The Y chromosome provides protection against the development of pulmonary hypertension and may be the reason the disease is less prevalent among men than women, according to a study by UCLA researchers.
The researcher found that mice with Y chromosomes were significantly less likely to develop severe pulmonary hypertension than mice without Y chromosomes.
The findings suggest for the first time that sex chromosomes—not only sex hormones—may explain why women, who typically do not have a Y chromosome, are more susceptible to the disease than men.
