Women's Health Research Research Articles

Contractile Properties of Vaginal Tissue.

The vagina is an important organ of the female reproductive system that has been largely understudied in the field of biomechanics. In recent years, some research has been conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the vagina, but much has focused on characterizing the passive mechanical properties. Because vaginal contractions play a central role in sexual function, childbirth, and development and treatment of pelvic floor disorders, the active mechanical properties of the vagina must be also quantified. This review surveys and summarizes published experimental studies on the active properties of the vagina including the differences in such properties determined by anatomic regions and orientations, neural pathways, life events such as pregnancy and menopause, pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse, and surgical mesh treatment. Conflicting experimental findings are presented, illustrating the need for further research on the active properties of the vagina. However, consensus currently exists regarding the negative impact of surgical mesh on vaginal contractility. This review also identifies knowledge gaps and future research opportunities, thus proving a firm foundation for novice and experienced researchers in this emerging area of biomechanics and encouraging more activity on women's sexual and reproductive health research.

Rare genital malformations in women\u2019s health research: sociodemographic, regional, and disease-related characteristics of patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-K\xfcster-Hauser syndrome

BackgroundThe Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, MRKHS, is a rare (orphan) disease characterized by the aplasia or hypoplasia of the uterus and the vagina. In women's health research, little is known as to how much care provision for patients with MRKHS takes into account their socio-demographic together with their clinical characteristics. This work examines the patients’ socio-demographic characteristics, highlighting issues of inappropriate and deficient provision of care.MethodsThe study was carried out as part of the larger TransCareO project and included a group of N=129 MRKHS patients who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2012. Using a specially developed questionnaire, we analyzed MRKHS patients’ data found both in the clinical documentation of the Department for Women's Health, University Hospital of Tübingen and the patient surveys of the Center for Rare Genital Malformations (CRGM/ ZSGF). Patients who took part in interviews were compared with non-respondents.ResultsPatient respondents and non-respondents did not differ as to the parameters of interest. In most cases, primary amenorrhea was reported as an admission reason. In 24% of patients, a medical intervention (hymenal incision or hormone treatment) already occurred before admission to the Center in Tübingen and proper diagnosis of MRKHS. About one third received in advance inappropriate treatment. During the therapy, more than half of the patients were in a solid partnership. 10% of the family anamneses documented the occurrence of urogenital malformations.ConclusionsCare provision for MRKHS patients is largely characterized by delayed proper diagnosis and in part, by inappropriate treatment attempts; there are also indications of regional differences. Anamnestic clues such as an asymptomatic amenorrhea or renal abnormalities of unclear origin still fail to result early enough in referral to a center on the basis of suspected MRKHS diagnosis. Urogenital malformations in the family are more common in patients than in the general population. For patients, a wide range of burdens are associated with the diagnosis. Abnormalities compared to their female peers occur, for instance, in the partnership status: MRKHS patients have more rarely a partner.

COVID-19: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Early Career Investigators.

In March 2020, the United States experienced an unprecedented event that suddenly demanded that researchers cease all nonessential activities to mitigate the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV2. Within the research community, the impact of this cessation on early career investigators was significant, in part because the support systems (i.e., mentors and institutions) that early career investigators typically rely on were also significantly impacted. This article presents the stories of the impact of COVID-19 on early career investigators within the NIH Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health and Women's Reproductive Health Research K12 career development programs. We discuss the common challenges that we faced across our respective fields ranging from basic to clinical to epidemiological women's health research, including the impact it had on our career trajectories. In addition, we share lessons learned in an effort to strengthen our research workforce and increase our resiliency during this and future challenges.

Sex Differences Across the Lifespan: A Focus on Cardiometabolism.

Women's health and sex differences research remain understudied. In 2016, to address the topic of sex differences, the Center for Women' s Health Research (CWHR) at the University of Colorado (cwhr@ucdenver.edu) held its inaugural National Conference, "Sex Differences Across the Lifespan: A Focus on Metabolism" and published a report summarizing the presentations. Two years later, in 2018, CWHR organized the 2nd National Conference. The research presentations and discussions from the 2018 conference also addressed sex differences across the lifespan with a focus on cardiometabolism and expanded the focus by including circadian physiology and effects of sleep on cardiometabolic health. Over 100 participants, including basic scientists, clinicians, policymakers, advocacy group leaders, and federal agency leadership participated. The meeting proceedings reveal that although exciting advances in the area of sex differences have taken place, significant questions and gaps remain about women's health and sex differences in critical areas of health. Identifying these gaps and the subsequent research that will result may lead to important breakthroughs.

Female representation in clinical trials leading to FDA cancer drug approvals for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers between 2008 to 2018.

809 Background: Proportionate representation of women in health research is an area for improvement. This study aims to assess the representation of women in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer clinical trials leading to FDA cancer drug approvals over the past 10 years. Methods: FDA cancer drug approvals between 07/2008-06/2018 were identified and trial reports supporting approvals sourced. The ratio of female to male (F:M) enrollment was compared with F:M cancer incidence in the U.S., and U.S. cancer prevalence and mortality. Results: Although F:M enrollment for all 229 trials leading to FDA cancer drug approvals in this period was similar to overall F:M cancer incidence in the U.S. (0.89 vs 0.86; Odds Ratio for female enrollment (OR) 1.05, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.03-1.06, P<0.0001), in 17 trials that led to drug approvals in GI cancers there was lower F:M trial enrollment compared to cumulative U.S. incidence at those tumor sites (0.55 vs 0.79, OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.74, P<0.0001). F:M enrollment and U.S. incidence by the main GI tumor sites where approvals occurred is shown in Table. Female enrollment rates were also lower than U.S. female cancer mortality and prevalence rates in these tumor sites (P<0.0001 for all). Female enrollment in GI trials fell between 2008-2013 and 2014-2018 (38 vs 33%, OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.87, P<0.0001). Conclusions: Although disparity in female enrollment may be improving across combined FDA cancer drug approval trials, underrepresentation of females has persisted in GI cancer trials when compared to F:M cancer incidence, prevalence and mortality in the U.S. More work is required to determine the drivers of this disparity, in order to mitigate it. [Table: see text]

THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN DRUG DESIGNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES- A REVIEW

It has long been assumed that females have the same response as males to the drugs in all the five phases of drug development processes namely drug discovery & development, preclinical trials, clinical trials, drug review and drug marketing. The fact is that the diseases exhibit the potential sex difference in its prevalence, diagnosis, severity and outcomes. Diseases like breast cancer, urinary tract infections affect men and women differently. The difference also exits in the manifestation of the diseases like cardiovascular disease and sexually transmitted diseases. The differences of the sex are further widened by the gender perspective. Gender is one of the fundamental determinants of health inequalities. There are differences in the physiology of the sexes that causes difference in the pharmacodynamics for specific drug which can be due to the circulating levels of endogenous hormones such as testosterone and estradiol. Women typically have a lower bodyweight than men, so when taking the same dose of a drug results in higher level of drug. Lyophilic agents may have a larger distribution in females owing to their higher body fat content. Women may experience different health issues due to cultural, social and economical factor and hence it becomes an issue related to gender bias.Their is a need to examine the potential difference by sex at all the life stages at all the levels, like genetic and cellular level to organism level. Also there is a need to take into consideration this sex difference in all the stages of the drug development, pre-clinical and clinical trial. It has been observed that while studying diseases prevalent in both the sexes only male animals were considered to be norm study population. It was assumed that female would have same response as males during the pre-clinical trials and that women will have same response as men from drugs in the clinical trials. The assumption of equality puts women at risk, not only reducing disease treatment efficacy but also risking exposure to unforeseen side effects. Women have been viewed as more expensive test subjects because of their more fluctuating hormone levels. It has to take the possible hormonal interaction into consideration during the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics when it comes to determine the safety, efficacy and tolerance of new drugs. Although there have been lack of representation of women in clinical trials initially due to non availability of data that the potential sex differences exist but now guidelines, policies and organizations have been established to increase the quality of women's health research. In 1993, the National Institute of Health Revitalization Act came into being to promote inclusion of women in clinical trials. The acceptance that sex differences should be considered while taking clinical decisions itself proves that there has been a major breakthrough but a lot is to be done. The studies on cardiovascular disease pattern for males and females creates awareness and the governments are making policies and guidelines for the gender specificity in the drug designing and development processes and strict enforcement during the approval processes. There is along way to go.

Bioengineering in women's health, volume 2: pregnancy—from implantation to parturition

This special issue of Interface Focus is the second of two sets of articles on the topic of bioengineering in women's health. This second issue in the series focuses on pregnancy, a dynamic time in a women's life that involves dramatic physiologic changes within a relatively small timeframe. Pregnancy demands endurance and resilience of one's body and represents a critical component of women's health research. The health of an individual leading up to, during and after pregnancy is paramount for reproductive health and the lifelong health of offspring. The articles in this issue explore physiological events that support reproduction spanning from embryo implantation, through gestation, to delivery and parturition. Specifically, the articles highlight essential developments in placenta, fetal membranes, cervix, pelvic floor and anthropometry research. The featured bioengineering disciplines deployed to study such complex biological processes are diverse, with articles detailing the latest advancements in computational modelling at various biological length-scales, biomaterial design, material modelling, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, microfluidic devices and experimental mechanics. This second issue continues the first in this series, on the physiology of the non-pregnant woman.

Addressing Health Challenges of Women Across the Life Course: Summary of the Women's Health 2018 Preconference Symposium.

Although the United States is often ahead in both research and health care fields, it lags behind peer countries in many population health indicators. To address these complex health problems that often reflect the intersection of many socioeconomic and health issues, it is essential that scientists work collaboratively across distinct disciplines. Women's health is but one area which can benefit from such an approach given the multifaceted and complex issues underlying the different aspects of women's health research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) and the Office of Women's Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cosponsored a preconference symposium at the Women's Health 2018 Conference, held in May in Arlington, VA, to highlight interdisciplinary approaches to research, how researchers can work collaboratively, and how to apply multifaceted approaches to complex real-world problems. Three speakers presented information on a range of subjects related to the health of women across the life course, including the distinction between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches; the science behind Team Science and how its findings apply to working collaboratively; and gender inequalities in the opioid epidemic. This article summarizes the major points of the presentations and the subsequent discussions.

Accelerating the Growth of Evidence-Based Care for Women and Men Veterans.

Accelerating the Growth of Evidence-Based Care for Women and Men Veterans.

Sexually Dimorphic Regulation of Renal Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase by Acute Doxorubicin‐Induced Toxicity

BackgroundDoxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents. Nevertheless, clinical utility is limited due to multiple organ toxicities. Nephrotoxicity has been reported in rodent models and to a lesser degree in cancer patients. Notably, female rodents are protected against DOX‐induced nephrotoxicity relative to males; however, the mechanism has not been elucidated. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) metabolizes renoprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), diminishing their biological activity and potentiating kidney injury. Importantly, renal sEH expression has been shown to exhibit sexual dimorphism. Moreover, inhibition of sEH in male mice and rats protected against DOX‐induced nephrotoxicity. Herein, we have determined the effect of acute DOX administration on renal expression of sEH in male and female mice.MethodsAcute DOX toxicity was induced by a single intra‐peritoneal injection of 20 mg/kg DOX in male and female adult C57Bl/6 mice. Mice were euthanized 1, 3, and 6 days following DOX or saline injection. Kidneys and testes were harvested, weighed, and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. DOX‐induced nephrotoxicity was assessed by histopathology. Renal sEH protein expression was measured by western blot analysis. In another cohort of naive mice, which did not receive DOX, renal sEH protein expression was measured in adult gonadectomized male and female mice as compared to sham‐operated animals.ResultsThe DOX‐treated male mice demonstrated inflammatory and degenerative renal pathology and increased deposition of collagen in both the interstitial space and surrounding glomeruli. No such pathology was identified in the male control mice or either group of female mice. Constitutive expression of renal sEH in the females was significantly lower than that in the males. There was a marked inhibition of renal sEH protein expression in DOX‐treated male, but not female, mice 3 and 6 days following DOX administration. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in testes weight indicating DOX‐induced gonadotoxicity. Interestingly, renal sEH protein expression was also significantly lower in castrated naive mice compared to sham control. Conversely, ovariectomy had no significant effect on renal sEH expression in female miceConclusionsOur findings confirmed marked sexual dimorphism of DOX‐induced nephrotoxicity which may have been mediated by the lower constitutive expression of renal sEH in female mice. DOXinduced inhibition of renal sEH may have been secondary to DOX‐induced gonadotoxicity in male mice and suggests a negative feedback protective mechanism.Support or Funding InformationResearch was funded by the Masonic Cancer Center and administered by the University of Minnesota Women's Health Research Program (BNZ), and by a research grant from the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (BNZ).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Engaging limited English proficient and ethnically diverse low-income women in health research: A randomized trial of a patient navigator intervention

ObjectiveEvaluate a community-based navigator intervention to increase breast cancer patients’ and survivors’ access to information about health research participation opportunities. MethodsIn the context of a Community Based Participatory Research collaboration, we conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of the Health Research Engagement Intervention with pre- and post-intervention surveys (n = 133). The primary outcome was health research information-seeking behavior. Secondary outcomes were health research knowledge, willingness to participate in health research, and health empowerment. Qualitative interviews (n = 11) elucidated participant perspectives on the intervention. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control groups’ information-seeking behavior. Knowledge that not all health research studies are about drugs or treatments increased significantly from pre- to post-test among intervention group participants (32% to 48%, p = 0.012), but not in the control group (43% to 30%, p = 0.059); the difference between arms was statistically significant (p = 0.0012). Although survey responses indicated willingness to participate, qualitative interviews identified competing priorities that limited participants’ motivation to seek enrollment information. Conclusions and Practice ImplicationsCommunity-based navigators are a trusted, and therefore promising link between health research and low-income underserved communities. However, systemic barriers in health research infrastructures need to be addressed to include low income, LEP and immigrant populations.

The American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society—reinvigorating for the 21st century

The American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society (AGOS) has the potential to serve as a unifying organization to advocate for women's reproductive health care, education, and research. This report reviews a strategic plan designed to reinvigorate AGOS to address, together with our partner organizations, the ever more pressing issues and challenges in women's reproductive health.

Dietary patterns and their association with sociodemographic and behavioral factors: 2015 Women's Health Research, São Leopoldo (RS).

Dietary patterns may be more predictive of disease risk than individual nutrients or foods. To identify dietary patterns and associated factors among adult women. Population-based cross-sectional study with 1,128 women, aged 20 to 69 years, living in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul. Food intake was assessed with a frequency questionnaire. The principal component analysis identified dietary patterns. We estimated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios using Poisson regression with robust variance. Threedietary patterns - responsible for 25.8% of the total variance - were identified: healthy (fruits, vegetables, and whole foods); risk (ultra-processed foods); and Brazilian (rice and beans). The healthy pattern showed the largest percentage of explained variation (11.62%). The probability of adherence to the healthy pattern increased linearly with age and schooling and was higher among ex-smokers [prevalence ratio (PR)=1.22; confidence interval of 95% (95%CI) 1.04 - 1.42]. Younger women and those with better schooling had more chances of adhering to the risk pattern. The probability of adherence to the Brazilian pattern increased as schooling decreased and was higher among non-white women (PR = 1.29; 95%CI 1.04- 1.59). While adherence to healthy and risk patterns behaved differently according to women's age, it was similar regarding schooling. Socioeconomic conditions defined adherence to the Brazilian pattern.

The interaction of personal, contextual, and study characteristics and their effect on recruitment and participation of pregnant women in research: a qualitative study in Lebanon

BackgroundDeclining participation rates are impeding health research. Little is known about factors influencing the decision to participate in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Therefore, this paper reports on the various individual factors and their with contextual factors in influencing participation in research among pregnant women and the recommendations to enhance their recruitment in Lebanon.MethodsThis study used a qualitative research design drawing on focus groups and in-depth interviews. The Theoretical Domain Framework guided data collection and analysis. The three participant groups included: Group 1-Pregnant women (n = 25) attending public pre-natal events and antenatal clinics in Beirut; Group 2-Pregnant women (n = 6) already enrolled in the ongoing Mother and Infant Nutritional Assessment birth cohort study; Group 3-Key informants (n = 13) including health care workers involved in recruiting pregnant women. Conversations were audio recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and thematically analyzed.ResultsThree main factors influencing participation were revealed, with each factor encompassing several sub-themes: (1) personal factors (altruism, self-confidence, personal interest in the topic, previous understanding of the nature and purpose of research, education level, and previous research experience), (2) contextual factors (societal factors, family and friends), and (3) study characteristics (burden of the study, ethical considerations, incentives, and research interpersonal skills and physician endorsement to participate). The results suggested a dynamic interaction among the identified factors, forming two intersecting axes, with a four-quadrant configuration. The y- and x-axes represented personal factors and contextual factors, respectively. Individuals positioned on the lower-left quadrant were the least likely to participate; those on the upper-right quadrant were the most likely to participate; while those on the upper-left and lower-right quadrants were indecisive. Study characteristics seemed to affect the decision of pregnant women to participate situated in any of the four quadrants. Specific recommendations to improve participation were also identified.ConclusionsOur findings suggested an interaction of personal factors, contextual factors, and study characteristics affecting subjects’ participation. This interaction integrates factors into a novel dynamic framework that could be used in future studies. The recommendations identified may help improve participation of pregnant women in health research hence enhancing the quality and generalizability of research findings in LMIC.

Abstracts from the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health 2018 Annual BIRCWH Meeting – Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health November 28, 2018

Abstracts from the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health 2018 Annual BIRCWH Meeting – Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health November 28, 2018

Working Together to Address Women's Health in Research and Drug Development: Summary of the 2017 Women's Health Congress Preconference Symposium.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical research, requiring physicians to extrapolate medical recommendations for women from clinical research done in cohorts consisting predominantly of male participants. While government-funded clinical research has achieved gender parity in phase-3 clinical trials across many biomedical disciplines, improvements are still needed in several facets of women's health research, such as the inclusion of women in early-phase clinical trials, the inclusion of pregnant women and women with physical and intellectual disabilities, the consideration of sex as a biological variable in preclinical research, and the analysis and reporting of sex and gender differences across the full biomedical research continuum. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women's Health and the Office of Women's Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cosponsored a preconference symposium at the 25th Annual Women's Health Congress, held in Arlington, VA in April, 2017, to highlight gains made and remaining needs regarding the representation of women in clinical research, to introduce innovative procedures and technologies, and to outline revised policy for future studies. Six speakers presented information on a range of subjects related to the representation of women in clinical research and federal initiatives to advance precision medicine. Topics included the following: the return on investment from the NIH-funded Women's Health Initiative; progress in including women in clinical trials for FDA-approved drugs and products; the importance of clinical trials in pregnant women; FDA initiatives to report drug safety during pregnancy; the NIH-funded All of Us Research Program; and efforts to enhance FDA transparency and communications, including the introduction of Drug Trials Snapshots. This article summarizes the major points of the presentations and the discussions that followed.

Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine-Evaluating Knowledge Gaps.

Migraine is a common chronic neurological disease that disproportionately affects women. Migraine has significant negative effects on physical, emotional, and social aspects of health, and can be costly for patients, employers, and society as a whole. Growing evidence supports the roles of sex and gender in migraine risk, pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and management. However, sex and gender differences in migraine have received limited attention, which can impede advancements in migraine detection, treatment, care, and education. The Society for Women's Health Research convened an interdisciplinary expert panel of researchers, clinicians, and advocates for a roundtable meeting to review the current research on sex and gender differences in migraine. This review summarizes discussions from the roundtable and prioritizes areas of need that warrant further attention in migraine research, care, and education. Examining sex and gender differences in migraine and addressing knowledge gaps will decrease the health and economic burden of migraine for both women and men.

Reproductive Outcomes Among Women with Eating Disorders or Disordered Eating Behavior: Does Methodological Approach Shape Research Findings?

There is a well-documented link between eating disorders (EDs) and adverse health outcomes, including fertility difficulties. These findings stem largely from clinical data or samples using a clinical measure (e.g., diagnosis) of EDs, which may limit our understanding of how EDs or disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) shape female fertility. We compared reproductive outcomes from two longitudinal data sources, clinical and population-based data from the Utah Population Database (UPDB) (N = 6,046), and nonclinical community-based data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Young Adult Health (Add Health) (N = 5,951). We examined age at first birth using Cox regression and parity using negative binomial regression. Using the UPDB data, women with diagnosed ED experienced later ages of first birth (hazard rate ratio [HRR] = 0.38; p < 0.01) and lower parity (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.38; p < 0.01) relative to women without EDs. Using the Add Health sample, women who self-reported DEB experienced earlier age of first birth (HRR = 1.16; p < 0.05) and higher parity (IRR = 1.17; p < 0.01) relative to women without DEB. Conflicting results suggest two sets of mechanisms, physical/biological (sex specific) and social/behavioral (gender specific), may be simultaneously shaping the reproductive outcomes of women with histories of EDs or DEB. Discipline-specific methodology likely shapes Women's Health research outcomes.

Understanding the impact of sex and gender in Alzheimer's disease: A call to action

IntroductionPrecision medicine methodologies and approaches have advanced our understanding of the clinical presentation, development, progression, and management of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, sex and gender have not yet been adequately integrated into many of these approaches. MethodsThe Society for Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Network on AD, comprised of an expert panel of scientists and clinicians, reviewed ongoing and published research related to sex and gender differences in AD. ResultsThe current review is a result of this Network's efforts and aims to: (1) highlight the current state-of-the-science in the AD field on sex and gender differences; (2) address knowledge gaps in assessing sex and gender differences; and (3) discuss 12 priority areas that merit further research. DiscussionThe exclusion of sex and gender has impeded faster advancement in the detection, treatment, and care of AD across the clinical spectrum. Greater attention to these differences will improve outcomes for both sexes.

Differential Responses in the Splenic CD4+ T Cell Proteome Following Ang II‐Induced Hypertension in VCD‐Treated Menopausal Mice

Cycling female mice are protected against Angiotensin II (Ang II) hypertension, and inducing ovarian failure (menopause) eliminates this protection. T lymphocytes are required for the development of Ang II hypertension in male mice, however premenopausal females are resistant to T cell‐induced hypertension. Following menopause (loss of estrogen) resistance is lost, allowing activation of T cell‐induced hypertension in postmenopausal females. The purpose of this study was to identify, in vivo, T cell‐specific proteome responses to Ang II, before and after menopause. 10‐week‐old C57BL/6 female mice received i.p. 4‐vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) injections for 20 consecutive days to induce ovarian failure (VCD menopause model). Cyclicity was monitored daily via vaginal cytology. Once in menopause, Ang II was infused (800 ng/kg/min) for 14 days, which has been shown to cause an increase in SBP of 25 mmHg. Ang II in VCD‐treated menopausal females (VCD/AngII) resulted in significantly decreased heart rates versus controls (Control 682 ± 5.6 vs. VCD/AngII 592.5 ± 28.5, p &lt; 0.05). Splenic CD4+ T cells were purified via negative immune‐magnetic selection and CD4+ purity was measured via flow cytometry (&gt;90% purity). Proteomic analysis was performed on control, pre‐menopausal/Ang II and VCD/AngII mice (n=4 per group). Protein lysates from the CD4+ T cells were separated by SDS‐PAGE and subjected to in‐gel tryptic digestion followed by tandem mass spectrometry analysis, resulting in 7,123 proteins identified across the entire experiment. Quantitative proteomics were performed via label‐free quantification using Progenesis software‐based extracted ion abundance. Of the 5,857 proteins identified with two or more unique peptides, 474 of the proteins exhibited significant abundance differences between control, Ang II and VCD/Ang II groups as assessed by One‐Way ANOVA statistical analysis (p ≤ 0.05). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of these 474 proteins identified 159 GO biological pathways that were significantly overrepresented (p ≤ 0.05). Pathways associated with increased inflammation and reduced inhibition of inflammatory cytokines were among those identified. Using IHC we show that renal macrophage infiltration is significantly increased in VCD/Ang II mice compared to Ang II and control groups. Overall, our data suggests that following Ang II infusion, splenic T cells are differently impacted by the loss of estrogen, leading to an increased pro‐hypertensive cytokine milieu compared to pre‐menopausal Ang II infused mice.Support or Funding InformationR01HL131834 (HLB)Sarver Heart Center Endowment for Women's Health Research (HLB)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.