August 03, 2012
Breakdown of oestrogen could be linked with high blood
pressure in lungs
Research part-funded by us has found that the breakdown of
oestrogen could play an important role in the onset of a rare but
devastating condition called pulmonary arterial
hypertension.
Around 3,000 people in the UK have pulmonary
arterial hypertension, when overactive cell growth in blood vessel
walls reduces the space for blood flow in the lungs. Often
affecting younger, pre-menopausal women, symptoms include
breathlessness and chest pain. The signs worsen as
lung blood pressure increases, and the disorder is often fatal.
Although there are treatments available, they are often not
effective.
Many questions are still unanswered and the next stage is to move on to examine this association more closely in patients
Now
scientists from the University of Glasgow led by
Professor Mandy Mclean have shown that high levels of an enzyme in
the lungs called CYP1B1 – which breaks down oestrogen into harmful
smaller molecules – could be a cause of the disease.
Our Research Advisor Dr Shannon Amoils said:
“Pulmonary arterial hypertension is more common in
women, which has led to the suggestion that the higher
oestrogen levels found in women might be linked to higher risk. Up
till now, though, studies in animal models haven’t come up with a
clear answer.
“This interesting study in mice, which also
looked at human samples, shows that abnormal oestrogen breakdown in
the lungs may be an important factor. But many
questions about this condition are still unanswered, and the next
stage is to move on to examine this association more closely in
patients.”
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The study was published in the American Heart
Association journal Circulation.