Review
Behavioral Sciences
Armin Raznahan, Christine M. Disteche
Summary: Research suggests that sex steroids play a significant role in sexual differentiation of the vertebrate brain, while the role of sex chromosomes remains unclear. By connecting genetic and molecular studies with MRI research, the potential role of X-linked genes in driving sex-biased brain development is emphasized.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Anna M. W. Taylor, Caylin Chadwick, Sadaf Mehrabani, Haley Hrncir, Arthur P. Arnold, Christopher J. Evans
Summary: KOR agonists are effective in producing analgesia and are considered promising for managing chronic pain and itch. Sex differences have been observed in the KOR system, with females showing lower analgesic response than males, primarily influenced by the number of X chromosomes and the expression of X genes.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mrinal K. Ghosh, Kuan-hui E. Chen, Riva Dill-Garlow, Lisa J. Ma, Tomohiro Yonezawa, Yuichiro Itoh, Lorena Rivera, Kelly C. Radecki, Quiming P. Wu, Arthur P. Arnold, H. Konrad Muller, Ameae M. Walker
Summary: Using the FCG mouse model, it was found that sex differences in the immune system emerge as early as postnatal day 7, influenced by the perinatal surge of testicular testosterone. Testosterone and estradiol have differential effects on T cell numbers and distribution, with potential involvement of thymic egress receptors. Multiple mechanisms contribute to these immune sex differences, impacting both CD4+ and CD8+ cells.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Bianca Caroline Bobotis, Olivia Braniff, Makenna Gargus, Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi, Ifeoluwa Oluleke Awogbindin, Marie-Eve Tremblay
Summary: Microglia, the central nervous system innate immune cells, play a critical role in maintaining a homeostatic environment in the brain throughout life. They can exhibit variations in genetic and physical traits influenced by factors such as age, environment, disease, and sex. Microglia express receptors for sex hormones and are impacted by sex-chromosomal factors.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rubina Tabassum, Elisabeth Widen, Samuli Ripatti
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women, but their prevalence and burden show marked sex differences. This review focuses on the sex differences in plasma lipids and the potential contributions of genetic factors and sex-specific physiological factors to the disparities in lipidomic profiles. The advancement of technology has made it possible to explore individual lipid species, collectively called the lipidome, which may provide further insights into the understanding of sex differences in CVD.
Article
Biology
Jack G. Rayner, Thomas J. Hitchcock, Nathan W. Bailey
Summary: Recent research suggests that dosage compensation on the X chromosome scales phenotypic effects between the sexes, with incomplete dosage compensation potentially leading to female-biased effects on X-linked alleles.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Aleksandra Kosza Koszalka, Klaudia Lustyk, Karolina Pytka
Summary: This review discusses the recent progress in understanding the biological sex differences in cognition and highlights the challenges encountered in such research. It focuses on spatial, recognition, and emotional memory, as well as executive functions such as attention, cognitive flexibility, and working memory.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth A. Sneddon, Lindsay N. Rasizer, Natalie G. Cavalco, Asa H. Jaymes, Noah J. Ostlie, Brianna L. Minshall, Brianna M. Masters, Michael R. Hughes, Haley Hrncir, Arthur P. Arnold, Anna K. Radke
Summary: Alcohol use and high-risk drinking behaviors among women are increasing rapidly. In rodent models, females tend to consume more ethanol than males. This study investigated the influence of gonadal hormones and sex chromosome complement on ethanol drinking behaviors using the four core genotypes (FCG) mouse model. The results suggest that aspects of ethanol drinking behavior may be independently regulated by sex hormones and chromosomes, providing insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ethanol dependence in male and female mice.
Review
Cell Biology
Francesca Terrin, Annachiara Tesoriere, Nicoletta Plotegher, Luisa Dalla Valle
Summary: Sex hormones and genes on sex chromosomes play a crucial role in sexual differentiation, reproduction, and brain homeostasis. They are important for brain development and function, as well as the predisposition and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the impact of biological sex on brain development and its role in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. It highlights the significance of considering sex in the study of brain physiology and pathology to better understand disease etiology and develop tailored therapeutic strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew R. Bruce, Karen L. Jones, Anthony C. Vernon, Jill L. Silverman, Jacqueline N. Crawley, Jacob Ellegood, Jason P. Lerch, Judy Van de Water
Summary: The study suggests that maternal autoantibodies may play a significant role in immune responses leading to autism spectrum disorder, causing changes in offspring neurodevelopment and behavior. Findings indicate that offspring prenatally exposed to MAR-ASD autoantibodies exhibit increased brain volume, altered regional relationships, and gender-specific effects on social interaction and repetitive self-grooming behavior in adulthood.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kasiphak Kaikaew, Aldo Grefhorst, Jenny A. Visser
Summary: Excessive fat accumulation in the body leads to overweight and obesity, with white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) having opposing functions. Sex differences in BAT activity may play a significant role, highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to these differences. Studies also suggest a potential crosstalk between sex hormones and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in metabolism, further emphasizing the need to explore sex differences in BAT activity.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nicole M. Wilkinson, Ho-Chung Chen, Melissa G. Lechner, Maureen A. Su
Summary: Strong epidemiological evidence supports the important role of sex as a biologic variable in immunity, particularly in relation to COVID-19. However, the underlying mechanisms of sex differences in immune-mediated conditions still require further investigation. Recent experimental data have provided insights into how sex-defining factors impact immune responses and have potential implications for personalized patient care. This review focuses on recent findings regarding sex differences in autoimmunity, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and cancer immunotherapy, and emphasizes the importance of understanding these mechanisms for the development of sex-based approaches to disease screening and treatment.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Muhammad Bilal Tariq, Juneyoung Lee, Louise D. McCullough
Summary: Ischemic stroke has a greater impact on women, especially older women, leading to poorer outcomes and sex-specific inflammatory responses. Factors such as gonadal hormone exposure, sex chromosome compliment, and environmental/social factors contribute to differences in immune responses. Understanding these differences is crucial for identifying therapeutic options for both men and women.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pallavi Chauhan, Janne Swaegers, Rosa A. Sanchez-Guillen, Erik Svensson, Maren Wellenreuther, Bengt Hansson
Summary: This study reveals the conservation of sex chromosome synteny and balanced expression of X-linked genes between sexes in Ischnura elegans, as well as the presence of sex-biased gene expression in the sex-determining pathway. Furthermore, the study shows the independent evolution of dosage compensation among insect orders separated by millions of years of evolutionary history.
Article
Cell Biology
Peta Hill, Foyez Shams, Christopher P. Burridge, Erik Wapstra, Tariq Ezaz
Summary: This study explores the links between mechanisms of transitions in sex determination and sex chromosome evolution by studying the rare species Carinascincus ocellatus and its relative Liopholis whitii. Unique and conserved regions of the Y chromosome were identified among different populations of C. ocellatus, with no evidence of sex chromosome homology between C. ocellatus and L. whitii, indicating independent evolutionary origins. The study also discusses sex chromosome homology within the subfamily Lygosominae and proposes connections between sex chromosome evolution, sex determination transitions, and karyotype evolution.
Article
Neurosciences
Dulcie A. Vousden, Elizabeth Cox, Rylan Allemang-Grand, Christine Laliberte, Lily R. Qiu, Zsuzsa Lindenmaier, Brian J. Nieman, Jason P. Lerch
Article
Neurosciences
Yohan Yee, Darren J. Fernandes, Leon French, Jacob Ellegood, Lindsay S. Cahill, Dulcie A. Vousden, Leigh Spencer Noakes, Jan Scholz, Matthijs C. van Eede, Brian J. Nieman, John G. Sled, Jason P. Lerch
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tie-Yuan Zhang, Christopher L. Keown, Xianglan Wen, Junhao Li, Dulcie A. Vousden, Christoph Anacker, Urvashi Bhattacharyya, Richard Ryan, Josie Diorio, Nicholas O'Toole, Jason P. Lerch, Eran A. Mukamel, Michael J. Meaney
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lily R. Qiu, Darren J. Fernandes, Kamila U. Szulc-Lerch, Jun Dazai, Brian J. Nieman, Daniel H. Turnbull, Jane A. Foster, Mark R. Palmert, Jason P. Lerch
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Christina Corre, Miriam Friedel, Dulcie A. Vousden, Ariane Metcalf, Shoshana Spring, Lily R. Qiu, Jason P. Lerch, Mark R. Palmert
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Arbogast, Parisa Razaz, Jacob Ellegood, Spencer U. McKinstry, Serkan Erdin, Benjamin Currall, Tanya Aneichyk, Jason P. Lerch, Lily R. Qiu, Ramona M. Rodriguiz, R. Mark Henkelman, Michael E. Talkowski, William C. Wetsel, Christelle Golzio, Nicholas Katsanis
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2019)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tzyy-Nan Huang, Tzu-Li Yen, Lily R. Qiu, Hsiu-Chun Chuang, Jason P. Lerch, Yi-Ping Hsueh
Article
Biology
Jimena Barbeito-Andres, Emily Castro-Fonseca, Lily R. Qiu, Valeria Bernal, Roberto Lent, Mark Henkelman, Kenneth Lukowiak, Pablo M. Gleiser, Benedikt Hallgrimsson, Paula N. Gonzalez
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel E. Lackie, Abdul R. Razzaq, Sali M. K. Farhan, Lily R. Qiu, Gilli Moshitzky, Flavio H. Beraldo, Marilene H. Lopes, Andrzej Maciejewski, Robert Gros, Jue Fan, Wing-Yiu Choy, David S. Greenberg, Vilma R. Martins, Martin L. Duennwald, Jason P. Lerch, Hermona Soreq, Vania F. Prado, Marco A. M. Prado
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Psychiatry
Maryam Khanbabaei, Elizabeth Hughes, Jacob Ellegood, Lily R. Qiu, Raven Yip, Jenna Dobry, Kartikeya Murari, Jason P. Lerch, Jong M. Rho, Ning Cheng
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2019)
Article
Cell Biology
Renee J. Tamming, Vanessa Dumeaux, Yan Jiang, Sarfraz Shafiq, Luana Langlois, Jacob Ellegood, Lily R. Qiu, Jason P. Lerch, Nathalie G. Berube
Article
Psychiatry
Darren J. Fernandes, Shoshana Spring, Anna R. Roy, Lily R. Qiu, Yohan Yee, Brian J. Nieman, Jason P. Lerch, Mark R. Palmert
Summary: Studies have shown that exposure to a maternal high-fat diet in early-life can lead to structural changes in the brain that persist into adulthood, even after dietary modifications. These changes mainly occur in the extended amygdalar system, which may be related to reward-seeking and feeding behaviors.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jose Sanchez-Bornot, Roberto C. Sotero, J. A. Scott Kelso, Ozguer Simsek, Damien Coyle
Summary: This study proposes a multi-penalized state-space model for analyzing unobserved dynamics, using a data-driven regularization method. Novel algorithms are developed to solve the model, and a cross-validation method is introduced to evaluate regularization parameters. The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and real data analysis, enabling a more accurate exploration of cognitive brain functions.
