Sex-specific long-term blood pressure regulation: Modeling and analysis

• Published in: Computers in biology and medicine Vol. 104; pp. 139 - 148
• Main Authors: Leete, Jessica, Layton, Anita T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: ACE inhibitors; Angiotensin; Angiotensin II; Angiotensin receptor blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Antihypertensives; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular diseases; Computer simulation; Enzyme inhibitors; Enzymes; Female; Females; Gender aspects; Gender differences; Global health; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Kidney - innervation; Kidney - physiopathology; Kidneys; Male; Males; Models, Cardiovascular; Peptides; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Physiology; Ratios; Renin; renin angiotensin system; Renin-Angiotensin System - drug effects; Sensory neurons; Sex; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism; Sympathetic Nervous System; Womens health; Hypertension; Blood pressure; renin angiotensin system; ACE inhibitors; Angiotensin receptor blockers
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2018.11.002
• ISSN: 0010-4825

Hypertension is a global health challenge: it affects one billion people worldwide and is estimated to account for >60% of all cases or types of cardiovascular disease. In part because sex differences in blood pressure regulation mechanisms are not sufficiently well understood, fewer hypertensive women achieve blood pressure control compared to men, even though compliance and treatment rates are generally higher in women. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify which factors contribute to the sexual dimorphism in response to anti-hypertensive therapies targeting the renin angiotensin system (RAS). To accomplish that goal, we develop sex-specific blood pressure regulation models. Sex differences in the RAS, baseline adosterone level, and the reactivity of renal sympathetic nervous activity (RSNA) are represented. A novel aspect of the model is the representation of sex-specific vasodilatory effect of the bound angiotensin II type two receptor (AT2R-bound Ang II) on renal vascular resistance. Model simulations suggest that sex differences in RSNA are the largest cause of female resistance to developing hypertension due to the direct influence of RSNA on afferent arteriole resistance. Furthermore, the model predicts that the sex-specific vasodilatory effects of AT2R-bound Ang II on renal vascular resistance may explain the higher effectiveness of angiotensin receptor blockers in treating hypertensive women (but not men), compared to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. •Sex specific computational models of long-term blood pressure regulation introduced.•Different enzymatic activity is key to male sensitivity to angiotensin II infusion.•Renal sympathetic nervous activity is key to female resistance to renal hypertension.•Angiotensin type 2 receptor key to female strength of ARB over ACEI treatment.