Genetic variation in chromosome Y regulates susceptibility to influenza A virus infection

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620889114
• Publication Date: 2017-02-28T01:55:25Z
• Authors: Dimitry N. Kremen...; Laure K. Case; Oliver Dienz; Abbas Raza; Qian Fang; Jennifer L. Ather; Matthew E. Poynter; Jonathan E. Boyson; Janice Y. Bunn; Cory Teuscher
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Virulence; T-Lymphocytes; Interleukin-17; Genetic Variation; 3. Good health; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Sex Factors; Influenza A virus; Y Chromosome; Influenza, Human; Animals; Humans; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Significance Including sex and gender into preclinical research is central to delineating the mechanisms contributing to sex differences in health and disease. The majority of sex differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as influenza A virus (IAV), are believed to be due to the influence of sex hormones on the immune system; however, the idea that sex chromosomes also may influence infectious disease susceptibility is being increasingly recognized. Our finding that genetic variation in chromosome Y (ChrY) influences the survival of male mice following IAV infection, and the associated sex differences in IAV susceptibility, further establishes a critical role for ChrY in controlling the male-specific regulatory genome related to infectious disease susceptibility.