Sex-Related Differences in Heart Failure Development in Patients After First Myocardial Infarction: The Role of...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biochemistry
• Genetics

Background:

• Galectin-3 (gal-3) is implicated in myocardial remodeling, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation.
• Upregulation of gal-3 is observed in failing myocardium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-related differences in risk factors, left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes, and galectin-3 (gal-3) expression in heart failure (HF) post-myocardial infarction (MI).
• To explore the role of LGALS-3 gene expression and plasma gal-3 levels in sex-specific HF development.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 137 men and 44 women post-first MI, with Doppler echocardiography at 2-4 days and 6 months.
• Analysis of relative LGALS-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using TaqMan technology.
• Quantification of plasma gal-3 concentration via ELISA.

Main Results:

• Women exhibited lower LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes but higher incidence of LV hypertrophy (LVH) and HF compared to men.
• A significant correlation was found between LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) grade and plasma gal-3 levels.
• Females showed higher relative LGALS-3 mRNA expression in PBMCs and significantly higher plasma gal-3 levels than males.

Conclusions:

• Gender-specific factors, including LVH, LVDD, LGALS-3 mRNA expression, and plasma gal-3 levels, contribute to the increased HF incidence in women.
• Differences in HF determinants between sexes may inform future therapeutic strategies, potentially involving gal-3 inhibition.