Differential sex-specific effects of oxygen toxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

• Cellular sex effects viability and oxidative stress in HUVECs exposed to hyperoxia.
• Male HUVECs show greater impairment in angiogenesis compared to female cells.
• Sex-specific modulation of VEGFR2 and the NF-kappaB pathway was noted.

Despite the well-established sex-specific differences in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the molecular mechanism(s) behind these are not completely understood. Pulmonary angiogenesis is critical for alveolarization and arrest in vascular development adversely affects lung development. Human neonatal umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) provide a robust in vitro model for the study of endothelial cell physiology and function. Male and Female HUVECs were exposed to room air (21% O2, 5% CO2) or hyperoxia (95% O2, 5% CO2) for up to 72 h. Cell viability, proliferation, H2O2 production and angiogenesis were analyzed. Sex-specific differences in the expression of VEGFR2 and modulation of NF-kappa B pathway were measured.Male HUVECs have decreased survival, greater oxidative stress and impairment in angiogenesis compared to similarly exposed female cells. There is differential expression of VEGFR2 between male and female HUVECs and greater activation of the NF-kappa B pathway in female HUVECs under hyperoxic conditions. The results indicate that sex differences exist between male and female HUVECs in vitro after hyperoxia exposure. Since endothelial dysfunction has a major role in the pathogenesis of BPD, these differences could explain in part the mechanisms behind sex-specific differences in the incidence of this disease.