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Lazaro CM, Freitas IN, Nunes VS, Guizoni DM, Victorio JA, Oliveira HCF, Davel AP. Sex-Specific Effects of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) on the Perivascular Adipose Tissue. FUNCTION 2024; 5:zqae024. [PMID: 38984977 PMCID: PMC11237897 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqae024] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) increases the atherosclerosis risk by lowering HDL-cholesterol levels. It also exhibits tissue-specific effects independent of HDL. However, sexual dimorphism of CETP effects remains largely unexplored. Here, we hypothesized that CETP impacts the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) phenotype and function in a sex-specific manner. PVAT function, gene and protein expression, and morphology were examined in male and female transgenic mice expressing human or simian CETP and their non-transgenic counterparts (NTg). PVAT exerted its anticontractile effect in aortas from NTg males, NTg females, and CETP females, but not in CETP males. CETP male PVAT had reduced NO levels, decreased eNOS and phospho-eNOS levels, oxidative stress, increased NOX1 and 2, and decreased SOD2 and 3 expressions. In contrast, CETP-expressing female PVAT displayed increased NO and phospho-eNOS levels with unchanged NOX expression. NOX inhibition and the antioxidant tempol restored PVAT anticontractile function in CETP males. Ex vivo estrogen treatment also restored PVAT function in CETP males. Moreover, CETP males, but not female PVAT, show increased inflammatory markers. PVAT lipid content increased in CETP males but decreased in CETP females, while PVAT cholesterol content increased in CETP females. CETP male PVAT exhibited elevated leptin and reduced Prdm16 (brown adipocyte marker) expression. These findings highlight CETP sex-specific impact on PVAT. In males, CETP impaired PVAT anticontractile function, accompanied by oxidative stress, inflammation, and whitening. Conversely, in females, CETP expression increased NO levels, induced an anti-inflammatory phenotype, and preserved the anticontractile function. This study reveals sex-specific vascular dysfunction mediated by CETP.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Lazaro
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - I N Freitas
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - V S Nunes
- Laboratório de Lípides (LIM10), Hospital das Clínicas (HCFMUSP) da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 01246-903, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - D M Guizoni
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-864, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - J A Victorio
- Laboratory of Female Vascular Biology, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), CEP 88037-000, Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil
| | - H C F Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-864, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - A P Davel
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13083-864, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Lindsey ML, Usselman CW, Ripplinger CM, Carter JR, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Sex as a biological variable for cardiovascular physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H459-H469. [PMID: 38099847 PMCID: PMC11219053 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00727.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
There have been ongoing efforts by federal agencies and scientific communities since the early 1990s to incorporate sex and/or gender in all aspects of cardiovascular research. Scientific journals provide a critical function as change agents to influence transformation by encouraging submissions for topic areas, and by setting standards and expectations for articles submitted to the journal. As part of ongoing efforts to advance sex and gender in cardiovascular physiology research, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology recently launched a call for papers on Considering Sex as a Biological Variable. This call was an overwhelming success, resulting in 78 articles published in this collection. This review summarizes the major themes of the collection, including Sex as a Biological Variable Within: Endothelial Cell and Vascular Physiology, Cardiovascular Immunity and Inflammation, Metabolism and Mitochondrial Energy, Extracellular Matrix Turnover and Fibrosis, Neurohormonal Signaling, and Cardiovascular Clinical and Epidemiology Assessments. Several articles also focused on establishing rigor and reproducibility of key physiological measurements involved in cardiovascular health and disease, as well as recommendations and considerations for study design. Combined, these articles summarize our current understanding of sex and gender influences on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and provide insight into future directions needed to further expand our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Research Service, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States
| | - Jason R Carter
- Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States
| | - Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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Rentz T, Dorighello GG, dos Santos RR, Barreto LM, Freitas IN, Lazaro CM, Razolli DS, Cazita PM, Oliveira HCF. CETP Expression in Bone-Marrow-Derived Cells Reduces the Inflammatory Features of Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Mice. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1556. [PMID: 37892238 PMCID: PMC10605246 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101556] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
CETP activity reduces plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations, a correlate of an increased risk of atherosclerotic events. However, our recent findings suggest that CETP expression in macrophages promotes an intracellular antioxidant state, reduces free cholesterol accumulation and phagocytosis, and attenuates pro-inflammatory gene expression. To determine whether CETP expression in macrophages affects atherosclerosis development, we transplanted bone marrow from transgenic mice expressing simian CETP or non-expressing littermates into hypercholesterolemic LDL-receptor-deficient mice. The CETP expression did not change the lipid-stained lesion areas but decreased the macrophage content (CD68), neutrophil accumulation (LY6G), and TNF-α aorta content of young male transplanted mice and decreased LY6G, TNF-α, iNOS, and nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in aged female transplanted mice. These findings suggest that CETP expression in bone-marrow-derived cells reduces the inflammatory features of atherosclerosis. These novel mechanistic observations may help to explain the failure of CETP inhibitors in reducing atherosclerotic events in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Rentz
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
| | - Gabriel G. Dorighello
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
| | - Renata R. dos Santos
- Division of Radiotherapy, Medical School Hospital, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, SP, Brazil;
| | - Lohanna M. Barreto
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
| | - Israelle N. Freitas
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
| | - Carolina M. Lazaro
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
| | - Daniela S. Razolli
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-864, SP, Brazil;
| | - Patricia M. Cazita
- Laboratório de Lípides (LIM10), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, SP, Brazil;
| | - Helena C. F. Oliveira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil; (T.R.); (G.G.D.); (L.M.B.); (I.N.F.); (C.M.L.)
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-864, SP, Brazil;
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