title: X-chromosome-located microRNAs in immunity: might they explain male/female differences? The X chromosome-genomic context may affect X-located miRNAs and downstream signaling, thereby contributing to the enhanced immune response of females.
abstract: In this paper, we hypothesize that X chromosome-associated mechanisms, which affect X-linked genes and are behind the immunological advantage of females, may also affect X-linked microRNAs. The human X chromosome contains 10% of all microRNAs detected so far in the human genome. Although the role of most of them has not yet been described, several X chromosome-located microRNAs have important functions in immunity and cancer. We therefore provide a detailed map of all described microRNAs located on human and mouse X chromosomes, and highlight the ones involved in immune functions and oncogenesis. The unique mode of inheritance of the X chromosome is ultimately the cause of the immune disadvantage of males and the enhanced survival of females following immunological challenges. How these aspects influence X-linked microRNAs will be a challenge for researchers in the coming years, not only from an evolutionary point of view, but also from the perspective of disease etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Lien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dejager
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D050172:Genes, X-Linked; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs