context of LPS-induced ARDS and PMVEC injury, Fcgr2b expression was markedly reduced, whereas Elk1 expression was elevated. Overexpression of Fcgr2b led to a decrease in Th17 cell infiltration and mitigated lung tissue damage in ARDS models, in addition to reducing LPS-induced injury in PMVECs. Elk1 was found to suppress Fcgr2b transcription through the recruitment of histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3). Knockdown of Elk1 diminished Th17 cell infiltration and lung tissue damage in ARDS models, and alleviated LPS-induced injury in PMVECs, effects that were reversed upon Fcgr2b upregulation. CONCLUSION Elk1 negatively regulates Fcgr2b transcription, thereby augmenting the inflammatory response and exacerbating lung injury in LPS-induced ALI/ARDS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiyou Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Outcomes Research Consortium, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Dandan Ling
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Outcomes Research Consortium, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jingui Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, Zhabei Central Hospital of Jing'an District, Shanghai, 200070, China
| | - Rui Chang
- Medical department, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinyu Ling
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhigang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ruowang Duan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mohamed B, Yarlagadda K, Self Z, Simon A, Rigueiro F, Sohooli M, Eisenschenk S, Doré S. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Stroke: Determining the Mechanisms Behind their Association and Treatment Options. Transl Stroke Res 2024; 15:239-332. [PMID: 36922470 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can be a sequela of stroke caused by vascular injury to vital respiratory centers, cerebral edema, and increased intracranial pressure of space-occupying lesions. Likewise, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to increased stroke risk through local mechanisms such as impaired ischemic cerebrovascular response and systemic effects such as promoting atherosclerosis, hypercoagulability, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular-endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome. The impact of OSA on stroke outcomes has been established, yet it receives less attention in national guidelines on stroke management than hyperglycemia and blood pressure dysregulation. Furthermore, whether untreated OSA worsens stroke outcomes is not well-described in the literature. This scoping review provides an updated investigation of the correlation between OSA and stroke, including inter-relational pathophysiology. This review also highlights the importance of OSA treatment and its role in stroke outcomes. Knowledge of pathophysiology, the inter-relationship between these common disorders, and the impact of OSA therapy on outcomes affect the clinical management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. In addition, understanding the relationship between stroke outcomes and pre-existing OSA will allow clinicians to predict outcomes while treating acute stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Basma Mohamed
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Keerthi Yarlagadda
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Zachary Self
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Alexandra Simon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Frank Rigueiro
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Maryam Sohooli
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stephan Eisenschenk
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Sylvain Doré
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, Pharmaceutics, and Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kostyunina DS, Pakhomov NV, Jouida A, Dillon E, Baugh JA, McLoughlin P. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed sex differences in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Physiol Genomics 2024; 56:194-220. [PMID: 38047313 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00051.2023] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Marked sexual dimorphism is displayed in the onset and progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Females more commonly develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, yet females with pulmonary arterial hypertension and other types of PH have better survival than males. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells play a crucial role in pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance in PH. Given this background, we hypothesized that there are sex differences in the pulmonary microvascular endothelium basally and in response to hypoxia that are independent of the sex hormone environment. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) from healthy male and female donors, cultured under physiological shear stress, were analyzed using RNA sequencing and label-free quantitative proteomics. Gene set enrichment analysis identified a number of sex-different pathways in both normoxia and hypoxia, including pathways that regulate cell proliferation. In vitro, the rate of proliferation in female HPMECs was lower than in male HPMECs, a finding that supports the omics results. Interestingly, thrombospondin-1, an inhibitor of proliferation, was more highly expressed in female cells than in male cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, important differences between female and male HPMECs that persist in the absence of sex hormone differences and identify novel pathways for further investigation that may contribute to sexual dimorphism in pulmonary hypertensive diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is marked sexual dimorphism in the development and progression of pulmonary hypertension. We show differences in RNA and protein expression between female and male human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells grown under conditions of physiological shear stress, which identify sex-different cellular pathways both in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, these differences were detected in the absence of sex hormone differences. The pathways identified may provide novel targets for the development of sex-specific therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria S Kostyunina
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nikolai V Pakhomov
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amina Jouida
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eugene Dillon
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John A Baugh
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul McLoughlin
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sánchez Marrero G, Villa-Roel N, Li F, Park C, Kang DW, Hekman KE, Jo H, Brewster LP. Single-Cell RNA sequencing investigation of female-male differences under PAD conditions. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1251141. [PMID: 37745110 PMCID: PMC10512722 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1251141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an age-related medical condition affecting mostly muscular arteries of the limb. It is the 3rd leading cause of atherosclerotic morbidity. The mechanical environment of endothelial cells (ECs) in PAD is characterized by disturbed blood flow (d-flow) and stiff extracellular matrices. In PAD, the stiffness of arteries is due to decreased elastin function and increased collagen content. These flow and stiffness parameters are largely missing from current models of PAD. It has been previously proven that ECs exposed to d-flow or stiff substrates lead to proatherogenic pathways, but the effect of both, d-flow and stiffness, on EC phenotype has not been fully investigated. In this study, we sought to explore the effect of sex on proatherogenic pathways that could result from exposing endothelial cells to a d-flow and stiff environment. We utilized the scRNA-seq tool to analyze the gene expression of ECs exposed to the different mechanical conditions both in vitro and in vivo. We found that male ECs exposed to different mechanical stimuli presented higher expression of genes related to fibrosis and d-flow in vitro. We validated our findings in vivo by exposing murine carotid arteries to d-flow via partial carotid artery ligation. Since women have delayed onset of arterial stiffening and subsequent PAD, this work may provide a framework for some of the pathways in which biological sex interacts with sex-based differences in PAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gloriani Sánchez Marrero
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nicolas Villa-Roel
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Feifei Li
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christian Park
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dong-Won Kang
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Katherine E. Hekman
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Surgical and Research Services, Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Hanjoong Jo
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Luke P. Brewster
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Surgical and Research Services, Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rodriguez-Irizarry VJ, Schneider AC, Ahle D, Smith JM, Suarez-Martinez EB, Salazar EA, McDaniel Mims B, Rasha F, Moussa H, Moustaïd-Moussa N, Pruitt K, Fonseca M, Henriquez M, Clauss MA, Grisham MB, Almodovar S. Mice with humanized immune system as novel models to study HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension. Front Immunol 2022; 13:936164. [PMID: 35990658 PMCID: PMC9390008 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.936164] [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: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV and who receive antiretroviral therapy have a significantly improved lifespan, compared to the early days without therapy. Unfortunately, persisting viral replication in the lungs sustains chronic inflammation, which may cause pulmonary vascular dysfunction and ultimate life-threatening Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The mechanisms involved in the progression of HIV and PH remain unclear. The study of HIV-PH is limited due to the lack of tractable animal models that recapitulate infection and pathobiological aspects of PH. On one hand, mice with humanized immune systems (hu-mice) are highly relevant to HIV research but their suitability for HIV-PH research deserves investigation. On another hand, the Hypoxia-Sugen is a well-established model for experimental PH that combines hypoxia with the VEGF antagonist SU5416. To test the suitability of hu-mice, we combined HIV with either SU5416 or hypoxia. Using right heart catheterization, we found that combining HIV+SU5416 exacerbated PH. HIV infection increases human pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs, compared to uninfected mice. Histopathological examinations showed pulmonary vascular inflammation with arterial muscularization in HIV-PH. We also found an increase in endothelial-monocyte activating polypeptide II (EMAP II) when combining HIV+SU5416. Therefore, combinations of HIV with SU5416 or hypoxia recapitulate PH in hu-mice, creating well-suited models for infectious mechanistic pulmonary vascular research in small animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie J. Rodriguez-Irizarry
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States,Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, Ponce, PR, United States
| | - Alina C. Schneider
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Daniel Ahle
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Justin M. Smith
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | - Ethan A. Salazar
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Brianyell McDaniel Mims
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Fahmida Rasha
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Hanna Moussa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Naima Moustaïd-Moussa
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Marcelo Fonseca
- Program of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Henriquez
- Program of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Matthias A. Clauss
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Matthew B. Grisham
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Sharilyn Almodovar
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States,Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States,*Correspondence: Sharilyn Almodovar,
| |
Collapse
|