title: Chromosome y regulates survival following murine coxsackievirus b3 infection.
abstract: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) contributes to the development of myocarditis, an inflammatory heart disease that predominates in males, and infection is a cause of unexpected death in young individuals. Although gonadal hormones contribute significantly to sex differences, sex chromosomes may also influence disease. Increasing evidence indicates that Chromosome Y (ChrY) genetic variants can impact biological functions unrelated to sexual differentiation. Using C57BL/6J (B6)-ChrY consomic mice, we show that genetic variation in ChrY has a direct effect on the survival of CVB3-infected animals. This effect is not due to potential Sry-mediated differences in prenatal testosterone exposure or to differences in adult testosterone levels. Furthermore, we show that ChrY polymorphism influences the percentage of natural killer T cells in B6-ChrY consomic strains but does not underlie CVB3-induced mortality. These data underscore the importance of investigating not only the hormonal regulation but also ChrY genetic regulation of cardiovascular disease and other male-dominant, sexually dimorphic diseases and phenotypes.
authors.forename: Laure K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moussawi
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Naresha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saligrama
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brossay
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teuscher