Sex hormones and vascular function
Influence of sex hormones on vascular function / Nutritional interventions.
The research line developed in our group focuses on studying the effect of endogenous sex hormones on the regulation of vascular tone at the endothelial, muscular and neuronal levels. It analyzes the release and function of vasoactive factors (nitric oxide, prostanoids, reactive oxygen species, etc.) released by the different cells that control the function of vascular wall. Since vasoactive factors also exert trophic effects, we also analyze alterations in different intra/intercellular signaling pathways (NO-cGMP-PKG, receptor tyrosine kinase activation, PKC, PKA, PI3K/Akt, MEK/ERK1/2) that can lead structural and functional alterations of the vascular wall.
Belonging to this line of research, and with clinical translation, the involvement of sex hormones in the correlation between proinflammatory biomarkers and altered cardiovascular function is analyzed in human plasma samples (from different pathophysiological situations).
A more recent line of research is the study of nutritional interventions. It analyzes the effects of diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids and microalgae extracts -such as Spirulina- on the vascular function.
Relevant bibliography:
- Isidoro-García L, Villalpando DM, Ferrer M. Vasomotor action of androgens in the mesenteric artery of hypertensive rats. Role of perivascular innervation. PLoS One 16(2): e0246254, 2021. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246254.
- Álvarez-Maestro M, Eguibar A, Chanca P, Klett-Mingo M, Gómez Rivas J, Buño-Soto A, de Bethencourt FR, Ferrer M. Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Patients with Prostate Cancer Increases Serum Levels of Thromboxane A2: Cardiovascular Implications. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 8:653126, 2021. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.653126.
- Majewski M, Klett-Mingo M, Verdasco-Martín CM, Otero C, Ferrer M. Spirulina extract improves age-induced vascular dysfunction. Pharmaceutical Biology 60: 627-637, 2022. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2047209.