Drug resistance is a fundamental problem in cancer chemotherapy. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) may play a role in the development of chemoresistance. We investigated the regulatory role of [Ca²⁺]_i in Taxol resistance in the non‐small‐cell lung cancer cell line A549 and its chemoresistant subclone A549‐T24. Measurement of cytosolic calcium ([Ca²⁺]_c) in single cells and cell populations revealed similar levels of basal calcium in the two cell lines. However, a reduced response to thapsigargin (a sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺‐ATPase (SERCA) inhibitor) in A549‐T24 cells compared to the parent cell line suggested a lower ER Ca²⁺ content in these cells. mRNA expression of SERCA2b and SERCA3, major Ca²⁺ pumps involved in ER Ca²⁺ homeostasis, did not significantly differ between the two cell lines, as revealed by RT–PCR. An altered calcium influx pathway in the Taxol‐resistant cell line was observed. Modulation of the ER calcium pools using CMC (4‐chloro‐m‐cresol) and ATP revealed lower ryanodine receptor (RyR) and IP₃ receptor (IP₃R)‐sensitive Ca²⁺ stores in the chemoresistant cell line. Western blot and RT–PCR studies suggested that A549‐T24 cells expressed higher levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 and the calcium‐binding protein sorcin, respectively, in comparison to the parent cell line. Both of these proteins have been previously implicated in chemoresistance, in part, due to their ability to modulate [Ca²⁺]_i. These results suggest that altered intracellular calcium homeostasis may contribute to the Taxol‐resistant phenotype. British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 142, 305–316. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705755

Several studies suggest that diabetes affects male and female vascular beds differently. However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction of sex and diabetes remain to be investigated. This study investigates whether there are 1) sex differences in the development of abnormal vascular responses and 2) changes in the relative contributions of endothelium-derived relaxing factors in modulating vascular reactivity of mesenteric arteries taken from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats at early and intermediate stages of the disease (1 and 8 wk, respectively). We also investigated the mesenteric expression of the mRNAs for endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and NADPH oxidase (Nox) in STZ-induced diabetes in both sexes. Vascular responses to acetylcholine (ACh) in mesenteric arterial rings precontracted with phenylephrine were measured before and after pretreatment with indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), N^ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (NOS inhibitor), or barium chloride (K_irblocker) plus ouabain (Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase inhibitor). We demonstrated that ACh-induced relaxations were significantly impaired in mesenteric arteries from both male and female diabetic rats at 1 and 8 wk. However, at 8 wk the extent of impairment was significantly greater in diabetic females than diabetic males. Our data also showed that in females, the levels of eNOS, Nox2, and Nox4 mRNA expression and the relative importance of NO to the regulation of vascular reactivity were substantially enhanced, whereas the importance of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) was significantly reduced at both 1 and 8 wk after the induction of diabetes. This study reveals the predisposition of female rat mesenteric arteries to vascular injury after the induction of diabetes may be due to a shift away from a putative EDHF, initially the major vasodilatory factor, toward a greater reliance on NO.

Previous reports suggest that diabetes may differentially affect the vascular beds of females and males. The objectives of this study were to examine whether there were (1) sex differences in aortic function and (2) alterations in the relative contribution of endothelium-derived relaxing factors in modulating aortic reactivity in UC Davis Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (UCD-T2DM) rats. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (EDV) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) was measured in aortic rings before and after exposure to pharmacological inhibitors. Relaxation responses to sodium nitroprusside were assessed in endothelium-denuded rings. Moreover, contractile responses to phenylephrine (PE) were measured before and after incubation of aortic rings with a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor in the presence of indomethacin. Metabolic parameters and expression of molecules associated with vascular and insulin signaling as well as reactive oxygen species generation were determined. Diabetes slightly but significantly impaired EDV in response to ACh in aortas from females but potentiated the relaxation response in males. The potentiation of EDV in diabetic male aortas was accompanied by a traces of nitric oxide (NO)- and prostanoid-independent relaxation and elevated aortic expression of small- and intermediate conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels in this group. The smooth muscle sensitivity to NO was not altered, whereas the responsiveness to PE was significantly enhanced in aortas of diabetic groups in both sexes. Endothelium-derived NO during smooth muscle contraction, as assessed by the potentiation of the response to PE after NOS inhibition, was reduced in aortas of diabetic rats regardless of sex. Accordingly, decreases in pAkt and peNOS were observed in aortas from diabetic rats in both sexes compared with controls. Our data suggest that a decrease in insulin sensitivity via pAkt-peNOS-dependent signaling and an increase in oxidative stress may contribute to the elevated contractile responses observed in diabetic aortas in both sexes. This study demonstrates that aortic function in UCD-T2DM rats is altered in both sexes. Here, we provide the first evidence of sexual dimorphism in aortic relaxation in UCD-T2DM rats.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death in men and women. Biological sex plays a major role in cardiovascular physiology and pathological cardiovascular remodeling. Traditionally, pathological remodeling of cardiovascular system refers to the molecular, cellular, and morphological changes that result from insults, such as myocardial infarction or hypertension. Regular exercise training is known to induce physiological cardiovascular remodeling and beneficial functional adaptation of the cardiovascular apparatus. However, impact of exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation varies between males and females. This review aims to compare and contrast sex-specific manifestations of exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation. Specifically, we review (1) sex disparities in cardiovascular function, (2) influence of biological sex on exercise-induced cardiovascular remodeling and functional adaptation, and (3) sex-specific impacts of various types, intensities, and durations of exercise training on cardiovascular apparatus. The review highlights both animal and human studies in order to give an all-encompassing view of the exercise-induced sex differences in cardiovascular system and addresses the gaps in knowledge in the field.