| Analysis of sex-biased gene expression in a Eurasian admixed population |
| Author |
Cheng, SS; Ning, ZL; Huang, K; Yuan, Y; Tan, XJ; Pan, YW; Zhang, R; Tian, L; Lu, Y; Wang, XJ; Lu, DS; Yang, YJ; Guan, YQ; Mamatyusupu, D; Xu, SH |
| Journal |
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS |
| Pub Year |
2024 |
| Type |
|
| Abstract |
Sex-biased gene expression differs across human populations; however, the underlying genetic basis and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we explore the influence of ancestry on sex differences in the human transcriptome and its genetic effects on a Eurasian admixed population: Uyghurs living in Xinjiang (XJU), by analyzing whole-genome sequencing data and transcriptome data of 90 XJU and 40 unrelated Han Chinese individuals. We identified 302 sex-biased expressed genes and 174 sex-biased cis-expression quantitative loci (sb-cis-eQTLs) in XJU, which were enriched in innate immune-related functions, indicating sex differences in immunity. Notably, approximately one-quarter of the sb-cis-eQTLs showed a strong correlation with ancestry composition; i.e. populations of similar ancestry tended to show similar patterns of sex-biased gene expression. Our analysis further suggested that genetic admixture induced a moderate degree of sex-biased gene expression. Interestingly, analysis of chromosome interactions revealed that the X chromosome acted on autosomal immunity-associated genes, partially explaining the sex-biased phenotypic differences. Our work extends the knowledge of sex-biased gene expression from the perspective of genetic admixture and bridges the gap in the exploration of sex-biased phenotypes shaped by autosome and X-chromosome interactions. Notably, we demonstrated that sex chromosomes cannot fully explain sex differentiation in immune-related phenotypes. |
| Issue |
25 |
| Volume |
25 |
| SCI |
6.8 |
