Epigenetic regulation of sex dimorphism in cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting people of all races, ages, and sexes. Substantial sex dimorphism exists in the prevalence, manifestation, and outcomes of CVDs. Understanding the role of sex hormones as well as sex-hormone-independent epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role in developing effective and sex-specific cardiovascular therapeutics. Existing research highlights significant disparities in sex hormones, epigenetic regulators, and gene expression related to cardiac health, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of these variations between men and women. Despite these differences, current treatment approaches for CVDs often lack sex-specific considerations. A pivotal shift toward personalized medicine, informed by comprehensive insights into sex-specific DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA dynamics, holds the potential to revolutionize CVD management. By understanding sex-specific epigenetic complexities, independent of sex hormone influence, future cardiovascular research can be tailored to achieve effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for both men and women. This review summarizes the current knowledge and gaps in epigenetic mechanisms and sex dimorphism implicated in CVDs.