Hormone modulation therapy is a growing area of research in cardiovascular science related to a number of factors, such as menopause and andropause, cancers in hormone-producing organs, as well as gender-affirming hormone therapy. So how do scientists and clinicians measure, monitor, and balance applications of hormone therapy? In our latest podcast, Associate Dr. Keith Brunt interviews authors Dr. Chantal Rytz (University of Calgary) and Dr. Sofia Ahmed (University of Alberta), along with expert Dr. Nina Stachenfeld (John B. Pierce Laboratory/Yale School of Medicine) about the recent article by Rytz et al. The authors review the use of estrogen in adult transgender, non-binary and gender diverse individuals who are medically managed with hormone modulation therapy for gender affirmation. Their findings indicate that the rate at which serum estrogen concentrations change may be important in order to optimize cardiovascular health and manage risk factors for obesity, hyperlipidemia, and elevated blood pressure. How should scientists account for and explore the hormone state of individuals within a cardiovascular context to improve the foundation of evidence for hormone modulation therapies for clinicians? Listen and learn more.

Chantal L. Rytz, Keila Turino Miranda, Paul E. Ronksley, Nathalie Saad, Satish R. Raj, Ranjani Somayaji, Sandra M. Dumanski, Heather Ganshorn, Dina N. Greene, David Collister, Amelia M. Newbert, Lindsay Peace, Sofia B. Ahmed Association between Serum Estradiol and Cardiovascular Health among Transgender Adults Using Gender-Affirming Estrogen Therapy Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published July 15, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00151.2024

While decreased IL-33 signaling has been associated with preeclampsia, the mechanisms linking this signaling pathway to disease pathophysiology are not well understood. In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Amanda LeBlanc (University of Louisville) interviews author Dr. Denise Cornelius (University of Mississippi Medical Center) and expert Dr. Stella Goulopoulou (Loma Linda University) about the new research study by Wang et al. Using the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) rat model, the authors found evidence that mechanistically links reduced IL-33 with the inflammatory response and vascular dysfunction present in preeclampsia. Is the IL-33 signaling pathway a possible clinical therapeutic target for the treatment of preeclampsia? Listen now to learn more.

Xi Wang, Corbin Shields, Geilda Tardo, Greg Peacock, Emily Hester, Marissa Anderson, Jan M. Williams, Denise C. Cornelius IL-33 supplementation improves uterine artery resistance and maternal hypertension in response to placental ischemia Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published April 3, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00045.2024

In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Jonathan Kirk (Loyola University Chicago) interviews author Dr. Ed Lesnefsky (Richmond Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University) and expert Dr. Chi Fung Lee (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) about the new Methods and Resources article by Chen et al. published in our Call for Papers on Impact of Aging on the Cardiovascular System. Lesnefsky and coauthors advanced a technique of isolating mitochondria with an emphasis on integrity of the mitochondrial organelles, their function, purity and characterization in order to develop benchmarks in the field for quality control to support collaboration across laboratories. In their research, the authors focus on mitochondrial-driven age-enhanced disease and on mitochondrial defects due to aging, which potentially increase the susceptibility of elderly patients’ hearts to cardiovascular disease. Well-known techniques exist for isolating specific mitochondria populations in mouse hearts. However, Lesnefsky and collaborators found that this resulted in not enough sample to properly interrogate. Therefore Lesnefsky and coauthors investigated whether they could isolate one combined mixed population of mitochondria with a “wild type” physiological model of aging, and whether or not that would that reflect the phenotype. Listen as we discuss the importance of studying mitochondria in an aging model as well as the strategy Lesnefsky and colleagues used to develop their protocol for isolating a mixed mitochondria population. Don’t miss the last few minutes of this conversation for pro tips about the value of networking and career-long mentors. Listen now.

Qun Chen, Jeremy Thompson, Ying Hu, and Edward J. Lesnefsky Aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: two distinct populations of mitochondria versus a combined population Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 12, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00363.2023