title: Cutting edge: the Y chromosome controls the age-dependent experimental allergic encephalomyelitis sexual dimorphism in SJL/J mice.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis is a sexually dimorphic, demyelinating disease of the CNS, and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is its principal autoimmune model. Young male SJL/J mice are relatively resistant to EAE whereas older males and SJL/J females of any age are susceptible. By comparing a wide age range of proteolipid protein peptide 139-151 immunized mice, we found that female disease severity remains constant with age. In contrast, EAE disease severity increases with age in SJL/J males, with young males having significantly less severe disease and older males having significantly more disease than equivalently aged females. To determine whether the Y chromosome contributes to this sexual dimorphism, EAE was induced in consomic SJL/J mice carrying a B10.S Y chromosome (SJL.Y(B10.S)). EAE was significantly more severe in young male SJL.Y(B10.S) mice compared with young male SJL/J mice. These studies show that a Y chromosome-linked polymorphism controls the age-dependent EAE sexual dimorphism observed in SJL/J mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Spach
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Janice Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Bunn
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McElvany
authors.forename: Rajkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noubade
authors.forename: Elizabeth P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Blankenhorn
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teuscher
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*