Expression of an inflammatory transcriptomic pattern distinguishes male from female adipose tissue endothelial cells.
An international scientific team from the University of York has determined that the transcriptome of adipose tissue endothelial cells varies dramatically between male and female mice exposed to an obesogenic diet. While the active genes in females were related to proliferation, oxidative phosphorylation and chromatin remodeling, in males the activation of those related to inflammation and cell senescence predominated. The same differences could be found in aged cells or in culture. In the latter case, the inflammatory potential of the cells derived from the males was even higher, with increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, both under basal conditions and in response to inflammatory stimuli. The findings indicate that female endothelial cells retain their angiogenic capacity, expanding the vasculature and ensuring supply to growing adipose tissue. This process seems to be completely autonomous, since the scientists did not find differences in the expression levels of vascular growth factors.
Tara Haas, a York University researcher who led the study, says the findings are consistent with previous studies in which cultured female-derived endothelial cells showed greater resistance than male-derived endothelial cells to multiple types of cellular stress. , including nutrient starvation, hyperoxia, and shear forces. Haas concludes by noting that a high-fat diet and aging have a more unfavorable effect on male endothelial cells than on female ones. L.D.B. /M.T.T. (SyM)