Cutting Edge: The Y Chromosome Controls the Age-Dependent Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis Sexual Dimorphism in SJL/J Mice

Multiple sclerosis is a sexually dimorphic, demyelinating disease of the CNS, and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is its principal autoimmune model. Young male SJL/J mice are relatively resistant to EAE whereas older males and SJL/J females of any age are susceptible. By comparing a wide age range of proteolipid protein peptide 139-151 immunized mice, we found that female disease severity remains constant with age. In contrast, EAE disease severity increases with age in SJL/J males, with young males having significantly less severe disease and older males having significantly more disease than equivalently aged females. To determine whether the Y chromosome contributes to this sexual dimorphism, EAE was induced in consomic SJL/J mice carrying a B10.S Y chromosome (SJL.Y(B10.S)). EAE was significantly more severe in young male SJL.Y(B10.S) mice compared with young male SJL/J mice. These studies show that a Y chromosome-linked polymorphism controls the age-dependent EAE sexual dimorphism observed in SJL/J mice.