Endocrine, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Immunological Aspects of Sex Chromosome

Background: The most prevalent SCAs are Klinefelter syndrome (KS; 47, XXY), 47,XXX, 47,XYY and Turner syndrome (TS; 45,X) with a prevalence of 85-250, 84, 98 and 50 per 100,000 liveborn boys/girls, respectively. The majority of SCAs can suffer from a range of diseases including congenital malformations, metabolic diseases, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and infertility, autoimmune disease and psychiatric diseases. However, the genetic mechanisms causing these phenotypes are largely unexplained. The phenotypes have been suggested to arise from alterations in DNA methylation and RNA-expression. The methylome and transcriptome in peripheral blood samples from persons with KS, 47,XXX and TS have been found to be altered in comparison with controls. These genes are now starting to be found ex. SHOX, located in the pseudo autosomal region of the X and Y chromosome, escapes X-inactivation and is therefore equivalent to the number of sex chromosomes. Altered expression of SHOX in SCAs has been associated with the altered height seen in these patients.

Hypotheses:

1. The methylome and transcriptome of SCAs is altered compared to karyotypical normal female and males, and a unique methylation profile and RNA expression profile is seen for the different SCAs subgroups.

2. The methylation profile and the RNA expression profile show temporal alterations.

3. The DNA methylation profile and the RNA expression profile are tissue-specific.

4. The phenotype and the increased risk of diseases seen in patients with SCAs are associated with the altered RNA-expression and DNA methylation profile.

Materials: Blood, fat, muscle, skin, buccal swaps, urine, will be collected from 60 klinefelter, 60 Turner syndrome patient, 20: 47, XXX and 20: 47, XYY and 80 male and female matched controls.