Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
07:21
Subcutaneous Angiotensin II Infusion using Osmotic Pumps Induces Aortic Aneurysms in Mice
Published on: September 28, 2015
37.8K
Androgen aggravates aortic aneurysms via suppressing PD-1 in mice
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 30, 2023
Summary
Androgens contribute to aortic aneurysms in males by suppressing PD-1 expression in T cells. Restoring PD-1 with anti-PD-1 therapy may impact aneurysm development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Aortic aneurysms disproportionately affect men, with androgens implicated but molecular mechanisms unclear.
- Understanding androgen's role in cardiovascular disease sexual dimorphism is critical for targeted therapies.
Approach:
- Investigated the role of androgens and androgen receptors (AR) in aldosterone-salt-induced aortic aneurysms in mice.
- Identified T cells expressing programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) as a key mediator.
- Utilized anti-PD-1 antibody treatment in orchiectomized mice to assess its impact.
Key Points:
- Male mice, but not female, developed aortic aneurysms under aldosterone-salt conditions.
- Androgen and AR signaling were essential for this sex-specific response.
- Androgen receptor (AR) directly suppresses PD-1 expression in T cells within the spleen.
Conclusions:
- Androgen promotes aortic aneurysms by suppressing T cell PD-1 expression, revealing a novel molecular pathway.
- This finding suggests potential implications for cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint therapy and at risk for aortic aneurysms.
