Scientists removed the Y-chromosome from the hematopoietic cells of male mice, as a result of which dangerous fibrotic changes in the heart muscle tissue developed in rodents, which provoked a deterioration in the functionality of the organ. According to an article in Science, scientists have found a correlation between the loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells and the development of heart disease in humans.
Science does not yet fully understand exactly how the Y chromosome affects the body – its study is hindered by the features of genetic variability. There are studies that link the mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells with the development of cardiovascular disease. Mosaic loss of the Y chromosome, as scientists found out not so long ago, is recorded in 40% of 70-year-old and 57% of 93-year-old men.
Epidemiological analysis has shown that the loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells is associated with reduced life expectancy and an increased risk of developing age-related diseases. The latter include, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease and serious ailments of the cardiovascular system.
A new study in mice confirms the existence of a correlation between the loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells and deterioration in heart function. The work involved researchers from Sweden, Japan and the United States, led by Saichi Sano of the University of Virginia.