X and Y chromosomes as determinants of aging and disease.
Sex chromosomes independently influence aging and disease, with XX and XY karyotypes affecting health through gene dosage, epigenetics, and cellular responses.
- Why it matters: Understanding these chromosome-driven effects is crucial because they contribute to sex differences in disease risk and aging beyond hormonal influences, yet remain underexplored.
- What they did: The review synthesizes recent mechanistic insights from models and human studies on X and Y chromosome functions, including escape from X inactivation, parent-of-origin effects, and Y chromosome loss, using advanced technologies.
- The result: Findings highlight how sex chromosome biology informs diagnostics, biomarkers, and treatments, paving the way for integrating chromosome-specific factors into personalized medicine and improving health outcomes for both sexes.