X chromosome Revival Raises the Risk of Autoimmune Disease in Older Women

May 22, 2024

The X chromosome is an important part of mammalian genetics that does a lot more than just determine sex. When it comes to humans, females have two X chromosomes and men have one X chromosome paired with a Y chromosome. New study has helped us learn more about how the X chromosome affects many biological processes and how likely someone is to get sick.

Genomic Insights

Recent genetic studies have shown that the human X chromosome has around 800 genes. Most of these genes are involved in making proteins. This new information about the X chromosome’s genetic make-up helps explain how it affects many biological processes and how it plays a part in disease.

Role in Disease

Studies indicate that the X chromosome’s influence on disease can be categorized into three primary types:

X-Linked Genetic Diseases: These diseases result directly from mutations in the genes located on the X chromosome. Examples include Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Hemophilia.
Diseases Influenced by XCI Escape: X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a process where one of the X chromosomes in females is largely deactivated. However, some genes escape this inactivation and can lead to disease if their expression is altered.
Diseases Linked to X-Chromosome Aneuploidy: Conditions like Turner Syndrome and Klinefelter Syndrome arise from atypical numbers of X chromosomes, demonstrating the chromosome’s impact on broader genetic disorders.

Link to Autoimmune Diseases

When the dormant X chromosome is turned back on, it can cause immune-related genes that are usually tightly controlled to be expressed more. This imbalance could make the immune system less effective, making older women more likely to get autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

More About aging in women

When women get older, their bodies go through certain changes that are unique to them: Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It is marked by the end of periods because estrogen levels drop, which can affect bone structure and heart health. Women usually live longer than men, but one-third of women over 50 have osteoporosis, which is more common in women. After age 50, muscle loss speeds up, which makes falling more likely. After menopause, women’s weight often changes, causing more fat to build up around the middle. This makes diabetes and heart disease more likely. Changes in hormones also make older women more likely to become depressed than older men.

More About autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases happen when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells by accident. There are more than 80 different kinds, such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Women are more likely to have these conditions than men; about 78% of all cases are in women. Even though genes play a big part, infections and diet, among other things, can also raise the chance. Vitamin D has been shown to lower the chance of getting multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease. Geographical factors affect how common something is. For example, multiple sclerosis is more common in northern regions. Tiredness, joint pain, and rashes are all signs of many diseases, which can make it take longer to diagnose because they are not very specific. There is no solution, and most of the time, treatment includes taking medicine to weaken the immune system.

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