Aim: 

Endothelial genetic expression pattern depends on the type and location of blood vessel they belong to. Men and women are differently affected by cardiovascular diseases and sex hormones could explain this observation. Our aim was to analyze the effect of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) on gene expression profile and the effect of co-exposure to estradiol in human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC).

Methods: 

HUAEC were exposed to 1nM estradiol, oxLDL (100 mg/ml), or both together for 24 hours. Data obtained from Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarray were analyzed with Gepas, Bioconductor, and FatiScan software. Biological interpretations were obtained with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and Pathway Studio. Real time PCR was performed using TaqMan assays.

Results: 

Treatment with oxLDL affected the expression of 201 genes: 142 were up-regulated and 59 down-regulated, mainly in lipid metabolism, immune response and atherosclerosis induction functions

Estradiol produced fewer changes than oxLDL, and only in a small number of cases it could neutralize the effect of the oxLDL.

Conclusions: 

These experiments give important information about genetic expression in HUAEC. oxLDL modified relevant cardiovascular genes in HUAEC whereas estradiol did not.

Supported by Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación, ISCIII (FIS 06/0589, RED HERACLES RD06/0009) and Consellería. Sanidad, GV (AP 10/2007, AP 121/08). PJO holds a post-doc position, and AS is a FPI fellow (BFPI 06/145), both from Consellería de Educación, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain.