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Forsyth KS, Toothacre NE, Jiwrajka N, Driscoll AM, Shallberg LA, Cunningham-Rundles C, Barmettler S, Farmer J, Verbsky J, Routes J, Beiting DP, Romberg N, May MJ, Anguera MC. Maintenance of X chromosome inactivation after T cell activation requires NF-κB signaling. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eado0398. [PMID: 39365876 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ado0398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024]
Abstract
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances X-linked gene dosage between sexes. Unstimulated T cells lack cytological enrichment of X-inactive specific transcript (Xist) RNA and heterochromatic modifications on the inactive X chromosome (Xi), which are involved in maintenance of XCI, and these modifications return to the Xi after stimulation. Here, we examined allele-specific gene expression and epigenomic profiles of the Xi in T cells. We found that the Xi in unstimulated T cells is largely dosage compensated and enriched with the repressive H3K27me3 modification but not the H2AK119-ubiquitin (Ub) mark. Upon T cell stimulation mediated by both CD3 and CD28, the Xi accumulated H2AK119-Ub at gene regions of previous H3K27me3 enrichment. T cell receptor (TCR) engagement, specifically NF-κB signaling downstream of the TCR, was required for Xist RNA localization to the Xi. Disruption of NF-κB signaling in mouse and human T cells using genetic deletion, chemical inhibitors, and patients with immunodeficiencies prevented Xist/XIST RNA accumulation at the Xi and altered X-linked gene expression. Our findings reveal a previously undescribed connection between NF-κB signaling pathways, which affects XCI maintenance in T cells in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Forsyth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Natalie E Toothacre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nikhil Jiwrajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Amanda M Driscoll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lindsey A Shallberg
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sara Barmettler
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 02114, USA
| | - Jocelyn Farmer
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 02114, USA
| | - James Verbsky
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John Routes
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Neil Romberg
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J May
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Montserrat C Anguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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2
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Ngwa C, Misrani A, Manyam KV, Xu Y, Qi S, Sharmeen R, McCullough L, Liu F. Escape of Kdm6a from X chromosome is detrimental to ischemic brains via IRF5 signaling. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4986866. [PMID: 39399684 PMCID: PMC11469404 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4986866/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
The role of chromatin biology and epigenetics in disease progression is gaining increasing recognition. Genes that escape X chromosome inactivation (XCI) can impact neuroinflammation through epigenetic mechanisms. Our prior research has suggested that the X escapee genes Kdm6a and Kdm5c are involved in microglial activation after stroke in aged mice. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that Kdm6a/5c demethylate H3K27Me3/H3K4Me3 in microglia respectively, and mediate the transcription of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and IRF4, leading to microglial pro-inflammatory responses and exacerbated stroke injury. Aged (17-20 months) Kdm6a/5c microglial conditional knockout (CKO) female mice (one allele of the gene) were subjected to a 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Gene floxed females (two alleles) and males (one allele) were included as controls. Infarct volume and behavioral deficits were quantified 3 days after stroke. Immune responses including microglial activation and infiltration of peripheral leukocytes in the ischemic brain were assessed by flow cytometry. Epigenetic modification of IRF5/4 by Kdm6a/5c were analyzed by CUT&RUN assay. The demethylation of H3K27Me3 by kdm6a increased IRF5 transcription; meanwhile Kdm5c demethylated H3K4Me3 to repress IRF5 . Both Kdm6a fl/fl and Kdm5c fl/fl mice had worse stroke outcomes compared to fl/y and CKO mice. Gene floxed females showed more robust expression of CD68 in microglia, elevated brain and plasma levels of IL-1β or TNF-α, after stroke. We concluded that IRF5 signaling plays a critical role in mediating the deleterious effect of Kdm6a ; whereas Kdm5c's effect is independent of IRF5.
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Wilson MP, Kentache T, Althoff CR, Schulz C, de Bettignies G, Mateu Cabrera G, Cimbalistiene L, Burnyte B, Yoon G, Costain G, Vuillaumier-Barrot S, Cheillan D, Rymen D, Rychtarova L, Hansikova H, Bury M, Dewulf JP, Caligiore F, Jaeken J, Cantagrel V, Van Schaftingen E, Matthijs G, Foulquier F, Bommer GT. A pseudoautosomal glycosylation disorder prompts the revision of dolichol biosynthesis. Cell 2024; 187:3585-3601.e22. [PMID: 38821050 PMCID: PMC11250103 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Dolichol is a lipid critical for N-glycosylation as a carrier for activated sugars and nascent oligosaccharides. It is commonly thought to be directly produced from polyprenol by the enzyme SRD5A3. Instead, we found that dolichol synthesis requires a three-step detour involving additional metabolites, where SRD5A3 catalyzes only the second reaction. The first and third steps are performed by DHRSX, whose gene resides on the pseudoautosomal regions of the X and Y chromosomes. Accordingly, we report a pseudoautosomal-recessive disease presenting as a congenital disorder of glycosylation in patients with missense variants in DHRSX (DHRSX-CDG). Of note, DHRSX has a unique dual substrate and cofactor specificity, allowing it to act as a NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase and as a NADPH-dependent reductase in two non-consecutive steps. Thus, our work reveals unexpected complexity in the terminal steps of dolichol biosynthesis. Furthermore, we provide insights into the mechanism by which dolichol metabolism defects contribute to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew P Wilson
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Takfarinas Kentache
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | - Charlotte R Althoff
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Céline Schulz
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Geoffroy de Bettignies
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Gisèle Mateu Cabrera
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Loreta Cimbalistiene
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Birute Burnyte
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Grace Yoon
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory Costain
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sandrine Vuillaumier-Barrot
- AP-HP, Biochimie Métabolique et Cellulaire and Département de Génétique, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, and Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, INSERM U1149, CRI, Paris, France
| | - David Cheillan
- Service Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire - Hospices Civils de Lyon; Laboratoire Carmen - Inserm U1060, INRAE UMR1397, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Daisy Rymen
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucie Rychtarova
- Laboratory for Study of Mitochondrial Disorders, Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Hana Hansikova
- Laboratory for Study of Mitochondrial Disorders, Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marina Bury
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | - Joseph P Dewulf
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | - Francesco Caligiore
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | - Jaak Jaeken
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Cantagrel
- Developmental Brain Disorders Laboratory, Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR1163, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Emile Van Schaftingen
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium.
| | - Gert Matthijs
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - François Foulquier
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000 Lille, France.
| | - Guido T Bommer
- Metabolic Research Group, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium.
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Zhang P, Munier JJ, Wiese CB, Vergnes L, Link JC, Abbasi F, Ronquillo E, Scheker K, Muñoz A, Kuang YL, Theusch E, Lu M, Sanchez G, Oni-Orisan A, Iribarren C, McPhaul MJ, Nomura DK, Knowles JW, Krauss RM, Medina MW, Reue K. X chromosome dosage drives statin-induced dysglycemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5571. [PMID: 38956041 PMCID: PMC11219728 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49764-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Statin drugs lower blood cholesterol levels for cardiovascular disease prevention. Women are more likely than men to experience adverse statin effects, particularly new-onset diabetes (NOD) and muscle weakness. Here we find that impaired glucose homeostasis and muscle weakness in statin-treated female mice are associated with reduced levels of the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), impaired redox tone, and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Statin adverse effects are prevented in females by administering fish oil as a source of DHA, by reducing dosage of the X chromosome or the Kdm5c gene, which escapes X chromosome inactivation and is normally expressed at higher levels in females than males. As seen in female mice, we find that women experience more severe reductions than men in DHA levels after statin administration, and that DHA levels are inversely correlated with glucose levels. Furthermore, induced pluripotent stem cells from women who developed NOD exhibit impaired mitochondrial function when treated with statin, whereas cells from men do not. These studies identify X chromosome dosage as a genetic risk factor for statin adverse effects and suggest DHA supplementation as a preventive co-therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixiang Zhang
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph J Munier
- Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie B Wiese
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Laurent Vergnes
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jenny C Link
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, USA
| | - Fahim Abbasi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Emilio Ronquillo
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Katherine Scheker
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Antonio Muñoz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Yu-Lin Kuang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Theusch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Meng Lu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Akinyemi Oni-Orisan
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael J McPhaul
- Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, and Novartis-Berkeley Center of Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua W Knowles
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ronald M Krauss
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Marisa W Medina
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Forsyth KS, Jiwrajka N, Lovell CD, Toothacre NE, Anguera MC. The conneXion between sex and immune responses. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:487-502. [PMID: 38383754 PMCID: PMC11216897 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-00996-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
There are notable sex-based differences in immune responses to pathogens and self-antigens, with female individuals exhibiting increased susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases, and male individuals displaying preferential susceptibility to some viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections. Although sex hormones clearly contribute to sex differences in immune cell composition and function, the presence of two X chromosomes in female individuals suggests that differential gene expression of numerous X chromosome-linked immune-related genes may also influence sex-biased innate and adaptive immune cell function in health and disease. Here, we review the sex differences in immune system composition and function, examining how hormones and genetics influence the immune system. We focus on the genetic and epigenetic contributions responsible for altered X chromosome-linked gene expression, and how this impacts sex-biased immune responses in the context of pathogen infection and systemic autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Forsyth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nikhil Jiwrajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudia D Lovell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Natalie E Toothacre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Montserrat C Anguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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6
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Winge SB, Skakkebaek NE, Aksglaede L, Saritaş G, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Goossens E, Juul A, Almstrup K. X‑chromosome loss rescues Sertoli cell maturation and spermatogenesis in Klinefelter syndrome. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:396. [PMID: 38839795 PMCID: PMC11153587 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) causes infertility with a testicular histology comprising two types of Sertoli cell-only tubules, representing mature and immature-like Sertoli cells, and occasionally focal spermatogenesis. Here, we show that the immature-like Sertoli cells highly expressed XIST and had two X-chromosomes, while the mature Sertoli cells lacked XIST expression and had only one X-chromosome. Sertoli cells supporting focal spermatogenesis also lacked XIST expression and the additional X-chromosome, while the spermatogonia expressed XIST despite having only one X-chromosome. XIST was expressed in Sertoli cells until puberty, where a gradual loss was observed. Our results suggest that a micro-mosaic loss of the additional X-chromosome is needed for Sertoli cells to mature and to allow focal spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B Winge
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark.
| | - Niels E Skakkebaek
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Lise Aksglaede
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Gülizar Saritaş
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Ellen Goossens
- Research group Genetics, Reproduction and Development (GRAD), Biology of the Testis team, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and the International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark.
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7
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Xiao H, Wei J, Yuan L, Li J, Zhang C, Liu G, Liu X. Sex hormones in COVID-19 severity: The quest for evidence and influence mechanisms. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18490. [PMID: 38923119 PMCID: PMC11194454 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have reported variable effects of sex hormones on serious diseases. Severe disease and mortality rates in COVID-19 show marked gender differences that may be related to sex hormones. Sex hormones regulate the expression of the viral receptors ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which affect the extent of viral infection and consequently cause variable outcomes. In addition, sex hormones have complex regulatory mechanisms that affect the immune response to viruses. These hormones also affect metabolism, leading to visceral obesity and severe disease can result from complications such as thrombosis. This review presents the latest researches on the regulatory functions of hormones in viral receptors, immune responses, complications as well as their role in COVID-19 progression. It also discusses the therapeutic possibilities of these hormones by reviewing the recent findings of clinical and assay studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Jiayi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Lunzhi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Jiayuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Chang Zhang
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen)Fudan UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Xuan Liu
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen)Fudan UniversityXiamenChina
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8
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Flowers AE, Gonzalez TL, Wang Y, Santiskulvong C, Clark EL, Novoa A, Jefferies CA, Lawrenson K, Chan JL, Joshi NV, Zhu Y, Tseng HR, Wang ET, Ishimori M, Karumanchi SA, Williams J, Pisarska MD. High-throughput mRNA sequencing of human placenta shows sex differences across gestation. Placenta 2024; 150:8-21. [PMID: 38537412 PMCID: PMC11262790 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fetal sex affects fetal and maternal health outcomes in pregnancy, but this connection remains poorly understood. As the placenta is the route of fetomaternal communication and derives from the fetal genome, placental gene expression sex differences may explain these outcomes. OBJECTIVES We utilized next generation sequencing to study the normal human placenta in both sexes in first and third trimester to generate a normative transcriptome based on sex and gestation. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed 124 first trimester (T1, 59 female and 65 male) and 43 third trimester (T3, 18 female and 25 male) samples for sex differences within each trimester and sex-specific gestational differences. RESULTS Placenta shows more significant sexual dimorphism in T1, with 94 T1 and 26 T3 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The sex chromosomes contributed 60.6% of DEGs in T1 and 80.8% of DEGs in T3, excluding X/Y pseudoautosomal regions. There were 6 DEGs from the pseudoautosomal regions, only significant in T1 and all upregulated in males. The distribution of DEGs on the X chromosome suggests genes on Xp (the short arm) may be particularly important in placental sex differences. Dosage compensation analysis of X/Y homolog genes shows expression is primarily contributed by the X chromosome. In sex-specific analyses of first versus third trimester, there were 2815 DEGs common to both sexes upregulated in T1, and 3263 common DEGs upregulated in T3. There were 7 female-exclusive DEGs upregulated in T1, 15 female-exclusive DEGs upregulated in T3, 10 male-exclusive DEGs upregulated in T1, and 20 male-exclusive DEGs upregulated in T3. DISCUSSION This is the largest cohort of placentas across gestation from healthy pregnancies defining the normative sex dimorphic gene expression and sex common, sex specific and sex exclusive gene expression across gestation. The first trimester has the most sexually dimorphic transcripts, and the majority were upregulated in females compared to males in both trimesters. The short arm of the X chromosome and the pseudoautosomal region is particularly critical in defining sex differences in the first trimester placenta. As pregnancy is a dynamic state, sex specific DEGs across gestation may contribute to sex dimorphic changes in overall outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Flowers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Tania L Gonzalez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Chintda Santiskulvong
- CS Cancer Applied Genomics Shared Resource, CS Cancer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Ekaterina L Clark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Allynson Novoa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Caroline A Jefferies
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Kate Lawrenson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica L Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nikhil V Joshi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Erica T Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mariko Ishimori
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - S Ananth Karumanchi
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Margareta D Pisarska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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9
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Tinker RJ, Bastarache L, Ezell K, Neumann SM, Furuta Y, Morgan KA, Phillips JA. Data from electronic healthcare records expand our understanding of X-linked genetic diseases. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63527. [PMID: 38229216 PMCID: PMC11181165 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Disease specific cohort studies have reported details on X linked (XL) disorders affecting females. We investigated the spectrum and penetrance of XL disorders seen in electronic health records (EHR). We generated a cohort of individuals diagnosed with XL disorders at Vanderbilt University Medical Center over 20 years. Our cohort included 477 males and 203 females diagnosed with 108 different XL genetic disorders. We found large differences between the female/male (F/M) ratios for various XL disorders regardless of their OMIM annotated mode of inheritance. We identified four XL recessive disorders affecting women previously only described in men. Biomarkers for XL disease had unique gender-specific patterns differing between modes of inheritance. EHRs provide large cohorts of XL genetic disorders that give new insights compared to the literature. Differences in the F/M ratios and biomarkers of XL disorders observed likely result from disease specific and sex dependent penetrance. We conclude that observed gender ratios associated with specific XL disorders may be more useful than those predicted by Mendelian genetics provided by OMIM. Our findings of a gender specific penetrance and severity for XL disorders show unexpected differences from Mendelian predictions. Further work is required to validate our findings in larger combined EHR cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory J. Tinker
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lisa Bastarache
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kimberly Ezell
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Serena M. Neumann
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yutaka Furuta
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Karee A. Morgan
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - John A. Phillips
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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10
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Vosberg DE. Sex and Gender in Population Neuroscience. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38509404 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
To understand psychiatric and neurological disorders and the structural and functional properties of the human brain, it is essential to consider the roles of sex and gender. In this chapter, I first define sex and gender and describe studies of sex differences in non-human animals. In humans, I describe the sex differences in behavioral and clinical phenotypes and neuroimaging-derived phenotypes, including whole-brain measures, regional subcortical and cortical measures, and structural and functional connectivity. Although structural whole-brain sex differences are large, regional effects (adjusting for whole-brain volumes) are typically much smaller and often fail to replicate. Nevertheless, while an individual neuroimaging feature may have a small effect size, aggregating them in a "maleness/femaleness" score or machine learning multivariate paradigm may prove to be predictive and informative of sex- and gender-related traits. Finally, I conclude by summarizing emerging investigations of gender norms and gender identity and provide methodological recommendations to incorporate sex and gender in population neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Vosberg
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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11
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Amato-Menker CJ, Hopen Q, Pettit A, Gandhi J, Hu G, Schafer R, Franko J. XX sex chromosome complement modulates immune responses to heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae immunization in a microbiome-dependent manner. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:21. [PMID: 38486287 PMCID: PMC10938708 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00597-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in male vs. female immune responses are well-documented and have significant clinical implications. While the immunomodulatory effects of sex hormones are well established, the contributions of sex chromosome complement (XX vs. XY) and gut microbiome diversity on immune sexual dimorphisms have only recently become appreciated. Here we investigate the individual and collaborative influences of sex chromosome complements and gut microbiota on humoral immune activation. METHODS Male and female Four Core Genotype (FCG) mice were immunized with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (HKSP). Humoral immune responses were assessed, and X-linked immune-related gene expression was evaluated to explain the identified XX-dependent phenotype. The functional role of Kdm6a, an X-linked epigenetic regulatory gene of interest, was evaluated ex vivo using mitogen stimulation of B cells. Additional influences of the gut microbiome on sex chromosome-dependent B cell activation was also evaluated by antibiotically depleting gut microbiota prior to HKSP immunization. Reconstitution of the depleted microbiome with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria tested the impact of SCFAs on XX-dependent immune activation. RESULTS XX mice exhibited higher HKSP-specific IgM-secreting B cells and plasma cell frequencies than XY mice, regardless of gonadal sex. Although Kdm6a was identified as an X-linked gene overexpressed in XX B cells, inhibition of its enzymatic activity did not affect mitogen-induced plasma cell differentiation or antibody production in a sex chromosome-dependent manner ex vivo. Enhanced humoral responses in XX vs. XY immunized FCG mice were eliminated after microbiome depletion, indicating that the microbiome contributes to the identified XX-dependent immune enhancement. Reconstituting microbiota-depleted mice with select SCFA-producing bacteria enhanced fecal SCFA concentrations and increased humoral responses in XX, but not XY, FCG mice. However, exposure to the SCFA propionate alone did not enhance mitogenic B cell stimulation in ex vivo studies. CONCLUSIONS FCG mice have been used to assess sex hormone and sex chromosome complement influences on various sexually dimorphic traits. The current study indicates that the gut microbiome impacts humoral responses in an XX-dependent manner, suggesting that the collaborative influence of gut bacteria and other sex-specific factors should be considered when interpreting data aimed at delineating the mechanisms that promote sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly J Amato-Menker
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Department of Research, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Quinn Hopen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Department of Research, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Andrea Pettit
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Jasleen Gandhi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gangqing Hu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Rosana Schafer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Jennifer Franko
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
- Department of Research, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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12
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Singhal A, Roth C, Micheva-Viteva SN, Venu V, Lappala A, Lee JT, Starkenburg SR, Steadman CR, Sanbonmatsu KY. Human Coronavirus Infection Reorganizes Spatial Genomic Architecture in Permissive Lung Cells. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3979539. [PMID: 38559036 PMCID: PMC10980144 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3979539/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin conformation capture followed by next-generation sequencing in combination with large-scale polymer simulations (4DHiC) produces detailed information on genomic loci interactions, allowing for the interrogation of 3D spatial genomic structures. Here, Hi-C data was acquired from the infection of fetal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells with α-coronavirus 229E (CoV229E). Experimental Hi-C contact maps were used to determine viral-induced changes in genomic architecture over a 48-hour time period following viral infection, revealing substantial alterations in contacts within chromosomes and in contacts between different chromosomes. To gain further structural insight and quantify the underlying changes, we applied the 4DHiC polymer simulation method to reconstruct the 3D genomic structures and dynamics corresponding to the Hi-C maps. The models successfully reproduced experimental Hi-C data, including the changes in contacts induced by viral infection. Our 3D spatial simulations uncovered widespread chromatin restructuring, including increased chromosome compactness and A-B compartment mixing arising from infection. Our model also suggests increased spatial accessibility to regions containing interferon-stimulated genes upon infection with CoV229E, followed by chromatin restructuring at later time points, potentially inducing the migration of chromatin into more compact regions. This is consistent with previously observed suppression of gene expression. Our spatial genomics study provides a mechanistic structural basis for changes in chromosome architecture induced by coronavirus infection in lung cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Singhal
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos,NM, USA
| | - Cullen Roth
- Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | | | - Vrinda Venu
- Climate, Ecology & Environment, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Anna Lappala
- Department of Genetics, The Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jeannie T. Lee
- Department of Genetics, The Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Departement of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
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13
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Hauth A, Panten J, Kneuss E, Picard C, Servant N, Rall I, Pérez-Rico YA, Clerquin L, Servaas N, Villacorta L, Jung F, Luong C, Chang HY, Zaugg JB, Stegle O, Odom DT, Loda A, Heard E. Escape from X inactivation is directly modulated by levels of Xist non-coding RNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581559. [PMID: 38559194 PMCID: PMC10979913 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
In placental females, one copy of the two X chromosomes is largely silenced during a narrow developmental time window, in a process mediated by the non-coding RNA Xist1. Here, we demonstrate that Xist can initiate X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) well beyond early embryogenesis. By modifying its endogenous level, we show that Xist has the capacity to actively silence genes that escape XCI both in neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) and in vivo, in mouse embryos. We also show that Xist plays a direct role in eliminating TAD-like structures associated with clusters of escapee genes on the inactive X chromosome, and that this is dependent on Xist's XCI initiation partner, SPEN2. We further demonstrate that Xist's function in suppressing gene expression of escapees and topological domain formation is reversible for up to seven days post-induction, but that sustained Xist up-regulation leads to progressively irreversible silencing and CpG island DNA methylation of facultative escapees. Thus, the distinctive transcriptional and regulatory topologies of the silenced X chromosome is actively, directly - and reversibly - controlled by Xist RNA throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Hauth
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Jasper Panten
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma Kneuss
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christel Picard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Servant
- Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology of Cancer, INSERM U900, Paris 75005, France
| | - Isabell Rall
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yuvia A Pérez-Rico
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Clerquin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nila Servaas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Villacorta
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genomics Core Facility, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ferris Jung
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genomics Core Facility, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christy Luong
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Judith B Zaugg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, EMBL-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Stegle
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duncan T Odom
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Agnese Loda
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edith Heard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Collège de France, Paris 75005, France
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14
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Forsyth KS, Toothacre NE, Jiwrajka N, Driscoll AM, Shallberg LA, Cunningham-Rundles C, Barmettler S, Farmer J, Verbsky J, Routes J, Beiting DP, Romberg N, May MJ, Anguera MC. NF-κB Signaling is Required for X-Chromosome Inactivation Maintenance Following T cell Activation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.08.579505. [PMID: 38405871 PMCID: PMC10888971 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.08.579505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
X Chromosome Inactivation (XCI) is a female-specific process which balances X-linked gene dosage between sexes. Unstimulated T cells lack cytological enrichment of Xist RNA and heterochromatic modifications on the inactive X chromosome (Xi), and these modifications become enriched at the Xi after cell stimulation. Here, we examined allele-specific gene expression and the epigenomic profiles of the Xi following T cell stimulation. We found that the Xi in unstimulated T cells is largely dosage compensated and is enriched with the repressive H3K27me3 modification, but not the H2AK119-ubiquitin (Ub) mark, even at promoters of XCI escape genes. Upon CD3/CD28-mediated T cell stimulation, the Xi accumulates H2AK119-Ub and H3K27me3 across the Xi. Next, we examined the T cell signaling pathways responsible for Xist RNA localization to the Xi and found that T cell receptor (TCR) engagement, specifically NF-κB signaling downstream of TCR, is required. Disruption of NF-κB signaling, using inhibitors or genetic deletions, in mice and patients with immunodeficiencies prevents Xist/XIST RNA accumulation at the Xi and alters expression of some X-linked genes. Our findings reveal a novel connection between NF-κB signaling pathways which impact XCI maintenance in female T cells.
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15
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Malcore RM, Kalantry S. A Comparative Analysis of Mouse Imprinted and Random X-Chromosome Inactivation. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:8. [PMID: 38390899 PMCID: PMC10885068 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian sexes are distinguished by the X and Y chromosomes. Whereas males harbor one X and one Y chromosome, females harbor two X chromosomes. To equalize X-linked gene expression between the sexes, therian mammals have evolved X-chromosome inactivation as a dosage compensation mechanism. During X-inactivation, most genes on one of the two X chromosomes in females are transcriptionally silenced, thus equalizing X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Two forms of X-inactivation characterize eutherian mammals, imprinted and random. Imprinted X-inactivation is defined by the exclusive inactivation of the paternal X chromosome in all cells, whereas random X-inactivation results in the silencing of genes on either the paternal or maternal X chromosome in individual cells. Both forms of X-inactivation have been studied intensively in the mouse model system, which undergoes both imprinted and random X-inactivation early in embryonic development. Stable imprinted and random X-inactivation requires the induction of the Xist long non-coding RNA. Following its induction, Xist RNA recruits proteins and complexes that silence genes on the inactive-X. In this review, we present a current understanding of the mechanisms of Xist RNA induction, and, separately, the establishment and maintenance of gene silencing on the inactive-X by Xist RNA during imprinted and random X-inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sundeep Kalantry
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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16
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Sun Y, Wiese M, Hmadi R, Karayol R, Seyfferth J, Martinez Greene JA, Erdogdu NU, Deboutte W, Arrigoni L, Holz H, Renschler G, Hirsch N, Foertsch A, Basilicata MF, Stehle T, Shvedunova M, Bella C, Pessoa Rodrigues C, Schwalb B, Cramer P, Manke T, Akhtar A. MSL2 ensures biallelic gene expression in mammals. Nature 2023; 624:173-181. [PMID: 38030723 PMCID: PMC10700137 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06781-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In diploid organisms, biallelic gene expression enables the production of adequate levels of mRNA1,2. This is essential for haploinsufficient genes, which require biallelic expression for optimal function to prevent the onset of developmental disorders1,3. Whether and how a biallelic or monoallelic state is determined in a cell-type-specific manner at individual loci remains unclear. MSL2 is known for dosage compensation of the male X chromosome in flies. Here we identify a role of MSL2 in regulating allelic expression in mammals. Allele-specific bulk and single-cell analyses in mouse neural progenitor cells revealed that, in addition to the targets showing biallelic downregulation, a class of genes transitions from biallelic to monoallelic expression after MSL2 loss. Many of these genes are haploinsufficient. In the absence of MSL2, one allele remains active, retaining active histone modifications and transcription factor binding, whereas the other allele is silenced, exhibiting loss of promoter-enhancer contacts and the acquisition of DNA methylation. Msl2-knockout mice show perinatal lethality and heterogeneous phenotypes during embryonic development, supporting a role for MSL2 in regulating gene dosage. The role of MSL2 in preserving biallelic expression of specific dosage-sensitive genes sets the stage for further investigation of other factors that are involved in allelic dosage compensation in mammalian cells, with considerable implications for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Sun
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Meike Wiese
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Raed Hmadi
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Remzi Karayol
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Janine Seyfferth
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Juan Alfonso Martinez Greene
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Niyazi Umut Erdogdu
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ward Deboutte
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Arrigoni
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Herbert Holz
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gina Renschler
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Naama Hirsch
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Arion Foertsch
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Stehle
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Shvedunova
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Bella
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Bjoern Schwalb
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Cramer
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Manke
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Asifa Akhtar
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany.
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17
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Jozwiak M, Doyen D, Denormandie P, Goury A, Marey J, Pène F, Cariou A, Mira JP, Dellamonica J, Nguyen LS. Impact of sex differences on cardiac injury in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Respir Res 2023; 24:292. [PMID: 37986157 PMCID: PMC10662091 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02581-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 infections are associated with accrued inflammatory responses which may result in cardiac injury. Immune response to infection appears different between men and women, suggesting that COVID-19 patients' outcomes may differ according to biological sex. However, the impact of biological sex on the occurrence of cardiac injury during intensive care unit (ICU) stay in COVID-19 patients remain unclear. METHODS In this multicenter and prospective study, we included consecutive patients admitted to ICU for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, during the first two pandemic waves. Biological, electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiographic variables were collected on ICU admission. Cardiac injury was defined by increased troponin above 99th percentile of upper norm value and newly diagnosed ECG and/or echocardiographic abnormalities. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with cardiac injury during ICU stay according to biological sex. The impact of biological sex on other subsequent clinical outcomes was also evaluated. RESULTS We included 198 patients with a median age of 66 (56-73) years, 147 (74%) patients were men and 51 (26%) were women. Overall, 119 (60%) patients had cardiac injury during ICU stay and the proportion of patients with cardiac injury during ICU stay was not different between men and women (60% vs. 61%, p = 1.00). Patients with cardiac injury during ICU stay showed more cardiovascular risk factors and chronic cardiac disease and had a higher ICU mortality rate. On ICU admission, they had a more marked lymphopenia (0.70 (0.40-0.80) vs. 0.80 (0.50-1.10) × 109/L, p < 0.01) and inflammation (C-Reactive Protein (155 (88-246) vs. 111 (62-192) mg/L, p = 0.03); D-Dimers (1293 (709-2523) vs. 900 (560-1813) µg/L, p = 0.03)). Plasmatic levels of inflammatory biomarkers on ICU admission correlated with SAPS-2 and SOFA scores but not with the different echocardiographic variables. Multivariate analysis confirmed cardiovascular risk factors (OR = 2.31; 95%CI (1.06-5.02), p = 0.03) and chronic cardiac disease (OR = 8.58; 95%CI (1.01-73.17), p = 0.04) were independently associated with the occurrence of cardiac injury during ICU stay, whereas biological sex (OR = 0.88; 95%CI (0.42-1.84), p = 0.73) was not. Biological sex had no impact on the occurrence during ICU stay of other clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Most critically ill patients with COVID-19 were men and experienced cardiac injury during ICU stay. Nevertheless, biological sex had no impact on the occurrence of cardiac injury during ICU stay or on other clinical outcomes. Clinical trial registration NCT04335162.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Jozwiak
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
- UR2CA, Unité de Recherche Clinique Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.
| | - Denis Doyen
- UR2CA, Unité de Recherche Clinique Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital L'Archet 1, 151 Rue Saint Antoine de Ginestière, 06200, Nice, France
| | - Pierre Denormandie
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Goury
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Rue du Général Koenig, 51092, Reims, France
| | - Jonathan Marey
- Unité de Soins Intensifs Pneumologiques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Pène
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Alain Cariou
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Mira
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jean Dellamonica
- UR2CA, Unité de Recherche Clinique Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital L'Archet 1, 151 Rue Saint Antoine de Ginestière, 06200, Nice, France
| | - Lee S Nguyen
- Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France
- Recherche et Innovation, Groupe hospitalier privé Ambroise Paré, Hartmann, 48Ter Bd Victor Hugo, 92200, Neuilly-Sur-Seine, France
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18
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Amato-Menker C, Hopen Q, Pettit A, Gandhi J, Hu G, Schafer R, Franko J. XX sex chromosome complement modulates immune responses to heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae immunization in a microbiome-dependent manner. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3429829. [PMID: 37961596 PMCID: PMC10635377 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3429829/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Differences in male vs. female immune responses are well-documented and have significant clinical implications. While the immunomodulatory effects of sex hormones are well established, the contributions of sex chromosome complement (XX vs. XY) and gut microbiome diversity on immune sexual dimorphisms have only recently become appreciated. Here we investigate the individual and collaborative influences of sex chromosome complements and gut microbiome bacteria on humoral immune activation. Methods Sham-operated and gonadectomized male and female Four Core Genotype (FCG) mice were immunized with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (HKSP). Humoral immune responses were assessed, and X-linked immune-related gene expression was evaluated to explain the identified XX-dependent phenotypes. Ex vivo studies investigated the functional role of Kdm6a, an X-linked epigenetic regulatory gene of interest, in mitogenic B cell activation. Additionally, we examined whether gut microbiome communities, or their metabolites, differentially influence immune cell activation in a sex chromosome-dependent manner. Endogenous gut microbiomes were antibiotically depleted and reconstituted with select short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria prior to HKSP immunization and immune responses assessed. Results XX mice exhibited higher HKSP-specific IgM-secreting B cells and plasma cell frequencies than XY mice, regardless of gonadal sex. Although Kdm6a was identified as an X-linked gene overexpressed in XX B cells, inhibition of its enzymatic activity did not affect mitogen-induced plasma cell differentiation or antibody production in a sex chromosome-dependent manner ex vivo. Enhanced humoral responses in XX vs. XY immunized FCG mice were eliminated after microbiome depletion, indicating that the microbiome contributes to the identified XX-dependent immune enhancement. Reconstituting microbiota-depleted mice with select SCFA-producing bacteria increased humoral responses in XX, but not XY, FCG mice. This XX-dependent enhancement appears to be independent of SCFA production in males, while female XX-dependent responses relied on SCFAs. Conclusions FCG mice have been used to assess the influence of sex hormones and sex chromosome complements on various sexually dimorphic traits. The current study indicates that the gut microbiome impacts humoral responses in an XX-dependent manner, suggesting that the collaborative influence of gut bacteria and other sex-specific factors should be considered when interpreting data aimed at delineating the mechanisms that promote sexual dimorphism.
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Zhao LY, Li P, Yao CC, Tian RH, Tang YX, Chen YZ, Zhou Z, Li Z. Low XIST expression in Sertoli cells of Klinefelter syndrome patients causes high susceptibility of these cells to an extra X chromosome. Asian J Androl 2023; 25:662-673. [PMID: 37202929 DOI: 10.4103/aja202315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most common genetic cause of human male infertility. However, the effect of the extra X chromosome on different testicular cell types remains poorly understood. Here, we profiled testicular single-cell transcriptomes from three KS patients and normal karyotype control individuals. Among the different somatic cells, Sertoli cells showed the greatest transcriptome changes in KS patients. Further analysis showed that X-inactive-specific transcript ( XIST ), a key factor that inactivates one X chromosome in female mammals, was widely expressed in each testicular somatic cell type but not in Sertoli cells. The loss of XIST in Sertoli cells leads to an increased level of X chromosome genes, and further disrupts their transcription pattern and cellular function. This phenomenon was not detected in other somatic cells such as Leydig cells and vascular endothelial cells. These results proposed a new mechanism to explain why testicular atrophy in KS patients is heterogeneous with loss of seminiferous tubules but interstitial hyperplasia. Our study provides a theoretical basis for subsequent research and related treatment of KS by identifying Sertoli cell-specific X chromosome inactivation failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Yu Zhao
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Chen-Cheng Yao
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Ru-Hui Tian
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yu-Xin Tang
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Yu-Zhuo Chen
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
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20
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Qi S, Ngwa C, Al Mamun A, Romana S, Wu T, Marrelli SP, Arnold AP, McCullough LD, Liu F. X, but not Y, Chromosomal Complement Contributes to Stroke Sensitivity in Aged Animals. Transl Stroke Res 2023; 14:776-789. [PMID: 35906327 PMCID: PMC10490444 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-022-01070-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Post-menopausal women become vulnerable to stroke and have poorer outcomes and higher mortality than age-matched men, and previous studies suggested that sex chromosomes play a vital role in mediating stroke sensitivity in the aged. It is unknown if this is due to effects of the X or Y chromosome. The present study used the XY* mouse model (with four genotypes: XX and XO gonadal females and XY and XXY gonadal males) to compare the effect of the X vs. Y chromosome compliment in stroke. Aged (18-20 months) and gonadectomized young (8-12 weeks) mice were subjected to a 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion. Infarct volume and behavioral deficits were quantified 3 days after stroke. Microglial activation and infiltration of peripheral leukocytes in the aged ischemic brain were assessed by flow cytometry. Plasma inflammatory cytokine levels by ELISA, and brain expression of two X chromosome-linked genes, KDM6A and KDM5C by immunochemistry, were also examined. Both aged and young XX and XXY mice had worse stroke outcomes compared to XO and XY mice, respectively; however, the difference between XX vs. XXY and XO vs. XY aged mice was minimal. Mice with two copies of the X chromosome showed more robust microglial activation, higher brain-infiltrating leukocytes, elevated plasma cytokine levels, and enhanced co-localization of KDM6A and KDM5C with Iba1+ cells after stroke than mice with one X chromosome. The number of X chromosomes mediates stroke sensitivity in aged mice, which might be processed through the X chromosome-linked genes and the inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Qi
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Conelius Ngwa
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Abdullah Al Mamun
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sharmeen Romana
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ting Wu
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sean P Marrelli
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA, 610 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Louise D McCullough
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Fudong Liu
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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21
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Crawford JD, Wang H, Trejo-Zambrano D, Cimbro R, Talbot CC, Thomas MA, Curran AM, Girgis AA, Schroeder JT, Fava A, Goldman DW, Petri M, Rosen A, Antiochos B, Darrah E. The XIST lncRNA is a sex-specific reservoir of TLR7 ligands in SLE. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e169344. [PMID: 37733447 PMCID: PMC10634230 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.169344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a dramatic sex bias, affecting 9 times more women than men. Activation of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) by self-RNA is a central pathogenic process leading to aberrant production of type I interferon (IFN) in SLE, but the specific RNA molecules that serve as TLR7 ligands have not been defined. By leveraging gene expression data and the known sequence specificity of TLR7, we identified the female-specific X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) long noncoding RNA as a uniquely rich source of TLR7 ligands in SLE. XIST RNA stimulated IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DCs in a TLR7-dependent manner, and deletion of XIST diminished the ability of whole cellular RNA to activate TLR7. XIST levels were elevated in blood leukocytes from women with SLE compared with controls, correlated positively with disease activity and the IFN signature, and were enriched in extracellular vesicles released from dying cells in vitro. Importantly, XIST was not IFN inducible, suggesting that XIST is a driver, rather than a consequence, of IFN in SLE. Overall, our work elucidated a role for XIST RNA as a female sex-specific danger signal underlying the sex bias in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hong Wang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine
| | | | | | - C. Conover Talbot
- The Single Cell and Transcriptomics Core, Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences; and
| | | | | | | | - John T. Schroeder
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea Fava
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine
| | | | | | - Antony Rosen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Erika Darrah
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine
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22
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Hong LYQ, Yeung ESH, Tran DT, Yerra VG, Kaur H, Kabir MDG, Advani SL, Liu Y, Batchu SN, Advani A. Altered expression, but small contribution, of the histone demethylase KDM6A in obstructive uropathy in mice. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049991. [PMID: 37655466 PMCID: PMC10482012 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic processes have emerged as important modulators of kidney health and disease. Here, we studied the role of KDM6A (a histone demethylase that escapes X-chromosome inactivation) in kidney tubule epithelial cells. We initially observed an increase in tubule cell Kdm6a mRNA in male mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). However, tubule cell knockout of KDM6A had relatively minor consequences, characterized by a small reduction in apoptosis, increase in inflammation and downregulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. In proximal tubule lineage HK-2 cells, KDM6A knockdown decreased PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein levels and mRNA levels of the encoding gene, PPARGC1A. Tubule cell Kdm6a mRNA levels were approximately 2-fold higher in female mice than in male mice, both under sham and UUO conditions. However, kidney fibrosis after UUO was similar in both sexes. The findings demonstrate Kdm6a to be a dynamically regulated gene in the kidney tubule, varying in expression levels by sex and in response to injury. Despite the context-dependent variation in Kdm6a expression, knockout of tubule cell KDM6A has subtle (albeit non-negligible) effects in the adult kidney, at least in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Y. Q. Hong
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Emily S. H. Yeung
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Duc Tin Tran
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Veera Ganesh Yerra
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Harmandeep Kaur
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - M. D. Golam Kabir
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Suzanne L. Advani
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Youan Liu
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Sri Nagarjun Batchu
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Andrew Advani
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
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23
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Urschel K, Hug KP, Zuo H, Büttner M, Furtmair R, Kuehn C, Stumpfe FM, Botos B, Achenbach S, Yuan Y, Dietel B, Tauchi M. The Shear Stress-Regulated Expression of Glypican-4 in Endothelial Dysfunction In Vitro and Its Clinical Significance in Atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11595. [PMID: 37511353 PMCID: PMC10380765 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Retention of circulating lipoproteins by their interaction with extracellular matrix molecules has been suggested as an underlying mechanism for atherosclerosis. We investigated the role of glypican-4 (GPC4), a heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan, in the development of endothelial dysfunction and plaque progression; Expression of GPC4 and HS was investigated in human umbilical vein/artery endothelial cells (HUVECs/HUAECs) using flow cytometry, qPCR, and immunofluorescent staining. Leukocyte adhesion was determined in HUVECs in bifurcation chamber slides under dynamic flow. The association between the degree of inflammation and GPC4, HS, and syndecan-4 expressions was analyzed in human carotid plaques; GPC4 was expressed in HUVECs/HUAECs. In HUVECs, GPC4 protein expression was higher in laminar than in non-uniform shear stress regions after a 1-day or 10-day flow (p < 0.01 each). The HS expression was higher under laminar flow after a 1 day (p < 0.001). Monocytic THP-1 cell adhesion to HUVECs was facilitated by GPC4 knock-down (p < 0.001) without affecting adhesion molecule expression. GPC4 and HS expression was lower in more-inflamed than in less-inflamed plaque shoulders (p < 0.05, each), especially in vulnerable plaque sections; Reduced expression of GPC4 was associated with atherogenic conditions, suggesting the involvement of GPC4 in both early and advanced stages of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Urschel
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Karsten P. Hug
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Hanxiao Zuo
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Michael Büttner
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Roman Furtmair
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Constanze Kuehn
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Florian M. Stumpfe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsstraße 21-23, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Balaz Botos
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, General Hospital Nuremberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauer Str. 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany;
| | - Stephan Achenbach
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Yan Yuan
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Barbara Dietel
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
| | - Miyuki Tauchi
- Department of Medicine 2—Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.U.); (K.P.H.); (R.F.); (S.A.); (B.D.)
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24
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Abstract
Although sex differences have been noted in cellular function and behavior, therapy efficacy, and disease incidence and outcomes, the adoption of sex as a biological variable in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine remains limited. Furthering the development of personalized, precision medicine requires considering biological sex at the bench and in the clinic. This review provides the basis for considering biological sex when designing tissue-engineered constructs and regenerative therapies by contextualizing sex as a biological variable within the tissue engineering triad of cells, matrices, and signals. To achieve equity in biological sex within medicine requires a cultural shift in science and engineering research, with active engagement by researchers, clinicians, companies, policymakers, and funding agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine B Allen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
| | - Christopher Ludtka
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
| | - Bryan D James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
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25
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Krueger K, Lamenza F, Gu H, El-Hodiri H, Wester J, Oberdick J, Fischer AJ, Oghumu S. Sex differences in susceptibility to substance use disorder: Role for X chromosome inactivation and escape? Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103859. [PMID: 37207894 PMCID: PMC10286730 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a sex-based disparity associated with substance use disorders (SUDs) as demonstrated by clinical and preclinical studies. Females are known to escalate from initial drug use to compulsive drug-taking behavior (telescoping) more rapidly, and experience greater negative withdrawal effects than males. Although these biological differences have largely been attributed to sex hormones, there is evidence for non-hormonal factors, such as the influence of the sex chromosome, which underlie sex disparities in addiction behavior. However, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex chromosome influences on substance abuse behavior are not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the role that escape from X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in females plays in sex-associated differences in addiction behavior. Females have two X chromosomes (XX), and during XCI, one X chromosome is randomly chosen to be transcriptionally silenced. However, some X-linked genes escape XCI and display biallelic gene expression. We generated a mouse model using an X-linked gene specific bicistronic dual reporter mouse as a tool to visualize allelic usage and measure XCI escape in a cell specific manner. Our results revealed a previously undiscovered X-linked gene XCI escaper (CXCR3), which is variable and cell type dependent. This illustrates the highly complex and context dependent nature of XCI escape which is largely understudied in the context of SUD. Novel approaches such as single cell RNA sequencing will provide a global molecular landscape and impact of XCI escape in addiction and facilitate our understanding of the contribution of XCI escape to sex disparities in SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Krueger
- Department of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Felipe Lamenza
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Howard Gu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Heithem El-Hodiri
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jason Wester
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - John Oberdick
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andy J Fischer
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steve Oghumu
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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26
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Terrin F, Tesoriere A, Plotegher N, Dalla Valle L. Sex and Brain: The Role of Sex Chromosomes and Hormones in Brain Development and Parkinson's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1486. [PMID: 37296608 PMCID: PMC10252697 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones and genes on the sex chromosomes are not only key factors in the regulation of sexual differentiation and reproduction but they are also deeply involved in brain homeostasis. Their action is crucial for the development of the brain, which presents different characteristics depending on the sex of individuals. The role of these players in the brain is fundamental in the maintenance of brain function during adulthood as well, thus being important also with respect to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore the role of biological sex in the development of the brain and analyze its impact on the predisposition toward and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we focus on Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has a higher incidence in the male population. We report how sex hormones and genes encoded by the sex chromosomes could protect from the disease or alternatively predispose toward its development. We finally underline the importance of considering sex when studying brain physiology and pathology in cellular and animal models in order to better understand disease etiology and develop novel tailored therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Plotegher
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.T.); (A.T.)
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27
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Yoon SH, Kim GY, Choi GT, Do JT. Organ Abnormalities Caused by Turner Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:1365. [PMID: 37408200 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Turner syndrome (TS), a genetic disorder due to incomplete dosage compensation of X-linked genes, affects multiple organ systems, leading to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, short stature, cardiovascular and vascular abnormalities, liver disease, renal abnormalities, brain abnormalities, and skeletal problems. Patients with TS experience premature ovarian failure with a rapid decline in ovarian function caused by germ cell depletion, and pregnancies carry a high risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Aortic abnormalities, heart defects, obesity, hypertension, and liver abnormalities, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, biliary involvement, liver cirrhosis, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia, are commonly observed in patients with TS. The SHOX gene plays a crucial role in short stature and abnormal skeletal phenotype in patients with TS. Abnormal structure formation of the ureter and kidney is also common in patients with TS, and a non-mosaic 45,X karyotype is significantly associated with horseshoe kidneys. TS also affects brain structure and function. In this review, we explore various phenotypic and disease manifestations of TS in different organs, including the reproductive system, cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, brain, and skeletal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Hoon Yoon
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga Yeon Kim
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu Tae Choi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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Ocañas SR, Ansere VA, Kellogg CM, Isola JVV, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Freeman WM. Chromosomal and gonadal factors regulate microglial sex effects in the aging brain. Brain Res Bull 2023; 195:157-171. [PMID: 36804773 PMCID: PMC10810555 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Biological sex contributes to phenotypic sex effects through genetic (sex chromosomal) and hormonal (gonadal) mechanisms. There are profound sex differences in the prevalence and progression of age-related brain diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammation of neural tissue is one of the most consistent age-related phenotypes seen with healthy aging and disease. The pro-inflammatory environment of the aging brain has primarily been attributed to microglial reactivity and adoption of heterogeneous reactive states dependent upon intrinsic (i.e., sex) and extrinsic (i.e., age, disease state) factors. Here, we review sex effects in microglia across the lifespan, explore potential genetic and hormonal molecular mechanisms of microglial sex effects, and discuss currently available models and methods to study sex effects in the aging brain. Despite recent attention to this area, significant further research is needed to mechanistically understand the regulation of microglial sex effects across the lifespan, which may open new avenues for sex informed prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Ocañas
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Victor A Ansere
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Collyn M Kellogg
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jose V V Isola
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ana J Chucair-Elliott
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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29
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Lott N, Gebhard CE, Bengs S, Haider A, Kuster GM, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gebhard C. Sex hormones in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility: key players or confounders? Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:217-231. [PMID: 36494595 PMCID: PMC9734735 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-022-00780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has a clear sex disparity in clinical outcomes. Hence, the interaction between sex hormones, virus entry receptors and immune responses has attracted major interest as a target for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This Review summarizes the current understanding of the roles of androgens, oestrogens and progesterone in the regulation of virus entry receptors and disease progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as their therapeutic value. Although many experimental and clinical studies have analysed potential mechanisms by which female sex hormones might provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, there is currently no clear evidence for a sex-specific expression of virus entry receptors. In addition, reports describing an influence of oestrogen, progesterone and androgens on the course of COVID-19 vary widely. Current data also do not support the administration of oestradiol in COVID-19. The conflicting evidence and lack of consensus results from a paucity of mechanistic studies and clinical trials reporting sex-disaggregated data. Further, the influence of variables beyond biological factors (sex), such as sociocultural factors (gender), on COVID-19 manifestations has not been investigated. Future research will have to fill this knowledge gap as the influence of sex and gender on COVID-19 will be essential to understanding and managing the long-term consequences of this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Lott
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Susan Bengs
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriela M Kuster
- Department of Cardiology and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Gebhard
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
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30
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Lozier NR, Muscio S, Pal I, Cai HM, Rubio ME. Sex differences in glutamate AMPA receptor subunits mRNA with fast gating kinetics in the mouse cochlea. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1100505. [PMID: 36936507 PMCID: PMC10017478 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence shows that females have increased supra-threshold peripheral auditory processing compared to males. This is indicated by larger auditory brainstem responses (ABR) wave I amplitude, which measures afferent spiral ganglion neuron (SGN)-auditory nerve synchrony. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this sex difference are mostly unknown. We sought to elucidate sex differences in ABR wave I amplitude by examining molecular markers known to affect synaptic transmission kinetics. Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) mediate fast excitatory transmission in mature SGN afferent synapses. Each AMPAR channel is a tetramer composed of GluA2, 3, and 4 subunits (Gria2, 3, and 4 genes), and those lacking GluA2 subunits have larger currents, are calcium-permeable, and have faster gating kinetics. Moreover, alternatively spliced flip and flop isoforms of each AMPAR subunit affect channel kinetics, having faster kinetics those AMPARs containing Gria3 and Gria4 flop isoforms. We hypothesized that SGNs of females have more fast-gating AMPAR subunit mRNA than males, which could contribute to more temporally precise synaptic transmission and increased SGN synchrony. Our data show that the index of Gria3 relative to Gria2 transcripts on SGN was higher in females than males (females: 48%; males: 43%), suggesting that females have more SGNs with higher Gria3 mRNA relative to Gria2. Analysis of the relative abundance of the flip and flop alternatively spliced isoforms showed that females have a 2-fold increase in fast-gating Gria3 flop mRNA, while males have more slow-gating (2.5-fold) of the flip. We propose that Gria3 may in part mediate greater SGN synchrony in females. Significance Statement: Females of multiple vertebrate species, including fish and mammals, have been reported to have enhanced sound-evoked synchrony of afferents in the auditory nerve. However, the underlying molecular mediators of this physiologic sex difference are unknown. Elucidating potential molecular mechanisms related to sex differences in auditory processing is important for maintaining healthy ears and developing potential treatments for hearing loss in both sexes. This study found that females have a 2-fold increase in Gria3 flop mRNA, a fast-gating AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunit. This difference may contribute to greater neural synchrony in the auditory nerve of female mice compared to males, and this sex difference may be conserved in all vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R. Lozier
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Steven Muscio
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Indra Pal
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hou-Ming Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - María E. Rubio
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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31
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Sierra I, Pyfrom S, Weiner A, Zhao G, Driscoll A, Yu X, Gregory BD, Vaughan AE, Anguera MC. Unusual X chromosome inactivation maintenance in female alveolar type 2 cells is correlated with increased numbers of X-linked escape genes and sex-biased gene expression. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:489-502. [PMID: 36638790 PMCID: PMC9968984 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences exist for many lung pathologies, including COVID-19 and pulmonary fibrosis, but the mechanistic basis for this remains unclear. Alveolar type 2 cells (AT2s), which play a key role in alveolar lung regeneration, express the X-linked Ace2 gene that has roles in lung repair and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, suggesting that X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in AT2s might impact sex-biased lung pathology. Here we investigate XCI maintenance and sex-specific gene expression profiles using male and female AT2s. Remarkably, the inactive X chromosome (Xi) lacks robust canonical Xist RNA "clouds" and less enrichment of heterochromatic modifications in human and mouse AT2s. We demonstrate that about 68% of expressed X-linked genes in mouse AT2s, including Ace2, escape XCI. There are genome-wide expression differences between male and female AT2s, likely influencing both lung physiology and pathophysiologic responses. These studies support a renewed focus on AT2s as a potential contributor to sex-biased differences in lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Sierra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah Pyfrom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Aaron Weiner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gan Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amanda Driscoll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiang Yu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Brian D Gregory
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew E Vaughan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Lung Biology Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Montserrat C Anguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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32
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Singh G. Is Chronic Pain as an Autoimmune Disease? Can J Pain 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2023.2175205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gurmit Singh
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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33
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Carmo GP, Grigioni J, Fernandes FAO, Alves de Sousa RJ. Biomechanics of Traumatic Head and Neck Injuries on Women: A State-of-the-Art Review and Future Directions. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12010083. [PMID: 36671775 PMCID: PMC9855362 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The biomechanics of traumatic injuries of the human body as a consequence of road crashes, falling, contact sports, and military environments have been studied for decades. In particular, traumatic brain injury (TBI), the so-called "silent epidemic", is the traumatic insult responsible for the greatest percentage of death and disability, justifying the relevance of this research topic. Despite its great importance, only recently have research groups started to seriously consider the sex differences regarding the morphology and physiology of women, which differs from men and may result in a specific outcome for a given traumatic event. This work aims to provide a summary of the contributions given in this field so far, from clinical reports to numerical models, covering not only the direct injuries from inertial loading scenarios but also the role sex plays in the conditions that precede an accident, and post-traumatic events, with an emphasis on neuroendocrine dysfunctions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A review on finite element head models and finite element neck models for the study of specific traumatic events is also performed, discussing whether sex was a factor in validating them. Based on the information collected, improvement perspectives and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo P. Carmo
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jeroen Grigioni
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fábio A. O. Fernandes
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- LASI—Intelligent Systems Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J. Alves de Sousa
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- LASI—Intelligent Systems Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-234-370-200
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34
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Lacroix M, Beauchemin H, Khandanpour C, Möröy T. The RNA helicase DDX3 and its role in c-MYC driven germinal center-derived B-cell lymphoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1148936. [PMID: 37035206 PMCID: PMC10081492 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1148936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DDX3X is an RNA helicase with many functions in RNA metabolism such as mRNA translation, alternative pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA stability, but also plays a role as a regulator of transcription as well as in the Wnt/beta-catenin- and Nf-κB signaling pathways. The gene encoding DDX3X is located on the X-chromosome, but escapes X-inactivation. Hence females have two active copies and males only one. However, the Y chromosome contains the gene for the male DDX3 homologue, called DDX3Y, which has a very high sequence similarity and functional redundancy with DDX3X, but shows a more restricted protein expression pattern than DDX3X. High throughput sequencing of germinal center (GC)-derived B-cell malignancies such as Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) samples showed a high frequency of loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the DDX3X gene revealing several features that distinguish this gene from others. First, DDX3X mutations occur with high frequency particularly in those GC-derived B-cell lymphomas that also show translocations of the c-MYC proto-oncogene, which occurs in almost all BL and a subset of DLBCL. Second, DDX3X LOF mutations occur almost exclusively in males and is very rarely found in females. Third, mutations in the male homologue DDX3Y have never been found in any type of malignancy. Studies with human primary GC B cells from male donors showed that a loss of DDX3X function helps the initial process of B-cell lymphomagenesis by buffering the proteotoxic stress induced by c-MYC activation. However, full lymphomagenesis requires DDX3 activity since an upregulation of DDX3Y expression is invariably found in GC derived B-cell lymphoma with DDX3X LOF mutation. Other studies with male transgenic mice that lack Ddx3x, but constitutively express activated c-Myc transgenes in B cells and are therefore prone to develop B-cell malignancies, also showed upregulation of the DDX3Y protein expression during the process of lymphomagenesis. Since DDX3Y is not expressed in normal human cells, these data suggest that DDX3Y may represent a new cancer cell specific target to develop adjuvant therapies for male patients with BL and DLBCL and LOF mutations in the DDX3X gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Lacroix
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Hugues Beauchemin
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cyrus Khandanpour
- Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tarik Möröy, ; Cyrus Khandanpour,
| | - Tarik Möröy
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, IRCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Tarik Möröy, ; Cyrus Khandanpour,
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35
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Sun J, Harrington MA, Porter B. Sex Difference in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients - are Males More Vulnerable? J Neuromuscul Dis 2023; 10:847-867. [PMID: 37393514 PMCID: PMC10578261 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex is a significant risk factor in many neurodegenerative disorders. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind sex differences could help develop more targeted therapies that would lead to better outcomes. Untreated spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic motor disorder causing infant mortality. SMA has a broad spectrum of severity ranging from prenatal death to infant mortality to normal lifespan with some disability. Scattered evidence points to a sex-specific vulnerability in SMA. However, the role of sex as a risk factor in SMA pathology and treatment has received limited attention. OBJECTIVE Systematically investigate sex differences in the incidence, symptom severity, motor function of patients with different types of SMA, and in the development of SMA1 patients. METHODS Aggregated data of SMA patients were obtained from the TREAT-NMD Global SMA Registry and the Cure SMA membership database by data enquiries. Data were analyzed and compared with publicly available standard data and data from published literature. RESULTS The analysis of the aggregated results from the TREAT-NMD dataset revealed that the male/female ratio was correlated to the incidence and prevalence of SMA from different countries; and for SMA patients, more of their male family members were affected by SMA. However, there was no significant difference of sex ratio in the Cure SMA membership dataset. As quantified by the clinician severity scores, symptoms were more severe in males than females in SMA types 2 and 3b. Motor function scores measured higher in females than males in SMA types 1, 3a and 3b. The head circumference was more strongly affected in male SMA type 1 patients. CONCLUSIONS The data in certain registry datasets suggest that males may be more vulnerable to SMA than females. The variability observed indicates that more investigation is necessary to fully understand the role of sex differences in SMA epidemiology, and to guide development of more targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Sun
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Melissa A. Harrington
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Ben Porter
- TREAT-NMD Services Limited, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - on behalf of the TREAT-NMD Global Registry Network for SMA
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
- TREAT-NMD Services Limited, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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36
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White AA, Lin A, Bickendorf X, Cavve BS, Moore JK, Siafarikas A, Strickland DH, Leffler J. Potential immunological effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender people - an unexplored area of research. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2022; 13:20420188221139612. [PMID: 36533187 PMCID: PMC9747891 DOI: 10.1177/20420188221139612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There are well-described sex-based differences in how the immune system operates. In particular, cisgender (cis) females have a more easily activated immune system; associated with an increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases and adverse events following vaccinations. Conversely, cis males have a higher threshold for immune activation, and are more prone to certain infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Oestrogen and testosterone have immune-modulatory properties, and it is likely that these contribute to the sexual dimorphism of the immune system. There are also important immune-related genes located on the X chromosome, such as toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8; and the mosaic bi-allelic expression of such genes may contribute to the state of immune hyperactivation in cis females. The scientific literature strongly suggests that sex-based differences in the functioning of the immune system are related to both X-linked genes and immune modulation by sex hormones. However, it is currently not clear how this impacts transgender (trans) people receiving gender-affirming hormonal therapy. Moreover, it is estimated that in Australia, at least 2.3% of adolescents identify as trans and/or gender diverse, and referrals to specialist gender-affirming care are increasing each year. Despite the improving social awareness of trans people, they remain chronically underrepresented in the scientific literature. In addition, a small number of case studies describe new onset autoimmune disorders in adult trans females following oestrogen use. However, there is currently minimal long-term research with an immunological focus on trans people. Therefore, to ensure the positive health outcomes of trans people, it is crucial that the role of sex hormones in immune modulation is investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice A. White
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Xander Bickendorf
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia
- Gender Diversity Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Blake S. Cavve
- Gender Diversity Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Julia K. Moore
- Gender Diversity Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Aris Siafarikas
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Gender Diversity Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Paediatrics, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | | | - Jonatan Leffler
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital, 15 Hospital Ave., Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
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37
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Voskuhl R, Itoh Y. The X factor in neurodegeneration. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20211488. [PMID: 36331399 PMCID: PMC9641640 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the aging population, it is important to better understand neurodegeneration in aging healthy people and to address the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. It is imperative to apply novel strategies to identify neuroprotective therapeutics. The study of sex differences in neurodegeneration can reveal new candidate treatment targets tailored for women and men. Sex chromosome effects on neurodegeneration remain understudied and represent a promising frontier for discovery. Here, we will review sex differences in neurodegeneration, focusing on the study of sex chromosome effects in the context of declining levels of sex hormones during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda Voskuhl
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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38
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Dodd KC, Menon M. Sex bias in lymphocytes: Implications for autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:945762. [PMID: 36505451 PMCID: PMC9730535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.945762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a significant sex dimorphism, with women showing increased susceptibility to disease. This is, at least in part, due to sex-dependent differences in the immune system that are influenced by the complex interplay between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, with contribution from sociological factors, diet and gut microbiota. Sex differences are evident in the number and function of lymphocyte populations. Women mount a stronger pro-inflammatory response than males, with increased lymphocyte proliferation, activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, whereas men display expanded regulatory cell subsets. Ageing alters the immune landscape of men and women in differing ways, resulting in changes in autoimmune disease susceptibility. Here we review the current literature on sex differences in lymphocyte function, the factors that influence this, and the implications for autoimmune disease. We propose that improved understanding of sex bias in lymphocyte function can provide sex-specific tailoring of treatment strategies for better management of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C. Dodd
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Madhvi Menon
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Madhvi Menon,
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Shaw TM, Zhang W, McCoy SS, Pagenkopf A, Carp DM, Garg S, Parker MH, Qiu X, Scofield RH, Galipeau J, Liang Y. X-linked genes exhibit miR6891-5p-regulated skewing in Sjögren's syndrome. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1253-1265. [PMID: 35538149 PMCID: PMC9420820 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Many autoimmune diseases exhibit a strikingly increased prevalence in females, with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) being the most female-predominant example. However, the molecular basis underlying the female-bias in pSS remains elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we performed genome-wide, allele-specific profiling of minor salivary gland-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from pSS patients and control subjects, and detected major differences in the regulation of X-linked genes. In control female MSCs, X-linked genes were expressed from both paternal and maternal X chromosomes with a median paternal ratio of ~ 0.5. However, in pSS female MSCs, X-linked genes exhibited preferential expression from one of the two X chromosomes. Concomitantly, pSS MSCs showed decrease in XIST levels and reorganization of H3K27me3+ foci in the nucleus. Moreover, the HLA-locus-expressed miRNA miR6891-5p was decreased in pSS MSCs. miR6891-5p inhibition in control MSCs caused XIST dysregulation, ectopic silencing, and allelic skewing. Allelic skewing was accompanied by the mislocation of protein products encoded by the skewed genes, which was recapitulated by XIST and miR6891-5p disruption in control MSCs. Our data reveal X skewing as a molecular hallmark of pSS and highlight the importance of restoring X-chromosomal allelic balance for pSS treatment. KEY MESSAGES: X-linked genes exhibit skewing in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). X skewing in pSS associates with alterations in H3K27me3 deposition. pSS MSCs show decreased levels of miR6891-5p, a HLA-expressed miRNA. miR6891-5p inhibition causes H3K27me3 dysregulation and allelic skewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teressa M Shaw
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Present address: Bristol Myers Squibb, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara S McCoy
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adam Pagenkopf
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Diana M Carp
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Shivani Garg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Maxwell H Parker
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Xueer Qiu
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Robert H Scofield
- Department of Pathology and Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jacques Galipeau
- Department of Medicine, Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, WI, Madison, USA
| | - Yun Liang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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40
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Andrews EJ, Martini AC, Head E. Exploring the role of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis in Down syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:954999. [PMID: 36033603 PMCID: PMC9411995 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.954999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet little is known about sex-specific effects on the development of AD in the Down syndrome (DS) population. DS is caused by a full or partial triplication of chromosome 21, which harbors the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, among others. The majority of people with DS in their early- to mid-40s will accumulate sufficient amyloid-beta (Aβ) in their brains along with neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) for a neuropathological diagnosis of AD, and the triplication of the APP gene is regarded as the main cause. Studies addressing sex differences with age and impact on dementia in people with DS are inconsistent. However, women with DS experience earlier age of onset of menopause, marked by a drop in estrogen, than women without DS. This review focuses on key sex differences observed with age and AD in people with DS and a discussion of possible underlying mechanisms that could be driving or protecting from AD development in DS. Understanding how biological sex influences the brain will lead to development of dedicated therapeutics and interventions to improve the quality of life for people with DS and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Andrews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Alessandra C. Martini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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41
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Averyanova M, Vishnyakova P, Yureneva S, Yakushevskaya O, Fatkhudinov T, Elchaninov A, Sukhikh G. Sex hormones and immune system: Menopausal hormone therapy in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Front Immunol 2022; 13:928171. [PMID: 35983046 PMCID: PMC9379861 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.928171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fatal outcomes of COVID-19 are related to the high reactivity of the innate wing of immunity. Estrogens could exert anti-inflammatory effects during SARS-CoV-2 infection at different stages: from increasing the antiviral resistance of individual cells to counteracting the pro-inflammatory cytokine production. A complex relationship between sex hormones and immune system implies that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has pleiotropic effects on immunity in peri- and postmenopausal patients. The definite immunological benefits of perimenopausal MHT confirm the important role of estrogens in regulation of immune functionalities. In this review, we attempt to explore how sex hormones and MHT affect immunological parameters of the organism at different level (in vitro, in vivo) and what mechanisms are involved in their protective response to the new coronavirus infection. The correlation of sex steroid levels with severity and lethality of the disease indicates the potential of using hormone therapy to modulate the immune response and increase the resilience to adverse outcomes. The overall success of MHT is based on decades of experience in clinical trials. According to the current standards, MHT should not be discontinued in COVID-19 with the exception of critical cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Averyanova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Polina Vishnyakova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Medical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Polina Vishnyakova,
| | - Svetlana Yureneva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana Yakushevskaya
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timur Fatkhudinov
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Medical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- A. P. Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Laboratory of Growth and Development, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Elchaninov
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady Sukhikh
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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42
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Ocañas SR, Ansere VA, Tooley KB, Hadad N, Chucair-Elliott AJ, Stanford DR, Rice S, Wronowski B, Pham KD, Hoffman JM, Austad SN, Stout MB, Freeman WM. Differential Regulation of Mouse Hippocampal Gene Expression Sex Differences by Chromosomal Content and Gonadal Sex. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4669-4702. [PMID: 35589920 PMCID: PMC9119800 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02860-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Common neurological disorders, like Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and autism, display profound sex differences in prevalence and clinical presentation. However, sex differences in the brain with health and disease are often overlooked in experimental models. Sex effects originate, directly or indirectly, from hormonal or sex chromosomal mechanisms. To delineate the contributions of genetic sex (XX v. XY) versus gonadal sex (ovaries v. testes) to the epigenomic regulation of hippocampal sex differences, we used the Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model which uncouples chromosomal and gonadal sex. Transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses of ~ 12-month-old FCG mouse hippocampus, revealed genomic context-specific regulatory effects of genotypic and gonadal sex on X- and autosome-encoded gene expression and DNA modification patterns. X-chromosomal epigenomic patterns, classically associated with X-inactivation, were established almost entirely by genotypic sex, independent of gonadal sex. Differences in X-chromosome methylation were primarily localized to gene regulatory regions including promoters, CpG islands, CTCF binding sites, and active/poised chromatin, with an inverse relationship between methylation and gene expression. Autosomal gene expression demonstrated regulation by both genotypic and gonadal sex, particularly in immune processes. These data demonstrate an important regulatory role of sex chromosomes, independent of gonadal sex, on sex-biased hippocampal transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles. Future studies will need to further interrogate specific CNS cell types, identify the mechanisms by which sex chromosomes regulate autosomes, and differentiate organizational from activational hormonal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Ocañas
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Victor A Ansere
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kyla B Tooley
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | | | - Ana J Chucair-Elliott
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - David R Stanford
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Shannon Rice
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Benjamin Wronowski
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kevin D Pham
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Jessica M Hoffman
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Steven N Austad
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Michael B Stout
- Aging & Metabolism Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Willard M Freeman
- Genes & Human Disease Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13thStreet, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
- Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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43
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Sex differences in the human brain: a roadmap for more careful analysis and interpretation of a biological reality. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:43. [PMID: 35883159 PMCID: PMC9327177 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence, magnitude, and significance of sex differences in the human brain are hotly debated topics in the scientific community and popular media. This debate is largely fueled by studies containing strong, opposing conclusions: either little to no evidence exists for sex differences in human neuroanatomy, or there are small-to-moderate differences in the size of certain brain regions that are highly reproducible across cohorts (even after controlling for sex differences in average brain size). Our Commentary uses the specific comparison between two recent large-scale studies that adopt these opposing views-namely the review by Eliot and colleagues (2021) and the direct analysis of ~ 40k brains by Williams and colleagues (2021)-in an effort to clarify this controversy and provide a framework for conducting this research. First, we review observations that motivate research on sex differences in human neuroanatomy, including potential causes (evolutionary, genetic, and environmental) and effects (epidemiological and clinical evidence for sex-biased brain disorders). We also summarize methodological and empirical support for using structural MRI to investigate such patterns. Next, we outline how researchers focused on sex differences can better specify their study design (e.g., how sex was defined, if and how brain size was adjusted for) and results (by e.g., distinguishing sexual dimorphisms from sex differences). We then compare the different approaches available for studying sex differences across a large number of individuals: direct analysis, meta-analysis, and review. We stress that reviews do not account for methodological differences across studies, and that this variation explains many of the apparent inconsistencies reported throughout recent reviews (including the work by Eliot and colleagues). For instance, we show that amygdala volume is consistently reported as male-biased in studies with sufficient sample sizes and appropriate methods for brain size correction. In fact, comparing the results from multiple large direct analyses highlights small, highly reproducible sex differences in the volume of many brain regions (controlling for brain size). Finally, we describe best practices for the presentation and interpretation of these findings. Care in interpretation is important for all domains of science, but especially so for research on sex differences in the human brain, given the existence of broad societal gender-biases and a history of biological data being used justify sexist ideas. As such, we urge researchers to discuss their results from simultaneously scientific and anti-sexist viewpoints.
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Johannsen EB, Just J, Viuff MH, Okholm TLH, Pedersen SB, Meyer Lauritsen K, Trolle C, Pedersen MGB, Chang S, Fedder J, Skakkebæk A, Gravholt CH. Sex chromosome aneuploidies give rise to changes in the circular RNA profile: A circular transcriptome-wide study of Turner and Klinefelter syndrome across different tissues. Front Genet 2022; 13:928874. [PMID: 35938026 PMCID: PMC9355307 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.928874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The landscape of circular RNAs (circRNAs), an important class of non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, has never been described in human disorders of sex chromosome aneuploidies. We profiled circRNAs in Turner syndrome females (45,X; TS) and Klinefelter syndrome males (47,XXY; KS) to investigate how circRNAs respond to a missing or an extra X chromosome. Methods: Samples of blood, muscle and fat were collected from individuals with TS (n = 33) and KS (n = 22) and from male (n = 16) and female (n = 44) controls. CircRNAs were identified using a combination of circRNA identification pipelines (CIRI2, CIRCexplorer2 and circRNA_finder). Results: Differential expression of circRNAs was observed throughout the genome in TS and KS, in all tissues. The host-genes from which several of these circRNAs were derived, were associated with known phenotypic traits. Furthermore, several differentially expressed circRNAs had the potential to capture micro RNAs that targeted protein-coding genes with altered expression in TS and KS. Conclusion: Sex chromosome aneuploidies introduce changes in the circRNA transcriptome, demonstrating that the genomic changes in these syndromes are more complex than hitherto thought. CircRNAs may help explain some of the genomic and phenotypic traits observed in these syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma B. Johannsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Departments of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Emma B. Johannsen,
| | - Jesper Just
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Departments of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette H. Viuff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Trine Line Hauge Okholm
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Katrine Meyer Lauritsen
- Steno Diabetes Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Trolle
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Simon Chang
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Fedder
- Centre of Andrology and Fertility Clinic, Department D, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit of Human Reproduction, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anne Skakkebæk
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Claus H. Gravholt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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45
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Dossin F, Heard E. The Molecular and Nuclear Dynamics of X-Chromosome Inactivation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2022; 14:a040196. [PMID: 34312245 PMCID: PMC9121902 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a040196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In female eutherian mammals, dosage compensation of X-linked gene expression is achieved during development through transcriptional silencing of one of the two X chromosomes. Following X chromosome inactivation (XCI), the inactive X chromosome remains faithfully silenced throughout somatic cell divisions. XCI is dependent on Xist, a long noncoding RNA that coats and silences the X chromosome from which it is transcribed. Xist coating triggers a cascade of chromosome-wide changes occurring at the levels of transcription, chromatin composition, chromosome structure, and spatial organization within the nucleus. XCI has emerged as a paradigm for the study of such crucial nuclear processes and the dissection of their functional interplay. In the past decade, the advent of tools to characterize and perturb these processes have provided an unprecedented understanding into their roles during XCI. The mechanisms orchestrating the initiation of XCI as well as its maintenance are thus being unraveled, although many questions still remain. Here, we introduce key aspects of the XCI process and review the recent discoveries about its molecular basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Dossin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Director's Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edith Heard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Director's Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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46
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Samanta MK, Gayen S, Harris C, Maclary E, Murata-Nakamura Y, Malcore RM, Porter RS, Garay PM, Vallianatos CN, Samollow PB, Iwase S, Kalantry S. Activation of Xist by an evolutionarily conserved function of KDM5C demethylase. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2602. [PMID: 35545632 PMCID: PMC9095838 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30352-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
XX female and XY male therian mammals equalize X-linked gene expression through the mitotically-stable transcriptional inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes in female somatic cells. Here, we describe an essential function of the X-linked homolog of an ancestral X-Y gene pair, Kdm5c-Kdm5d, in the expression of Xist lncRNA, which is required for stable X-inactivation. Ablation of Kdm5c function in females results in a significant reduction in Xist RNA expression. Kdm5c encodes a demethylase that enhances Xist expression by converting histone H3K4me2/3 modifications into H3K4me1. Ectopic expression of mouse and human KDM5C, but not the Y-linked homolog KDM5D, induces Xist in male mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Similarly, marsupial (opossum) Kdm5c but not Kdm5d also upregulates Xist in male mESCs, despite marsupials lacking Xist, suggesting that the KDM5C function that activates Xist in eutherians is strongly conserved and predates the divergence of eutherian and metatherian mammals. In support, prototherian (platypus) Kdm5c also induces Xist in male mESCs. Together, our data suggest that eutherian mammals co-opted the ancestral demethylase KDM5C during sex chromosome evolution to upregulate Xist for the female-specific induction of X-inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Kumar Samanta
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Srimonta Gayen
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Clair Harris
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Emily Maclary
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Yumie Murata-Nakamura
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Rebecca M Malcore
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Robert S Porter
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Patricia M Garay
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Christina N Vallianatos
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Paul B Samollow
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4458, USA
| | - Shigeki Iwase
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Sundeep Kalantry
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA.
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47
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Li L, Cui Z, Wang L. A More Female-Characterized Resting-State Brain: Graph Similarity Analyses of Sex Influence on the Human Brain Intrinsic Functional Network. Brain Topogr 2022; 35:341-351. [PMID: 35499628 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-022-00900-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether human species exhibits sexual dimorphism in brain activities, and how the dimorphisms associated with sex-characterized behaviors. Here, in a large dataset from Human Connectome Project, we investigated sex differences of resting-state network structure by using local and global network graph similarity analysis. The "typical male" and "typical female" resting-state networks were highly similar. However, we found significant inter-sex difference in all local brain networks compared with sex-label permutations. The global and many local network topologies showed significant higher intra-female similarity, while males' network topologies were more dissimilar to each other. Additionally, by using global graph similarity analysis, we found that female individuals whose brain network were more similar to the average pattern present lower social-related anger, lower social distress and better companionships, while similar effects were not detected for males. Our study confirms the existence of sex-related resting-state network topology. Female's intrinsic brain is closer to a typical pattern than male's, and they may more fulfill the "similarity breeds connection" principle in building social ties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leinian Li
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, 250013, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Cui
- State Key Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, 100088, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wang
- Curriculum and Teaching Materials Research Institution, People's Education Press, 100081, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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48
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Ambrosino P, Calcaterra IL, Mosella M, Formisano R, D’Anna SE, Bachetti T, Marcuccio G, Galloway B, Mancini FP, Papa A, Motta A, Di Minno MND, Maniscalco M. Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19: A Unifying Mechanism and a Potential Therapeutic Target. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040812. [PMID: 35453563 PMCID: PMC9029464 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) generated a worldwide emergency, until the declaration of the pandemic in March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 could be responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which goes from a flu-like illness to a potentially fatal condition that needs intensive care. Furthermore, the persistence of functional disability and long-term cardiovascular sequelae in COVID-19 survivors suggests that convalescent patients may suffer from post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, requiring long-term care and personalized rehabilitation. However, the pathophysiology of acute and post-acute manifestations of COVID-19 is still under study, as a better comprehension of these mechanisms would ensure more effective personalized therapies. To date, mounting evidence suggests a crucial endothelial contribution to the clinical manifestations of COVID-19, as endothelial cells appear to be a direct or indirect preferential target of the virus. Thus, the dysregulation of many of the homeostatic pathways of the endothelium has emerged as a hallmark of severity in COVID-19. The aim of this review is to summarize the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19, with a focus on personalized pharmacological and rehabilitation strategies targeting endothelial dysfunction as an attractive therapeutic option in this clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Ambrosino
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (R.F.); (F.P.M.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence: (P.A.); (M.M.)
| | | | - Marco Mosella
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (M.M.); (S.E.D.)
| | - Roberto Formisano
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (R.F.); (F.P.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Silvestro Ennio D’Anna
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (M.M.); (S.E.D.)
| | - Tiziana Bachetti
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Scientific Direction, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Giuseppina Marcuccio
- Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (G.M.); (B.G.)
| | - Brurya Galloway
- Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (G.M.); (B.G.)
| | - Francesco Paolo Mancini
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (R.F.); (F.P.M.); (A.P.)
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Antimo Papa
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (R.F.); (F.P.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Andrea Motta
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;
| | | | - Mauro Maniscalco
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit of Telese Terme Institute, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy; (M.M.); (S.E.D.)
- Correspondence: (P.A.); (M.M.)
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49
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Lo SP, Hsieh TC, Pastuszak AW, Hotaling JM, Patel DP. Effects of SARS CoV-2, COVID-19, and its vaccines on male sexual health and reproduction: where do we stand? Int J Impot Res 2022; 34:138-144. [PMID: 34707243 PMCID: PMC8548269 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-021-00483-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first discovered, there have been questions surrounding the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and more recently the COVID-19 vaccine, on men's health and fertility. Significant research has been conducted to study viral tropism, potential causes for gender susceptibility, the impact of COVID-19 on male sexual function in the acute and recovery phases, and the effects of the virus on male reproductive organs and hormones. This review provides a recent assessment of the literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 and its vaccine on male sexual health and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon P Lo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Tung-Chin Hsieh
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alexander W Pastuszak
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - James M Hotaling
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Darshan P Patel
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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50
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Wang JY, Roehrl MW, Roehrl VB, Roehrl MH. A master autoantigen-ome links alternative splicing, female predilection, and COVID-19 to autoimmune diseases. J Transl Autoimmun 2022; 5:100147. [PMID: 35237749 PMCID: PMC8872718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2022.100147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic and debilitating autoimmune sequelae pose a grave concern for the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Based on our discovery that the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate (DS) displays peculiar affinity to apoptotic cells and autoantigens (autoAgs) and that DS-autoAg complexes cooperatively stimulate autoreactive B1 cell responses, we compiled a database of 751 candidate autoAgs from six human cell types. At least 657 of these have been found to be affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection based on currently available multi-omic COVID data, and at least 400 are confirmed targets of autoantibodies in a wide array of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The autoantigen-ome is significantly associated with various processes in viral infections, such as translation, protein processing, and vesicle transport. Interestingly, the coding genes of autoAgs predominantly contain multiple exons with many possible alternative splicing variants, short transcripts, and short UTR lengths. These observations and the finding that numerous autoAgs involved in RNA-splicing showed altered expression in viral infections suggest that viruses exploit alternative splicing to reprogram host cell machinery to ensure viral replication and survival. While each cell type gives rise to a unique pool of autoAgs, 39 common autoAgs associated with cell stress and apoptosis were identified from all six cell types, with several being known markers of systemic autoimmune diseases. In particular, the common autoAg UBA1 that catalyzes the first step in ubiquitination is encoded by an X-chromosome escape gene. Given its essential function in apoptotic cell clearance and that X-inactivation escape tends to increase with aging, UBA1 dysfunction can therefore predispose aging women to autoimmune disorders. In summary, we propose a model of how viral infections lead to extensive molecular alterations and host cell death, autoimmune responses facilitated by autoAg-DS complexes, and ultimately autoimmune diseases. Overall, this master autoantigen-ome provides a molecular guide for investigating the myriad of autoimmune sequalae to COVID-19 and clues to the rare adverse effects of the currently available mRNA and viral vector-based COVID vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael H. Roehrl
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine BCMB Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
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