Endothelial Mineralocorticoid Receptors Contribute to Vascular Inflammation in Atherosclerosis in a Sex-Specific Manner.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

MR (mineralocorticoid receptor) activation is associated with cardiovascular ischemia in humans. This study explores the role of the MR in atherosclerotic mice of both sexes and identifies a sex-specific role for endothelial cell (EC)-MR in vascular inflammation. Approach and Results: In the AAV-PCSK9 (adeno-associated virus-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) mouse atherosclerosis model, MR inhibition attenuated vascular inflammation in males but not females. Further studies comparing male and female littermates with intact MR or EC-MR deletion revealed that although EC-MR deletion did not affect plaque size in either sex, it reduced aortic arch inflammation specifically in male mice as measured by flow cytometry. Moreover, MR-intact females had larger plaques

SUBMITTER: Moss ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6656626 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature