Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
Special Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Federal University of Jatai, Jatai, Brazil.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jul 1;327(1):E1-E12. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00365.2023. Epub 2024 May 1.
High levels of testosterone (Testo) are associated with cardiovascular risk by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. NADPH oxidases (NOX) are the major source of ROS in the vasculature of cardiovascular diseases. NOX4 is a unique isotype, which produces hydrogen peroxide (HO), and its participation in cardiovascular biology is controversial. So far, it is unclear whether NOX4 protects from Testo-induced endothelial injury. Thus, we hypothesized that supraphysiological levels of Testo induce endothelial NOX4 expression to attenuate endothelial injury. Human mesenteric vascular endothelial cells (HMECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with Testo (10 M) with or without a NOX4 inhibitor [GLX351322 (10 M)] or NOX4 siRNA. In vivo, 10-wk-old C57Bl/6J male mice were treated with Testo (10 mg/kg) for 30 days to study endothelial function. Testo increased mRNA and protein levels of NOX4 in HMECs and HUVECs. Testo increased superoxide anion (O) and HO production, which were abolished by NOX1 and NOX4 inhibition, respectively. Testo also attenuated bradykinin-induced NO production, which was further impaired by NOX4 inhibition. In vivo, Testo decreased HO production in aortic segments and triggered endothelial dysfunction [decreased relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh)], which was further impaired by GLX351322 and by a superoxide dismutase and catalase mimetic (EUK134). Finally, Testo led to a dysregulated endothelial cell migration, which was exacerbated by GLX351322. These data indicate that supraphysiological levels of Testo increase the endothelial expression and activity of NOX4 to counterbalance the deleterious effects caused by Testo in endothelial function. By inducing ROS formation, high levels of testosterone play a major role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. NOXs are the major sources of ROS in the vasculature of cardiovascular diseases. Herein, we describe a novel compensatory mechanism by showing that NOX4 is a protective oxidant enzyme and counterbalances the deleterious effects of testosterone in endothelial cells by modulating hydrogen peroxide formation.
高水平的睾酮(Testo)通过增加活性氧物种(ROS)的形成与心血管风险相关。NADPH 氧化酶(NOX)是心血管疾病血管中 ROS 的主要来源。NOX4 是一种独特的同工型,它产生过氧化氢(HO),其在心血管生物学中的参与存在争议。到目前为止,尚不清楚 NOX4 是否能保护内皮免受 Testo 诱导的损伤。因此,我们假设超生理水平的 Testo 诱导内皮细胞 NOX4 表达以减轻内皮损伤。用人肠系膜血管内皮细胞(HMEC)和人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)用或不用 NOX4 抑制剂[GLX351322(10M)]或 NOX4 siRNA 处理 Testo(10μM)。在体内,用 Testo(10mg/kg)处理 10 周龄 C57Bl/6J 雄性小鼠 30 天,以研究内皮功能。Testo 增加了 HMEC 和 HUVEC 中 NOX4 的 mRNA 和蛋白水平。Testo 增加了超氧阴离子(O2-)和 HO 的产生,分别被 NOX1 和 NOX4 抑制所消除。Testo 还减弱了缓激肽诱导的 NO 产生,而这种作用进一步被 NOX4 抑制所损害。在体内,Testo 减少了主动脉段中 HO 的产生,并引发内皮功能障碍[乙酰胆碱(ACh)诱导的松弛减少],这进一步被 GLX351322 和超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶模拟物(EUK134)所损害。最后,Testo 导致内皮细胞迁移失调,这被 GLX351322 加剧。这些数据表明,超生理水平的 Testo 增加内皮细胞中 NOX4 的表达和活性,以抵消 Testo 对内皮功能的有害影响。通过诱导 ROS 的形成,高水平的睾酮在心血管疾病的发病机制中起主要作用。NOX 是心血管疾病血管中 ROS 的主要来源。在此,我们描述了一种新的代偿机制,表明 NOX4 是一种保护性氧化酶,通过调节过氧化氢的形成来平衡睾酮对内皮细胞的有害影响。
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