Cardiac proteomics reveals sex chromosome-dependent differences between males and females that arise prior to gonad formation.

Publication Year
2021

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Sex disparities in cardiac homeostasis and heart disease are well documented, with differences attributed to actions of sex hormones. However, studies have indicated sex chromosomes act outside of the gonads to function without mediation by gonadal hormones. Here, we performed transcriptional and proteomics profiling to define differences between male and female mouse hearts. We demonstrate, contrary to current dogma, cardiac sex disparities are controlled not only by sex hormones but also through a sex-chromosome mechanism. Using Turner syndrome (XO) and Klinefelter (XXY) models, we find the sex-chromosome pathway is established by X-linked gene dosage. We demonstrate cardiac sex disparities occur at the earliest stages of heart formation, a period before gonad formation. Using these datasets, we identify and define a role for alpha-1B-glycoprotein (A1BG), showing loss of A1BG leads to cardiac defects in females, but not males. These studies provide resources for studying sex-biased cardiac disease states.

Journal
Dev Cell
Volume
56
Issue
21
Pages
3019-3034.e7
Date Published
2021 Nov 08
ISSN Number
1878-1551
Alternate Journal
Dev Cell
PMCID
PMC9290207
PMID
34655525