Impact of testosterone on the vascular system of female organisms

• Grant number: 24/18066-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 13, 2025
• End date: March 04, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Cardiorenal Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Rita de Cassia Aleixo Tostes Passaglia
• Grantee: Rafael Sidônio Gibson Gomes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Transgender individuals - who have a gender identity different from the one assigned to them at birth - seek medical assistance to undergo gender transition, a multidisciplinary process that encompasses physical, biological and social changes. Hormone therapy is a primary strategy for obtaining secondary sexual characteristics aligned with an individual's gender identity. Testosterone, used in gender-affirming hormone therapy (THAG-T), promotes the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, but also affects the cardiovascular system, increasing blood pressure, causing dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction. The scarcity of robust clinical and preclinical studies is one of the main limiting factors for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular effects of THAG-T. In this study, we will perform bioinformatic analyzes of data from men to determine the changes induced by testosterone in cells of the cardiovascular system of individuals undergoing GHT by analyzing available databases. Our hypothesis is that testosterone will modify the expression of genes with an important role in controlling the cardiovascular system. If correct, it will provide information about potential molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of testosterone.