title: Skewed X-chromosome inactivation in women affected by Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: X-chromosome instability has been a long established feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Premature centromere division and aneuploidy of the X-chromosome has been found in peripheral blood lymphocytes and neuronal tissue in female AD patients. Interestingly, only one chromosome of the X pair has been affected. These results raised a question, "Is the X-chromosome inactivation pattern altered in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women affected by AD?" To address this question, we analyzed the methylation status of androgen receptor promoter which may show us any deviation from the 50 : 50% X inactivation status in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women with AD. Our results showed skewed inactivation patterns (>90%). These findings suggest that an epigenetic alteration on the inactivation centers of the X-chromosome (or skewing) relates not only to aging, by might be a novel property that could account for the higher incidence of AD in women.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Institute for Nuclear Sciences "Vinca", Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bajic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Institute for Nuclear Sciences "Vinca", Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mandusic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Elka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stefanova
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Institute for Nuclear Sciences "Vinca", Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozovic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Institute for Nuclear Sciences "Vinca", Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidovic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Physiology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Lada
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zivkovic
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Physiology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabarkapa
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Physiology, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spremo-Potparevic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; X-chromosome; X-chromosome skewing; aneuploidy; methylation specific qPCR