A recent study from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Monash University, Australia), published in Communications Biology on July 6, 2025, reveals a transformative discovery: estrogen activates annexin-A1 , a key protein that protects women's hearts from inflammation and damage caused by high blood pressure. This finding explains why cardiovascular disease protocols should be tailored to gender, rather than simply replicating male treatments on a female scale.

🌸 Main findings

• ·       Estrogen increases levels of annexin-A1 , considered "the natural healer of inflammation," reducing the risk of heart damage in hypertensive women.
•        In preclinical models, the lack of annexin-A1 increased vascular inflammation in perimenopausal mice .
• ·       The natural drop in estrogen during peri-menopause increases vulnerability to cardiovascular damage .

Why is this so relevant?

1.     Early risk detector : annexin-A1 could become a clinical marker, anticipating diseases and improving early diagnoses.

2.     New targeted therapies : this opens the door to drugs that increase or mimic this protein.

3.     Inclusive trial design : the urgency of including women in cardiac clinical research is emphasized, taking into account their hormonal particularities.

In perspective

Dr. Helena Qin, co-author, points out that current treatments “do not take into account women’s specific responses, leaving them underserved.” The next step is to validate these results in human clinical trials, along with immunomodulators containing annexin-A1.

What you can do

·       In women over 40, consider evaluating the hormonal impact on your cardiovascular health and discussing it with your cardiologist.

·       Maintain an anti-inflammatory lifestyle: exercise, a diet rich in antioxidants, stress management, and adequate sleep.