RESUMO
AIRE expression in thymus is downregulated by estrogen after puberty, what probably renders women more susceptible to autoimmune disorders. Here we investigated the effects of minipuberty on male and female infant human thymic tissue in order to verify if this initial transient increase in sex hormones - along the first six months of life - could affect thymic transcriptional network regulation and AIRE expression. Gene co-expression network analysis for differentially expressed genes and miRNA-target analysis revealed sex differences in thymic tissue during minipuberty, but such differences were not detected in the thymic tissue of infants aged 7-18 months, i.e. the non-puberty group. AIRE expression was essentially the same in both sexes in minipuberty and in non-puberty groups, as assessed by genomic and immunohistochemical assays. However, AIRE-interactors networks showed several differences in all groups regarding gene-gene expression correlation. Therefore, minipuberty and genomic mechanisms interact in shaping thymic sexual dimorphism along the first six months of life.
Assuntos
Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , MicroRNAs/genética , Caracteres Sexuais , Timo/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Estrogênios/metabolismo , Feminino , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Ontologia Genética , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , MicroRNAs/classificação , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Anotação de Sequência Molecular , Fatores Sexuais , Timo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Proteína AIRERESUMO
AIRE expression in thymus is downregulated by estrogen after puberty, what probably renders women more susceptible to autoimmune disorders. Here we investigated the efects of minipuberty on male and female infant human thymic tissue in order to verify if this initial transient increase in sex hormones - along the frst six months of life - could afect thymic transcriptional network regulation and AIRE expression. Gene co-expression network analysis for diferentially expressed genes and miRNA-target analysis revealed sex diferences in thymic tissue during minipuberty, but such diferences were not detected in the thymic tissue of infants aged 718 months, i.e. the non-puberty group. AIRE expression was essentially the same in both sexes in minipuberty and in non-puberty groups, as assessed by genomic and immunohistochemical assays. However, AIRE-interactors networks showed several diferences in all groups regarding gene-gene expression correlation. Therefore, minipuberty and genomic mechanisms interact in shaping thymic sexual dimorphism along the frst six months of life.
Assuntos
Timo , Linfócitos T , Caracteres SexuaisRESUMO
Testicular Regression Syndrome (TRS) is defined as the absence or an incomplete development of the testis of varying degrees in 46XY patients with normal external genitalia. The prevalence ranges from 3-20% of cases previously diagnosed as cryptorchidism. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who underwent surgical exploration with an initial diagnosis of cryptorchidism. Testicular structure was not identified and presumed testicular remnants were sent for histological analysis. The histological sections showed a fibrovascular nodule, structures of the spermatic cord and calcification, supporting the diagnosis of TRS.
