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McLamb F, Feng Z, Vu JP, Griffin L, Vasquez MF, Bozinovic G. Lagging Brain Gene Expression Patterns of Drosophila melanogaster Young Adult Males Confound Comparisons Between Sexes. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04427-7. [PMID: 39196495 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04427-7] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Many species, including fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), are sexually dimorphic. Phenotypic variation in morphology, physiology, and behavior can affect development, reproduction, health, and aging. Therefore, designating sex as a variable and sex-blocking should be considered when designing experiments. The brain regulates phenotypes throughout the lifespan by balancing survival and reproduction, and sex-specific development at each life stage is likely. Changes in morphology and physiology are governed by differential gene expression, a quantifiable molecular marker for age- and sex-specific variations. We assessed the fruit fly brain transcriptome at three adult ages for gene expression signatures of sex, age, and sex-by-age: 6698 genes were differentially expressed between sexes, with the most divergence at 3 days. Between ages, 31.1% of 6084 differentially expressed genes (1890 genes) share similar expression patterns from 3 to 7 days in females, and from 7 to 14 days in males. Most of these genes (90.5%, 1712) were upregulated and enriched for chemical stimulus detection and/or cilium regulation. Our data highlight an important delay in male brain gene regulation compared to females. Because significant delays in expression could confound comparisons between sexes, studies of sexual dimorphism at phenotypically comparable life stages rather than chronological age should be more biologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flannery McLamb
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zuying Feng
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeanne P Vu
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lindsey Griffin
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Miguel F Vasquez
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Goran Bozinovic
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Shi Y, Yan D, Nan C, Sun Z, Zhuo Y, Huo H, Jin Q, Yan H, Zhao Z. Salvianolic acid A inhibits ferroptosis and protects against intracerebral hemorrhage. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12427. [PMID: 38816543 PMCID: PMC11140002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63277-4] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common cerebral vascular disease with high incidence, disability, and mortality. Ferroptosis is a regulated type of iron-dependent, non-apoptotic programmed cell death. There is increasing evidence that ferroptosis may lead to neuronal damage mediated by hemorrhagic stroke mediated neuronal damage. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a natural bioactive polyphenol compound extracted from salvia miltiorrhiza, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrosis activities. SAA is reported to be an iron chelator that inhibits lipid peroxidation and provides neuroprotective effects. However, whether SAA improves neuronal ferroptosis mediated by hemorrhagic stroke remains unclear. The study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SAA on Ferroptosis mediated by Intracerebral hemorrhage and explore its potential mechanisms. We constructed in vivo and in vitro models of intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Multiple methods were used to analyze the inhibitory effect of SAA on ferroptosis in both in vivo and in vitro models of intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Then, network pharmacology is used to identify potential targets and mechanisms for SAA treatment of ICH. The SAA target ICH network combines SAA and ICH targets with protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Find the specific mechanism of SAA acting on ferroptosis through molecular docking and functional enrichment analysis. In rats, SAA (10 mg/kg in vivo and 50 μM in vitro, p < 0.05) alleviated dyskinesia and brain injury in the ICH model by inhibiting ferroptosis (p < 0.05). The molecular docking results and functional enrichment analyses suggested that AKT (V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog) could mediate the effect of SAA. NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) was a potential target of SAA. Our further experiments showed that salvianolic acid A enhanced the Akt /GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway activation in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, SAA significantly expanded the expression of GPX4, XCT proteins, and the nuclear expression of Nrf2, while the AKT inhibitor SH-6 and the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 could reduce them to some extent. Therefore, SAA effectively ameliorated ICH-mediated neuronal ferroptosis. Meanwhile, one of the critical mechanisms of SAA inhibiting ferroptosis was activating the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Dongdong Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Chengrui Nan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Zhimin Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Third Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Yayu Zhuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Haoran Huo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Qianxu Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Hongshan Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Zongmao Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China.
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Schulz B, Leitner E, Schreiber T, Lindner T, Schwarz R, Aboutara N, Ma Y, Escobar HM, Palme R, Hinz B, Vollmar B, Zechner D. Sex Matters-Insights from Testing Drug Efficacy in an Animal Model of Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1901. [PMID: 38791980 PMCID: PMC11120498 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies rarely test the efficacy of therapies in both sexes. The field of oncology is no exception in this regard. In a model of syngeneic, orthotopic, metastasized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma we evaluated the impact of sex on pathological features of this disease as well as on the efficacy and possible adverse side effects of a novel, small molecule-based therapy inhibiting KRAS:SOS1, MEK1/2 and PI3K signaling in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Male mice had less tumor infiltration of CD8-positive cells, developed bigger tumors, had more lung metastasis and a lower probability of survival compared to female mice. These more severe pathological features in male animals were accompanied by higher distress at the end of the experiment. The evaluated inhibitors BI-3406, trametinib and BKM120 showed synergistic effects in vitro. This combinatorial therapy reduced tumor weight more efficiently in male animals, although the drug concentrations were similar in the tumors of both sexes. These results underline the importance of sex-specific preclinical research and at the same time provide a solid basis for future studies with the tested compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schulz
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Emily Leitner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Tim Schreiber
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Tobias Lindner
- Core Facility Multimodal Small Animal Imaging, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Rico Schwarz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Nadine Aboutara
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Yixuan Ma
- Department of Medicine Clinic III, Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Hugo Murua Escobar
- Department of Medicine Clinic III, Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Burkhard Hinz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (B.S.)
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Hu W, Zhang X, Liu Z, Yang J, Sheng H, Liu Z, Chen C, Shang R, Chen Y, Lu Y, Hu X, Huang Y, Yin W, Cai X, Fan D, Yan L, Hao J, Luo G, He W. Spatiotemporal orchestration of macrophage activation trajectories by Vγ4 T cells during skin wound healing. iScience 2024; 27:109545. [PMID: 38617557 PMCID: PMC11015460 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109545] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes underlies impaired cutaneous wound healing. This study reveals Vγ4+ γδ T cells spatiotemporally calibrate macrophage trajectories during skin repair via sophisticated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) conditioning across multiple interconnected tissues. Locally within wound beds, infiltrating Vγ4+ γδ T cells directly potentiate M1 activation and suppress M2 polarization thereby prolonging local inflammation. In draining lymph nodes, infiltrated Vγ4+ γδ T cells expand populations of IFN-γ-competent lymphocytes which disseminate systemically and infiltrate into wound tissues, further enforcing M1 macrophages programming. Moreover, Vγ4+γδ T cells flushed into bone marrow stimulate increased IFN-γ production, which elevates the output of pro-inflammatory Ly6C+monocytes. Mobilization of these monocytes continually replenishes the M1 macrophage pool in wounds, preventing phenotypic conversion to M2 activation. Thus, multi-axis coordination of macrophage activation trajectories by trafficking Vγ4+ γδ T cells provides a sophisticated immunological mechanism regulating inflammation timing and resolution during skin repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wengang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Zhongyang Liu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Jiacai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hao Sheng
- Urology Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Ruoyu Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yunxia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yifei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xiaohong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Wenjing Yin
- Academy of Biological Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Dejiang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lingfeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jianlei Hao
- Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai 519000 Guangdong, China
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Gaoxing Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Weifeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Chongqing 400038, China
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Harris BN, Yavari M, Ramalingam L, Mounce PL, Alers Maldonado K, Chavira AC, Thomas S, Scoggin S, Biltz C, Moustaid-Moussa N. Impact of Long-Term Dietary High Fat and Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity in Amyloidogenic APPswe/PSEN1dE9 Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2024; 114:553-576. [PMID: 38301617 PMCID: PMC11153005 DOI: 10.1159/000536586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) alters neurocognitive and emotional function and causes dysregulation of multiple homeostatic processes. The leading AD framework pins amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles as primary drivers of dysfunction. However, many additional variables, including diet, stress, sex, age, and pain tolerance, interact in ways that are not fully understood to impact the onset and progression of AD pathophysiology. We asked: (1) does high-fat diet, compared to low-fat diet, exacerbate AD pathophysiology and behavioral decline? And, (2) can supplementation with eicosapentaenoic (EPA)-enriched fish oil prevent high-fat-diet-induced changes? METHODS Male and female APPswePSdE9 mice, and their non-transgenic littermates, were randomly assigned to a diet condition (low-fat, high-fat, high-fat with EPA) and followed from 2 to 10 months of age. We assessed baseline corticosterone concentration during aging, pain tolerance, cognitive function, stress coping, and corticosterone response to a stressor. RESULTS Transgenic mice were consistently more active than non-transgenic mice but did not perform worse on either cognitive task, even though we recently reported that these same transgenic mice exhibited metabolic changes and had increased amyloid beta. Mice fed high-fat diet had higher baseline and post-stressor corticosterone, but diet did not impact cognition or pain tolerance. Sex had the biggest influence, as female mice were consistently more active and had higher corticosterone than males. CONCLUSION Overall, diet, genotype, and sex did not have consistent impacts on outcomes. We found little support for predicted interactions and correlations, suggesting diet impacts metabolic function and amyloid beta levels, but these outcomes do not translate to changes in behaviors measured here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna N. Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Institute, Office of Research & Innovation, Texas Tech University
| | - Mahsa Yavari
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Institute, Office of Research & Innovation, Texas Tech University
- Current address: Department of Molecular Metabolism, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA
| | - Latha Ramalingam
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Institute, Office of Research & Innovation, Texas Tech University
- Current address: Department of Nutritional and Food Studies Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
| | - P. Logan Mounce
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | | | - Angela C. Chavira
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Sarah Thomas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Shane Scoggin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Caroline Biltz
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Naima Moustaid-Moussa
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Obesity Research Institute, Office of Research & Innovation, Texas Tech University
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Taliaferro LP, Agarwal RK, Coleman CN, DiCarlo AL, Hofmeyer KA, Loelius SG, Molinar-Inglis O, Tedesco DC, Satyamitra MM. Sex differences in radiation research. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 100:466-485. [PMID: 37991728 PMCID: PMC10922591 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2023.2283089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Sex Differences in Radiation Research workshop addressed the role of sex as a confounder in radiation research and its implication in real-world radiological and nuclear applications. METHODS In April 2022, HHS-wide partners from the Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program, the Office of Research on Women's Health National Institutes of Health Office of Women's Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures Branch at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority conducted a workshop to address the scientific implication and knowledge gaps in understanding sex in basic and translational research. The goals of this workshop were to examine sex differences in 1. Radiation animal models and understand how these may affect radiation medical countermeasure development; 2. Biodosimetry and/or biomarkers used to assess acute radiation syndrome, delayed effects of acute radiation exposure, and/or predict major organ morbidities; 3. medical research that lacks representation from both sexes. In addition, regulatory policies that influence inclusion of women in research, and the gaps that exist in drug development and device clearance were discussed. Finally, real-world sex differences in human health scenarios were also considered. RESULTS This report provides an overview of the two-day workshop, and open discussion among academic investigators, industry researchers, and U.S. government representatives. CONCLUSIONS This meeting highlighted that current study designs lack the power to determine statistical significance based on sex, and much is unknown about the underlying factors that contribute to these differences. Investigators should accommodate both sexes in all stages of research to ensure that the outcome is robust, reproducible, and accurate, and will benefit public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanyn P. Taliaferro
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Rajeev K. Agarwal
- Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), Office of the Director, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - C. Norman Coleman
- Radiation Research Program Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrea L. DiCarlo
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Hofmeyer
- Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures Branch, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), ASPR, HHS, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shannon G. Loelius
- Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures Branch, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), ASPR, HHS, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Olivia Molinar-Inglis
- Previously RNCP, DAIT, NIAID, NIH; now Antivirals and Antitoxins Program, Division of CBRN Countermeasures, BARDA, ASPR, HHS, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dana C. Tedesco
- Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures Branch, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), ASPR, HHS, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Merriline M. Satyamitra
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), Rockville, MD, USA
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Conlon DM, Welty FK, Reyes-Soffer G, Amengual J. Sex-Specific Differences in Lipoprotein Production and Clearance. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1617-1625. [PMID: 37409532 PMCID: PMC10527393 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic approaches to reduce atherogenic lipid and lipoprotein levels remain the most effective and assessable strategies to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. The discovery of novel research targets linked to pathways associated with cardiovascular disease development has enhanced our ability to decrease disease burden; however, residual cardiovascular disease risks remain. Advancements in genetics and personalized medicine are essential to understand some of the factors driving residual risk. Biological sex is among the most relevant factors affecting plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles, playing a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular disease. This minireview summarizes the most recent preclinical and clinical studies covering the effect of sex on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. We highlight the recent advances in the mechanisms regulating hepatic lipoprotein production and clearance as potential drivers of disease presentation. We focus on using sex as a biological variable in studying circulating lipid and lipoprotein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gissette Reyes-Soffer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
| | - Jaume Amengual
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences. University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
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Cecchin E, Posocco B, Mezzalira S, Appetecchia M, Toffoli G. The Role of Gender Pharmacogenetics in the Personalization of Drug Treatment. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 386:190-197. [PMID: 37001987 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001416] [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: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of pharmacogenetic guidelines in personalizing treatments has shown the potential to reduce interindividual variability in drug response by enabling genotype-matched dosing and drug selection. However, other important factors, such as patient gender, may interact strongly with pharmacogenetics in determining the individual profile of toxicity and efficacy but are still rarely considered when planning pharmacological treatment. The literature indicates that males and females respond differently to drugs, with women being at higher risk for toxicity and having different plasma exposure to drugs at standard doses. Recent studies have shown that pharmacogenetic variants may have different predictive value in different sexes, as in the case of treatment with opioids, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or proton pump inhibitors. Of particular interest is the case of treatment with fluoropyrimidines for cancer. A significant increase in toxicity has been described in female patients, with a more pronounced effect of specific DPYD and TYMS polymorphisms also noted. This manuscript reviews the major findings in the field of sex-specific pharmacogenomics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Interindividual variability in drug response is an emerging issue in pharmacology. The genetic profile of patients, as well as their gender, may play a role in the identification of patients more exposed to the risk of adverse drug reactions or poor efficacy. This article reviews the current state of research on the interaction between gender and pharmacogenetics in addressing interindividual variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Cecchin
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano PN, Italy (E.C., B.P., S.M., G.T.); and Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy (M.A.)
| | - Bianca Posocco
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano PN, Italy (E.C., B.P., S.M., G.T.); and Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy (M.A.)
| | - Silvia Mezzalira
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano PN, Italy (E.C., B.P., S.M., G.T.); and Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy (M.A.)
| | - Marialuisa Appetecchia
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano PN, Italy (E.C., B.P., S.M., G.T.); and Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy (M.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Toffoli
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano PN, Italy (E.C., B.P., S.M., G.T.); and Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy (M.A.)
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Vandenberg LN, Zoeller RT, Prins GS, Trasande L. Evaluating adverse effects of environmental agents in food: a brief critique of the US FDA's criteria. Environ Health 2023; 22:38. [PMID: 37085808 PMCID: PMC10120250 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-00971-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) is charged with protecting the safety of food from both pathogens and chemicals used in food production and food packaging. To protect the public in a transparent manner, the FDA needs to have an operational definition of what it considers to be an "adverse effect" so that it can take action against harmful agents. The FDA has recently published two statements where, for the first time, it defines the characteristics of an adverse effect that it uses to interpret toxicity studies. OBJECTIVE In this brief review, we examine two recent actions by the FDA, a proposed rule regarding a color additive used in vegetarian burgers and a decision not to recall fish with high levels of scombrotoxin. We evaluated the FDA's description of the criteria used to determine which outcomes should be considered adverse. OVERVIEW We describe three reasons why the FDA's criteria for "adverse effects" is not public health protective. These include an unscientific requirement for a monotonic dose response, which conflates hazard assessment and dose response assessment while also ignoring evidence for non-linear and non-monotonic effects for many environmental agents; a requirement that the effect be observed in both sexes, which fails to acknowledge the many sex- and gender-specific effects on physiology, disease incidence and severity, and anatomy; and a requirement that the effects are irreversible, which does not acknowledge the role of exposure timing or appreciate transgenerational effects that have been demonstrated for environmental chemicals. CONCLUSIONS The FDA's criteria for identifying adverse effects are inadequate because they are not science-based. Addressing this is important, because the acknowledgement of adverse effects is central to regulatory decisions and the protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, 240G Goessmann, 686 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Visiting Professor, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Gail S Prins
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Departments of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine, and Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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10
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Scopano MR, Jones HE, Stea SG, Freeman MZ, Grisel JE. Age, β-endorphin, and sex dependent effects of maternal separation on locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and alcohol reward. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1155647. [PMID: 37091593 PMCID: PMC10113444 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1155647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionChildhood adversity is pervasive and linked to numerous disadvantages in adulthood, including physical health problems, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Initial sensitivity to the rewarding effects of alcohol predicts the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder, and may be linked to developmental stress. The opioid peptide β-endorphin (β-E) regulates the stress response and is also implicated in the risk for excessive alcohol consumption.MethodsWe explored the influence of β-E in an animal model of early life adversity using controlled maternal separation by evaluating changes in locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and the initial rewarding effects of alcohol in a single exposure conditioned place preference paradigm in control C57BL/6J and β-E deficient β-E +/+ 0.129S2-Pomc tm1Low/J; β-E −/− mice. Maternal separation (MS) occurred for 3 h each day from post-natal days (PND) 5–18 in approximately half the subjects.ResultsMaternal interactions increased following the separation protocol equally in both genotypes. MS and control subjects were tested as adolescents (PND 26–32) or adults (PND 58–72); the effects of MS were generally more pronounced in older subjects. Adults were more active than adolescents in the open field, and MS decreased activity in adolescent mice but increased it in adults. The increase in adult activity as a result of early life stress depended on both β-E and sex. β-E also influenced the effect of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze. MS promoted rewarding effects of alcohol in male β-E deficient mice of either age, but had no effect in other groups.DiscussionTaken together, these results suggest that the effects of MS develop over time and are β-E and sex dependent and may aid understanding of how individual differences influence the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
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11
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Abstract
Because women have been excluded from most clinical trials, assessment of sex differences in pharmacokinetics is available for a minority of currently prescribed drugs. In a 2020 analysis, substantial pharmacokinetic (PK) sex differences were established for 86 drugs: women given the same drug dose as men routinely generated higher blood concentrations and longer drug elimination times than men. 96% of drugs with higher PK values in women were associated with a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in women than men; in the small number of instances when PKs of men exceeded those of women, this sex difference positively predicted male-biased ADRs in only 29% of cases. The absence of sex-stratified PK information for many medications raises the concern that sex differences in pharmacokinetics may be widespread and of clinical significance, contributing to sex-specific patterns of ADRs. Administering equal drug doses to women and men neglects sex differences in pharmacokinetics and body weight, risks overmedication of women, and contributes to female-biased ADRs. Evidence-based dosing adjustments are recommended to counteract this sex bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving Zucker
- Departments of Psychology and Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Brian J Prendergast
- Department of Psychology Institute for Mind and Biology and Committee on Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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12
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Wilson LAB, Zajitschek SRK, Lagisz M, Mason J, Haselimashhadi H, Nakagawa S. Sex differences in allometry for phenotypic traits in mice indicate that females are not scaled males. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7502. [PMID: 36509767 PMCID: PMC9744842 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the lifetime risk and expression of disease are well-known. Preclinical research targeted at improving treatment, increasing health span, and reducing the financial burden of health care, has mostly been conducted on male animals and cells. The extent to which sex differences in phenotypic traits are explained by sex differences in body weight remains unclear. We quantify sex differences in the allometric relationship between trait value and body weight for 363 phenotypic traits in male and female mice, recorded in >2 million measurements from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium. We find sex differences in allometric parameters (slope, intercept, residual SD) are common (73% traits). Body weight differences do not explain all sex differences in trait values but scaling by weight may be useful for some traits. Our results show sex differences in phenotypic traits are trait-specific, promoting case-specific approaches to drug dosage scaled by body weight in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. B. Wilson
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Data Science Hub, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia ,grid.1001.00000 0001 2180 7477School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600 Australia
| | - Susanne R. K. Zajitschek
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Data Science Hub, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia ,grid.4425.70000 0004 0368 0654School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF UK
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Data Science Hub, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Jeremy Mason
- Melio Healthcare Ltd., City Tower, 40 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5DE UK ,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SD UK
| | - Hamed Haselimashhadi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SD UK
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Data Science Hub, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
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13
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Smarr B, Kriegsfeld LJ. Female mice exhibit less overall variance, with a higher proportion of structured variance, than males at multiple timescales of continuous body temperature and locomotive activity records. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:41. [PMID: 35870975 PMCID: PMC9308033 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00451-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractDespite recent work demonstrating that female rodents and humans do not show greater variance in behavior and physiology than males due to ovulatory cycles, many researchers still default to using males in their investigations. Although government funding agencies now require inclusion of female subjects where applicable, the erroneous belief that the study of males reduces overall data variance continues to result in male subject bias. Recently, we reported the first direct experimental refutation of this belief by examining continuous body temperature and locomotor activity in male and female mice. These findings revealed that males exceeded female variance within and across individuals over time, showing greater variance within a day than females do across an entire estrous cycle. However, the possibility remains that male variance within a day is impacted by ultradian rhythms, analogous to the influence of infradian estrous cycles on female variance, and both sexes show predictable, structured variance across the day. If structures underlying variance can be predicted, then the variance can be statistically accounted for, reducing experimental error and increasing precision of measurements. Here we assess these continuous body temperature and activity data for the contributions of structured and unstructured variance to overall variance within and across individuals at ultradian, circadian, and infradian timescales. In no instance do females exceed male variance, and in most instances male variance exceeds female variance. Additionally, more female variance is accounted for by temporal structure. In conclusion, even when estrous cycles are not controlled for, females show less variability than males, and this advantage can be further capitalized upon by inclusion of known temporal patterns to control for previously unknown but structured sources of variance.
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14
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Laborante R, Borovac JA, Galli M, Rodolico D, Ciliberti G, Restivo A, Cappannoli L, Arcudi A, Vergallo R, Zito A, Princi G, Leone AM, Aurigemma C, Romagnoli E, Montone RA, Burzotta F, Trani C, D’Amario D. Gender-differences in antithrombotic therapy across the spectrum of ischemic heart disease: Time to tackle the Yentl syndrome? Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1009475. [PMID: 36386309 PMCID: PMC9659635 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1009475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence and clinical presentation of ischemic heart disease (IHD), as well as thrombotic and bleeding risks, appear to differ between genders. Compared with men, women feature an increased thrombotic risk, probably related to an increased platelet reactivity, higher level of coagulation factors, and sex-associated unique cardiovascular risk factors, such as pregnancy-related (i.e., pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes), gynecological disorders (i.e., polycystic ovary syndrome, early menopause) and autoimmune or systemic inflammatory diseases. At the same time, women are also at increased risk of bleeding, due to inappropriate dosing of antithrombotic agents, smaller blood vessels, lower body weight and comorbidities, such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Pharmacological strategies focused on the personalization of antithrombotic treatment may, therefore, be particularly appealing in women in light of their higher bleeding and ischemic risks. Paradoxically, although women represent a large proportion of cardiovascular patients in our practice, adequate high-quality clinical trial data on women remain scarce and inadequate to guide decision-making processes. As a result, IHD in women tends to be understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated, a phenomenon known as a "Yentl syndrome." It is, therefore, compelling for the scientific community to embark on dedicated clinical trials to address underrepresentation of women and to acquire evidence-based knowledge in the personalization of antithrombotic therapy in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo Laborante
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Josip Andjelo Borovac
- Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Mattia Galli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Daniele Rodolico
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ciliberti
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Attilio Restivo
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Cappannoli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Arcudi
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Vergallo
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Zito
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Princi
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Maria Leone
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Aurigemma
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Romagnoli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Antonio Montone
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Burzotta
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Trani
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico D’Amario
- Department of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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15
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Abstract
Sex as a biological variable is the focus of much literature and has been emphasized by the National Institutes of Health, in part, to remedy a long history of male-dominated studies in preclinical and clinical research. We propose that time-of-day is also a crucial biological variable in biomedical research. In common with sex differences, time-of-day should be considered in analyses and reported to improve reproducibility of studies and to provide the appropriate context to the conclusions. Endogenous circadian rhythms are present in virtually all living organisms, including bacteria, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Virtually all physiological and behavioral processes display daily fluctuations in optimal performance that are driven by these endogenous circadian clocks; importantly, many of those circadian rhythms also show sex differences. In this review, we describe some of the documented sex differences in circadian rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Walton
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Jacob R Bumgarner
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
| | - Randy J Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA
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16
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Handa RJ, Sheng JA, Castellanos EA, Templeton HN, McGivern RF. Sex Differences in Acute Neuroendocrine Responses to Stressors in Rodents and Humans. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2022; 14:a039081. [PMID: 35667789 PMCID: PMC9438783 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a039081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in the neuroendocrine response to acute stress occur in both animals and humans. In rodents, stressors such as restraint and novelty induce a greater activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in females compared to males. The nature of this difference arises from steroid actions during development (organizational effects) and adulthood (activational effects). Androgens decrease HPA stress responsivity to acute stress, while estradiol increases it. Androgenic down-regulation of HPA responsiveness is mediated by the binding of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to the androgen receptor, as well as the binding of the DHT metabolite, 3β-diol, to the β form of the estrogen receptor (ERβ). Estradiol binding to the α form of the estrogen receptor (ERα) increases HPA responsivity. Studies of human sex differences are relatively few and generally employ a psychosocial paradigm to measure stress-related HPA activation. Men consistently show greater HPA reactivity than women when being evaluated for achievement. Some studies have found greater reactivity in women when being evaluated for social performance. The pattern is inconsistent with rodent studies but may involve the differential nature of the stressors employed. Psychosocial stress is nonphysical and invokes a significant degree of top-down processing that is not easily comparable to the types of stressors employed in rodents. Gender identity may also be a factor based on recent work showing that it influences the neural processing of positive and negative emotional stimuli independent of genetic sex. Comparing different types of stressors and how they interact with gender identity and genetic sex will provide a better understanding of sex steroid influences on stress-related HPA reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Handa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Julietta A Sheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Emily A Castellanos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Hayley N Templeton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Robert F McGivern
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92120, USA
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