Skip Navigation

Publication Detail

Title: Effect of sex chromosomes versus hormones in neonatal lung injury.

Authors: Grimm, Sandra L; Dong, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Yuhao; Carisey, Alexandre F; Arnold, Arthur P; Moorthy, Bhagavatula; Coarfa, Cristian; Lingappan, Krithika

Published In JCI Insight, (2021 07 08)

Abstract: The main mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic outcomes in neonatal lung injury are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that hormone- or sex chromosome-mediated mechanisms interact with hyperoxia exposure to impact injury and repair in the neonatal lung. To distinguish sex differences caused by gonadal hormones versus sex chromosome complement (XX versus XY), we used the Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mice and exposed them to hyperoxia (95% FiO2, P1-P4: saccular stage) or room air. This model generates XX and XY mice that each have either testes (with Sry, XXM, or XYM) or ovaries (without Sry, XXF, or XYF). Lung alveolarization and vascular development were more severely impacted in XYM and XYF compared with XXF and XXM mice. Cell cycle-related pathways were enriched in the gonadal or chromosomal females, while muscle-related pathways were enriched in the gonadal males, and immune-response-related pathways were enriched in chromosomal males. Female gene signatures showed a negative correlation with human patients who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or needed oxygen therapy at 28 days. These results demonstrate that chromosomal sex - and not gonadal sex - impacted the response to neonatal hyperoxia exposure. The female sex chromosomal complement was protective and could mediate sex-specific differences in the neonatal lung injury.

PubMed ID: 34061778 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia*/genetics; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia*/metabolism; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia*/therapy; Female; Gonadal Hormones/metabolism*; Humans; Hyperoxia*/etiology; Hyperoxia*/genetics; Hyperoxia*/metabolism; Infant, Newborn; Lung Injury*/etiology; Lung Injury*/genetics; Lung Injury*/metabolism; Male; Mice; Ovary/metabolism; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy*/adverse effects; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy*/methods; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Sex Chromosomes*; Testis/metabolism

Back
to Top