Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome

R. Jansen; S. Batista; A.I. Brooks; J.A. Tischfield; G. Willemsen; G. Grootheest; J.J. Hottenga; Y. Milaneschi; H. Mbarek; V. Madar; W. Peyrot; J.M. Vink; C.L. Verweij; E.J.C. de Geus; J.H. Smit; F.A. Wright; P.F. Sullivan; D.I. Boomsma; B.W.J.H. Penninx

doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome

R. Jansen, S. Batista, A.I. Brooks, J.A. Tischfield, G. Willemsen, G. Grootheest, J.J. Hottenga, Y. Milaneschi, H. Mbarek, V. Madar, W. Peyrot, J.M. Vink, C.L. Verweij, E.J.C. de Geus, J.H. Smit, F.A. Wright, P.F. Sullivan, D.I. Boomsma, B.W.J.H. Penninx

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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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
Article number	33
Pages (from-to)	33
Number of pages	12
Journal	BMC Genomics
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33
Publication status	Published - 2014

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https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

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Cite this

Jansen, R., Batista, S., Brooks, A. I., Tischfield, J. A., Willemsen, G., Grootheest, G., Hottenga, J. J., Milaneschi, Y., Mbarek, H., Madar, V., Peyrot, W., Vink, J. M., Verweij, C. L., de Geus, E. J. C., Smit, J. H., Wright, F. A., Sullivan, P. F., Boomsma, D. I., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2014). Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome. BMC Genomics, 15, 33. Article 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

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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. {\textcopyright} 2014 Jansen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.",

author = "R. Jansen and S. Batista and A.I. Brooks and J.A. Tischfield and G. Willemsen and G. Grootheest and J.J. Hottenga and Y. Milaneschi and H. Mbarek and V. Madar and W. Peyrot and J.M. Vink and C.L. Verweij and {de Geus}, E.J.C. and J.H. Smit and F.A. Wright and P.F. Sullivan and D.I. Boomsma and B.W.J.H. Penninx",

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Jansen, R, Batista, S, Brooks, AI, Tischfield, JA, Willemsen, G, Grootheest, G, Hottenga, JJ, Milaneschi, Y, Mbarek, H, Madar, V, Peyrot, W, Vink, JM, Verweij, CL, de Geus, EJC, Smit, JH, Wright, FA, Sullivan, PF, Boomsma, DI & Penninx, BWJH 2014, 'Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome', BMC Genomics, vol. 15, 33, pp. 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sex differences in the human peripheral blood transcriptome

AU - Jansen, R.

AU - Batista, S.

AU - Brooks, A.I.

AU - Tischfield, J.A.

AU - Willemsen, G.

AU - Grootheest, G.

AU - Hottenga, J.J.

AU - Milaneschi, Y.

AU - Mbarek, H.

AU - Madar, V.

AU - Peyrot, W.

AU - Vink, J.M.

AU - Verweij, C.L.

AU - de Geus, E.J.C.

AU - Smit, J.H.

AU - Wright, F.A.

AU - Sullivan, P.F.

AU - Boomsma, D.I.

AU - Penninx, B.W.J.H.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-33

M3 - Article

C2 - 24438232

SN - 1471-2164

VL - 15

SP - 33

JO - BMC Genomics

JF - BMC Genomics

M1 - 33

ER -