New Research Sheds Light on Gender Disparity in Autoimmune Diseases

Stanford University study finds X chromosome's role in higher autoimmune disease rates among women.

Stanford University researchers have discovered that the way the body handles the extra X chromosome in females may explain why women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men.
The study, published in the journal Cell, reveals that a process called X-chromosome inactivation, involving a special type of RNA called Xist, may play a key role in the development of autoimmune disorders.
Mice experiments showed that male mice engineered to produce Xist and exposed to an environmental trigger developed lupus-like autoimmunity at levels similar to females.
Blood samples from 100 patients revealed autoantibodies targeting Xist-associated proteins not previously linked to autoimmune disorders, suggesting a potential new path for diagnosing these diseases.
The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the complex interplay between genetics, environmental triggers, and the immune system in autoimmune diseases.