title: The X-chromosome has a different pattern of gene expression in women compared with men with ischemic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differences in ischemic stroke between men and women have been mainly attributed to hormonal effects. However, sex differences in immune response to ischemia may exist. We hypothesized that differential expression of X-chromosome genes in blood immune cells contribute to differences between men and women with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  RNA levels of 683 X-chromosome genes were measured on Affymetrix U133 Plus2.0 microarrays. Blood samples from patients with ischemic stroke were obtained at ≤ 3 hours, 5 hours, and 24 hours (n=61; 183 samples) after onset and compared with control subjects without symptomatic vascular diseases (n=109). Sex difference in X-chromosome gene expression was determined using analysis of covariance (false discovery rate ≤ 0.05, fold change ≥ 1.2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At ≤ 3, 5, and 24 hours after stroke, there were 37, 140, and 61 X-chromosome genes, respectively, that changed in women; and 23, 18, and 31 X-chromosome genes that changed in men. Female-specific genes were associated with post-translational modification, small-molecule biochemistry, and cell-cell signaling. Male-specific genes were associated with cellular movement, development, cell-trafficking, and cell death. Altered sex specific X-chromosome gene expression occurred in 2 genes known to be associated with human stroke, including galactosidase A and IDS, mutations of which result in Fabry disease and Hunter syndrome, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are differences in X-chromosome gene expression between men and women with ischemic stroke. Future studies are needed to decipher whether these differences are associated with sexually dimorphic immune response, repair or other mechanisms after stroke, or whether some of them represent risk determinants.
authors: Departments of Neurology, University of California at Davis, MIND Institute and Department of Neurology, 2805 50th Street, Sacramento CA 95817, USA. boryana.stamova@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
authors: Boryana
authors: B
authors: Stamova
authors: Yingfang
authors: Y
authors: Tian
authors: Glen
authors: G
authors: Jickling
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Bushnell
authors: Xinhua
authors: X
authors: Zhan
authors: Dazhi
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Bradley P
authors: BP
authors: Ander
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Verro
authors: Vihar
authors: V
authors: Patel
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Pevec
authors: Nasim
authors: N
authors: Hedayati
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Dawson
authors: Edward C
authors: EC
authors: Jauch
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Pancioli
authors: Joseph P
authors: JP
authors: Broderick
authors: Frank R
authors: FR
authors: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase