Abstract
Background: Genomes of men and women differ in only a limited number of genes located on the sex chromosomes, whereas the transcriptome is far more sex-specific. Identification of sex-biased gene expression will contribute to understanding the molecular basis of sex-differences in complex traits and common diseases.Results: Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome were characterized using microarrays in 5,241 subjects, accounting for menopause status and hormonal contraceptive use. Sex-specific expression was observed for 582 autosomal genes, of which 57.7% was upregulated in women (female-biased genes). Female-biased genes were enriched for several immune system GO categories, genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis (16%) and genes regulated by estrogen (18%). Male-biased genes were enriched for genes linked to renal cancer (9%). Sex-differences in gene expression were smaller in postmenopausal women, larger in women using hormonal contraceptives and not caused by sex-specific eQTLs, confirming the role of estrogen in regulating sex-biased genes.Conclusions: This study indicates that sex-bias in gene expression is extensive and may underlie sex-differences in the prevalence of common diseases. © 2014 Jansen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 33 |
Pages (from-to) | 33 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | BMC Genomics |
Volume | 15 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Cohort Studies
- Netherlands Twin Register (NTR)