Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a substantial risk to maternal and fetal health. Emerging evidence suggests an association between testosterone and pre-eclampsia (PE), potentially mediated through androgen receptors (AR). Nevertheless, the mechanism driving this association is ye...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/3/108 |
| _version_ | 1797241577038413824 |
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| author | Lara M. Fernandes Margarida Lorigo Elisa Cairrao |
| author_facet | Lara M. Fernandes Margarida Lorigo Elisa Cairrao |
| author_sort | Lara M. Fernandes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a substantial risk to maternal and fetal health. Emerging evidence suggests an association between testosterone and pre-eclampsia (PE), potentially mediated through androgen receptors (AR). Nevertheless, the mechanism driving this association is yet to be elucidated. On the other hand, reports of transgender men’s pregnancies offer a limited and insightful opportunity to understand the role of high androgen levels in the development of HDP. In this sense, a literature review was performed from a little over 2 decades (1998–2022) to address the association of testosterone levels with the development of HDP. Furthermore, this review addresses the case of transgender men for the first time. The main in vitro outcomes reveal placenta samples with greater AR mRNA expression. Moreover, ex vivo studies show that testosterone-induced vasorelaxation impairment promotes hypertension. Epidemiological data point to greater testosterone levels in blood samples during PE. Studies with transgender men allow us to infer that exogenous testosterone administration can be considered a risk factor for PE and that the administration of testosterone does not affect fetal development. Overall, all studies analyzed suggested that high testosterone levels are associated with PE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:25:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-518e0f1535834a46a36980d3c4ef22b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:25:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-518e0f1535834a46a36980d3c4ef22b72024-03-27T13:31:19ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452024-02-014631668169310.3390/cimb46030108Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsiaLara M. Fernandes0Margarida Lorigo1Elisa Cairrao2CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a substantial risk to maternal and fetal health. Emerging evidence suggests an association between testosterone and pre-eclampsia (PE), potentially mediated through androgen receptors (AR). Nevertheless, the mechanism driving this association is yet to be elucidated. On the other hand, reports of transgender men’s pregnancies offer a limited and insightful opportunity to understand the role of high androgen levels in the development of HDP. In this sense, a literature review was performed from a little over 2 decades (1998–2022) to address the association of testosterone levels with the development of HDP. Furthermore, this review addresses the case of transgender men for the first time. The main in vitro outcomes reveal placenta samples with greater AR mRNA expression. Moreover, ex vivo studies show that testosterone-induced vasorelaxation impairment promotes hypertension. Epidemiological data point to greater testosterone levels in blood samples during PE. Studies with transgender men allow us to infer that exogenous testosterone administration can be considered a risk factor for PE and that the administration of testosterone does not affect fetal development. Overall, all studies analyzed suggested that high testosterone levels are associated with PE.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/3/108testosteroneandrogenshypertensive disorders of pregnancypre-eclampsiahyperandrogenismtransgender men |
| spellingShingle | Lara M. Fernandes Margarida Lorigo Elisa Cairrao Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia Current Issues in Molecular Biology testosterone androgens hypertensive disorders of pregnancy pre-eclampsia hyperandrogenism transgender men |
| title | Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia |
| title_full | Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia |
| title_fullStr | Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia |
| title_short | Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia |
| title_sort | relationship between androgens and vascular and placental function during pre eclampsia |
| topic | testosterone androgens hypertensive disorders of pregnancy pre-eclampsia hyperandrogenism transgender men |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/3/108 |
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