Researchers find that hormones and X-chromosomal genes may play a role in gender-specific susceptibility to endocrine disorders.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/2001/10/FATHERS.PH2.html
19-Oct-01
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Thyroid autoimmune
disorders such as Graves' disease (GD) or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)
and other autoimmune diseases have a strong, yet unexplained female preponderance.
At the same time, some human lymphocyte antigens (HLA) susceptibility alleles
found in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (TlDM) point to a higher risk for boys
than girls.
Type 1 diabetes is one of the most
frequent chronic diseases in children. Although it is an autoimmune disorder,
its etiology remains unclear. However, there is considerable evidence that
both genetic and environmental factors are major determinants. As a genetic
marker, Type 1 diabetes is primarily determined by genes in the HLA region
of chromosome 6.
The authors of the study, "Evidence
For Gender-Specific Effects On the Transmission of Androgen Receptor Does
Not Play A Role In The Thymic HLA Susceptibilily Alleles To Patients With
Graves' Disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis As Well As Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus,"
are K. Badenhoop, T. Siegmund and M.A. Pani, of the Department of Endocrinology,
University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; M. Segni of the Department
of Pediatrics, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy; and J. Ramser and A.
Meindl, both from the Department of Medical Genetics, Children's Hospital,
University of Munich, Germany. Their findings are being presented in detail
at the upcoming conference, Genomes and Hormones: An Integrative Approach
to Gender Differences in Physiology, being sponsored by the American Physiological
Society (APS). The conference is being held October 17-20, 2001 at the
Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
Methodology and Results
The researchers investigated patients
with Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
-- and their parents -- to identify transmission of high risk HLA DQ alleles
using standard sequence-specific typing methods. Altogether 1347 individuals
were investigated of which 130 individuals and their parents had thyroid
autoimmune disorders ( 12 with GD, 91 with HT and 346 with T1DM).
-- There was significant susceptibility
for both GD and HT associated with DQ2 alleles that was most pronounced
when transmitted from fathers to affected daughters.
-- In TlDM patients, the DQ8 haplotype
was found significantly more often to be transmitted by fathers than by
mothers to affected offspring (p=0.005) mainly due to a preferential transmission
of DQ8 by fathers to affected daughters.
Conclusions
These results suggest an X-chromosomal
factor interact with HLA DQ haplotypes in Graves' disease, Hashimoto's
thyroiditis or Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In addition, hormonal factors
may regulate this interaction since some of the observed transmission differences
disappear when pre- and postpubertal manifestation of disease is separately
analyzed. Thus, both X-chromosomal genes and hormones may play a role in
sex-specific susceptibility to endocrine autoimmunity.
The American Physiological Society
(APS) was founded in 1887
Editor's Note: To set up an interview
with Dr. Badenhoop, please contact Donna Krupa in the APS newsroom at 412.281.3700
(The Crawford Room).After newsroom hours, contact 703.967.275l (cell),
703.527.7357 (office) or djkrupa1@aol.com (email).
Contact: Donna Krupa
OR IN THE APS Newsroom @ The Westin
Convention Center
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