Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 13753

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Interests: sex-gender pharmacology; biomarkers; metabolism; cell signalling; autophagy and apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: inherited metabolic disorders; metabolomics; newborn screening; proteomics; protein-protein interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sex differences affect physiology and several diseases and are organ-and parameter-specific, also influencing the metabolism and homeostasis of amino acids, fatty acids, sugars which levels are linked to the onset of diseases. The comprehension of the mechanisms under differences related to sex is therefore very relevant in the medical, pharmacological, and dietary perspective. Thus, the use of metabolite profiles in tissues represents a powerful approach to examine the intermediary metabolism and evidence for any sex differences.

The special issue will be devoted to Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism. It will contain up-to-date review articles, plus original research, concerning any aspect of molecular mechanism, to provide a state-of-the-art overview of this fast moving area.

Dr. Ilaria Campesi
Prof. Margherita Ruoppolo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Sex and gender differences
  • Metabolism
  • Metabolomics

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1971 KiB  
Article
Fibromyalgia and Depression in Women: An 1H-NMR Metabolomic Study
by Carmen Marino, Manuela Grimaldi, Paola Sabatini, Patrizia Amato, Arianna Pallavicino, Carmen Ricciardelli and Anna Maria D’Ursi
Metabolites 2021, 11(7), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11070429 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2587
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and systemic syndrome characterized by muscle, bone, and joint pain. It is a gender-specific condition with a 9:1 incidence ratio between women and men. Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with psychic disorders affecting the cognitive and emotional spheres. In the [...] Read more.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and systemic syndrome characterized by muscle, bone, and joint pain. It is a gender-specific condition with a 9:1 incidence ratio between women and men. Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with psychic disorders affecting the cognitive and emotional spheres. In the reported work, we compared 31 female fibromyalgia patients to 31 female healthy controls. They were analyzed for biochemical clinical parameters, for autoimmune markers, and were subjected to 1H-NMR metabolomics analysis. To identify a correlation between the metabolomic profile and the psychic condition, a subset of 19 fibromyalgia patients was subjected to HAM-A and HAM-D Hamilton depression tests. Multivariate statistical analysis showed the dysmetabolism of several metabolites involved in energy balance that are associated with systemic inflammatory conditions. The severity of depression worsens dysmetabolic conditions; conversely, glycine and glutamate, known for their critical role as neuromodulators, appear to be potential biomarkers of fibromyalgia and are associated with different severity depression conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism)
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16 pages, 13407 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Sex Specific Associations with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Emphysema
by Lucas A. Gillenwater, Katerina J. Kechris, Katherine A. Pratte, Nichole Reisdorph, Irina Petrache, Wassim W. Labaki, Wanda O’Neal, Jerry A. Krishnan, Victor E. Ortega, Dawn L. DeMeo and Russell P. Bowler
Metabolites 2021, 11(3), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11030161 - 11 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2305
Abstract
Susceptibility and progression of lung disease, as well as response to treatment, often differ by sex, yet the metabolic mechanisms driving these sex-specific differences are still poorly understood. Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have less emphysema and more small airway disease [...] Read more.
Susceptibility and progression of lung disease, as well as response to treatment, often differ by sex, yet the metabolic mechanisms driving these sex-specific differences are still poorly understood. Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have less emphysema and more small airway disease on average than men, though these differences become less pronounced with more severe airflow limitation. While small studies of targeted metabolites have identified compounds differing by sex and COPD status, the sex-specific effect of COPD on systemic metabolism has yet to be interrogated. Significant sex differences were observed in 9 of the 11 modules identified in COPDGene. Sex-specific associations by COPD status and emphysema were observed in 3 modules for each phenotype. Sex stratified individual metabolite associations with COPD demonstrated male-specific associations in sphingomyelins and female-specific associations in acyl carnitines and phosphatidylethanolamines. There was high preservation of module assignments in SPIROMICS (SubPopulations and InteRmediate Outcome Measures In COPD Study) and similar female-specific shift in acyl carnitines. Several COPD associated metabolites differed by sex. Acyl carnitines and sphingomyelins demonstrate sex-specific abundances and may represent important metabolic signatures of sex differences in COPD. Accurately characterizing the sex-specific molecular differences in COPD is vital for personalized diagnostics and therapeutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism)
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15 pages, 5239 KiB  
Article
Sex Affects Human Premature Neonates’ Blood Metabolome According to Gestational Age, Parenteral Nutrition, and Caffeine Treatment
by Marianna Caterino, Margherita Ruoppolo, Michele Costanzo, Lucia Albano, Daniela Crisci, Giovanni Sotgiu, Laura Saderi, Andrea Montella, Flavia Franconi and Ilaria Campesi
Metabolites 2021, 11(3), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11030158 - 09 Mar 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2266
Abstract
Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal deaths and high economic costs; it depends on numerous biological and social factors, and is highly prevalent in males. Several factors can affect the metabolome of premature infants. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was [...] Read more.
Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal deaths and high economic costs; it depends on numerous biological and social factors, and is highly prevalent in males. Several factors can affect the metabolome of premature infants. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to analyze the role played by gestational age (GA), parenteral nutrition (PN), and caffeine treatment in sex-related differences of blood metabolome of premature neonates through a MS/MS-based targeted metabolomic approach for the detection of amino acids and acylcarnitines in dried blood spots. GA affected the blood metabolome of premature neonates: male and female very premature infants (VPI) diverged in amino acids but not in acylcarnitines, whereas the opposite was observed in moderate or late preterm infants (MLPI). Moreover, an important reduction of metabolites was observed in female VPI fed with PN, suggesting that PN might not satisfy an infant’s nutritional needs. Caffeine showed the highest significant impact on metabolite levels of male MLPI. This study proves the presence of a sex-dependent metabolome in premature infants, which is affected by GA and pharmacological treatment (e.g., caffeine). Furthermore, it describes an integrated relationship among several features of physiology and health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism)
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23 pages, 665 KiB  
Article
Metabolite Profiles of the Relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) Milestones and Metabolic Risk during Early Adolescence
by Wei Perng, Mohammad L. Rahman, Izzuddin M. Aris, Gregory Michelotti, Joanne E. Sordillo, Jorge E. Chavarro, Emily Oken and Marie-France Hivert
Metabolites 2020, 10(8), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10080316 - 31 Jul 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2642
Abstract
Early growth is associated with future metabolic risk; however, little is known of the underlying biological pathways. In this prospective study of 249 boys and 227 girls, we sought to identify sex-specific metabolite profiles that mark the relationship between age and magnitude of [...] Read more.
Early growth is associated with future metabolic risk; however, little is known of the underlying biological pathways. In this prospective study of 249 boys and 227 girls, we sought to identify sex-specific metabolite profiles that mark the relationship between age and magnitude of the infancy body mass index (BMI) peak, and the childhood BMI rebound with a metabolic syndrome z-score (MetS z-score) during early adolescence (median age 12.8 years). Thirteen consensus metabolite networks were generated between male and female adolescents using weighted correlation network analysis. In girls, none of the networks were related to BMI milestones after false discovery rate (FDR) correction at 5%. In boys, age and/or magnitude of BMI at rebound were associated with three metabolite eigenvector (ME) networks comprising androgen hormones (ME7), lysophospholipids (ME8), and diacylglycerols (ME11) after FDR correction. These networks were also associated with MetS z-score in boys after accounting for age and race/ethnicity: ME7 (1.43 [95% CI: 0.52, 2.34] units higher MetS z-score per 1 unit of ME7), ME8 (−1.01 [95% CI: −1.96, −0.07]), and ME11 (2.88 [95% CI: 2.06, 3.70]). These findings suggest that alterations in sex steroid hormone and lipid metabolism are involved in the relationship of early growth with future metabolic risk in males. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism)
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Review

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15 pages, 1371 KiB  
Review
Impact of Sex and Age on the Mevalonate Pathway in the Brain: A Focus on Effects Induced by Maternal Exposure to Exogenous Compounds
by Claudia Tonini, Marco Segatto and Valentina Pallottini
Metabolites 2020, 10(8), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10080304 - 25 Jul 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2705
Abstract
The mevalonate pathway produces cholesterol and other compounds crucial for numerous cellular processes. It is well known that age and sex modulate this pathway in the liver. Recently, similar effects were also noted in different brain areas, suggesting that alterations of the mevalonate [...] Read more.
The mevalonate pathway produces cholesterol and other compounds crucial for numerous cellular processes. It is well known that age and sex modulate this pathway in the liver. Recently, similar effects were also noted in different brain areas, suggesting that alterations of the mevalonate pathway are at the root of marked sex-specific disparities in some neurodevelopmental disorders related to disturbed cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we show how the mevalonate pathway is modulated in a sex-, age- and region-specific manner, and how maternal exposure to exogenous compounds can disturb the regulation of this pathway in the brain, possibly inducing functional alterations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sex and Gender Differences in Metabolism)
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