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Ravi H, Das S, Devi Rajeswari V, Venkatraman G, Choudhury AA, Chakraborty S, Ramanathan G. Hormonal regulation in diabetes: Special emphasis on sex hormones and metabolic traits. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2024; 142:257-291. [PMID: 39059988 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes constitutes a significant global public health challenge that is rapidly reaching epidemic proportions. Among the non-communicable diseases, the incidence of diabetes is rising at an alarming rate. The International Diabetes Federation has documented a 9.09% prevalence of diabetes among individuals aged between 20 and 79 years. The interplay of gonadal hormones and gender differences is critical in regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, and this dynamic is particularly crucial because of the escalating incidence of diabetes. Variations in insulin sensitivity are observed across genders, levels of adiposity, and age groups. Both estrogen and testosterone are seen to influence glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This chapter surveys the present knowledge of sex differences, sex hormones, and chromosomes on insulin imbalance and diabetes development. It further highlights the influence of metabolic traits in diabetes and changes in sex hormones during diabetic pregnancy. Notably, even stressful lifestyles have been acknowledged to induce hormonal imbalances. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of hormonal therapy to help stabilize sex hormones in diabetic individuals and focuses on the most recent research investigating the correlation between sex hormones and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harini Ravi
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Soumik Das
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - V Devi Rajeswari
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ganesh Venkatraman
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abbas Alam Choudhury
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shreya Chakraborty
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gnanasambandan Ramanathan
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Kumar C, Roy JK. Decoding the epigenetic mechanism of mammalian sex determination. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114011. [PMID: 38531506 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114011] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination embodies a dynamic and intricate developmental process wielding significant influence over the destiny of bipotential gonads, steering them towards male or female gonads. Gonadal differentiation and the postnatal manifestation of the gonadal phenotype involve a sophisticated interplay of transcription factors such as SOX9 and FOXL2. Central to this interplay are chromatin modifiers regulating the mutual antagonism during this interplay. In this review, the key findings and knowledge gaps in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA-mediated control throughout mammalian gonadal development are covered. Furthermore, it explores the role of the developing brain in playing a pivotal role in the initiation of gonadogenesis and the subsequent involvement of gonadal hormone/hormone receptor in fine-tuning sexual differentiation. Based on promising facts, the role of the developing brain through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis is explained and suggested as a novel hypothesis. The article also discusses the potential impact of ecological factors on the human epigenome in relation to sex determination and trans-generational epigenetics in uncovering novel genes and mechanisms involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation. We have subtly emphasized the disruptions in epigenetic regulations contributing to sexual disorders, which further allows us to raise certain questions, decipher approaches for handling these questions and setting up the direction of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cash Kumar
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jagat Kumar Roy
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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Peedikayil-Kurien S, Setty H, Oren-Suissa M. Environmental experiences shape sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits and behaviour. FEBS J 2024; 291:1080-1101. [PMID: 36582142 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16714] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Dimorphic traits, shaped by both natural and sexual selection, ensure optimal fitness and survival of the organism. This includes neuronal circuits that are largely affected by different experiences and environmental conditions. Recent evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism of neuronal circuits extends to different levels such as neuronal activity, connectivity and molecular topography that manifest in response to various experiences, including chemical exposures, starvation and stress. In this review, we propose some common principles that govern experience-dependent sexually dimorphic circuits in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. While sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits are predetermined, they have to maintain a certain level of fluidity to be adaptive to different experiences. The first layer of dimorphism is at the level of the neuronal circuit, which appears to be dictated by sex-biased transcription factors. This could subsequently lead to differences in the second layer of regulation namely connectivity and synaptic properties. The third regulator of experience-dependent responses is the receptor level, where dimorphic expression patterns determine the primary sensory encoding. We also highlight missing pieces in this field and propose future directions that can shed light onto novel aspects of sexual dimorphism with potential benefits to sex-specific therapeutic approaches. Thus, sexual identity and experience simultaneously determine behaviours that ultimately result in the maximal survival success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hagar Setty
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Veyrunes F, Perez J, Heitzmann LD, Saunders PA, Givalois L. Hormone profiles of the African pygmy mouse Mus minutoides, a species with XY female sex reversal. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:130-137. [PMID: 38059664 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, most sex differences in phenotype are controlled by gonadal hormones, but recent work on transgenic mice has shown that sex chromosomes can have a direct influence on sex-specific behaviors. In this study, we take advantage of the naturally occurring sex reversal in a mouse species, Mus minutoides, to investigate for the first time the relationship between sex chromosomes, hormones, and behaviors in a wild species. In this model, a feminizing variant of the X chromosome, named X*, produces three types of females with different sex chromosome complements (XX, XX*, and X*Y), associated with alternative behavioral phenotypes, while all males are XY. We thus compared the levels of three major circulating steroid hormones (testosterone, corticosterone, and estradiol) in the four sex genotypes to disentangle the influence of sex chromosomes and sex hormones on behavior. First, we did not find any difference in testosterone levels in the three female genotypes, although X*Y females are notoriously more aggressive. Second, in agreement with their lower anxiety-related behaviors, X*Y females and XY males display lower baseline corticosterone concentration than XX and XX* females. Instead of a direct hormonal influence, this result rather suggests that sex chromosomes may have an impact on the baseline corticosterone level, which in turn may influence behaviors. Third, estradiol concentrations do not explain the enhanced reproductive performance and maternal care behavior of the X*Y females compared to the XX and XX* females. Overall, this study highlights that most of the behaviors varying along with sex chromosome complement of this species are more likely driven by genetic factors rather than steroid hormone concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Veyrunes
- ISEM, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier UMR 5554, CNRS, Université Montpellier, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Julie Perez
- ISEM, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier UMR 5554, CNRS, Université Montpellier, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Louise D Heitzmann
- ISEM, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier UMR 5554, CNRS, Université Montpellier, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Paul A Saunders
- ISEM, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier UMR 5554, CNRS, Université Montpellier, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Givalois
- MMDN, Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementia Laboratory, Université Montpellier, EPHE-PSL, INSERM U1198, Montpellier, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, CR-CHUQ, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec City, Canada
- CNRS, Paris, France
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Boschen KE, Dragicevich CJ, Fish EW, Hepperla AJ, Simon JM, Parnell SE. Gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure induces similar rates of craniofacial malformations in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2292. [PMID: 38116840 PMCID: PMC10872400 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2292] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure during gastrulation (embryonic day [E] 7 in mice, ~3rd week of human pregnancy) impairs eye, facial, and cortical development, recapitulating birth defects characteristic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, it is not known whether the prevalence or severity of craniofacial features associated with FAS is affected by biological sex. METHODS The current study administered either alcohol (2.9 g/kg, two i.p. doses, 4 hr apart) or vehicle to pregnant C57BL/6J females on E7, prior to gonadal sex differentiation, and assessed fetal morphology at E17. RESULTS Whereas sex did not affect fetal size in controls, alcohol-exposed females were smaller than both control females and alcohol-treated males. Alcohol exposure increased the incidence of eye defects to a similar degree in males and females. Together, these data suggest that females might be more sensitive to the general developmental effects of alcohol, but not effects specific to the craniofacies. Whole transcriptomic analysis of untreated E7 embryos found 214 differentially expressed genes in females vs. males, including those in pathways related to cilia and mitochondria, histone demethylase activity, and pluripotency. CONCLUSION Gastrulation-stage alcohol induces craniofacial malformations in male and female mouse fetuses at similar rates and severity, though growth deficits are more prevalent females. These findings support the investigation of biological sex as a contributing factor in prenatal alcohol studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E. Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Constance J. Dragicevich
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric W. Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Austin J. Hepperla
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Scott E. Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Conlon FL, Arnold AP. Sex chromosome mechanisms in cardiac development and disease. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:340-350. [PMID: 37808586 PMCID: PMC10558115 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00256-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Many human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, show differences between men and women in pathology and treatment outcomes. In the case of cardiac disease, sex differences are exemplified by differences in the frequency of specific types of congenital and adult-onset heart disease. Clinical studies have suggested that gonadal hormones are a factor in sex bias. However, recent research has shown that gene and protein networks under non-hormonal control also account for cardiac sex differences. In this review, we describe the sex chromosome pathways that lead to sex differences in the development and function of the heart and highlight how these findings affect future care and treatment of cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank L Conlon
- Departments of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Miao N, Zeng Z, Lee T, Guo Q, Zheng W, Cai W, Chen W, Wang J, Sun T. Integrative epigenome profiling of 47XXY provides insights into whole genomic DNA hypermethylation and active chromatin accessibility. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1128739. [PMID: 37051325 PMCID: PMC10083376 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1128739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Klinefelter syndrome (KS, 47XXY) is a disorder characterized by sex chromosomal aneuploidy, which may lead to changes in epigenetic regulations of gene expression. To define epigenetic architectures in 47XXY, we annotated DNA methylation in euploid males (46XY) and females (46XX), and 47XXY individuals using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and integrated chromatin accessbilty, and detected abnormal hypermethylation in 47XXY. Furthermore, we detected altered chromatin accessibility in 47XXY, in particular in chromosome X, using Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) in cultured amniotic cells. Our results construct the whole genome-wide DNA methylation map in 47XXY, and provide new insights into the early epigenomic dysregulation resulting from an extra chromosome X in 47XXY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Miao
- Center for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhiwei Zeng
- Center for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Trevor Lee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Cornell University Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Qiwei Guo
- United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine & School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- Quanzhou Women and Children’s Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Wenjie Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Hospital of Quanzhou, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Wanhua Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Hospital of Quanzhou, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Center for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Center for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- *Correspondence: Tao Sun,
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Polcerová L, Jantz RL, Králík M, Chovancová M, Čuta M. Sex differences in radioulnar contrasts of the finger ridge counts across 21 human population samples. Ann Hum Biol 2023; 50:370-389. [PMID: 37647353 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2023.2247970] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the existence of uniform sexual dimorphism in some radioulnar contrasts between different finger ridge counts within the same hand in a large set of populations, thus confirming the universal nature of this dimorphism in humans.Subjects and methods: We analysed individual finger ridge counts (10 values on each hand) of both hands from archival sources (mainly the Brehme-Jantz database). In total, these included 4412 adults from 21 population samples covering all permanently inhabited continents and encompassing very different and geographically distant human populations. We calculated the contrasts (differences) of all pairs of ridge counts (45 per hand) and used diverse methods to assess the direction and degree of dimorphism of them across all population samples.Results: The highest sexual dimorphism was observed for nine contrasts involving the ridge count of the dermatoglyphic pattern on the radial side of the second finger of the right hand (R2r). Among these contrasts, we then found four that had the same direction of dimorphism in all 21 populations. The most dimorphic was the contrast R1rR2r - the difference between the ridge count of the radial side of the thumb and the radial side of the index finger.Discussion: Thus, these dermatoglyphic traits can be further investigated as potential markers of prenatal sex differentiation from ca. 10th week of intrauterine development. However, it will be useful to address the detailed factors and mechanisms for differences in the degree of dimorphism of these traits in different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Polcerová
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - R L Jantz
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - M Králík
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M Chovancová
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - M Čuta
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Landen S, Hiam D, Voisin S, Jacques M, Lamon S, Eynon N. Physiological and molecular sex differences in human skeletal muscle in response to exercise training. J Physiol 2023; 601:419-434. [PMID: 34762308 DOI: 10.1113/jp279499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in exercise physiology, such as substrate metabolism and skeletal muscle fatigability, stem from inherent biological factors, including endogenous hormones and genetics. Studies investigating exercise physiology frequently include only males or do not take sex differences into consideration. Although there is still an underrepresentation of female participants in exercise research, existing studies have identified sex differences in physiological and molecular responses to exercise training. The observed sex differences in exercise physiology are underpinned by the sex chromosome complement, sex hormones and, on a molecular level, the epigenome and transcriptome. Future research in the field should aim to include both sexes, control for menstrual cycle factors, conduct large-scale and ethnically diverse studies, conduct meta-analyses to consolidate findings from various studies, leverage unique cohorts (such as post-menopausal, transgender, and those with sex chromosome abnormalities), as well as integrate tissue and cell-specific -omics data. This knowledge is essential for developing deeper insight into sex-specific physiological responses to exercise training, thus directing future exercise physiology studies and practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanie Landen
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Danielle Hiam
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.,Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Macsue Jacques
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Séverine Lamon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Nir Eynon
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
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Waldhorn I, Turetsky T, Steiner D, Gil Y, Benyamini H, Gropp M, Reubinoff BE. Modeling sex differences in humans using isogenic induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2732-2744. [PMID: 36427492 PMCID: PMC9768579 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological sex is a fundamental trait influencing development, reproduction, pathogenesis, and medical treatment outcomes. Modeling sex differences is challenging because of the masking effect of genetic variability and the hurdle of differentiating chromosomal versus hormonal effects. In this work we developed a cellular model to study sex differences in humans. Somatic cells from a mosaic Klinefelter syndrome patient were reprogrammed to generate isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines with different sex chromosome complements: 47,XXY/46,XX/46,XY/45,X0. Transcriptional analysis of the hiPSCs revealed novel and known genes and pathways that are sexually dimorphic in the pluripotent state and during early neural development. Female hiPSCs more closely resembled the naive pluripotent state than their male counterparts. Moreover, the system enabled differentiation between the contributions of X versus Y chromosome to these differences. Taken together, isogenic hiPSCs present a novel platform for studying sex differences in humans and bear potential to promote gender-specific medicine in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ithai Waldhorn
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tikva Turetsky
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Debora Steiner
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yaniv Gil
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hadar Benyamini
- Bioinformatics Unit of the I-CORE at Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Gropp
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Benjamin E. Reubinoff
- Hadassah Stem Cell Research Center, Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ein Kerem, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel,Corresponding author
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11
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Pujantell M, Altfeld M. Consequences of sex differences in Type I IFN responses for the regulation of antiviral immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:986840. [PMID: 36189206 PMCID: PMC9522975 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.986840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system protects us from pathogens, such as viruses. Antiviral immune mechanisms aim to limit viral replication, and must maintain immunological homeostasis to avoid excessive inflammation and damage to the host. Sex differences in the manifestation and progression of immune-mediated disease point to sex-specific factors modulating antiviral immunity. The exact mechanisms regulating these immunological differences between females and males are still insufficiently understood. Females are known to display stronger Type I IFN responses and are less susceptible to viral infections compared to males, indicating that Type I IFN responses might contribute to the sexual dimorphisms observed in antiviral responses. Here, we review the impact of sex hormones and X chromosome-encoded genes on differences in Type I IFN responses between females and males; and discuss the consequences of sex differences in Type I IFN responses for the regulation of antiviral immune responses.
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Abstract
Understanding sex differences in physiology and disease requires the identification of the molecular agents that cause phenotypic sex differences. Two groups of such agents are genes located on the sex chromosomes, and gonadal hormones. The former have coherent linkage to chromosomes that form differently in the two sexes under the influence of genomic forces that are not related to reproductive function, whereas the latter have a direct or indirect relationship to reproduction. Evidence published in the past 5 years supports the identification of several agents of sexual differentiation encoded by the X chromosome in mice, including Kdm5c, Kdm6a, Ogt and Xist. These X chromosome agents have wide pleiotropic effects, potentially influencing sex differences in many different tissues, a characteristic shared with the gonadal hormones. The identification of X chromosome agents of sexual differentiation will facilitate understanding of complex intersecting gene pathways underlying sex differences in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Brinkley TE, Stites SD, Hunsberger HC, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Li M, Shaaban CE, Thorpe RJ, Kritchevsky SB. Research Centers Collaborative Network Workshop on Sex and Gender Differences in Aging. Innov Aging 2022; 6:igac055. [PMID: 36267320 PMCID: PMC9579719 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging affects men and women differently; however, the impact of sex and gender on the aging process is not well understood. Moreover, these 2 concepts are often conflated, which further contributes to a lack of clarity on this important issue. In an effort to better understand the relevance of sex and gender in aging research, the Research Centers Collaborative Network sponsored a 1.5-day conference on sex and gender differences in aging that brought together key thought leaders from the 6 National Institute on Aging center programs. The meeting included sessions on comparing males and females, pathophysiological differences, sex/gender in clinical care, and gender and health in the social context. Presenters from a wide array of disciplines identified opportunities for multidisciplinary research to address current gaps in the field and highlighted the need for a more systematic approach to understanding the how and why of sex/gender differences, as well as the health implications of these differences and the sex/gender biases that affect clinical treatment and outcomes. This article summarizes the proceedings of the workshop and provides several recommendations to move the field forward, such as better data collection tools to assess the intersection of sex and gender in epidemiological research; a life course perspective with attention to fetal/developmental origins and key life stages; innovative animal models to distinguish contributions from sex hormones versus sex chromosomes; and integration of sex/gender into teaching and clinical practice. Ultimately, successful implementation of these recommendations will require thoughtful investigations across the translational spectrum and increased collaborations among those with expertise in sex and gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina E Brinkley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shana D Stites
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Holly C Hunsberger
- Department of Foundational Science and Humanities, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Mengting Li
- School of Nursing, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - C Elizabeth Shaaban
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen B Kritchevsky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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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: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [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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15
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Paitz RT, Breitenbach AT, Marroquín-Flores RA, Bowden RM. Understanding how variable thermal environments affect the molecular mechanisms underlying temperature-sensitive phenotypes: lessons from sex determination. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275566. [PMID: 35638467 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242373] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The thermal environment that organisms experience can affect many aspects of their phenotype. As global temperatures become more unpredictable, it is imperative that we understand the molecular mechanisms by which organisms respond to variable, and often transient, thermal environments. Beyond deciphering the mechanisms through which organisms respond to temperature, we must also appreciate the underlying variation in temperature-dependent processes, as this variation is essential for understanding the potential to adapt to changing climates. In this Commentary, we use temperature-dependent sex determination as an example to explore the mechanistic processes underlying the development of temperature-sensitive phenotypes. We synthesize the current literature on how variable thermal conditions affect these processes and address factors that may limit or allow organisms to respond to variable environments. From these examples, we posit a framework for how the field might move forward in a more systematic way to address three key questions: (1) which genes directly respond to temperature-sensitive changes in protein function and which genes are downstream, indirect responders?; (2) how long does it take different proteins and genes to respond to temperature?; and (3) are the experimental temperature manipulations relevant to the climate the organism experiences or to predicted climate change scenarios? This approach combines mechanistic questions (questions 1 and 2) with ecologically relevant conditions (question 3), allowing us to explore how organisms respond to transient thermal environments and, thus, cope with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan T Paitz
- Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
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16
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Blencowe M, Chen X, Zhao Y, Itoh Y, McQuillen CN, Han Y, Shou BL, McClusky R, Reue K, Arnold AP, Yang X. Relative contributions of sex hormones, sex chromosomes, and gonads to sex differences in tissue gene regulation. Genome Res 2022; 32:807-824. [PMID: 35396276 PMCID: PMC9104702 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275965.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in physiology and disease in mammals result from the effects of three classes of factors that are inherently unequal in males and females: reversible (activational) effects of gonadal hormones, permanent (organizational) effects of gonadal hormones, and cell-autonomous effects of sex chromosomes, as well as genes driven by these classes of factors. Often, these factors act together to cause sex differences in specific phenotypes, but the relative contribution of each and the interactions among them remain unclear. Here, we used the four core genotypes (FCG) mouse model with or without hormone replacement to distinguish the effects of each class of sex-biasing factors on transcriptome regulation in liver and adipose tissues. We found that the activational hormone levels have the strongest influence on gene expression, followed by the organizational gonadal sex effect, and last, sex chromosomal effect, along with interactions among the three factors. Tissue specificity was prominent, with a major impact of estradiol on adipose tissue gene regulation and of testosterone on the liver transcriptome. The networks affected by the three sex-biasing factors include development, immunity and metabolism, and tissue-specific regulators were identified for these networks. Furthermore, the genes affected by individual sex-biasing factors and interactions among factors are associated with human disease traits such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Our study offers a tissue-specific account of the individual and interactive contributions of major sex-biasing factors to gene regulation that have broad impact on systemic metabolic, endocrine, and immune functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montgomery Blencowe
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Xuqi Chen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yutian Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yuichiro Itoh
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Caden N McQuillen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yanjie Han
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Benjamin L Shou
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Rebecca McClusky
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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17
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Soranno DE, Baker P, Kirkbride-Romeo L, Wennersten SA, Ding K, Keith B, Cavasin MA, Altmann C, Bagchi RA, Haefner KR, Montford J, Gist KM, Vergnes L, Reue K, He Z, Elajaili H, Okamura K, Nozik E, McKinsey TA, Faubel S. Female and male mice have differential longterm cardiorenal outcomes following a matched degree of ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury. Sci Rep 2022; 12:643. [PMID: 35022484 PMCID: PMC8755805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04701-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients, causes systemic sequelae, and predisposes patients to long-term cardiovascular disease. To date, studies of the effects of AKI on cardiovascular outcomes have only been performed in male mice. We recently demonstrated that male mice developed diastolic dysfunction, hypertension and reduced cardiac ATP levels versus sham 1 year after AKI. The effects of female sex on long-term cardiac outcomes after AKI are unknown. Therefore, we examined the 1-year cardiorenal outcomes following a single episode of bilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in female C57BL/6 mice using a model with similar severity of AKI and performed concomitantly to recently published male cohorts. To match the severity of AKI between male and female mice, females received 34 min of ischemia time compared to 25 min in males. Serial renal function, echocardiograms and blood pressure assessments were performed throughout the 1-year study. Renal histology, and cardiac and plasma metabolomics and mitochondrial function in the heart and kidney were evaluated at 1 year. Measured glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were similar between male and female mice throughout the 1-year study period. One year after AKI, female mice had preserved diastolic function, normal blood pressure, and preserved levels of cardiac ATP. Compared to males, females demonstrated pathway enrichment in arginine metabolism and amino acid related energy production in both the heart and plasma, and glutathione in the plasma. Cardiac mitochondrial respiration in Complex I of the electron transport chain demonstrated improved mitochondrial function in females compared to males, regardless of AKI or sham. This is the first study to examine the long-term cardiac effects of AKI on female mice and indicate that there are important sex-related cardiorenal differences. The role of female sex in cardiovascular outcomes after AKI merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E Soranno
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology, University of Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Ave, Box #328, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Division of Renal Disease and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Peter Baker
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics & Metabolism, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lara Kirkbride-Romeo
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology, University of Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Ave, Box #328, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sara A Wennersten
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kathy Ding
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brysen Keith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Maria A Cavasin
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher Altmann
- Division of Renal Disease and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rushita A Bagchi
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Korey R Haefner
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John Montford
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katja M Gist
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Laurent Vergnes
- Department of Human Genetics and Metabolism Theme Area, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics and Metabolism Theme Area, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhibin He
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology, University of Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Ave, Box #328, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Hanan Elajaili
- Department of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kayo Okamura
- Division of Renal Disease and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Eva Nozik
- Department of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Timothy A McKinsey
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sarah Faubel
- Division of Renal Disease and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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18
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Heydari R, Jangravi Z, Maleknia S, Seresht-Ahmadi M, Bahari Z, Salekdeh GH, Meyfour A. Y chromosome is moving out of sex determination shadow. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:4. [PMID: 34983649 PMCID: PMC8724748 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although sex hormones play a key role in sex differences in susceptibility, severity, outcomes, and response to therapy of different diseases, sex chromosomes are also increasingly recognized as an important factor. Studies demonstrated that the Y chromosome is not a 'genetic wasteland' and can be a useful genetic marker for interpreting various male-specific physiological and pathophysiological characteristics. Y chromosome harbors male‑specific genes, which either solely or in cooperation with their X-counterpart, and independent or in conjunction with sex hormones have a considerable impact on basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues development. Furthermore, loss of Y chromosome and/or aberrant expression of Y chromosome genes cause sex differences in disease mechanisms. With the launch of the human proteome project (HPP), the association of Y chromosome proteins with pathological conditions has been increasingly explored. In this review, the involvement of Y chromosome genes in male-specific diseases such as prostate cancer and the cases that are more prevalent in men, such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and cancers, has been highlighted. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Y chromosome-related diseases can have a significant impact on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheleh Heydari
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Jangravi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Maleknia
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Seresht-Ahmadi
- Department of Basic Science and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Bahari
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Anna Meyfour
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Wierenga LM, Doucet GE, Dima D, Agartz I, Aghajani M, Akudjedu TN, Albajes‐Eizagirre A, Alnæs D, Alpert KI, Andreassen OA, Anticevic A, Asherson P, Banaschewski T, Bargallo N, Baumeister S, Baur‐Streubel R, Bertolino A, Bonvino A, Boomsma DI, Borgwardt S, Bourque J, den Braber A, Brandeis D, Breier A, Brodaty H, Brouwer RM, Buitelaar JK, Busatto GF, Calhoun VD, Canales‐Rodríguez EJ, Cannon DM, Caseras X, Castellanos FX, Chaim‐Avancini TM, Ching CRK, Clark VP, Conrod PJ, Conzelmann A, Crivello F, Davey CG, Dickie EW, Ehrlich S, van't Ent D, Fisher SE, Fouche J, Franke B, Fuentes‐Claramonte P, de Geus EJC, Di Giorgio A, Glahn DC, Gotlib IH, Grabe HJ, Gruber O, Gruner P, Gur RE, Gur RC, Gurholt TP, de Haan L, Haatveit B, Harrison BJ, Hartman CA, Hatton SN, Heslenfeld DJ, van den Heuvel OA, Hickie IB, Hoekstra PJ, Hohmann S, Holmes AJ, Hoogman M, Hosten N, Howells FM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Huyser C, Jahanshad N, James AC, Jiang J, Jönsson EG, Joska JA, Kalnin AJ, Klein M, Koenders L, Kolskår KK, Krämer B, Kuntsi J, Lagopoulos J, Lazaro L, Lebedeva IS, Lee PH, Lochner C, Machielsen MWJ, Maingault S, Martin NG, Martínez‐Zalacaín I, Mataix‐Cols D, Mazoyer B, McDonald BC, McDonald C, McIntosh AM, McMahon KL, McPhilemy G, van der Meer D, Menchón JM, Naaijen J, Nyberg L, Oosterlaan J, Paloyelis Y, Pauli P, Pergola G, Pomarol‐Clotet E, Portella MJ, Radua J, Reif A, Richard G, Roffman JL, Rosa PGP, Sacchet MD, Sachdev PS, Salvador R, Sarró S, Satterthwaite TD, Saykin AJ, Serpa MH, Sim K, Simmons A, Smoller JW, Sommer IE, Soriano‐Mas C, Stein DJ, Strike LT, Szeszko PR, Temmingh HS, Thomopoulos SI, Tomyshev AS, Trollor JN, Uhlmann A, Veer IM, Veltman DJ, Voineskos A, Völzke H, Walter H, Wang L, Wang Y, Weber B, Wen W, West JD, Westlye LT, Whalley HC, Williams SCR, Wittfeld K, Wolf DH, Wright MJ, Yoncheva YN, Zanetti MV, Ziegler GC, de Zubicaray GI, Thompson PM, Crone EA, Frangou S, Tamnes CK. Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:470-499. [PMID: 33044802 PMCID: PMC8675415 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever mega-analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1-90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between-subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene-environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex-specific vulnerability to disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Wierenga
- Institute of PsychologyLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Gaelle E Doucet
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Boys Town National Research HospitalOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Danai Dima
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Social Sciences, CityUniversity of LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care ServicesStockholm County CouncilStockholmSweden
| | - Moji Aghajani
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMCVrije UniversiteitAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Research & InnovationGGZ inGeestAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Institute of Education and Child Studies, Forensic Family and Youth CareLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Theophilus N Akudjedu
- Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics (NICOG), Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health SciencesNational University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
- Institute of Medical Imaging & Visualisation, Faculty of Health & Social SciencesBournemouth UniversityBournemouthUK
| | - Anton Albajes‐Eizagirre
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Dag Alnæs
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Kathryn I Alpert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Alan Anticevic
- Department of PsychiatryYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Philip Asherson
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty MannheimMannheimGermany
| | - Nuria Bargallo
- Imaging Diagnostic CenterHospital ClínicBarcelonaSpain
- Magnetic Resonance Image Core FacilityIDIBAPSBarcelonaSpain
| | - Sarah Baumeister
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty MannheimMannheimGermany
| | | | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense OrgansUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroBariItaly
| | - Aurora Bonvino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense OrgansUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroBariItaly
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological PsychologyVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Stefan Borgwardt
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of LübeckLübeckGermany
| | - Josiane Bourque
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- CHU Sainte‐Justine Research CenterMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Anouk den Braber
- Department of Biological PsychologyVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Alzheimer CenterAmsterdam UMC, Location VUMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Daniel Brandeis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty MannheimMannheimGermany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric HospitalUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human PhysiologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Centre ZurichUniversity and ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Alan Breier
- Department of PsychiatryIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Rachel M Brouwer
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive NeuroscienceRadboud University Medical CentreNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University CentreNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Geraldo F Busatto
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM‐21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri‐institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State, Georgia TechAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Erick J Canales‐Rodríguez
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | - Dara M Cannon
- Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics (NICOG), Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health SciencesNational University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Xavier Caseras
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Francisco X Castellanos
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryNYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric ResearchOrangeburgNew YorkUSA
| | - Tiffany M Chaim‐Avancini
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM‐21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Christopher RK Ching
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Vincent P Clark
- Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of PsychologyUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
- Mind Research NetworkAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
| | - Patricia J Conrod
- CHU Sainte‐Justine Research CenterMontrealQuebecCanada
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MontrealMontrealCanada
| | - Annette Conzelmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and PsychotherapyUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology II)PFH – Private University of Applied SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Fabrice Crivello
- Groupe d'Imagerie NeurofonctionnelleInstitut des Maladies NeurodégénérativesBordeauxFrance
| | - Christopher G Davey
- Centre for Youth Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- OrygenParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Erin W Dickie
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Division of Psychological & Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences; Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of MedicineUniversity Hospital C.G. CarusDresdenGermany
| | - Dennis van't Ent
- Department of Biological PsychologyVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics DepartmentMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Jean‐Paul Fouche
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | - Barbara Franke
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of Human GeneticsRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Paola Fuentes‐Claramonte
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | - Eco JC de Geus
- Department of Biological PsychologyVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - David C Glahn
- Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research, Department of PsychiatryBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Olin Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, Institute of LivingHartford HospitalHartfordConnecticutUSA
| | - Ian H Gotlib
- Department of PsychologyStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)Site Rostock/GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Oliver Gruber
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General PsychiatryHeidelberg University HospitalHeidelbergGermany
| | - Patricia Gruner
- Department of PsychiatryYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Lifespan Brain InstituteChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Ruben C Gur
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Tiril P Gurholt
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Lieuwe de Haan
- Department of Early PsychosisAmsterdam UMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Beathe Haatveit
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of PsychiatryThe University of Melbourne & Melbourne HealthMelbourneAustralia
| | - Catharina A Hartman
- Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulationUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sean N Hatton
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dirk J Heslenfeld
- Departments of Experimental and Clinical PsychologyVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMCVrije UniversiteitAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Pieter J Hoekstra
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sarah Hohmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty MannheimMannheimGermany
| | - Avram J Holmes
- Department of PsychiatryYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychologyYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Martine Hoogman
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of Human GeneticsRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Norbert Hosten
- Institute of Diagnostic Radiology and NeuroradiologyUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Fleur M Howells
- Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Chaim Huyser
- De Bascule, Academic center child and adolescent psychiatryDuivendrechtThe Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Anthony C James
- Department of PsychiatryWarneford HospitalOxfordUK
- Highfield UnitWarneford HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Jiyang Jiang
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Erik G Jönsson
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care ServicesStockholm County CouncilStockholmSweden
| | - John A Joska
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | - Andrew J Kalnin
- Department of RadiologyThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | | | - Marieke Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain CenterUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of Human GeneticsRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Laura Koenders
- Department of Early PsychosisAmsterdam UMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Knut K Kolskår
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital HTNesoddenNorway
| | - Bernd Krämer
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General PsychiatryHeidelberg University HospitalHeidelbergGermany
| | - Jonna Kuntsi
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jim Lagopoulos
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson InstituteBirtinyaQueenslandAustralia
- University of the Sunshine CoastSunshine CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Luisa Lazaro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and PsychologyHospital ClínicBarcelonaSpain
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institut (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
- Department of MedicineUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Irina S Lebedeva
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Multimodal AnalysisMental Health Research CenterMoscowRussia
| | - Phil H Lee
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of PsychiatryHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Christine Lochner
- SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of PsychiatryStellenbosch UniversityCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | | | - Sophie Maingault
- Institut des maladies neurodégénérativesUniversité de BordeauxBordeauxFrance
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- Genetic EpidemiologyQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Ignacio Martínez‐Zalacaín
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University HospitalBellvitge Biomedical Research Institute‐IDIBELLBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Clinical SciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - David Mataix‐Cols
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care ServicesStockholm County CouncilStockholmSweden
| | - Bernard Mazoyer
- University of BordeauxBordeauxFrance
- Bordeaux University HospitalBordeauxFrance
| | - Brenna C McDonald
- Department of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Colm McDonald
- Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics (NICOG), Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health SciencesNational University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | | | - Katie L McMahon
- Herston Imaging Research Facility and School of Clinical SciencesQueensland University of Technology (QUT)BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of Technology (QUT)BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Genevieve McPhilemy
- Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics (NICOG), Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health SciencesNational University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesMaastricht UniversityMaastrichtThe Netherlands
| | - José M Menchón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University HospitalBellvitge Biomedical Research Institute‐IDIBELLBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Clinical SciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Jilly Naaijen
- Department of Cognitive NeuroscienceRadboud University Medical CentreNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Department of Radiation SciencesUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Department of Integrative Medical BiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Jaap Oosterlaan
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamEmma Neuroscience Group, Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam Reproduction & DevelopmentAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Clinical Neuropsychology SectionVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Yannis Paloyelis
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Centre of Mental Health, Medical FacultyUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense OrgansUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroBariItaly
- Lieber Institute for Brain DevelopmentJohns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreMary LandUSA
| | - Edith Pomarol‐Clotet
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | - Maria J Portella
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Department of PsychiatryInstitut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant PauBarcelonaSpain
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care ServicesStockholm County CouncilStockholmSweden
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical‐detection (EPIC) lab, Department of Psychosis StudiesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and PsychotherapyUniversity Hospital FrankfurtFrankfur am MaintGermany
| | - Geneviève Richard
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Joshua L Roffman
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Pedro GP Rosa
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM‐21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Matthew D Sacchet
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress ResearchMcLean Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBelmontMassachusettsUSA
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Neuropsychiatric InstituteThe Prince of Wales HospitalRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Raymond Salvador
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | - Salvador Sarró
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
| | | | - Andrew J Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Indiana Alzheimer Disease CenterIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Mauricio H Serpa
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM‐21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Kang Sim
- West Region, Institute of Mental HealthSingaporeSingapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Andrew Simmons
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology and Neurology, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Iris E Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Rijksuniversiteit GroningenUniversity Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Carles Soriano‐Mas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)MadridSpain
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University HospitalBellvitge Biomedical Research Institute‐IDIBELLBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology in Health SciencesUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Dan J Stein
- SAMRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | - Lachlan T Strike
- Queensland Brain InstituteUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Philip R Szeszko
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)James J. Peters VA Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Henk S Temmingh
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
| | - Sophia I Thomopoulos
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alexander S Tomyshev
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Multimodal AnalysisMental Health Research CenterMoscowRussia
| | - Julian N Trollor
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Anne Uhlmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownWestern CapeSouth Africa
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and PsychotherapyFaculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus of TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Ilya M Veer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Dick J Veltman
- Department of Psychiatry & Amsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdam UMC, location VUMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Aristotle Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community MedicineUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- DZD (German Center for Diabetes Research), partner site GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of RadiologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
| | - Bernd Weber
- Institute for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition ResearchUniversity Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Wei Wen
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - John D West
- Department of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Heather C Whalley
- Division of PsychiatryUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Division of PsychiatryRoyal Edinburgh HospitalEdinburghUK
| | | | - Katharina Wittfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyUniversity Medicine GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)Site Rostock/GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Daniel H Wolf
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain InstituteUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Centre for Advanced ImagingUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Yuliya N Yoncheva
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study CenterHassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU LangoneNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Marcus V Zanetti
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging (LIM‐21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
- Instituto de Ensino e PesquisaHospital Sírio‐LibanêsSão PauloBrazil
| | - Georg C Ziegler
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental HealthUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Greig I de Zubicaray
- Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of Technology (QUT)BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eveline A Crone
- Institute of PsychologyLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies (DPECS), Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral SciencesErasmus University RotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Sophia Frangou
- Department of PsychiatryIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Centre for Brain HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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20
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Parra-Montes de Oca MA, Sotelo-Rivera I, Gutiérrez-Mata A, Charli JL, Joseph-Bravo P. Sex Dimorphic Responses of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis to Energy Demands and Stress. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:746924. [PMID: 34745011 PMCID: PMC8565401 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.746924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid-axis (HPT) is one of the main neuroendocrine axes that control energy expenditure. The activity of hypophysiotropic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) neurons is modulated by nutritional status, energy demands and stress, all of which are sex dependent. Sex dimorphism has been associated with sex steroids whose concentration vary along the life-span, but also to sex chromosomes that define not only sexual characteristics but the expression of relevant genes. In this review we describe sex differences in basal HPT axis activity and in its response to stress and to metabolic challenges in experimental animals at different stages of development, as well as some of the limited information available on humans. Literature review was accomplished by searching in Pubmed under the following words: "sex dimorphic" or "sex differences" or "female" or "women" and "thyrotropin" or "thyroid hormones" or "deiodinases" and "energy homeostasis" or "stress". The most representative articles were discussed, and to reduce the number of references, selected reviews were cited.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Patricia Joseph-Bravo
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico
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21
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Squiers GT, McLellan MA, Ilinykh A, Branca J, Rosenthal NA, Pinto AR. Cardiac cellularity is dependent upon biological sex and is regulated by gonadal hormones. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:2252-2262. [PMID: 32941598 PMCID: PMC8502469 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Sex differences have been consistently identified in cardiac physiology and incidence of cardiac disease. However, the underlying biological causes for the differences remain unclear. We sought to characterize the cardiac non-myocyte cellular landscape in female and male hearts to determine whether cellular proportion of the heart is sex-dependent and whether endocrine factors modulate the cardiac cell proportions. METHODS AND RESULTS Utilizing high-dimensional flow cytometry and immunofluorescence imaging, we found significant sex-specific differences in cellular composition of the heart in adult and juvenile mice, that develops postnatally. Removal of systemic gonadal hormones by gonadectomy results in rapid sex-specific changes in cardiac non-myocyte cellular proportions including alteration in resident mesenchymal cell and leucocyte populations, indicating gonadal hormones and their downstream targets regulate cardiac cellular composition. The ectopic reintroduction of oestrogen and testosterone to female and male mice, respectively, reverses many of these gonadectomy-induced compositional changes. CONCLUSION This work shows that the constituent cell types of the mouse heart are hormone-dependent and that the cardiac cellular landscapes are distinct in females and males, remain plastic, and can be rapidly modulated by endocrine factors. These observations have implications for strategies aiming to therapeutically alter cardiac cellular heterogeneity and underscore the importance of considering biological sex for studies examining cardiac physiology and stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen T Squiers
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Micheal A McLellan
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main st, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Alexei Ilinykh
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, 15 Innovation Walk, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jane Branca
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main st, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Nadia A Rosenthal
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main st, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Dovehouse St, Chelsea, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Alexander R Pinto
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, 75 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd &, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
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22
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Joel D. Beyond sex differences and a male-female continuum: Mosaic brains in a multidimensional space. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 175:13-24. [PMID: 33008521 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, the 60 years old view that in utero exposure to testosterone irreversibly masculinizes the brain of males away from a default female form has been replaced by a complex scenario according to which sex affects the brains of both females and males via multiple mechanisms, which are susceptible to internal and external factors. These observations led to the "mosaic" hypothesis-the expectation that the degree of "maleness"/"femaleness" of different features within a single brain would not be internally consistent. Following a short review of the animal studies providing the basis of the mosaic hypothesis, I describe three studies conducted in humans that assessed internal consistency in regional volume, cortical thickness, and connectivity as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); in neuronal numbers in the postmortem hypothalamus; and in changes in regional volume and cortical thickness (assessed with MRI) following exposure to extreme real-life stress. The conclusion from these studies, that human brains are largely composed of unique mosaics of female-typical and male-typical features, was supported by recent findings that the brain "types" typical of women are also typical of men, and vice versa. Lastly, I discuss criticism of the mosaic hypothesis and suggest replacing the framework of a male-female continuum with thinking about mosaic brains residing in a multidimensional space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Joel
- School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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23
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Wang J, Lan Y, He L, Tang R, Li Y, Huang Y, Liang S, Gao Z, Price M, Yue B, He M, Guo T, Fan Z. Sex-specific gene expression in the blood of four primates. Genomics 2021; 113:2605-2613. [PMID: 34116169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Blood is an important non-reproductive tissue, but little is known about the sex-specific gene expressions in the blood. Therefore, we investigated sex-specific gene expression differences in the blood tissues of four primates, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), Tibetan macaques (M. thibetana), yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus), and humans. We identified seven sex-specific differentially expressed genes (SDEGs) in each non-human primate and 31 SDEGs in humans. The four primates had only one common SDEG, MAP7D2. In humans, immune-related SDEGs were identified as up-regulated, but also down-regulated in females. We also found that most of the X-Y gene pairs had similar expression levels between species, except pair EIF1AY/EIF1AX. The expression level of X-Y gene pairs of rhesus and Tibetan macaques showed no significant differential expression levels, while humans had six significant XY-biased and three XX-biased X-Y gene pairs. Our observed sex differences in blood should increase understanding of sex differences in primate blood tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Lan
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Lewei He
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Ruixiang Tang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology on Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuhui Li
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Medical Laboratory Department of West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Shan Liang
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhan Gao
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan, China
| | - Megan Price
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China.
| | - Bisong Yue
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology on Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
| | - Miao He
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610052, Sichuan, China.
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Zhenxin Fan
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China.
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Bhargava A, Arnold AP, Bangasser DA, Denton KM, Gupta A, Hilliard Krause LM, Mayer EA, McCarthy M, Miller WL, Raznahan A, Verma R. Considering Sex as a Biological Variable in Basic and Clinical Studies: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:219-258. [PMID: 33704446 PMCID: PMC8348944 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In May 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated its intent to "require applicants to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells." Since then, proposed research plans that include animals routinely state that both sexes/genders will be used; however, in many instances, researchers and reviewers are at a loss about the issue of sex differences. Moreover, the terms sex and gender are used interchangeably by many researchers, further complicating the issue. In addition, the sex or gender of the researcher might influence study outcomes, especially those concerning behavioral studies, in both animals and humans. The act of observation may change the outcome (the "observer effect") and any experimental manipulation, no matter how well-controlled, is subject to it. This is nowhere more applicable than in physiology and behavior. The sex of established cultured cell lines is another issue, in addition to aneuploidy; chromosomal numbers can change as cells are passaged. Additionally, culture medium contains steroids, growth hormone, and insulin that might influence expression of various genes. These issues often are not taken into account, determined, or even considered. Issues pertaining to the "sex" of cultured cells are beyond the scope of this Statement. However, we will discuss the factors that influence sex and gender in both basic research (that using animal models) and clinical research (that involving human subjects), as well as in some areas of science where sex differences are routinely studied. Sex differences in baseline physiology and associated mechanisms form the foundation for understanding sex differences in diseases pathology, treatments, and outcomes. The purpose of this Statement is to highlight lessons learned, caveats, and what to consider when evaluating data pertaining to sex differences, using 3 areas of research as examples; it is not intended to serve as a guideline for research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhargava
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arpana Gupta
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda M Hilliard Krause
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ragini Verma
- Diffusion and Connectomics In Precision Healthcare Research (DiCIPHR) lab, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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25
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Mousavi SE, Purser GJ, Patil JG. Embryonic Onset of Sexually Dimorphic Heart Rates in the Viviparous Fish, Gambusia holbrooki. Biomedicines 2021; 9:165. [PMID: 33567532 PMCID: PMC7915484 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In fish, little is known about sex-specific differences in physiology and performance of the heart and whether these differences manifest during development. Here for the first time, the sex-specific heart rates during embryogenesis of Gambusia holbrooki, from the onset of the heart rates (HRs) to just prior to parturition, was investigated using light cardiogram. The genetic sex of the embryos was post-verified using a sex-specific genetic marker. Results reveal that heart rates and resting time significantly increase (p < 0.05) with progressive embryonic development. Furthermore, both ventricular and atrial frequencies of female embryos were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of their male sibs at the corresponding developmental stages and remained so at all later developmental stages (p < 0.05). In concurrence, the heart rate and ventricular size of the adult females were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher and larger respectively than those of males. Collectively, the results suggest that the cardiac sex-dimorphism manifests as early as late-organogenesis and persists through adulthood in this species. These findings suggest that the cardiac measurements can be employed to non-invasively sex the developing embryos, well in advance of when their phenotypic sex is discernible. In addition, G. holbrooki could serve as a better model to study comparative vertebrate cardiovascular development as well as to investigate anthropogenic and climatic impacts on heart physiology of this species, that may be sex influenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ehsan Mousavi
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
| | - G. John Purser
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
| | - Jawahar G. Patil
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia;
- Inland Fisheries Service, New Norfolk, TAS 7140, Australia
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26
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Joel D. Beyond the binary: Rethinking sex and the brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 122:165-175. [PMID: 33440198 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The paper reviews the relations between sex and brain in light of the binary conceptualization of these relations and the challenges posed to it by the 'mosaic' hypothesis. Recent formulations of the binary framework range from arguing that the typical male brain is different from the typical female brain to claiming that brains are typically male or female because brain structure can be used to predict the sex category (female/male) of the brain's owner. These formulations are challenged by evidence that sex effects on the brain may be opposite under different conditions, that human brains are comprised of mosaics of female-typical and male-typical features, and that sex category explains only a small part of the variability in human brain structure. These findings led to a new, non-binary, framework, according to which mosaic brains reside in a multi-dimensional space that cannot meaningfully be reduced to a male-female continuum or to a binary variable. This framework may also apply to sex-related variables and has implications for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Joel
- School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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27
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Raznahan A, Disteche CM. X-chromosome regulation and sex differences in brain anatomy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 120:28-47. [PMID: 33171144 PMCID: PMC7855816 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Humans show reproducible sex-differences in cognition and psychopathology that may be contributed to by influences of gonadal sex-steroids and/or sex-chromosomes on regional brain development. Gonadal sex-steroids are well known to play a major role in sexual differentiation of the vertebrate brain, but far less is known regarding the role of sex-chromosomes. Our review focuses on this latter issue by bridging together two literatures that have to date been largely disconnected. We first consider "bottom-up" genetic and molecular studies focused on sex-chromosome gene content and regulation. This literature nominates specific sex-chromosome genes that could drive developmental sex-differences by virtue of their sex-biased expression and their functions within the brain. We then consider the complementary "top down" view, from magnetic resonance imaging studies that map sex- and sex chromosome effects on regional brain anatomy, and link these maps to regional gene-expression within the brain. By connecting these top-down and bottom-up approaches, we emphasize the potential role of X-linked genes in driving sex-biased brain development and outline key goals for future work in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Christine M Disteche
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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28
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Arnold AP. Four Core Genotypes and XY* mouse models: Update on impact on SABV research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:1-8. [PMID: 32980399 PMCID: PMC7736196 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The impact of two mouse models is reviewed, the Four Core Genotypes and XY* models. The models are useful for determining if the causes of sex differences in phenotypes are either hormonal or sex chromosomal, or both. Used together, the models also can distinguish between the effects of X or Y chromosome genes that contribute to sex differences in phenotypes. To date, the models have been used to uncover sex chromosome contributions to sex differences in a wide variety of phenotypes, including brain and behavior, autoimmunity and immunity, cardiovascular disease, metabolism, and Alzheimer's Disease. In some cases, use of the models has been a strategy leading to discovery of specific X or Y genes that protect from or exacerbate disease. Sex chromosome and hormonal factors interact, in some cases to reduce the effects of each other. Future progress will come from more extensive application of these models, and development of similar models in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, UCLA, 610 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-7239, United States.
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29
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Gillis J, Bercier M, Rattner FK, Citino S. 63,XX, SRY‐negative, pseudohermaphroditism in a Somali wild ass (
Equus asinus somalicus
). VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2020-001164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Gillis
- South‐East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and ConservationYuleeFloridaUSA
| | - Marjorie Bercier
- Clinical SciencesTufts University Cummings School of Veterinary MedicineNorth GraftonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Francine K Rattner
- South‐East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and ConservationYuleeFloridaUSA
| | - Scott Citino
- Veterinary MedicineWhite Oak ConservationYuleeFloridaUSA
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30
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Sexual EDC-ucation: What we Have Learned About Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Reproduction. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-020-00269-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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31
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Arambula SE, McCarthy MM. Neuroendocrine-Immune Crosstalk Shapes Sex-Specific Brain Development. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqaa055. [PMID: 32270188 PMCID: PMC7217281 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sex is an essential biological variable that significantly impacts multiple aspects of neural functioning in both the healthy and diseased brain. Sex differences in brain structure and function are organized early in development during the critical period of sexual differentiation. While decades of research establish gonadal hormones as the primary modulators of this process, new research has revealed a critical, and perhaps underappreciated, role of the neuroimmune system in sex-specific brain development. The immune and endocrine systems are tightly intertwined and share processes and effector molecules that influence the nervous system. Thus, a natural question is whether endocrine-immune crosstalk contributes to sexual differentiation of the brain. In this mini-review, we first provide a conceptual framework by classifying the major categories of neural sex differences and review the concept of sexual differentiation of the brain, a process occurring early in development and largely controlled by steroid hormones. Next, we describe developmental sex differences in the neuroimmune system, which may represent targets or mediators of the sexual differentiation process. We then discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of crosstalk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and highlight recent examples that shape sex differences in the brain. Finally, we review how early life events can perturb sex-specific neurodevelopment via aberrant immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl E Arambula
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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32
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Godfrey AK, Naqvi S, Chmátal L, Chick JM, Mitchell RN, Gygi SP, Skaletsky H, Page DC. Quantitative analysis of Y-Chromosome gene expression across 36 human tissues. Genome Res 2020; 30:860-873. [PMID: 32461223 PMCID: PMC7370882 DOI: 10.1101/gr.261248.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about how human Y-Chromosome gene expression directly contributes to differences between XX (female) and XY (male) individuals in nonreproductive tissues. Here, we analyzed quantitative profiles of Y-Chromosome gene expression across 36 human tissues from hundreds of individuals. Although it is often said that Y-Chromosome genes are lowly expressed outside the testis, we report many instances of elevated Y-Chromosome gene expression in a nonreproductive tissue. A notable example is EIF1AY, which encodes eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A Y-linked, together with its X-linked homolog EIF1AX. Evolutionary loss of a Y-linked microRNA target site enabled up-regulation of EIF1AY, but not of EIF1AX, in the heart. Consequently, this essential translation initiation factor is nearly twice as abundant in male as in female heart tissue at the protein level. Divergence between the X and Y Chromosomes in regulatory sequence can therefore lead to tissue-specific Y-Chromosome-driven sex biases in expression of critical, dosage-sensitive regulatory genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K Godfrey
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Sahin Naqvi
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Lukáš Chmátal
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Joel M Chick
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Richard N Mitchell
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Helen Skaletsky
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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33
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Abstract
Interdisciplinary research and education are key for a better appreciation of sex and gender as defining a person, and for novel societal and personalized health‐care approaches.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian-Paolo Dotto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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34
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Arnold AP. Sexual differentiation of brain and other tissues: Five questions for the next 50 years. Horm Behav 2020; 120:104691. [PMID: 31991182 PMCID: PMC7440839 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of founding of the journal Hormones and Behavior, the official journal of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. All sex differences in phenotypic development stem from the sexual imbalance in X and Y chromosomes, which are the only known differences in XX and XY zygotes. The sex chromosome genes act within cells to cause differences in phenotypes of XX and XY cells throughout the body. In the gonad, they determine the type of gonad, leading to differences in secretion of testicular vs. ovarian hormones, which cause further sex differences in tissue function. These current ideas of sexual differentiation are briefly contrasted with a hormones-only view of sexual differentiation of the last century. The multiple, independent action of diverse sex-biasing agents means that sex-biased factors can be synergistic, increasing sex differences, or compensatory, making the two sexes more equal. Several animal models have been fruitful in demonstrating sex chromosome effects, and interactions with gonadal hormones. MRI studies of human brains demonstrate variation in brain structure associated with both differences in gonadal hormones, and in the number of X and Y chromosomes. Five unanswered questions are posed as a challenge to future investigators to improve understanding of sexual differentiation throughout the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- Department Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
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35
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Parent-of-origin differences in DNA methylation of X chromosome genes in T lymphocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:26779-26787. [PMID: 31822606 PMCID: PMC6936674 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910072116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are naturally occurring disease modifiers that, if understood, could lead to novel targets for drug development. Autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in women than in men, and sex differences in immune responses have been shown in humans and mice. Here, we discover a global parent-of-origin difference in DNA methylation on the X chromosome that affects gene expression in activated CD4+ T lymphocytes. The paternal X has more methylation than the maternal X, with higher expression of X genes in XY cells since they only express from the maternal X. Thus, parent-of-origin differences in DNA methylation of X genes can play a role in sex differences in immune responses. Many autoimmune diseases are more frequent in females than in males in humans and their mouse models, and sex differences in immune responses have been shown. Despite extensive studies of sex hormones, mechanisms underlying these sex differences remain unclear. Here, we focused on sex chromosomes using the “four core genotypes” model in C57BL/6 mice and discovered that the transcriptomes of both autoantigen and anti-CD3/CD28 stimulated CD4+ T lymphocytes showed higher expression of a cluster of 5 X genes when derived from XY as compared to XX mice. We next determined if higher expression of an X gene in XY compared to XX could be due to parent-of-origin differences in DNA methylation of the X chromosome. We found a global increase in DNA methylation on the X chromosome of paternal as compared to maternal origin. Since DNA methylation usually suppresses gene expression, this result was consistent with higher expression of X genes in XY cells because XY cells always express from the maternal X chromosome. In addition, gene expression analysis of F1 hybrid mice from CAST × FVB reciprocal crosses showed preferential gene expression from the maternal X compared to paternal X chromosome, revealing that these parent-of-origin effects are not strain-specific. SJL mice also showed a parent-of-origin effect on DNA methylation and X gene expression; however, which X genes were affected differed from those in C57BL/6. Together, this demonstrates how parent-of-origin differences in DNA methylation of the X chromosome can lead to sex differences in gene expression during immune responses.
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36
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Leitner N, Ben-Shahar Y. The neurogenetics of sexually dimorphic behaviors from a postdevelopmental perspective. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12623. [PMID: 31674725 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most sexually reproducing animal species are characterized by two morphologically and behaviorally distinct sexes. The genetic, molecular and cellular processes that produce sexual dimorphisms are phylogenetically diverse, though in most cases they are thought to occur early in development. In some species, however, sexual dimorphisms are manifested after development is complete, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis that sex, more generally, might be considered a continuous trait that is influenced by both developmental and postdevelopmental processes. Here, we explore how biological sex is defined at the genetic, neuronal and behavioral levels, its effects on neuronal development and function, and how it might lead to sexually dimorphic behavioral traits in health and disease. We also propose a unifying framework for understanding neuronal and behavioral sexual dimorphisms in the context of both developmental and postdevelopmental, physiological timescales. Together, these two temporally separate processes might drive sex-specific neuronal functions in sexually mature adults, particularly as it pertains to behavior in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Leitner
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yehuda Ben-Shahar
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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37
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Wang Y, Wu H, Sun ZS. The biological basis of sexual orientation: How hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors influence to whom we are sexually attracted. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100798. [PMID: 31593707 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Humans develop relatively stable attractions to sexual partners during maturation and present a spectrum of sexual orientation from homosexuality to heterosexuality encompassing varying degrees of bisexuality, with some individuals also displaying asexuality. Sexual orientation represents a basic life phenomenon for humans. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these diverse traits of sexual orientation remain highly controversial. In this review, we systematically discuss recent advancements in sexual orientation research, including those related to measurements and associated brain regions. Current findings regarding sexual orientation modulation by hormonal, genetic, maternal immune system, and environmental factors are summarized in both human and model systems. We also emphasize that future studies should recognize the differences between males and females and pay more attention to minor traits and the epigenetic regulation of sexual orientation. A comprehensive view of sexual orientation may promote our understanding of the biological basis of sex, and that of human reproduction, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Haoda Wu
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Sino-Danish College, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhong Sheng Sun
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Sino-Danish College, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
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38
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Abstract
In the past decennia, our understanding of the sexual differentiation of the mammalian brain has dramatically changed. The simple model according to which testosterone masculinizes the brain of males away from a default female form, was replaced with a complex scenario, according to which sex effects on the brain of both females and males are exerted by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. These factors act via multiple partly independent mechanisms that may vary according to internal and external factors. These observations led to the "mosaic" hypothesis-the expectation of high variability in the degree of "maleness"/"femaleness" of different features within a single brain. Here, we briefly review animal data that form the basis of current understanding of sexual differentiation; present, in this context, the results of co-analyses of human brain measures obtained by magnetic resonance imaging or postmortem; discuss criticisms and controversies of the mosaic hypothesis and implications for research; and conclude that co-analysis of several (preferably, many) features and going back from the group level to that of the individual would advance our understanding of the relations between sex and the brain in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Joel
- School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Alicia Garcia-Falgueras
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, KNAW, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Swaab
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, KNAW, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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39
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Deegan DF, Engel N. Sexual Dimorphism in the Age of Genomics: How, When, Where. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:186. [PMID: 31552249 PMCID: PMC6743004 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, sex chromosomes start to program autosomal gene expression and epigenetic patterns very soon after fertilization. Yet whether the resulting sex differences are perpetuated throughout development and how they connect to the sex-specific expression patterns in adult tissues is not known. There is a dearth of information on the timing and continuity of sex biases during development. It is also unclear whether sex-specific selection operates during embryogenesis. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that all adult tissues exhibit sex-specific expression patterns, some of which are independent of hormonal influence and due to intrinsic regulatory effects of the sex chromosome constitution. There are many diseases with origins during embryogenesis that also exhibit sex biases. Epigenetics has provided us with viable mechanisms to explain how the genome stores the memory of developmental events. We propose that some of these marks can be traced back to the sex chromosomes, which interact with the autosomes and establish sex-specific epigenetic features soon after fertilization. Sex-biased epigenetic marks that linger after reprograming may reveal themselves at the transcriptional level at later developmental stages and possibly, throughout the lifespan. Detailed molecular information on the ontogeny of sex biases would also elucidate the sex-specific selective pressures operating on embryos and how compensatory mechanisms evolved to resolve sexual conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Engel
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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40
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Smith PF, Agrawal Y, Darlington CL. Sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and dysfunction. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:2379-2391. [PMID: 31042453 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00074.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been recognized for some time that females appear to be overrepresented in the incidence of many vestibular disorders, and recent epidemiological studies further support this idea. While it is possible that this is due to a reporting bias, another possibility is that there are actual differences in the incidence of vestibular dysfunction between males and females. If this is true, it could be due to a sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and therefore dysfunction, possibly related to the hormonal differences between females and males, although the higher incidence of vestibular dysfunction in females appears to last long after menopause. Many other neurochemical differences exist between males and females, however, that could be implicated in sexual dimorphism. This review critically explores the possibility of sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and dysfunction, and the implications it may have for the treatment of vestibular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago Medical School , Dunedin , New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand.,Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand
| | - Yuri Agrawal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cynthia L Darlington
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago Medical School , Dunedin , New Zealand.,Brain Research New Zealand.,Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand
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Cortes LR, Cisternas CD, Forger NG. Does Gender Leave an Epigenetic Imprint on the Brain? Front Neurosci 2019; 13:173. [PMID: 30872999 PMCID: PMC6400866 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The words “sex” and “gender” are often used interchangeably in common usage. In fact, the Merriam-Webster dictionary offers “sex” as the definition of gender. The authors of this review are neuroscientists, and the words “sex” and “gender” mean very different things to us: sex is based on biological factors such as sex chromosomes and gonads, whereas gender has a social component and involves differential expectations or treatment by conspecifics, based on an individual’s perceived sex. While we are accustomed to thinking about “sex” and differences between males and females in epigenetic marks in the brain, we are much less used to thinking about the biological implications of gender. Nonetheless, careful consideration of the field of epigenetics leads us to conclude that gender must also leave an epigenetic imprint on the brain. Indeed, it would be strange if this were not the case, because all environmental influences of any import can epigenetically change the brain. In the following pages, we explain why there is now sufficient evidence to suggest that an epigenetic imprint for gender is a logical conclusion. We define our terms for sex, gender, and epigenetics, and describe research demonstrating sex differences in epigenetic mechanisms in the brain which, to date, is mainly based on work in non-human animals. We then give several examples of how gender, rather than sex, may cause the brain epigenome to differ in males and females, and finally consider the myriad of ways that sex and gender interact to shape gene expression in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R Cortes
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Carla D Cisternas
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nancy G Forger
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Abstract
Evolution of genetic mechanisms of sex determination led to two processes causing sex differences in somatic phenotypes: gonadal differentiation and sex chromosome dosage inequality. In species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the sex of the individual is established at the time of formation of the zygote, leading to inherent sex differences in expression of sex chromosome genes beginning as soon as the embryonic transcriptome is activated. The inequality of sex chromosome gene expression causes sexual differentiation of the gonads and of non-gonadal tissues. The difference in gonad type in turn causes lifelong differences in gonadal hormones, which interact with unequal effects of X and Y genes acting within cells. Separating the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes has been possible using mouse models in which gonadal determination is separated from the sex chromosomes, allowing comparison of XX and XY mice with the same type of gonad. Sex differences caused by gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes affect basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues.
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Jowhar Z, Shachar S, Gudla PR, Wangsa D, Torres E, Russ JL, Pegoraro G, Ried T, Raznahan A, Misteli T. Effects of human sex chromosome dosage on spatial chromosome organization. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 29:2458-2469. [PMID: 30091656 PMCID: PMC6233059 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e18-06-0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) are common genetic syndromes characterized by the presence of an aberrant number of X and Y chromosomes due to meiotic defects. These conditions impact the structure and function of diverse tissues, but the proximal effects of SCAs on genome organization are unknown. Here, to determine the consequences of SCAs on global genome organization, we have analyzed multiple architectural features of chromosome organization in a comprehensive set of primary cells from SCA patients with various ratios of X and Y chromosomes by use of imaging-based high-throughput chromosome territory mapping (HiCTMap). We find that X chromosome supernumeracy does not affect the size, volume, or nuclear position of the Y chromosome or an autosomal chromosome. In contrast, the active X chromosome undergoes architectural changes as a function of increasing X copy number as measured by a decrease in size and an increase in circularity, which is indicative of chromatin compaction. In Y chromosome supernumeracy, Y chromosome size is reduced suggesting higher chromatin condensation. The radial positioning of chromosomes is unaffected in SCA karyotypes. Taken together, these observations document changes in genome architecture in response to alterations in sex chromosome numbers and point to trans-effects of dosage compensation on chromosome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad Jowhar
- Cell Biology of Genomes Group, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Sigal Shachar
- Cell Biology of Genomes Group, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Prabhakar R. Gudla
- High-Throughput Imaging Facility, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Darawalee Wangsa
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Erin Torres
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jill L. Russ
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Gianluca Pegoraro
- High-Throughput Imaging Facility, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Thomas Ried
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Tom Misteli
- Cell Biology of Genomes Group, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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Morris KR, Hirst CE, Major AT, Ezaz T, Ford M, Bibby S, Doran TJ, Smith CA. Gonadal and Endocrine Analysis of a Gynandromorphic Chicken. Endocrinology 2018; 159:3492-3502. [PMID: 30124802 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Birds have a ZZ male and ZW female sex chromosome system. The relative roles of genetics and hormones in regulating avian sexual development have been revealed by studies on gynandromorphs. Gynandromorphs are rare bilateral sex chimeras, male on one side of the body and female on the other. We examined a naturally occurring gynandromorphic chicken that was externally male on the right side of the body and female on the left. The bird was diploid but with a mix of ZZ and ZW cells that correlated with the asymmetric sexual phenotype. The male side was 96% ZZ, and the female side was 77% ZZ and 23% ZW. The gonads of this bird at sexual maturity were largely testicular. The right gonad was a testis, with SOX9+ Sertoli cells, DMRT1+ germ cells, and active spermatogenesis. The left gonad was primarily testicular, but with some peripheral aromatase-expressing follicles. The bird had low levels of serum estradiol and high levels of testosterone, as expected for a male. Despite the low percentage of ZW cells on that side, the left side had female sex-linked feathering, smaller muscle mass, smaller leg and spur, and smaller wattle than the male side. This indicates that these sexually dimorphic structures must be at least partly independent of sex steroid effects. Even a small percentage of ZW cells appears sufficient to support female sexual differentiation. Given the lack of chromosome-wide dosage compensation in birds, various sexually dimorphic features may arise due to Z-gene dosage differences between the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten R Morris
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire E Hirst
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew T Major
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Mark Ford
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan Bibby
- 2Bridges Consulting, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim J Doran
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Hilderbrand ER, Lasek AW. Studying Sex Differences in Animal Models of Addiction: An Emphasis on Alcohol-Related Behaviors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:1907-1916. [PMID: 29227676 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are essential for understanding the biological factors that contribute to drug and alcohol addiction and discovering new pharmacotherapies to treat these disorders. Alcohol (ethanol) is the most commonly abused drug in the world, and as the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) increases, so does the need for effective pharmacotherapies. In particular, treatments with high efficacy in the growing number of female AUD sufferers are needed. Female animals remain underrepresented in biomedical research and sex differences in the brain's response to alcohol are poorly understood. To help bridge the gender gap in addiction research, this Review discusses strategies that researchers can use to examine sex differences in the context of several common animal models of AUD. Self-administration, two-bottle choice, drinking in the dark, and conditioned place preference are discussed, with a focus on the role of estrogen as a mediator of sex differences in alcohol-related behaviors.
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Wierenga LM, Sexton JA, Laake P, Giedd JN, Tamnes CK. A Key Characteristic of Sex Differences in the Developing Brain: Greater Variability in Brain Structure of Boys than Girls. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:2741-2751. [PMID: 28981610 PMCID: PMC6041809 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In many domains, including cognition and personality, greater variability is observed in males than in females in humans. However, little is known about how variability differences between sexes are represented in the brain. The present study tested whether there is a sex difference in variance in brain structure using a cohort of 643 males and 591 females aged between 3 and 21 years. The broad age-range of the sample allowed us to test if variance differences in the brain differ across age. We observed significantly greater male than female variance for several key brain structures, including cerebral white matter and cortex, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and cerebellar cortex volumes. The differences were observed at both upper and lower extremities of the distributions and appeared stable across development. These findings move beyond mean levels by showing that sex differences were pronounced for variability, thereby providing a novel perspective on sex differences in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Wierenga
- Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden University, RB Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph A Sexton
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petter Laake
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jay N Giedd
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW As the ongoing epidemic of adult and childhood obesity grows, it puts a greater burden on individuals and the healthcare system due to increased prevalence of obesity-associated diseases. An important area that has gained much attention recently is the sex and gender difference related to obesity and associated complications. Basic science and clinical studies have now improved our understanding of obesity and have discovered adipose tissue biology to be key in metabolism. RECENT FINDINGS There is evidence related to the sex dichotomy in obesity in a variety of areas including adipocyte function, sex hormone effects, genetics, and metabolic inflammation leading to critical differences in adipose tissue biology. The sex and gender difference in adipose tissue is a factor that should be considered when studying an individuals' risk for obesity and metabolic dysfunction. This understanding is important for strategizing treatment and prevention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chang
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Michigan Medical School, Medical Professional Building, D1205 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5718, USA
| | - Mita Varghese
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Michigan Medical School, Medical Professional Building, D1205 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5718, USA
| | - Kanakadurga Singer
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Michigan Medical School, Medical Professional Building, D1205 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5718, USA.
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Abstract
A fundamental question in the biology of sex differences has eluded direct study in humans: How does sex-chromosome dosage (SCD) shape genome function? To address this, we developed a systematic map of SCD effects on gene function by analyzing genome-wide expression data in humans with diverse sex-chromosome aneuploidies (XO, XXX, XXY, XYY, and XXYY). For sex chromosomes, we demonstrate a pattern of obligate dosage sensitivity among evolutionarily preserved X-Y homologs and update prevailing theoretical models for SCD compensation by detecting X-linked genes that increase expression with decreasing X- and/or Y-chromosome dosage. We further show that SCD-sensitive sex-chromosome genes regulate specific coexpression networks of SCD-sensitive autosomal genes with critical cellular functions and a demonstrable potential to mediate previously documented SCD effects on disease. These gene coexpression results converge with analysis of transcription factor binding site enrichment and measures of gene expression in murine knockout models to spotlight the dosage-sensitive X-linked transcription factor ZFX as a key mediator of SCD effects on wider genome expression. Our findings characterize the effects of SCD broadly across the genome, with potential implications for human phenotypic variation.
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Engel N. Sex Differences in Early Embryogenesis: Inter-Chromosomal Regulation Sets the Stage for Sex-Biased Gene Networks: The dialogue between the sex chromosomes and autosomes imposes sexual identity soon after fertilization. Bioessays 2018; 40:e1800073. [PMID: 29943439 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific transcriptional and epigenomic profiles are detectable in the embryo very soon after fertilization. I propose that in male (XY) and female (XX) pre-implantation embryos sex chromosomes establish sexually dimorphic interactions with the autosomes, before overt differences become apparent and long before gonadogenesis. Lineage determination restricts expression biases between the sexes, but the epigenetic differences are less constrained and can be perpetuated, accounting for dimorphisms that arise later in life. In this way, sexual identity is registered in the epigenome very early in development. As development progresses, sex-specific regulatory modules are harbored within shared transcriptional networks that delineate common traits. In reviewing this field, I propose that analyzing the mechanisms for sexual dimorphisms at the molecular and biochemical level and incorporating developmental and environmental factors will lead to a greater understanding of sex differences in health and disease. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/9BPlbrHtkHQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Engel
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University - Fels Institute for Cancer Research, 3400 North Broad St., AHB Room 201, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, USA
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50
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Pfaff DW, Baum MJ. Hormone-dependent medial preoptic/lumbar spinal cord/autonomic coordination supporting male sexual behaviors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 467:21-30. [PMID: 29100889 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone (T) can act directly through neural androgen receptors (AR) to facilitate male sexual behavior; however, T's metabolites also can play complicated and interesting roles in the control of mating. One metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to AR with significantly greater affinity than that of T. Is that important behaviorally? Another metabolite, estradiol (E), offers a potential alternative route of facilitating male mating behavior by acting through estradiol receptors (ER). In this review we explore the roles and relative importance of T as well as E and DHT at various levels of the neuroaxis for the activation of male sex behavior in common laboratory animals and, when relevant research findings are available, in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald W Pfaff
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States.
| | - Michael J Baum
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
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