Assistant Professor University of California San Diego, United States
Introduction: : Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both males and females, yet our mechanistic knowledge of the sex-specific molecular and inflammatory mechanisms that guide cardiovascular disease progression, particularly in females, remain poorly characterized. My laboratory uses precision biomaterials as in vitro and in vivo tools to dissect sex chromosome linked mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in cardiovascular diseases and associated inflammatory processes.
Materials and
Methods: : In my talk, I will discuss how we have used hydrogel biomaterials as engineered valve matrix mimics to explore sex dimorphisms in myofibroblast phenotypes in vitro and describe sex-specific molecular mechanisms that may drive dimorphisms in aortic valve stenosis. I will also discuss emerging work evaluating sex hormone and sex chromosome effects on the foreign body response to implanted biomaterials.
Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Through the use of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we have revealed sex chromosome and sex hormone linked effects on how myofibroblasts respond to the microenvironment and the foreign body response. Our work seeks to leverage biomaterial technologies to understand sex differences in health and disease, with the long-term goal of achieving sex and gender equity in cardiovascular disease treatments and outcomes.
