Lancaster University
The 2023 UG Research Conference
Ellie Langley

Ellie Langley

Lancaster University (Bailrigg, UK) | | Degree: Biology
Oestrogen in the Proteciton Against Cardiovascular Disease

Background: 

Text boxes describing the many functions of oestrogen. Picture of oestrogen hormone structure. Description of oestrogen receptors and their structures Text boxes describing the many functions of oestrogen. Picture of oestrogen hormone structure. Description of oestrogen receptors and their structures

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Oestrogen: 

Text box describing cardiovascular diseases as the biggest cause of death worldwide. Line graph showing the deaths by cardiovascular disease in the UK in 2020 by sex and age. Text box describing cardiovascular diseases as the biggest cause of death worldwide. Line graph showing the deaths by cardiovascular disease in the UK in 2020 by sex and age.

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Cardiovascular Disease:

Text box describing the relationship between the menopause, oestrogen and cardiovascular diseases. Image of a female body with the effects of oestrogen decline labelled. Text box describing the relationship between the menopause, oestrogen and cardiovascular diseases. Image of a female body with the effects of oestrogen decline labelled.

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Menopause, oestrogen and cardiovascular diseases:

Flow diagram listing the research project aims. Mind map of the themes and subjects involved in the study Flow diagram listing the research project aims. Mind map of the themes and subjects involved in the study

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The Study:

Text box describing the relationship and studies between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cardiovascular disease. Image showing HRT acronym. Text box describing the relationship and studies between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cardiovascular disease. Image showing HRT acronym.

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Results:

Figures from Xena Browser showing the gene expression levels of ESR1, ESR2 and NOS3. Box plot graphs of gene expression (in transcripts per million). Figures from Xena Browser showing the gene expression levels of ESR1, ESR2 and NOS3. Box plot graphs of gene expression (in transcripts per million).

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Proposed novel pathway detailing oestrogen signalling to induce vasodilation in blood vessels. Proposed novel pathway detailing oestrogen signalling to induce vasodilation in blood vessels.

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Flow diagrams detailing the results found from the scoping review regarding how oestrogen receptor polymorphisms and epigenetics have associations with cardiovascular pathologies Flow diagrams detailing the results found from the scoping review regarding how oestrogen receptor polymorphisms and epigenetics have associations with cardiovascular pathologies

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Text box detailing the three main results from this study. Text box detailing the three main results from this study.

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Text boxes describing the key results and what implications/applications these results have. Text boxes describing the key results and what implications/applications these results have.

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The process of methylation upon a DNA molecule.

An image of a blood vessel with red blood cells flowing through.

An image of small nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within DNA from different individuals.

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References: 

1. HESHMATI H. M., TALEB, M., TURPIN, G. 1983. Inhibin: its origin, nature and role. 

2. WIERMAN, M. E. 2007. Sex steroid effects at target tissues: mechanisms of action. Advances in Physiology Education, 31, 26-33.

3. AUBEAD, N. M. 2021. Role of Sex Hormones in Human Body. In: MARSH, C. (ed.) Reproductive Hormones.

4. NEDRESKY, D. & SINGH, G. 2021. Physiology, Luteinizing Hormone. StatPearls.

5. CABLE, J. K. & GRIDER, M. H. 2022. Physiology, Progesterone. StatPearls

6. Manson, J. E., Chlebowski, R. T., Stefanick, M. L., Aragaki, A. K., Rossouw, J. E., Prentice, R. L., Anderson, G., Howard, B. V., Thomson, C. A. Et al. (2013) Menopausal hormone therapy and health outcomes during the intervention and extended poststopping phases of the Women's Health Initiative randomized trials. JAMA, 310(13): 1353-1368

7. Hulley, S., Furberg, C., Barrett-Connor, E., Cauley, J., Grady, D., Haskell, W., Knopp, R., Lowery, M., Satterfield, S. Et al. (2002) Noncardiovascular Disease Outcomes During 6.8 Years of Hormone TherapyHeart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study Follow-up (HERS II). JAMA, 288(1): 58-64

Figures: 

Hester M. & Kararigas. (2022). Estrogen and Cardiovascular Health. Front. Cardiovasc. 9. 

Lara-Castillo. (2021). Estrogen Signalling in Bone. Bone Histogenesis and Regernation. 11(10). 4439. 

Fantastic review article to learn more about oestrogen's cardioprotective effects. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5655818/

Ellie Langley

Lancaster University (Bailrigg, UK) | | Degree: Biology
Oestrogen in the Proteciton Against Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

The cardioprotective nature of oestrogen is perceivable through increased cardiovascular disease incidence rates in women post-menopause. One of oestrogen’s protective mechanisms is inducing vasodilation through non-genomic, rapid signalling to increase nitric oxide (NO) production. Genomic upregulation of this pathway is facilitated by oestrogen-responsive genes. This study proposes a novel pathway of oestrogen-induced vasodilation and the influence of ageing and oestrogen status. A scoping review examined literature on oestrogen within the vascular system to find potential interactants and the impacts of ageing and oestrogen status upon these. The results indicate 8 new proteins interact with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), producing NO and stimulating vasodilation. Ageing and oestrogen deficiency downregulate, seen in women post-menopause, cause a decrease in overall vasodilation which decreases vascular health. Distinct ER gene polymorphisms were observed associated with cardiovascular pathological phenotypes. Increased methylation of ERα and β CpG sites were detected in atherosclerotic tissues. These results and further advancements have potential impacts through identification of pharmacological targets, prevention of cardiovascular disease using oestrogen’s cardioprotective pathways and mechanisms, epigenetic modification, and personalised medicine to reduce cardiovascular disease incidence.

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Ellie Langley
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