To explore how estrogen deficiency impacts the blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), and how it impacts the production of the key pro-inflammatory mediators such as Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). It is hypothesized that estrogen deficiency increases BP, SNA and the pathway activities of the key pro-inflammatory mediators. Those effects are impacted through the downregulation of the estrogen receptor.
In the United States, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the major health concerns and affects approximately 6.5 million people over 40. As the number of elderly women increases, CVD becomes an increasing problem. Estrogen is cardioprotective, and the menopause condition in the aging female population induces the loss of this protective effect. There has been a dilemma for medical treatment in CVD patients with comorbidities including endometriosis or breast cancer history. Overall, these patients lose the cardioprotective effect of estrogen and increase the risk of CVD development. However, there is still little understanding regarding the mechanism for how estrogen suppression in women accelerates CVD development. The proposed studies are, therefore, the essential first step to elucidating how estrogen alters mechanisms underlying CVD and provide the preclinical data to design studies for future alternative intervention strategies for CVD patients undergoing estrogen suppression therapies.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
20
Red blood cell flux
Percentage relative to the maximum flux level
Time frame: Recorded continuously for up to 4 hours during the study visit
Mean arterial pressure (mmHg)
Calculated from the systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: Recorded continuously for up to 4 hours during the study visit
baseline plasma TNF-α concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the first study visit up to 5 minutes
One week post-intervention plasma TNF-α concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the second study visit (1 week after the first visit)
baseline plasma IL-1β concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the first study visits up to 5 minutes
One week post-intervention plasma IL-1β concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the second study visit (1 week after the first visit)
baseline plasma IL-6 concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the first study visits up to 5 minutes
One week post-intervention plasma IL-6 concentration (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the second study visit (1 week after the first visit)
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baseline plasma estrogen (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the first study visits up to 5 minutes
One week post-intervention plasma estrogen (pg/ml)
Measured by ELISA kits
Time frame: Upon participants' arrival to the second study visit (1 week after the first visit)