Cardiac Fibroblasts Mediate a Sexually Dimorphic Fibrotic Response to β-Adrenergic Stimulation

Background Biological sex is an important modifier of cardiovascular disease and women generally have better outcomes compared with men. However, the contribution of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) to this sexual dimorphism is relatively unexplored. Methods and Results Isoproterenol (ISO) was administered to rats as a model for chronic beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR)-mediated cardiovascular disease. ISO-treated males had higher mortality than females and also developed fibrosis whereas females did not. Gonadectomy did not abrogate this sex difference. To determine the cellular contribution to this phenotype, CFs were studied. CFs from both sexes had increased proliferation in vivo in response to ISO, but CFs from female hearts proliferated more than male cells. In addition, male CFs were significantly more activated to myofibroblasts by ISO. To investigate potential regulatory mechanisms for the sexually dimorphic fibrotic response, beta-AR mRNA and PKA (protein kinase A) activity were measured. In response to ISO treatment, male CFs increased expression of beta 1- and beta 2-ARs, whereas expression of both receptors decreased in female CFs. Moreover, ISO-treated male CFs had higher PKA activity relative to vehicle controls, whereas ISO did not activate PKA in female CFs. Conclusions Chronic in vivo beta-AR stimulation causes fibrosis in male but not female rat hearts. Male CFs are more activated than female CFs, consistent with elevated fibrosis in male rat hearts and may be caused by higher beta-AR expression and PKA activation in male CFs. Taken together, our data suggest that CFs play a substantial role in mediating sex differences observed after cardiac injury.