Cutting edge: the Y chromosome controls the age-dependent experimental allergic encephalomyelitis sexual dimorphism in SJL/J mice.
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.
Spach
Karen M
KM
Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
Blake
Melissa
M
Bunn
Janice Y
JY
McElvany
Ben
B
Noubade
Rajkumar
R
Blankenhorn
Elizabeth P
EP
Teuscher
Cory
C
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*