Here, we seek to understand the role of central and cardiac circadian rhythm in the sex/estrogen (E2)-dependent vulnerability to alcohol-evoked cardiotoxicity. This overlooked translational research is timely because young women's alcohol consumption is rapidly increasing despite their higher sensitivity to the cardiotoxic effect of alcohol, compared to men. While limited (mostly generated in non-cardiovascular tissues) data support our scientific premise, there are no studies on whether E2-circardian rhythm interaction in the heart or autonomic nuclei regulates cardiac redox enzyme and function via heart specific miRNAs, particularly in the presence of alcohol. We hypothesize that ethanol disruption of the E2/estrogen receptor (ER) modulation of the circadian rhythm (PERIOD genes; Per1/Per2)-regulated redox enzymes paradoxically transforms E2 into a pro-inflammatory hormone. Specifically, we will elucidate the unresolved role of the ER?-Per2 dependent divergent upregulation of cardiac catalase and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), and downregulation of hemeoxygenase (HO-1), in this female health related problem. We will focus on these cardiac enzymes, and heart-specific miRNAs that mediate protection or injury. Notably, catalase and ALDH2 regulate the cellular redox status and cell survival as well as oxidative metabolism of ethanol. To test our novel hypotheses, we assembled a capable research team to execute a multidimensional approach encompassing integrative cardiovascular, genetic, cellular and pharmacological studies. These studies will yield new insights into the role of the circadian rhythm in E2-dependent cardioprotection and ethanol-induced cardiotoxicity as well as identifying novel therapeutics for mitigating the chronic cardiovascular anomalies caused by alcohol in females. The two logically overlapping areas to be investigated in this project are:
Aim 1 studies will test the hypothesis that disruption of the E2/ER?-Per2 loop regulation of redox enzymes and heart specific miRNAs mediate ethanol-evoked myocardial oxidative stress/dysfunction in females. Multilevel studies in rat models sensitive, or resistant, to ethanol-evoked myocardial dysfunction, and in genetic models (ER?/ ER?/GPER KO and Per2 loss of function, mPer2, mice) will generate robust data to test our hypothesis.
Aim 2 studies will test the hypothesis that concomitant ethanol-evoked cardiac BH4 depletion/eNOS uncoupling and E2/Per2 divergent regulation of HO-1 and catalase trigger the death associated protein kinase-3 (DAPK-3) signaling cascade to cause myocardial oxidative stress/dysfunction. We will also identify cell signaling cascades as novel therapeutic targets for alleviating the E2/circadian rhythm-dependent cardiovascular derangements caused by chronic ethanol in females.
Despite a higher sensitivity of women to alcohol-evoked cardiotoxicity, and a steady rise in alcohol consumption by young women, this problem remains largely ignored. Here, we leverage our exciting findings, and emerging scientific and technological advances to understand the role of central and cardiac circadian rhythm in this sex/E2-dependent problem. While sparse data exist on the E2/circadian rhythm regulation of some physiological functions, none exist on the autonomic or local regulation of cardiac function, particularly in the presence of alcohol. Our multilevel approach will: (i) address this problem; (ii) generate new results on the E2 salutary cardiac effects; and (iii) identify new therapeutic targets directly relevant to women's cardiovascular health.
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