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Franconi F, Rosano G, Basili S, Montella A, Campesi I. Human cells involved in atherosclerosis have a sex. Int J Cardiol 2016; 228:983-1001. [PMID: 27915217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.11.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The influence of sex has been largely described in cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis is a complex process that involves many cell types such as vessel cells, immune cells and endothelial progenitor cells; however, many, if not all, studies do not report the sex of the cells. This review focuses on sex differences in human cells involved in the atherosclerotic process, emphasizing the role of sex hormones. Furthermore, we report sex differences and issues related to the processes that determine the fate of the cells such as apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms. The analysis of the data reveals that there are still many gaps in our knowledge regarding sex influences in atherosclerosis, largely for the cell types that have not been well studied, stressing the urgent need for a clear definition of experimental conditions and the inclusion of both sexes in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Franconi
- Assessorato alle Politiche per la Persona of Basilicata Region, Potenza, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Rosano
- Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Basili
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties - Research Center on Gender and Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Medicine (CEQUAM), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Montella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Ilaria Campesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Osilo, Italy.
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Campesi I, Capobianco G, Dessole S, Occhioni S, Montella A, Franconi F. Estrogenic Compounds Have Divergent Effects on Human Endothelial Progenitor Cell Migration according to Sex of the Donor. J Vasc Res 2016; 52:273-8. [DOI: 10.1159/000443403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Cao C, Hu J, Dong Y, Zhan R, Li P, Su H, Peng Q, Wu T, Lei L, Huang X, Wu Q, Cheng X. Gender differences in the risk factors for endothelial dysfunction in Chinese hypertensive patients: homocysteine is an independent risk factor in females. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118686. [PMID: 25692574 PMCID: PMC4334966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the gender-related differences in risk factors for endothelial dysfunction are controversial. We investigated the gender differences in the risk factor profiles for endothelial dysfunction in Chinese hypertensive patients. Methods Vascular endothelial functions in 213 hypertensive patients were measured by digital reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT). Peripheral blood samples were collected, and the self-reported smoking and alcohol consumption status, age, body mass index, heart rate, blood pressure and drug administrations were recorded. Results RH-PAT indexes were attenuated in both male and female hypertensive patients [1.60 (1.38-2.02) vs. 1.63 (1.44-1.98)]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified plasma creatinine (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), homocysteine (p = 0.002) and smoking (p < 0.001) as the independent factors correlated with gender (male). Multivariate linear regression analysis further identified homocysteine as the factor that is significantly and independently correlated with the decrease in the RH-PAT indexes in female patients (odds ratio: -0.166, 95% confidence interval: -0.292 to -0.040, p = 0.01). However, none of these four factors were correlated with the RH-PAT indexes in male patients. Conclusions There are gender-related differences in the risk factors for endothelial dysfunction in Chinese hypertensive patients. Homocysteine is an independent factor for endothelial dysfunction in female hypertensive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Cao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jianxin Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yifei Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Jiangxi Province, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Rui Zhan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Hai Su
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Qiang Peng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Liang Lei
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Qinghua Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xiaoshu Cheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
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Bal E, Ilgin S, Atli O, Ergun B, Sirmagul B. The effects of gender difference on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. Hum Exp Toxicol 2014; 32:766-74. [PMID: 23821593 DOI: 10.1177/0960327113477874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to compare the effect of gender difference on hemodynamic consequences in the development of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension in rat. The effect of antioxidant enzyme systems on the development of pulmonary hypertension mediated by the phytotoxin MCT and the effect of gender on these antioxidant systems were also investigated. For this purpose, the right ventricular pressures (RVPs) and right ventricular/heart weight (HW) ratios were compared between groups and the glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined in lung and liver tissue samples of rats. RVP and right ventricular/HW ratios significantly increased in the MCT group compared to the control group. In the MCT group, RVP was significantly higher in males than females. MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension resulted in decreased GSH level, decreased GST and SOD activities and increased CAT activity in lung and liver tissues of both male and female rats. In addition, the lung and liver GSH level and GST and SOD levels were higher in female control rats compared to male control rats. The results of the present study, that antioxidant enzyme activities were different between the groups, highlight the possible role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. Moreover, the lower antioxidant defense capacity of male rats than female rats may be considered as a cause of more aggressive course of MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in males compared to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
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Nakhjavani M, Morteza A, Jenab Y, Ghaneei A, Esteghamati A, Karimi M, Farokhian A. Gender difference in albuminuria and ischemic heart disease in type 2 diabetes. Clin Med Res 2012; 10:51-6. [PMID: 22031479 PMCID: PMC3355738 DOI: 10.3121/cmr.2011.1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The value of urinary albumin excretion in the prediction of myocardial ischemia in men and women with type 2 diabetes is not well understood. We questioned whether gender influences the albuminuria-ischemic heart disease relationship in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS We designed a matched case-control study of 926 patients with albuminuria (cases) and 926 age and body mass index matched patients without albuminuria (controls). Ischemic heart disease was defined as the presence of (1) history of angina pectoris or angina equivalent symptoms and critical care unit admission, (2) myocardial infarction and/or electrocardiographic evidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction, (3) coronary revascularization and/or stenting, (4) positive myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography scan, (5) ischemic ST-segment or T-wave changes, and (6) positive stress testing. RESULTS Patients with albuminuria had a lower glomerular filtration rate and a longer diabetes duration than patients without albuminuria. In the group of cases, there were a greater number of men with ischemic heart disease (120 of 370; 32.4%) compared to women (97 of 559; 17.4%) (P<0.001). The odds ratio of having ischemic heart disease according to the presence or absence of albuminuria was 1.25 [95% CI: 1.01-1.56] (P<0.05) in all studied populations, 0.79 [95% CI: 0.51-1.21] (P=0.14) in women, and 2.84 [95% CI: 1.68-4.79] (P<0.001) in men. We showed that diabetes duration, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and hemoglobin A(1c) influence albuminuria in women, while diabetes duration, fasting blood sugar, and diastolic blood pressure influence albuminuria in men. CONCLUSIONS Men with albuminuria are at increased risk of ischemic heart disease compared to women. This may be related to the role of high-density lipoprotein on the albuminuria-gender relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manouchehr Nakhjavani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center-EMRC, Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran.
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Lorbeer R, Empen K, Dörr M, Arndt M, Schipf S, Nauck M, Wallaschofski H, Felix SB, Völzke H. Association between glycosylated haemoglobin A1c and endothelial function in an adult non-diabetic population. Atherosclerosis 2011; 217:358-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Revised: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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