Grant: Project Grant

Overview: Plaques are fatty deposits that build up in the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Dangerous plaques can break up, block blood flow, and cause strokes. Males are more likely to develop dangerous plaques, while females have worse recovery and higher death rates after a stroke. Biological sex influences how plaques develop. Sex hormones play an important role in how blood vessels are maintained by binding to a special structure called a receptor, but we do not know if they make plaques more dangerous or stable. Gender, reflecting social roles, behaviors, and identities can also affect plaque development, yet it is rarely studied together with biology. Our research aims to study sex hormones and their receptors in dangerous or stable plaques in males and females, while also assessing gender-related characteristics. Our goals: In this study, we will 1) compare the amount and distribution of hormones within plaques that are dangerous or stable in both males and females and see how these patterns relate to gender-related characteristics, and 2) understand the differences in the distribution of receptors in relation to dangerous plaques. How we will do it: We will analyze 110 dangerous and 110 stable plaques from males and females. Using advanced techniques, the amount and location of sex hormones and their receptors within each plaque will be measured. Information on gender-related characteristics will be collected using a validated questionnaire. This will help us understand how sex and gender together influence plaque instability. What we expect: We predict that plaques from males and females will show different hormone levels and receptor patterns linked to dangerous and stable plaques in relation to biological sex and gender-related characteristics. By considering both sex and gender, our findings could reveal new treatment targets to help stabilize plaques. This will help prevent strokes to improve cardiovascular health and save lives!