scholarly journals Sex chromosome contributions to sex differences in multiple sclerosis susceptibility and progression

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda R Voskuhl ◽  
Amr H Sawalha ◽  
Yuichiro Itoh
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Sex Chromosomes ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Chromosome Gene ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Bone Marrow Chimeras

Background: Why are women more susceptible to multiple sclerosis, but men have worse disability progression? Sex differences in disease may be due to sex hormones, sex chromosomes, or both. Objective: Determine whether differences in sex chromosomes can contribute to sex differences in multiple sclerosis using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Methods: Sex chromosome transgenic mice, which permit the study of sex chromosomes not confounded by differences in sex hormones, were used to examine an effect of sex chromosomes on autoimmunity and neurodegeneration, focusing on X chromosome genes. Results: T-lymphocyte DNA methylation studies of the X chromosome gene Foxp3 suggested that maternal versus paternal imprinting of X chromosome genes may underlie sex differences in autoimmunity. Bone marrow chimeras with the same immune system but different sex chromosomes in the central nervous system suggested that differential expression of the X chromosome gene Toll-like receptor 7 in neurons may contribute to sex differences in neurodegeneration. Conclusion: Mapping the transcriptome and methylome in T lymphocytes and neurons in females versus males could reveal mechanisms underlying sex differences in autoimmunity and neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals A role for sex chromosome complement in the female bias in autoimmune disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (5) ◽  
pp. 1099-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah L. Smith-Bouvier ◽  
Anagha A. Divekar ◽  
Manda Sasidhar ◽  
Sienmi Du ◽  
Seema K. Tiwari-Woodruff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Sex Chromosomes ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome Complement ◽  
Disease Models ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Distinct Disease ◽  
Female Bias ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

Most autoimmune diseases are more common in women than in men. This may be caused by differences in sex hormones, sex chromosomes, or both. In this study, we determined if there was a contribution of sex chromosomes to sex differences in susceptibility to two immunologically distinct disease models, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and pristane-induced lupus. Transgenic SJL mice were created to permit a comparison between XX and XY within a common gonadal type. Mice of the XX sex chromosome complement, as compared with XY, demonstrated greater susceptibility to both EAE and lupus. This is the first evidence that the XX sex chromosome complement, as compared with XY, confers greater susceptibility to autoimmune disease.

scholarly journals Bisection of the X chromosome disrupts the initiation of chromosome silencing during meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yisrael Rappaport ◽  
Hanna Achache ◽  
Roni Falk ◽  
Omer Murik ◽  
Oren Ram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Sex Chromosomes ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Transcription Analysis ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Active Transcription ◽  
Heterogametic Sex

AbstractDuring meiosis, gene expression is silenced in aberrantly unsynapsed chromatin and in heterogametic sex chromosomes. Initiation of sex chromosome silencing is disrupted in meiocytes with sex chromosome-autosome translocations. To determine whether this is due to aberrant synapsis or loss of continuity of sex chromosomes, we engineered Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes with non-translocated, bisected X chromosomes. In early meiocytes of mutant males and hermaphrodites, X segments are enriched with euchromatin assembly markers and active RNA polymerase II staining, indicating active transcription. Analysis of RNA-seq data showed that genes from the X chromosome are upregulated in gonads of mutant worms. Contrary to previous models, which predicted that any unsynapsed chromatin is silenced during meiosis, our data indicate that unsynapsed X segments are transcribed. Therefore, our results suggest that sex chromosome chromatin has a unique character that facilitates its meiotic expression when its continuity is lost, regardless of whether or not it is synapsed.

scholarly journals Sex differences in circadian food anticipatory activity are not altered by individual manipulations of sex hormones or sex chromosome copy number in mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e0191373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Aguayo ◽  
Camille S. Martin ◽  
Timothy F. Huddy ◽  
Maya Ogawa-Okada ◽  
Jamie L. Adkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome Copy Number ◽  
Food Anticipatory Activity ◽  
Anticipatory Activity

AIM2 inflammasome activation in astrocytes occurs during the late phase of EAE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Barclay ◽  
M. Elizabeth Deerhake ◽  
Makoto Inoue ◽  
Toshiaki Nonaka ◽  
Kengo Nozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

ABSTRACTInflammasomes are a class of innate immune signaling platforms that activate in response to an array of cellular damage and pathogens. Inflammasomes promote inflammation under many circumstances to enhance immunity against pathogens and inflammatory responses through their effector cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. Multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are such autoimmune conditions influenced by inflammasomes. Despite work investigating inflammasomes during EAE, little remains known concerning the role of inflammasomes in the central nervous system (CNS) during the disease. Here we use multiple genetically modified mouse models to monitor activated inflammasomes in situ based on ASC oligomerization in the spinal cord. Using inflammasome reporter mice, we found heightened inflammasome activation in astrocytes after the disease peak. In contrast, microglia and CNS-infiltrated myeloid cells had few activated inflammasomes in the CNS during EAE. Astrocyte inflammasome activation was dependent on AIM2, but low IL-1β expression and no significant signs of cell death were found in astrocytes during EAE. Thus, the AIM2 inflammasome activation in astrocytes may have a distinct role from traditional inflammasome-mediated inflammation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTInflammasome activation in the peripheral immune system is pathogenic in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, inflammasome activity in the central nervous system (CNS) is largely unexplored. Here, we used genetically modified mice to determine inflammasome activation in the CNS during EAE. Our data indicated heightened AIM2 inflammasome activation in astrocytes after the disease peak. Unexpectedly, neither CNS-infiltrated myeloid cells nor microglia were the primary cells with activated inflammasomes in SC during EAE. Despite AIM2 inflammasome activation, astrocytes did not undergo apparent cell death and produced little of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, during EAE. This study showed that CNS inflammasome activation occurs during EAE without associating with IL-1β-mediated inflammation.

scholarly journals The STING-IFN-β-Dependent Axis Is Markedly Low in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9249
Author(s):  
Lars Masanneck ◽  
Susann Eichler ◽  
Anna Vogelsang ◽  
Melanie Korsen ◽  
Heinz Wiendl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Endogenous Production ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Peripheral Lymphoid Tissue ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Immune Cells ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Cyclic GMP-AMP-synthase is a sensor of endogenous nucleic acids, which subsequently elicits a stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent type I interferon (IFN) response defending us against viruses and other intracellular pathogens. This pathway can drive pathological inflammation, as documented for type I interferonopathies. In contrast, specific STING activation and subsequent IFN-β release have shown beneficial effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Although less severe cases of relapse-remitting MS (RRMS) are treated with IFN-β, there is little information correlating aberrant type I IFN signaling and the pathologic conditions of MS. We hypothesized that there is a link between STING activation and the endogenous production of IFN-β during neuroinflammation. Gene expression analysis in EAE mice showed that Sting level decreased in the peripheral lymphoid tissue, while its level increased within the central nervous system over the course of the disease. Similar patterns could be verified in peripheral immune cells during the acute phases of RRMS in comparison to remitting phases and appropriately matched healthy controls. Our study is the first to provide evidence that the STING/IFN-β-axis is downregulated in RRMS patients, meriting further intensified research to understand its role in the pathophysiology of MS and potential translational applications.

scholarly journals TGF-β in Mice Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Regulating NK Cell Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1155-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Xu ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
H. Jiang ◽  
M. Sun ◽  
J. Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

Multiple sclerosis is a disease characterized by inflammation and demyelination located in the central nervous system. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most common animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the roles of T cells in MS/EAE have been well investigated, little is known about the functions of other immune cells in the neuroinflammation model. Here we found that an essential cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) which could mediate the differentiation of Th17/regulatory T cells was implicated in the natural killer (NK) cells’ activity in EAE. In EAE mice, TGF-β expression was first increased at the onset and then decreased at the peak, but the expressions of TGF-β receptors and downstream molecules were not affected in EAE. When we immunized the mice with MOG antigen, it was revealed that TGF-β treatment reduced susceptibility to EAE with a lower clinical score than the control mice without TGF-β. Consistently, inflammatory cytokine production was reduced in the TGF-β treated group, especially with downregulated pathogenic interleukin-17 in the central nervous system tissue. Furthermore, TGF-β could increase the transcription level of NK cell marker NCR1 both in the spleen and in the CNS without changing other T cell markers. Meanwhile TGF-β promoted the proliferation of NK cell proliferation. Taken together, our data demonstrated that TGF-β could confer protection against EAE model in mice through NK cells, which would be useful for the clinical therapy of MS.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in Ischemic Stroke Sensitivity Are Influenced by Gonadal Hormones, Not by Sex Chromosome Complement

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharti Manwani ◽  
Kathryn Bentivegna ◽  
Sharon E Benashski ◽  
Venugopal Reddy Venna ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome Complement ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Male Mice

Epidemiologic studies have shown sex differences in ischemic stroke. The four core genotype (FCG) mouse model, in which the testes determining gene, Sry, has been moved from Y chromosome to an autosome, was used to dissociate the effects of sex hormones from sex chromosome in ischemic stroke outcome. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in gonad intact FCG mice revealed that gonadal males (XXM and XYM) had significantly higher infarct volumes as compared with gonadal females (XXF and XYF). Serum testosterone levels were equivalent in adult XXM and XYM, as was serum estrogen in XXF and XYF mice. To remove the effects of gonadal hormones, gonadectomized FCG mice were subjected to MCAO. Gonadectomy significantly increased infarct volumes in females, while no change was seen in gonadectomized males, indicating that estrogen loss increases ischemic sensitivity. Estradiol supplementation in gonadectomized FCG mice rescued this phenotype. Interestingly, FCG male mice were less sensitive to effects of hormones. This may be due to enhanced expression of the transgene Sry in brains of FCG male mice. Sex differences in ischemic stroke sensitivity appear to be shaped by organizational and activational effects of sex hormones, rather than sex chromosomal complement.

scholarly journals Molecular Interventions towards Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 299
Author(s):  
Athanasios Metaxakis ◽  
Dionysia Petratou ◽  
Nektarios Tavernarakis
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Autoimmune Response ◽  
Th2 Cells ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
T Helper 2 ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment ◽  
Molecular Interventions

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune life-threatening disease, afflicting millions of people worldwide. Although the disease is non-curable, considerable therapeutic advances have been achieved through molecular immunotherapeutic approaches, such as peptides vaccination, administration of monoclonal antibodies, and immunogenic copolymers. The main aims of these therapeutic strategies are to shift the MS-related autoimmune response towards a non-inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) cells response, inactivate or ameliorate cytotoxic autoreactive T cells, induce secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit recruitment of autoreactive lymphocytes to the central nervous system (CNS). These approaches can efficiently treat autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an essential system to study MS in animals, but they can only partially inhibit disease progress in humans. Nevertheless, modern immunotherapeutic techniques remain the most promising tools for the development of safe MS treatments, specifically targeting the cellular factors that trigger the initiation of the disease.

scholarly journals A Pathogenic Role for Myelin-Specific Cd8+ T Cells in a Model for Multiple Sclerosis

2001 ◽  
Vol 194 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Huseby ◽  
Denny Liggitt ◽  
Thea Brabb ◽  
Bryan Schnabel ◽  
Claes Öhlén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Demyelinating Disease ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Cns Autoimmunity ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by plaques of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Studies of MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, focus on the contribution of CD4+ myelin-specific T cells. The role of CD8+ myelin-specific T cells in mediating EAE or MS has not been described previously. Here, we demonstrate that myelin-specific CD8+ T cells induce severe CNS autoimmunity in mice. The pathology and clinical symptoms in CD8+ T cell–mediated CNS autoimmunity demonstrate similarities to MS not seen in myelin-specific CD4+ T cell–mediated EAE. These data suggest that myelin-specific CD8+ T cells could function as effector cells in the pathogenesis of MS.

scholarly journals Dosage compensation in sciarids is achieved by hypertranscription of the single X chromosome in males.

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-790
Author(s):  
P R da Cunha ◽  
B Granadino ◽  
A L Perondini ◽  
L Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Sex Chromosomes ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Different Doses

Abstract Dosage compensation refers to the process whereby females and males with different doses of sex chromosomes have similar amounts of products from sex chromosome-linked genes. We analyzed the process of dosage compensation in Sciara ocellaris, Diptera of the suborder Nematocera. By autoradiography and measurements of X-linked rRNA in females (XX) and males (XO), we found that the rate of transcription of the single X chromosome in males is similar to that of the two X chromosomes in females. This, together with the bloated appearance of the X chromosome in males, support the idea that in sciarids dosage compensation is accomplished by hypertranscription of the X chromosome in males.

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