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Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology
Published in: Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology 3/2014

01-12-2014

The Sex Bias in Systemic Sclerosis: on the Possible Mechanisms Underlying the Female Disease Preponderance

Authors: Fabio D’Amico, Evangelia Skarmoutsou, Maria Clorinda Mazzarino

Published in: Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease. Genetic and environmental factors are known to interplay in the onset and progression of systemic sclerosis. Sex plays an important and determinant role in the development of such a disorder. Systemic sclerosis shows a significant female preponderance. However, the reason for this female preponderance is incompletely understood. Hormonal status, genetic and epigenetic differences, and lifestyle have been considered in order to explain female preponderance in systemic sclerosis. Sex chromosomes play a determinant role in contributing to systemic sclerosis onset and progression, as well as in its sex-biased prevalence. It is known, in fact, that X chromosome contains many sex- and immuno-related genes, thus contributing to immuno tolerance and sex hormone status. This review focuses mainly on the recent progress on epigenetic mechanisms—exclusively linked to the X chromosome—which would contribute to the development of systemic sclerosis. Furthermore, we report also some hypotheses (dealing with skewed X chromosome inactivation, X gene reactivation, acquired monosomy) that have been proposed in order to justify the female preponderance in autoimmune diseases. However, despite the intensive efforts in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, many questions remain still unanswered.
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Metadata
Title
The Sex Bias in Systemic Sclerosis: on the Possible Mechanisms Underlying the Female Disease Preponderance
Authors
Fabio D’Amico
Evangelia Skarmoutsou
Maria Clorinda Mazzarino
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 1080-0549
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-013-8392-9

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16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

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