What is it about?
X-chromosome inactivation and autoimmune disease We found that female lymphocytes have different epigenetic features of the inactivated X-chromosome (Xi) compared to somatic cells in humans and mice. The inactive X in lymphocytes had more evidence of transcriptional activation, with expression of immunity-related genes from the Xi. Additionally, we observed increased expression of these genes in lymphocytes from 5 systemic lupus erythematosus patients compared with lymphocytes from 3 healthy females.
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Why is it important?
Lupus is one example of an autoimmune disorder that predominantly affects women, but the reason for this bias is unknown. Our work indicates that the inactive X is predisposed to become partially reactivated in female lymphocytes and increase the expression of X-linked autoimmunity related genes.
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This page is a summary of: Unusual maintenance of X chromosome inactivation predisposes female lymphocytes for increased expression from the inactive X, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520113113.
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