Author(s): AYYALASOMAYAJULA, M., DELGADO, J., DAMANI, J., PROCTOR, D.N., Institution: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED STATES, Abstract-ID: 1400

INTRODUCTION:
The endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) forms a critical protective barrier made of glycoconjugates, which include carbohydrates linked to various molecules such as amino acids, proteins, and lipids [1, 2]. In aging and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the eGCs integrity is compromised, possibly preceding conventional markers of age-related vascular dysfunction, like impaired endothelium-dependent dilation and increased arterial stiffness [3]. Syndecan-1, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan expressed in endothelial cells, serves as a key biomarker of endothelial function and glycocalyx degradation [4]. Previous research has demonstrated that in endothelial cells (ECs), the glycocalyx plays a critical role in mediating nitric oxide (NO) production. Degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx layer (eGC) significantly diminishes ECs ability to produce NO in response to fluid shear stress. Estradiol is known to protect the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) from shedding. Consequently, the reduction in estrogen levels around menopause may lead to symptoms that impact womens well-being and health, coinciding with eGC shedding [2, 5]. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of menopause on glycocalyx degradation by comparing plasma concentration of Syndecan-1 in the early-postmenopausal and late-post menopausal women. We hypothesized that late-menopausal women would exhibit higher Syndecan-1 concentrations compared to early-menopausal women, indicating increased eGC degradation.
METHODS:
Plasma samples were collected from early and late postmenopausal women and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure Syndecan-1 concentrations. Independent sample T-tests were employed to assess differences between early and late postmenopausal groups. Alpha was set to 0.05.
RESULTS:
Early post-menopausal women (n=12) were significantly younger with fewer years since menopause (Age: 56 ± 4 yrs; Years since menopause: 4 ± 2) compared to late postmenopausal women (n = 13) (Age: 63 ± 4 yrs; Years since menopause: 14 ± 5). All postmenopausal women were normotensive and healthy. Early postmenopausal women exhibited significantly lower plasma concentrations of Syndecan-1 compared to late postmenopausal women (Early: 29.65 ± 7.26 ng/ml; Late: 41.93 ± 15.03 ng/ml; p = 0.017).
CONCLUSION:
Late-postmenopausal women demonstrate higher circulating Syndecan-1 concentrations, indicative of increased glycocalyx degradation compared to early-menopausal women. These findings underscore the potential implications of menopause for vascular health and highlight the need for further research and targeted interventions to mitigate glycocalyx degradation and potentially enhance endothelial function in menopausal women.


References:
1. Francekovic (2023) 2. Potje(2023) 3. Machin (2019) 4. Zhang(2021) 5. Bartosch (2017)