Women suffer from many more autoimmune diseases than men: the reason is written in this chromosome | CROWNING

This chromosome is the reason for the greater presence of autoimmune diseases in women than in men.

Autoimmune diseases are a major challenge to modern medicine, affecting millions of people worldwide. These conditions occur when the immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, becomes confused and begins to fail. attack healthy tissue. Among the most well-known autoimmune diseases are lupus and multiple sclerosisboth with significant impact on patients’ quality of life.

One of the most interesting and worrying aspects of these diseases is their frequency among women. Several studies show that women are affected much more than men, often by a ratio of 4 to 1. This fact has long puzzled scientists, forcing them to explain find The reasons for this difference they are complex and linked to genetic, hormonal and environmental factors, but no single cause has been identified with certainty.

It seems that women’s immune systems, because they are generally stronger, are more susceptible to abuse, especially in situations where the body perceives a danger that does not exist. This overactivity can lead to systemic self-destruction, with dire health consequences. However, there is still a a secret The reason is that women are more vulnerable to these pathologies than men.

In recent decades, medical research has made significant progress in the study of autoimmune diseases, proposing different theories to explain this. female vulnerability. Among the most qualified hypotheses is that related to chromosomes, especially the role of the X chromosome, present in two copies in women and one in men.

The X chromosome and its effects

Recent studies have begun to shed light on the role of the X chromosome which may be in the development of autoimmune diseases. Being present in two copies in women, there could be a complex interaction between these two chromosomes that generate a series of problems. Silence on one of the two X chromosomes in female cells is a basic process to maintain protein balance, but some molecules that regulate this process could, in some cases, damage the immune system .

Research suggests that when cells shrink and release molecule attached to the X chromosome in the bloodstream, women’s immune systems can interpret them as threats, triggering an autoimmune response. This phenomenon could be one of the key factors in understanding why some autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women.

A discovery that opens new paths

A recent study, published in a scientific journal, analyzed this hypothesis in depth, finding that some proteins attached to the X chromosome, called Xist, may have a definite role. In particular, the researchers noted that these proteins can deceive the female immune system, causing attacks against healthy tissue. The Xist molecule appears to interfere with the regulatory process of the X chromosome, leading to abnormal production of immune signals.

This mechanism would confuse immune cells, causing them to react to proteins they should ignore. If confirmed, this discovery could open new perspectives for developing targeted therapies, offering a valid alternative to current treatments, which often aim to suppress the entire immune system.