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McClain AK, Monteleone PP, Zoldan J. Sex in cardiovascular disease: Why this biological variable should be considered in in vitro models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3510. [PMID: 38728407 PMCID: PMC11086622 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the world's leading cause of death, exhibits notable epidemiological, clinical, and pathophysiological differences between sexes. Many such differences can be linked back to cardiovascular sexual dimorphism, yet sex-specific in vitro models are still not the norm. A lack of sex reporting and apparent male bias raises the question of whether in vitro CVD models faithfully recapitulate the biology of intended treatment recipients. To ensure equitable treatment for the overlooked female patient population, sex as a biological variable (SABV) inclusion must become commonplace in CVD preclinical research. Here, we discuss the role of sex in CVD and underlying cardiovascular (patho)physiology. We review shortcomings in current SABV practices, describe the relevance of sex, and highlight emerging strategies for SABV inclusion in three major in vitro model types: primary cell, stem cell, and three-dimensional models. Last, we identify key barriers to inclusive design and suggest techniques for overcoming them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. McClain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78751, USA
| | - Peter P. Monteleone
- Ascension Texas Cardiovascular, Austin, TX 78705, USA
- Dell School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Janet Zoldan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78751, USA
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Bhaskara M, Anjorin O, Yoniles A, Liu J, Wang M. Importance of Per2 in cardiac mitochondrial protection during stress. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1290. [PMID: 38221535 PMCID: PMC10788343 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51799-w] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
During myocardial injury, inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress significantly increase to impair cardiac mitochondria. Emerging evidence has highlighted interplays between circadian protein-period 2 (Per2) and mitochondrial metabolism. However, besides circadian rhythm regulation, the direct role of Per2 in mitochondrial performance particularly following acute stress, remains unknown. In this study, we aim to determine the importance of Per2 protein's regulatory role in mitochondrial function following exposure to inflammatory cytokine TNFα and oxidative stressor H2O2 in human cardiomyocytes. Global warm ischemia (37 °C) significantly impaired complex I activity with concurrently reduced mitochondrial Per2 in adult mouse hearts. TNFα or H2O2 decreased Per2 protein levels and damaged mitochondrial respiratory function in adult mouse cardiomyocytes. Next, mitochondrial membrane potential ([Formula: see text] M) using JC-1 fluorescence probe and mitochondrial respiration capacity via Seahorse Cell Mito Stress Test were then detected in Per2 or control siRNA transfected AC16 Human Cardiomyocytes (HCM) that were subjected to 2 h-treatment of TNFα (100 ng/ml) or H2O2 (100 μM). After 4 h-treatment, cell death was also measured using Annexin V and propidium iodide apoptosis kit through flow cytometry. We found that knockdown of Per2 enhanced TNFα-induced cell death and TNFα- or H2O2-disrupted [Formula: see text]M, as well as TNFα- or H2O2-impaired mitochondrial respiration function. In conclusion, Per2 knockdown increases likelihood of cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction in human cardiomyocytes exposed to either TNFα or H2O2, supporting the protective role of Per2 in HCM during stress with a focus on mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olufisayo Anjorin
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, 950 W. Walnut Street, R2 E319, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Arris Yoniles
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jianyun Liu
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, 950 W. Walnut Street, R2 E319, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Meijing Wang
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, 950 W. Walnut Street, R2 E319, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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Lai Y, Loy F, Isola M, Noli R, Rinaldi A, Lobina C, Vargiu R, Cesare Marincola F, Isola R. Male and Female Mitochondria Respond Differently after Exercising in Acute Hypoxia. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3149. [PMID: 38137370 PMCID: PMC10740434 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123149] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of hypoxic devices among athletes who train in normobaric hypoxia has become increasingly popular; however, the acute effects on heart and brain metabolism are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the mitochondrial bioenergetics in trained male and female Wistar rats after acute hypoxia training. The experimental plan included exercising for 30 min on a treadmill in a Plexiglas cage connected to a hypoxic generator set at 12.5% O2 or in normoxia. After the exercise, the rats were sacrificed, and their mitochondria were isolated from their brains and hearts. The bioenergetics for each complex of the electron transport chain was tested using a Clark-type electrode. The results showed that following hypoxia training, females experienced impaired oxidative phosphorylation through complex II in heart subsarcolemmal mitochondria, while males had an altered ADP/O in heart interfibrillar mitochondria, without any change in oxidative capacity. No differences from controls were evident in the brain, but an increased electron transport system efficiency was observed with complex I and IV substrates in males. Therefore, the study's findings suggest that hypoxia training affects the heart mitochondria of females more than males. This raises a cautionary flag for female athletes who use hypoxic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylenia Lai
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Francesco Loy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Michela Isola
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Roberta Noli
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Andrea Rinaldi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Division of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Romina Vargiu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Flaminia Cesare Marincola
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Raffaella Isola
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
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White BA, Ivey JT, Velazquez-Cruz R, Oliverio R, Whitehead B, Pinti M, Hollander J, Ma L, Hu G, Weil ZM, Karelina K. Exercise intensity and sex alter neurometabolic, transcriptional, and functional recovery following traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2023; 368:114483. [PMID: 37479019 PMCID: PMC10529465 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114483] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Physical exercise represents a potentially inexpensive, accessible, and optimizable rehabilitation approach to traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery. However, little is known about the impact of post-injury exercise on the neurometabolic, transcriptional, and cognitive outcomes following a TBI. In the current study, we examined TBI outcomes in adolescent male and female mice following a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. Mice underwent a 10-day regimen of sedentary, low-, moderate-, or high-intensity treadmill exercise and were assessed for cognitive function, histopathology, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. Among male mice, low-moderate exercise improved cognitive recovery, and reduced cortical lesion volume and oxidative stress, whereas high-intensity exercise impaired both cognitive recovery and mitochondrial function. On the other hand, among female mice, exercise had an intermediate effect on cognitive recovery but significantly improved brain mitochondrial function. Moreover, single nuclei RNA sequencing of perilesional brain tissue revealed neuronal plasticity-related differential gene expression that was largely limited to the low-intensity exercise injured males. Taken together, these data build on previous reports of the neuroprotective capacity of exercise in a TBI model, and reveal that this rehabilitation strategy impacts neurometabolic, functional, and transcriptional outcome measures in an intensity- and sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brishti A White
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Julia T Ivey
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Ruth Velazquez-Cruz
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Robin Oliverio
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Bailey Whitehead
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Mark Pinti
- Department of Human Performance and Mitochondria, Metabolism, & Bioenergetics Working Group, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - John Hollander
- Department of Human Performance and Mitochondria, Metabolism, & Bioenergetics Working Group, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Gangquin Hu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Zachary M Weil
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kate Karelina
- Department of Neuroscience, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, BMRC, 1 Medical Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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Collins HE. Female cardiovascular biology and resilience in the setting of physiological and pathological stress. Redox Biol 2023; 63:102747. [PMID: 37216702 PMCID: PMC10209889 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102747] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
For years, females were thought of as smaller men with complex hormonal cycles; as a result, females have been largely excluded from preclinical and clinical research. However, in the last ten years, with the increased focus on sex as a biological variable, it has become clear that this is not the case, and in fact, male and female cardiovascular biology and cardiac stress responses differ substantially. Premenopausal women are protected from cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and resultant heart failure, having preserved cardiac function, reduced adverse remodeling, and increased survival. Many underlying biological processes that contribute to ventricular remodeling differ between the sexes, such as cellular metabolism; immune cell responses; cardiac fibrosis and extracellular matrix remodeling; cardiomyocyte dysfunction; and endothelial biology; however, it is unclear how these changes afford protection to the female heart. Although many of these changes are dependent on protection provided by female sex hormones, several of these changes occur independent of sex hormones, suggesting that the nature of these changes is more complex than initially thought. This may be why studies focused on the cardiovascular benefits of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women have provided mixed results. Some of the complexity likely stems from the fact that the cellular composition of the heart is sexually dimorphic and that in the setting of MI, different subpopulations of these cell types are apparent. Despite the documented sex-differences in cardiovascular (patho)physiology, the underlying mechanisms that contribute are largely unknown due to inconsistent findings amongst investigators and, in some cases, lack of rigor in reporting and consideration of sex-dependent variables. Therefore, this review aims to describe current understanding of the sex-dependent differences in the myocardium in response to physiological and pathological stressors, with a focus on the sex-dependent differences that contribute to post-infarction remodeling and resultant functional decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen E Collins
- Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Delia B. Baxter Research Building, University of Louisville, 580 S. Preston S, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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Tian Y, Xie Y, Guo Z, Feng P, You Y, Yu Q. 17β-oestradiol inhibits ferroptosis in the hippocampus by upregulating DHODH and further improves memory decline after ovariectomy. Redox Biol 2023; 62:102708. [PMID: 37116254 PMCID: PMC10163677 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovariectomy (OVX) conducted before the onset of natural menopause is considered to bringing forward and accelerate the process of ageing-associated neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms underlying memory decline and other cognitive dysfunctions following OVX are unclear. Given that iron accumulates during ageing and after OVX, we hypothesized that excess iron accumulation in the hippocampus would cause ferroptosis-induced increased neuronal degeneration and death associated with memory decline. In the current study, female rats that underwent OVX showed decreased dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) expression and reduced performance in the Morris water maze (MWM). We used primary cultured hippocampal cells to explore the ferroptosis resistance-inducing effect of 17β-oestradiol (E2). The data supported a vital role of DHODH in neuronal ferroptosis. Specifically, E2 alleviated ferroptosis induced by erastin and ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), which can be blocked by brequinar (BQR). Further in vitro studies showed that E2 reduced lipid peroxidation levels and improved the behavioural performance of OVX rats. Our research interprets OVX-related neurodegeneration with respect to ferroptosis, and both our in vivo and in vitro data show that E2 supplementation exerts beneficial antiferroptotic effects by upregulating DHODH. Our data demonstrate the utility of E2 supplementation after OVX and provide a potential target, DHODH, for which hormone therapy has not been available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yuan Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Zaixin Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Penghui Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yang You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Lakbar I, Einav S, Lalevée N, Martin-Loeches I, Pastene B, Leone M. Interactions between Gender and Sepsis—Implications for the Future. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030746. [PMID: 36985319 PMCID: PMC10058943 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex and gender dimorphisms are found in a large variety of diseases, including sepsis and septic shock which are more prevalent in men than in women. Animal models show that the host response to pathogens differs in females and males. This difference is partially explained by sex polarization of the intracellular pathways responding to pathogen–cell receptor interactions. Sex hormones seem to be responsible for this polarization, although other factors, such as chromosomal effects, have yet to be investigated. In brief, females are less susceptible to sepsis and seem to recover more effectively than males. Clinical observations produce more nuanced findings, but men consistently have a higher incidence of sepsis, and some reports also claim higher mortality rates. However, variables other than hormonal differences complicate the interaction between sex and sepsis, including comorbidities as well as social and cultural differences between men and women. Conflicting data have also been reported regarding sepsis-attributable mortality rates among pregnant women, compared with non-pregnant females. We believe that unraveling sex differences in the host response to sepsis and its treatment could be the first step in personalized, phenotype-based management of patients with sepsis and septic shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lakbar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Hospital Nord, 13015 Marseille, France
- CEReSS, Health Service Research and Quality of Life Centre, School of Medicine-La Timone Medical, Aix-Marseille University, 13015 Marseille, France
| | - Sharon Einav
- Intensive Care Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 23456, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 23456, Israel
| | - Nathalie Lalevée
- INSERM, INRAE, Centre for Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease (C2VN), Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Ignacio Martin-Loeches
- Intensive Care Unit, Trinity Centre for Health Science HRB-Wellcome Trust, St James’s Hospital, D08 NHY1 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bruno Pastene
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Hospital Nord, 13015 Marseille, France
- INSERM, INRAE, Centre for Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease (C2VN), Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Marc Leone
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Hospital Nord, 13015 Marseille, France
- INSERM, INRAE, Centre for Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease (C2VN), Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
- Correspondence:
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Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Sex Differences in X-ray-Induced Endothelial Damage: Effect of Taurine and N-Acetylcysteine. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 12:antiox12010077. [PMID: 36670939 PMCID: PMC9854489 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) can induce some associated pathological conditions due to numerous cell damages. The influence of sex is scarcely known, and even less known is whether the effect of antioxidants is sex-dependent. Given the increased use of IR, we investigated whether male human umbilical vein endothelial cells (MHUVECs) and female human umbilical vein endothelial cells (FHUVECs) respond differently to IR exposure and whether the antioxidants 10 mM taurine (TAU) and 5 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can prevent IR-induced damage in a sex-dependent way. In untreated cells, sex differences were observed only during autophagy, which was higher in FHUVECs. In non-irradiated cells, preincubation with TAU and NAC did not modify viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, migration, or autophagy, whereas only NAC increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in FHUVECs. X-ray irradiation increased LDH release and reduced viability and migration in a sex-independent manner. TAU and NAC did not affect viability while reduced LDH release in irradiated cells: they have the same protective effect in FHUVECs, while, TAU was more protective than NAC in male cells.. Moreover, TAU and NAC significantly promoted the closure of wounds in both sexes in irradiated cells, but NAC was more effective at doing this in FHUVECs. In irradiated cells, TAU did not change autophagy, while NAC attenuated the differences between the sexes. Finally, NAC significantly decreased MDA in MHUVECs and increased MDA in FHUVECs. In conclusion, FHUVECs appear to be more susceptible to IR damage, and the effects of the two antioxidants present some sex differences, suggesting the need to study the influence of sex in radiation mitigators.
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