Gender and age influence on the development of atherosclerosis: evaluation of serum concentrations of pro and anti-inflammatory mediators and metalloproteinases

• Grant number: 13/07225-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Heloisa Souza Lima Blotta
• Grantee: Amanda Avesani Cavotto Furlan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The gender and age have great influence on the atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diaseases physiopatology. Women have their first coronary disease manifestation ten years after men, in average. Furthermore, the incidence of coronary atherosclerosis (or coronary artery disease, CAD) increases greatly in women after menopause, possibly due to hormonal change: despite this, women accounted for only 24% of participants in all studies related to the myocardium. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, responsible for the biggest indication of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease is initiated by enzymatic or oxidative modification of LDL molecule that enters the arterial intima, triggering the activation of leukocytes, increased release of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP) and metalloproteinases. The aim of this study is to determine the serum concentration of IL-6, TNF-±, IL-10, TGF-², CRP, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in women before and after menopause, paired with men of similar age, all patients with established coronary artery chronic disease. The evaluation of the CRP concentration will be made by the technique of nephelometry in BNII analyzer, while all other parameters are quantified by ELISA tests. The results of the study will enable a greater understanding of the influence of sex hormones, the genre and age in the inflammatory response and progression of this disease. Thus, more specific treatment may be established according to the patient's profile.