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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.
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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
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2
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Stangl V, Lorenz M. Why you should pay more attention to your cells' sex. J Physiol 2023; 601:5581-5584. [PMID: 37963009 DOI: 10.1113/jp284819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Stangl
- Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mario Lorenz
- Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Giha HA, Abdulwahab RA, Abbas J, Shinwari Z, Alaiya A. Sex-Biased Expression of Genes Allocated in the Autosomal Chromosomes: Blood LC-MS/MS Protein Profiling in Healthy Subjects. Genet Res (Camb) 2023; 2023:8822205. [PMID: 36941947 PMCID: PMC10024626 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8822205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sex and gender have a large impact in human health and disease prediction. According to genomic/genetics, men differ from women by a limited number of genes in Y chromosome, while the phenotypes of the 2 sexes differ markedly. Methods In this study, serum samples from six healthy Bahraini men and women were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics databases and tools were used for protein/peptide (PPs) identification and gene localization. The PPs that differed significantly (p < 0.05, ANOVA) in abundance with a fold change (FC) of ≥1.5 were identified. Results Revealed 20 PPs, 11 were upregulated in women with very high FC (up to 8 folds), and 9 were upregulated in men but with much lower FC. The PPs are encoded by genes located in autosomal chromosomes, indicative of sex-biased gene expression. The only PP related to sex, the sex hormone-binding globulin, was upregulated in women. The remaining PPs were involved in immunity, lipid metabolism, gene expression, connective tissue, and others, with some overlap in function. Conclusions The upregulated PPs in men or women are mostly reflecting the functon or risk/protection provided by the PPs to the specific sex, e.g., Apo-B100 of LDLC. Finally, the basis of sex-biased gene expression and sex phenotypic differences needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayder A. Giha
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rabab A. Abdulwahab
- Integrated Sciences Department, College of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Bahrain, Manama 32038, Bahrain
- Al Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine and Inherited Disorders, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
| | - Jaafar Abbas
- Arad Health Center, Muharraq, Bahrain and Gulf Medical and Diabetes Center, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Zakia Shinwari
- Proteomics Unit, Stem Cell and Tissue Re-Engineering Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayodele Alaiya
- Proteomics Unit, Stem Cell and Tissue Re-Engineering Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Lorenz M, Witt E, Völker U, Stangl K, Stangl V, Hammer E. Serum starvation induces sexual dimorphisms in secreted proteins of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from twin pairs. Proteomics 2022; 22:e2100168. [PMID: 35357760 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202100168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence for sex and gender differences in the clinical manifestation and outcomes of human diseases. Human primary endothelial cells represent a useful cardiovascular model to study sexual dimorphisms at the cellular level. Here, we analyzed sexual dimorphisms of the secretome after serum starvation using HUVECs from twin pairs of the opposite sex to minimize the impact of varying genetic background. HUVECs were starved for 5 and 16 h, respectively, and proteins of the cell culture supernatants were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. Altogether, 960 extracellular proteins were identified of which 683 were amendable to stringent quantification. Significant alterations were observed for 324 proteins between long-term and short-term starvation and the majority were similar in both sexes. Only 5 proteins showed significant sex-specific regulation between long- versus short-term starvation. Furthermore, 19 unique proteins with significant sexual dimorphisms at the same time points of serum starvation were observed. A larger number of proteins, e.g. tissue factor inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), displayed higher levels in the supernatants of females compared to male cells after long term serum starvation that might point to higher adaptation capacity of female cells. The overall results demonstrate that male and female cells differ in their secretome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lorenz
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin
| | - Eric Witt
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald
| | - Karl Stangl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin
| | - Verena Stangl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin
| | - Elke Hammer
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald
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5
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Wang JY, Roehrl MW, Roehrl VB, Roehrl MH. A master autoantigen-ome links alternative splicing, female predilection, and COVID-19 to autoimmune diseases. J Transl Autoimmun 2022; 5:100147. [PMID: 35237749 PMCID: PMC8872718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2022.100147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic and debilitating autoimmune sequelae pose a grave concern for the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Based on our discovery that the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate (DS) displays peculiar affinity to apoptotic cells and autoantigens (autoAgs) and that DS-autoAg complexes cooperatively stimulate autoreactive B1 cell responses, we compiled a database of 751 candidate autoAgs from six human cell types. At least 657 of these have been found to be affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection based on currently available multi-omic COVID data, and at least 400 are confirmed targets of autoantibodies in a wide array of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The autoantigen-ome is significantly associated with various processes in viral infections, such as translation, protein processing, and vesicle transport. Interestingly, the coding genes of autoAgs predominantly contain multiple exons with many possible alternative splicing variants, short transcripts, and short UTR lengths. These observations and the finding that numerous autoAgs involved in RNA-splicing showed altered expression in viral infections suggest that viruses exploit alternative splicing to reprogram host cell machinery to ensure viral replication and survival. While each cell type gives rise to a unique pool of autoAgs, 39 common autoAgs associated with cell stress and apoptosis were identified from all six cell types, with several being known markers of systemic autoimmune diseases. In particular, the common autoAg UBA1 that catalyzes the first step in ubiquitination is encoded by an X-chromosome escape gene. Given its essential function in apoptotic cell clearance and that X-inactivation escape tends to increase with aging, UBA1 dysfunction can therefore predispose aging women to autoimmune disorders. In summary, we propose a model of how viral infections lead to extensive molecular alterations and host cell death, autoimmune responses facilitated by autoAg-DS complexes, and ultimately autoimmune diseases. Overall, this master autoantigen-ome provides a molecular guide for investigating the myriad of autoimmune sequalae to COVID-19 and clues to the rare adverse effects of the currently available mRNA and viral vector-based COVID vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael H. Roehrl
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine BCMB Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Aguado BA, Walker CJ, Grim JC, Schroeder ME, Batan D, Vogt BJ, Rodriguez AG, Schwisow JA, Moulton KS, Weiss RM, Heistad DD, Leinwand LA, Anseth KS. Genes That Escape X Chromosome Inactivation Modulate Sex Differences in Valve Myofibroblasts. Circulation 2022; 145:513-530. [PMID: 35000411 PMCID: PMC8844107 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.054108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic valve stenosis is a sexually dimorphic disease, with women often presenting with sustained fibrosis and men with more extensive calcification. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that drive these clinically important sex differences remain underexplored. METHODS Hydrogel biomaterials were designed to recapitulate key aspects of the valve tissue microenvironment and to serve as a culture platform for sex-specific valvular interstitial cells (VICs; precursors to profibrotic myofibroblasts). The hydrogel culture system was used to interrogate intracellular pathways involved in sex-dependent VIC-to-myofibroblast activation and deactivation. RNA sequencing was used to define pathways involved in driving sex-dependent activation. Interventions with small molecule inhibitors and siRNA transfections were performed to provide mechanistic insight into sex-specific cellular responses to microenvironmental cues, including matrix stiffness and exogenously delivered biochemical factors. RESULTS In both healthy porcine and human aortic valves, female leaflets had higher baseline activation of the myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin compared with male leaflets. When isolated and cultured, female porcine and human VICs had higher levels of basal α-smooth muscle actin stress fibers that further increased in response to the hydrogel matrix stiffness, both of which were higher than in male VICs. A transcriptomic analysis of male and female porcine VICs revealed Rho-associated protein kinase signaling as a potential driver of this sex-dependent myofibroblast activation. Furthermore, we found that genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation such as BMX and STS (encoding for Bmx nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and steroid sulfatase, respectively) partially regulate the elevated female myofibroblast activation through Rho-associated protein kinase signaling. This finding was confirmed by treating male and female VICs with endothelin-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, factors that are secreted by endothelial cells and known to drive myofibroblast activation through Rho-associated protein kinase signaling. CONCLUSIONS Together, in vivo and in vitro results confirm sex dependencies in myofibroblast activation pathways and implicate genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation in regulating sex differences in myofibroblast activation and subsequent aortic valve stenosis progression. Our results underscore the importance of considering sex as a biological variable to understand the molecular mechanisms of aortic valve stenosis and to help guide sex-based precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A. Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Cierra J. Walker
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Joseph C. Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Megan E. Schroeder
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Dilara Batan
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Brandon J. Vogt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jessica A. Schwisow
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Karen S. Moulton
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Robert M. Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Donald D. Heistad
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Leslie A. Leinwand
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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7
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Multimerin-1 and cancer: a review. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:230760. [PMID: 35132992 PMCID: PMC8881648 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multimerin-1 (MMRN1) is a platelet protein with a role in haemostasis and coagulation. It is also present in endothelial cells (ECs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM), where it may be involved in cell adhesion, but its molecular functions and protein–protein interactions in these cellular locations have not been studied in detail yet. In recent years, MMRN1 has been identified as a differentially expressed gene (DEG) in various cancers and it has been proposed as a possible cancer biomarker. Some evidence suggest that MMRN1 expression is regulated by methylation, protein interactions, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in different cancers. This raises the questions if a functional role of MMRN1 is being targeted during cancer development, and if MMRN1’s differential expression pattern correlates with cancer progression. As a result, it is timely to review the current state of what is known about MMRN1 to help inform future research into MMRN1’s molecular mechanisms in cancer.
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8
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Lock R, Al Asafen H, Fleischer S, Tamargo M, Zhao Y, Radisic M, Vunjak-Novakovic G. A framework for developing sex-specific engineered heart models. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2021; 7:295-313. [PMID: 34691764 PMCID: PMC8527305 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-021-00381-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The convergence of tissue engineering and patient-specific stem cell biology has enabled the engineering of in vitro tissue models that allow the study of patient-tailored treatment modalities. However, sex-related disparities in health and disease, from systemic hormonal influences to cellular-level differences, are often overlooked in stem cell biology, tissue engineering and preclinical screening. The cardiovascular system, in particular, shows considerable sex-related differences, which need to be considered in cardiac tissue engineering. In this Review, we analyse sex-related properties of the heart muscle in the context of health and disease, and discuss a framework for including sex-based differences in human cardiac tissue engineering. We highlight how sex-based features can be implemented at the cellular and tissue levels, and how sex-specific cardiac models could advance the study of cardiovascular diseases. Finally, we define design criteria for sex-specific cardiac tissue engineering and provide an outlook to future research possibilities beyond the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Hadel Al Asafen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Sharon Fleischer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Manuel Tamargo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
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9
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James BD, Allen JB. Sex-Specific Response to Combinations of Shear Stress and Substrate Stiffness by Endothelial Cells In Vitro. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100735. [PMID: 34142471 PMCID: PMC8458248 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
By using a full factorial design of experiment, the combinatorial effects of biological sex, shear stress, and substrate stiffness on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) spreading and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) activity are able to be efficiently evaluated. Within the range of shear stress (0.5-1.5 Pa) and substrate stiffness (10-100 kPa), male HUVECs are smaller than female HUVECs. Only with sufficient mechanical stimulation do they spread to a similar size. More importantly, YAP1 nuclear localization in female HUVECs is invariant to mechanical stimulation within the range of tested conditions whereas for male HUVECs it increases nonlinearly with increasing shear stress and substrate stiffness. The sex-specific response of HUVECs to combinations of shear stress and substrate stiffness reinforces the need to include sex as a biological variable and multiple mechanical stimuli in experiments, informs the design of precision biomaterials, and offers insight for understanding cardiovascular disease sexual dimorphisms. Moreover, here it is illustrated that different complex mechanical microenvironments can lead to sex-specific phenotypes and sex invariant phenotypes in cultured endothelial cells.
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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
| | - 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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10
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Wang JY, Roehrl MW, Roehrl VB, Roehrl MH. A Master Autoantigen-ome Links Alternative Splicing, Female Predilection, and COVID-19 to Autoimmune Diseases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.07.30.454526. [PMID: 34373855 PMCID: PMC8351778 DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.30.454526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chronic and debilitating autoimmune sequelae pose a grave concern for the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Based on our discovery that the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate (DS) displays peculiar affinity to apoptotic cells and autoantigens (autoAgs) and that DS-autoAg complexes cooperatively stimulate autoreactive B1 cell responses, we compiled a database of 751 candidate autoAgs from six human cell types. At least 657 of these have been found to be affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection based on currently available multi-omic COVID data, and at least 400 are confirmed targets of autoantibodies in a wide array of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The autoantigen-ome is significantly associated with various processes in viral infections, such as translation, protein processing, and vesicle transport. Interestingly, the coding genes of autoAgs predominantly contain multiple exons with many possible alternative splicing variants, short transcripts, and short UTR lengths. These observations and the finding that numerous autoAgs involved in RNA-splicing showed altered expression in viral infections suggest that viruses exploit alternative splicing to reprogram host cell machinery to ensure viral replication and survival. While each cell type gives rise to a unique pool of autoAgs, 39 common autoAgs associated with cell stress and apoptosis were identified from all six cell types, with several being known markers of systemic autoimmune diseases. In particular, the common autoAg UBA1 that catalyzes the first step in ubiquitination is encoded by an X-chromosome escape gene. Given its essential function in apoptotic cell clearance and that X-inactivation escape tends to increase with aging, UBA1 dysfunction can therefore predispose aging women to autoimmune disorders. In summary, we propose a model of how viral infections lead to extensive molecular alterations and host cell death, autoimmune responses facilitated by autoAg-DS complexes, and ultimately autoimmune diseases. Overall, this master autoantigen-ome provides a molecular guide for investigating the myriad of autoimmune sequalae to COVID-19 and clues to the rare but reported adverse effects of the currently available COVID vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael H. Roehrl
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
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11
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Tan CMJ, Lewandowski AJ, Williamson W, Huckstep OJ, Yu GZ, Fischer R, Simon JN, Alsharqi M, Mohamed A, Leeson P, Bertagnolli M. Proteomic Signature of Dysfunctional Circulating Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells of Young Adults. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e021119. [PMID: 34275329 PMCID: PMC8475699 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.021119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background A subpopulation of endothelial progenitor cells called endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) may offer a platform for cellular assessment in clinical studies because of their remarkable angiogenic and expansion potentials in vitro. Despite endothelial cell function being influenced by cardiovascular risk factors, no studies have yet provided a comprehensive proteomic profile to distinguish functional (ie, more angiogenic and expansive cells) versus dysfunctional circulating ECFCs of young adults. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed proteomic comparison between functional and dysfunctional ECFCs. Methods and Results Peripheral blood ECFCs were isolated from 11 subjects (45% men, aged 27±5 years) using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. ECFCs expressed endothelial and progenitor surface markers and displayed cobblestone-patterned morphology with clonal and angiogenic capacities in vitro. ECFCs were deemed dysfunctional if <1 closed tube formed during the in vitro tube formation assay and proliferation rate was <20%. Hierarchical functional clustering revealed distinct ECFC proteomic signatures between functional and dysfunctional ECFCs with changes in cellular mechanisms involved in exocytosis, vesicle transport, extracellular matrix organization, cell metabolism, and apoptosis. Targeted antiangiogenic proteins in dysfunctional ECFCs included SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36), LUM (lumican), and PTX3 (pentraxin-related protein PYX3). Conclusions Circulating ECFCs with impaired angiogenesis and expansion capacities have a distinct proteomic profile and significant phenotype changes compared with highly angiogenic endothelial cells. Impaired angiogenesis in dysfunctional ECFCs may underlie the link between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease risks in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl M. J. Tan
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Adam J. Lewandowski
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Wilby Williamson
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Odaro J. Huckstep
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Department of BiologyUnited States Air Force AcademyColorado SpringsCOUSA
| | - Grace Z. Yu
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Human GeneticsUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute (TDI) Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Jillian N. Simon
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Maryam Alsharqi
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Department of Cardiac TechnologyImam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityDammamSaudi Arabia
| | - Afifah Mohamed
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging & Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Paul Leeson
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Mariane Bertagnolli
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Montreal Hospital Sacré‐Cœur Research CentreCentre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Nord‐de‐l'Île‐de‐MontréalMontréalQCCanada
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontréalQCCanada
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12
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Peter AK, Walker CJ, Ceccato T, Trexler CL, Ozeroff CD, Lugo KR, Perry AR, Anseth KS, Leinwand LA. Cardiac Fibroblasts Mediate a Sexually Dimorphic Fibrotic Response to β-Adrenergic Stimulation. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e018876. [PMID: 33998248 PMCID: PMC8483546 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.120.018876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Biological sex is an important modifier of cardiovascular disease and women generally have better outcomes compared with men. However, the contribution of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) to this sexual dimorphism is relatively unexplored. Methods and Results Isoproterenol (ISO) was administered to rats as a model for chronic β‐adrenergic receptor (β‐AR)‐mediated cardiovascular disease. ISO‐treated males had higher mortality than females and also developed fibrosis whereas females did not. Gonadectomy did not abrogate this sex difference. To determine the cellular contribution to this phenotype, CFs were studied. CFs from both sexes had increased proliferation in vivo in response to ISO, but CFs from female hearts proliferated more than male cells. In addition, male CFs were significantly more activated to myofibroblasts by ISO. To investigate potential regulatory mechanisms for the sexually dimorphic fibrotic response, β‐AR mRNA and PKA (protein kinase A) activity were measured. In response to ISO treatment, male CFs increased expression of β1‐ and β2‐ARs, whereas expression of both receptors decreased in female CFs. Moreover, ISO‐treated male CFs had higher PKA activity relative to vehicle controls, whereas ISO did not activate PKA in female CFs. Conclusions Chronic in vivo β‐AR stimulation causes fibrosis in male but not female rat hearts. Male CFs are more activated than female CFs, consistent with elevated fibrosis in male rat hearts and may be caused by higher β‐AR expression and PKA activation in male CFs. Taken together, our data suggest that CFs play a substantial role in mediating sex differences observed after cardiac injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Peter
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | - Cierra J Walker
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Materials Science and Engineering Program University of Colorado Boulder Boulder CO
| | - Tova Ceccato
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | - Christa L Trexler
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | - Christopher D Ozeroff
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | | | - Amy R Perry
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder CO
| | - Leslie A Leinwand
- BioFrontiers Institute University of Colorado Boulder CO.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology University of Colorado Boulder CO
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13
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Colombo E, Cattaneo MG. Multicellular 3D Models to Study Tumour-Stroma Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041633. [PMID: 33562840 PMCID: PMC7915117 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures have been the standard for many different applications, ranging from basic research to stem cell and cancer research to regenerative medicine, for most of the past century. Hence, almost all of our knowledge about fundamental biological processes has been provided by primary and established cell lines cultured in 2D monolayer. However, cells in tissues and organs do not exist as single entities, and life in multicellular organisms relies on the coordination of several cellular activities, which depend on cell–cell communication across different cell types and tissues. In addition, cells are embedded within a complex non-cellular structure known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), which anchors them in a three-dimensional (3D) formation. Likewise, tumour cells interact with their surrounding matrix and tissue, and the physical and biochemical properties of this microenvironment regulate cancer differentiation, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. 2D models are unable to mimic the complex and dynamic interactions of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and ignore spatial cell–ECM and cell–cell interactions. Thus, multicellular 3D models are excellent tools to recapitulate in vitro the spatial dimension, cellular heterogeneity, and molecular networks of the TME. This review summarizes the biological significance of the cell–ECM and cell–cell interactions in the onset and progression of tumours and focuses on the requirement for these interactions to build up representative in vitro models for the study of the pathophysiology of cancer and for the design of more clinically relevant treatments.
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14
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Cattaneo MG, Banfi C, Brioschi M, Lattuada D, Vicentini LM. Sex-dependent differences in the secretome of human endothelial cells. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:7. [PMID: 33413676 PMCID: PMC7791663 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00350-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular sex has rarely been considered as a biological variable in preclinical research, even when the pathogenesis of diseases with predictable sex differences is studied. In this perspective, proteomics, and “omics” approaches in general, can provide powerful tools to obtain comprehensive cellular maps, thus favoring the discovery of still unknown sex-biased physio-pathological mechanisms. Methods We performed proteomic and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses of the secretome from human serum-deprived male and female endothelial cells (ECs) followed by ELISA validation. Apoptosis was detected by FACS and Western blot techniques and efferocytosis through the ability of the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 to engulf apoptotic ECs. PTX3 mRNA levels were measured by RT-qPCR. Results Proteomic and GO analyses of the secretome from starved human male and female ECs demonstrated a significant enrichment in proteins related to cellular responses to stress and to the regulation of apoptosis in the secretome of male ECs. Accordingly, a higher percentage of male ECs underwent apoptosis in response to serum deprivation in comparison with female ECs. Among the secreted proteins, we reliably found higher levels of PTX3 in the male EC secretome. The silencing of PTX3 suggested that male ECs were dependent on its expression to properly carry out the efferocytotic process. At variance, female EC efferocytosis seemed to be independent on PTX3 expression. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that serum-starved male and female ECs possess different secretory phenotypes that might take part in the sex-biased response to cellular stress. We identified PTX3 as a crucial player in the male-specific endothelial response to an apoptotic trigger. This novel and sex-related role for secreted proteins, and mainly for PTX3, may open the way to the discovery of still unknown sex-specific mechanisms and pharmacological targets for the prevention and treatment of endothelial dysfunction at the onset of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13293-020-00350-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Cattaneo
- Dept of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Donatella Lattuada
- Dept of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia M Vicentini
- Dept of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, Milan, Italy
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15
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Spinal muscular atrophy: Broad disease spectrum and sex-specific phenotypes. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166063. [PMID: 33412266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the major genetic disorders associated with infant mortality. More than 90% of cases of SMA result from deletions of or mutations in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN2, a nearly identical copy of SMN1, does not compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. The spectrum of SMA is broad, ranging from prenatal death to infant mortality to survival into adulthood. All tissues, including brain, spinal cord, bone, skeletal muscle, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, spleen, ovary and testis, are directly and/or indirectly affected in SMA. Accumulating evidence on impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and defects in X chromosome-linked modifying factors, coupled with the sexual dimorphic nature of many tissues, point to sex-specific vulnerabilities in SMA. Here we review the role of sex in the pathogenesis of SMA.
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16
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Boscaro C, Trenti A, Baggio C, Scapin C, Trevisi L, Cignarella A, Bolego C. Sex Differences in the Pro-Angiogenic Response of Human Endothelial Cells: Focus on PFKFB3 and FAK Activation. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:587221. [PMID: 33390959 PMCID: PMC7773665 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.587221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Female hormones and sex-specific factors are established determinants of endothelial function, yet their relative contribution to human endothelium phenotypes has not been defined. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) genotyped by donor's sex, we investigated the influence of sex and estrogenic agents on the main steps of the angiogenic process and on key proteins governing HUVEC metabolism and migratory properties. HUVECs from female donors (fHUVECs) showed increased viability (p < 0.01) and growth rate (p < 0.01) compared with those from males (mHUVECs). Despite higher levels of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in fHUVECs (p < 0.001), treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2) and the selective GPER agonist G1 (both 1-100 nM) did not affect HUVEC viability. Migration and tubularization in vitro under physiological conditions were higher in fHUVECs than in mHUVECs (p < 0.05). E2 treatment (1-100 nM) upregulated the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 with higher potency in fHUVECs than in mHUVECs, despite comparable baseline levels. Moreover, Y576/577 phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was markedly enhanced in fHUVECs (p < 0.001), despite comparable Src activation levels. While the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (25 µM) inhibited HUVEC migration (p < 0.05), Akt phosphorylation levels in fHUVECs and mHUVECs were comparable. Finally, digitoxin treatment, which inhibits Y576/577 FAK phosphorylation, abolished sexual dimorphism in HUVEC migration. These findings unravel complementary modulation of HUVEC functional phenotypes and signaling molecules involved in angiogenesis by hormone microenvironment and sex-specific factors, and highlight the need for sex-oriented pharmacological targeting of endothelial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Boscaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Baggio
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Scapin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Trevisi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Bolego
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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17
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Hartman RJG, Kapteijn DMC, Haitjema S, Bekker MN, Mokry M, Pasterkamp G, Civelek M, den Ruijter HM. Intrinsic transcriptomic sex differences in human endothelial cells at birth and in adults are associated with coronary artery disease targets. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12367. [PMID: 32704153 PMCID: PMC7378217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69451-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in endothelial cell (EC) biology may reflect intrinsic differences driven by chromosomes or sex steroid exposure and gender differences accumulated over life. We analysed EC gene expression data from boy-girl twins at birth and in non-twin adults to detect sex differences at different stages of life, and show that 14-25% of the EC transcriptome is sex-biased. By combining data from both stages of life, we identified sex differences that are present at birth and maintained throughout life, and those that are acquired over life. Promisingly, we found that genes that present with an acquired sex difference in ECs are more likely to be targets of sex steroids. Annotating both gene sets with data from multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that genes with an intrinsic sex difference in ECs are enriched for coronary artery disease GWAS hits. This study underscores the need for treating sex as a biological variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J G Hartman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniek M C Kapteijn
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Haitjema
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mireille N Bekker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mete Civelek
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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18
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Miller I, Gianazza E, Eberini I. Encore – Sex dependency of the proteome. J Proteomics 2020; 212:103579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Lorenz M, Blaschke B, Benn A, Hammer E, Witt E, Kirwan J, Fritsche-Guenther R, Gloaguen Y, Bartsch C, Vietzke A, Kramer F, Kappert K, Brunner P, Nguyen HG, Dreger H, Stangl K, Knaus P, Stangl V. Sex-specific metabolic and functional differences in human umbilical vein endothelial cells from twin pairs. Atherosclerosis 2019; 291:99-106. [PMID: 31706078 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Gonadal hormones are mainly thought to account for sex and gender differences in the incidence, clinical manifestation and therapy of many cardiovascular diseases. However, intrinsic sex differences at the cellular level are mostly overlooked. Here, we assessed sex-specific metabolic and functional differences between male and female human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS Cellular metabolism was investigated by bioenergetic studies (Seahorse Analyser) and a metabolomic approach. Protein levels were determined by Western blots and proteome analysis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated cellular migration was assessed by gap closure. HUVECs from dizygotic twin pairs were used for most experiments. RESULTS No sex differences were observed in untreated cells. However, sexual dimorphisms appeared after stressing the cells by serum starvation and treatment with VEGF. Under both conditions, female cells had higher intracellular ATP and metabolite levels. A significant decline in ATP levels was observed in male cells after serum starvation. After VEGF, the ratio of glycolysis/mitochondrial respiration was higher in female cells and migration was more pronounced. CONCLUSIONS These results point to an increased stress tolerance of female cells. We therefore propose that female cells have an energetic advantage over male cells under conditions of diminished nutrient supply. A more favourable energy balance of female HUVECs after serum starvation and VEGF could potentially explain their stronger migratory capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lorenz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Blaschke
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Benn
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Integrative Oncology (DFG Graduate School 1093), Germany
| | - Elke Hammer
- Interfakultäres Institut für Genetik und Funktionelle Genomforschung, Abteilung für Funktionelle Genomforschung, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Witt
- Interfakultäres Institut für Genetik und Funktionelle Genomforschung, Abteilung für Funktionelle Genomforschung, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jennifer Kirwan
- Berlin Institute of Health Metabolomics Platform, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raphaela Fritsche-Guenther
- Berlin Institute of Health Metabolomics Platform, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yoann Gloaguen
- Berlin Institute of Health Metabolomics Platform, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany; Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), 10178, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelia Bartsch
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Vietzke
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederike Kramer
- Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Kappert
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany; Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrizia Brunner
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Integrative Oncology (DFG Graduate School 1093), Germany
| | - Hoang Giang Nguyen
- Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Henryk Dreger
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Karl Stangl
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Knaus
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Integrative Oncology (DFG Graduate School 1093), Germany
| | - Verena Stangl
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Germany.
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