Androgen Receptor Expression Is Greater in Macrophages From Male Than From Female Donors

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Abstract
Background—Male sex is an independent risk factor for the extent and severity of atherosclerosis. The influence of androgens on foam cell formation, a key event in atherogenesis, has not yet been investigated. Methods and Results—Primary human monocytes were allowed to differentiate into macrophages. RNA was then extracted from healthy male-donor (n=8) and premenopausal female-donor (n=8) macrophages, and message for the androgen receptor (AR) was examined by RT-PCR. There was a significantly higher level of AR mRNA in macrophages isolated from men than in those from women (0.64±0.06 versus 0.15±0.02 amol/μg total RNA; P0.2 versus controls). Conclusions—Sex differences in androgen-mediated macrophage lipid loading may contribute to the greater prevalence and severity of atherosclerosis in men.

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