Gender bias in autoimmune diseases: X chromosome inactivation in women with multiple sclerosis.

The majority of autoimmune disorders are characterized by female predominance. Several mechanisms have been proposed as explanations for this gender bias, among them X chromosome inactivation. An increased frequency of skewed X inactivation has been found in some autoimmune disorders, like scleroderma and autoimmune thyroid disease, and may thus offer a possible explanation for the female predominance.

Increased skewing of X chromosome inactivation with age in both blood and buccal cells.

The X chromosome inactivation pattern in peripheral blood cells becomes more skewed after age 55, and a genetic effect on this age-related skewing has been reported. We investigated the effect of age on X inactivation phenotype in blood, buccal cells and tissue from duodenal biopsies in 80 females aged 19-90 years. The X inactivation pattern correlated positively with age in blood (r = 0.

Increased skewing of X chromosome inactivation in Rett syndrome patients and their mothers.

Rett syndrome is a largely sporadic, X-linked neurological disorder with a characteristic phenotype, but which exhibits substantial phenotypic variability. This variability has been partly attributed to an effect of X chromosome inactivation (XCI). There have been conflicting reports regarding incidence of skewed X inactivation in Rett syndrome.