Purinergic Signaling and the Postmenopausal Heart

March 18, 2026 updated by: Robina Matyal, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

PGC-1, Purines and the Postmenopausal Heart

There is an increased risk of diastolic heart failure in post menopausal women. Estrogen plays a positive role in regulating molecular pathways in heart remodeling. Such pathways may work through purinergic signaling and its downstream effects on the heart's mitochondrial metabolism and angiogenic response to stress. Loss of estrogen functionality in post menopausal women may account for the increased risk of diastolic heart failure. The investigators will explore said pathways using cardiac tissue obtained from patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death of women in the United States, accounting for around 1 of every 3 deaths. Estrogen deficiency, as seen in aging women or after oophorectomy, has been linked to loss of cardiovascular protection, typically seen during reproductive life. Up to half of women evaluated for myocardial ischemia have normal appearing coronary arteries. These women can develop heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (termed HFpEF) for which the etiology is unclear. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause remains controversial but current evidence cannot support this for either primary or secondary prevention of CVD. There are clearly modulatory influences on estrogenic signaling, that could well influence cardiovascular health in later life. Previous studies have demonstrated that estrogen improves energy production within the heart by increasing 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein (AMPK) and mitochondrial biogenesis via upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α); a master switch of mitochondrial function, linked to vascular integrity and angiogenesis. Estrogen has been also found to modulate purinergic signaling by boosting expression of adenosine receptors and of CD39, the dominant endothelial ecto-ADPase that generates adenosine. There are also close relationships between purinergic signaling and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4; otherwise known as adenosine deaminase complexing protein 2 or CD26), possibly mediated by adenosine deaminase bioactivity. Decreased PGC-1α and aberrant purinergic signaling in metabolic syndrome may lead to impaired mitochondrial function, provoking diastolic dysfunction, and also result in impaired angiogenesis. The investigators hypothesize there are central roles of PGC-1α, purines and DPP-4 linked neuropeptide pathways in the control of angiogenesis and mitochondrial activity. These become increasingly disordered in setting of estrogen loss provoking development of metabolic syndrome, thereby exacerbating HFpEF and microvascular disease. Specific Aim 1: To determine how ischemia and cardiometabolic dysfunction in women's heart disease are exacerbated by the loss of puringeric pathways from estrogen deficiency. The investigators expect to determine that diastolic dysfunction is a functional consequence of this microvascular loss and cardiometabolic dessynchrony. Specific Aim 2: To evaluate the role of adenosingergic receptor activation and DPPIV inhibition on angiogenesis in a ovariectomized swine model of chronic myocardial ischemia and metabolic syndrome. Here, the investigators will explore relationships between the regulated and linkages in the exocytosis of nucleotides and neuropeptides, formation of nucleosides (adenosine) and alterations in angiogenic activity secondary to these. Summary: The investigators will study fundamental mechanisms in heart disease underpinning biological differences in women. The investigators will also offer new therapeutic strategies that target cardiac metabolism.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
500

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Recruiting
        • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients presenting for elective cardiac surgery. Patients will be enrolled and consented during hospital admission for surgery.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate
  • Emergency surgery
  • Pre-existing heart block
  • Preexisting atrial fibrillation
  • Redo surgery
  • Estrogen or hormone replacement therapy
  • History of chronic heart failure
  • History of major kidney disease

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Men
Men who are undergoing cardiac surgery
Other: Gender
Differences between men and women will be observed
Women
Women who are undergoing cardiac surgery
Other: Gender
Differences between men and women will be observed

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Comparative quantification of expression of CD39 and adenosinergic receptors
Time Frame: 6 months
Expression of CD39, ADORA2A and ADORA2B in cardiac tissue measured using Western blotting
6 months
Comparative quantification of expression of PGC-1 alpha, mitochondrial markers
Time Frame: 6 months
Expression of PGC-1 alpha, AMPK and mitochondrial markers using Western blot
6 months
Comparative quantification of expression of angiogenic markers
Time Frame: 6 months
Expression of angiogenic markers (PDGF, VEGF, Angiostatin)
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Robina Matyal, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Professor of Anesthesia
  • Principal Investigator: Simon Robson, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,Vice Chair Research

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 23, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 28, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 29, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2008P000151/13

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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