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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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Whitehead AK, Li Z, LaPenna KB, Abbes N, Sharp TE, Lefer DJ, Lazartigues E, Yue X. Cardiovascular dysfunction induced by combined exposure to nicotine inhalation and high-fat diet. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H278-H290. [PMID: 38038717 PMCID: PMC11219050 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00474.2023] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Smoking and high-fat diet (HFD) consumption are two modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) diseases, and individuals who are overweight or obese due to unhealthy diet are more likely to use tobacco products. In this study, we aim to investigate the combined effects of nicotine (the addictive component of all tobacco products) and HFD on CV health, which are poorly understood. C57BL/6N male mice were placed on either HFD (60 kcal% fat) or regular diet (22 kcal% fat) and exposed to air or nicotine vapor for 10-12 wk. CV function was monitored by echocardiography and radiotelemetry, with left ventricular (LV) catheterization and aortic ring vasoreactivity assays performed at end point. Mice on HFD exhibited increased heart rate and impaired parasympathetic tone, whereas nicotine exposure increased sympathetic vascular tone as evidenced by increased blood pressure (BP) response to ganglionic blockade. Although neither nicotine nor HFD alone or in combination significantly altered BP, nicotine exposure disrupted circadian BP regulation with reduced BP dipping. LV catheterization revealed that combined exposure to nicotine and HFD led to LV diastolic dysfunction with increased LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Moreover, combined exposure resulted in increased inhibitory phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and greater impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Finally, a small cohort of C57BL/6N females with combined exposure exhibited similar increases in LVEDP, indicating that both sexes are susceptible to the combined effect of nicotine and HFD. In summary, combined exposure to nicotine and HFD leads to greater CV harm, including both additive and new-onset CV dysfunction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Nicotine product usage and high-fat diet consumption are two modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Here, we demonstrate that in mice, combined exposure to inhaled nicotine and high-fat diet results in unique cardiovascular consequences compared with either treatment alone, including left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, dysregulation of blood pressure, autonomic dysfunction, and greater impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. These findings indicate that individuals who consume both nicotine products and high-fat diet have distinctive cardiovascular risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Whitehead
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Zhen Li
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Kyle B LaPenna
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Nour Abbes
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Thomas E Sharp
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Medicine Section of Cardiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - David J Lefer
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Eric Lazartigues
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care Systems, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Xinping Yue
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
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Alam F, Silveyra P. Sex Differences in E-Cigarette Use and Related Health Effects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7079. [PMID: 37998310 PMCID: PMC10671806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20227079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) comprise a variety of products designed to deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. To date, multiple epidemiological and experimental studies have reported a variety of health issues associated with their use, including respiratory toxicity, exacerbation of respiratory conditions, and behavioral and physiological effects. While some of these effects appear to be sex- and/or gender-related, only a portion of the research has been conducted considering these variables. In this review, we sought to summarize the available literature on sex-specific effects and sex and gender differences, including predictors and risk factors, effects on organ systems, and behavioral effects. METHODS We searched and selected articles from 2018-2023 that included sex as a variable or reported sex differences on e-cigarette-associated effects. RESULTS We found 115 relevant studies published since 2018 that reported sex differences in a variety of outcomes. The main differences reported were related to reasons for initiation, including smoking history, types of devices and flavoring, polysubstance use, physiological responses to nicotine and toxicants in e-liquids, exacerbation of lung disease, and behavioral factors such as anxiety, depression, sexuality, and bullying. CONCLUSIONS The available literature supports the notion that both sex and gender influence the susceptibility to the negative effects of e-cigarette use. Future research needs to consider sex and gender variables when addressing e-cigarette toxicity and other health-related consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Alam
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University School of Public Health Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA;
| | - Patricia Silveyra
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University School of Public Health Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 47405, USA
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