Genes on Y chromosome protect against pulmonary hypertension, study suggests

This study is the first to examine the involvement of sex chromosomes in the disease's development in the absence of sex hormones. In humans, females typically have two copies of the X chromosome, while males typically have one X and one Y chromosome.METHODIn the lab, the researchers engineered mice with different chromosomal makeups and measured their development of pulmonary hypertension in an environment with 10 percent oxygen, which is a well-established setting for inducing the disease.One group of mice was engineered with sex chromosomes that were independent of their gonadal sex, or sex based on their genitalia, so that the researchers could isolate the impact of sex chromosomes. The other group of mice in the experiment had different variants of sex chromosomes in order for the researchers to determine the impact of the presence of a Y chromosome versus varying numbers of X chromosomes. All the mice had their gonads removed so that the researchers could eliminate the potential effects of sex hormones.The researchers then placed the mice in the 10 percent oxygen environment for three weeks. At the end of the experiment, the researchers examined the hearts and lungs of the mice. Mice with a Y chromosome experienced significantly less severe pulmonary hypertension and were protected against the development of the disease.IMPACTThese findings identify a new avenue for research into effective ways to treat pulmonary hypertension. In the future, determining which genes on t...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news