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Differences in Androgen Receptor Expression in Human Heart Tissue in Various Types of Cardiomyopathy and in Aortic

Katja Eildermann1, Sabrina Goldmann1, Ulrich Krause1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Georg-August-University Goettingen, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
|November 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Androgen receptor (AR) protein and mRNA are regulated differently in various heart diseases, particularly in cardiac hypertrophy. This suggests a potential role for AR in the pathology of heart conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Cardiology

Background:

  • Sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone influence heart disease outcomes.
  • Estrogen receptor roles in cardiac disease are known, but androgen receptor (AR) research is limited.
  • This study investigates AR expression in human heart tissue across various cardiac conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine androgen receptor (AR) protein and mRNA expression in human myocardium.
  • To compare AR expression in non-failing hearts versus hearts with aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
  • To explore potential sex-specific differences in AR expression.

Main Methods:

  • Western blotting was used to quantify full-length AR and AR45 protein levels in myocardial samples.
  • Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assessed full-length AR and AR45 mRNA expression.
  • Immunohistochemistry localized AR protein in myocardial tissue from hypertrophic and aortic stenosis patients.

Main Results:

  • Full-length AR protein was elevated in aortic stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared to other conditions.
  • AR45 protein was more abundant in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • While AR protein levels varied by disease, AR mRNA levels showed different patterns, and immunohistochemistry revealed stronger nuclear AR in males.

Conclusions:

  • Androgen receptor (AR) expression is regulated in a disease-specific manner in the human heart, especially in cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Findings suggest a potential role for AR in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise function of AR in cardiovascular disease.

Keywords:
androgen receptoraortic valve stenosiscardiomyopathyhuman heart tissue

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