Sexually dimorphic role of estrogen receptor α in preserving right ventricular endothelial integrity.

ABSTRACT: Right ventricular (RV) function and adaptation to afterload increase determine survival in pulmonary hypertension (PH). RV adaptation in PH is sexually dimorphic and more preserved in females, mediated by protective estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling in cardiomyocytes. However, the effects of ERα on RV endothelial cells (RVECs), a critical mediator of RV homeostasis and adaptation, are unknown. We hypothesized that ERα exerts sexually dimorphic pro-angiogenic effects on RVECs in vitro and promotes RV vascularization in vivo. Compared to cells isolated from wild-type animals, RVECs from male and female rats with an ERα loss-of-function mutation (ERα^Mut) showed reduced ability to form pseudo-vascular networks and migrate. RVECs from female ERα^Mut rats demonstrated incr

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12668007 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature