Key result
In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, >1800 genes displayed sexual dimorphism (adjusted P<0.05), and >140 genes were differentially expressed by age in females but zero in males.
Observational (n=102)
Yes
p-value: p=<0.05
Myocardial gene expression in dilated cardiomyopathy exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, as well as age-related differences exclusively in females.
Gene expression patterns in DCM differ markedly by sex and age in females only; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical consideration.
BACKGROUND: We report the first comprehensive analysis of gene expression differences by sex and age in left ventricular samples from 102 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gene expression data (HG-U133A gene chip, Affymetrix) were analyzed from 30 females and 72 males from 3 separate centers. More than 1800 genes displayed sexual dimorphism in the heart (adjusted P value <0.05). A significant number of these genes were highly represented in gene ontology pathways involved in ion transport and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Localization of these genes revealed enrichment on both the sex chromosomes as well as chromosomes 3, 4, and 14. The second goal of this study was to determine the effect of age on gene expression. Within the female cohort, >140 genes were differentially expressed in the <55 years age group compared with the >55 years age group. These genes were highly represented in gene ontology pathways involved in DNA damage. In contrast, zero genes in the male cohort <55 years met statistical significance when compared with the >55 years age group. CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression in dilated cardiomyopathy displayed evidence of sexual dimorphism similar to other somatic tissues and age dimorphism within the female cohort.
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Fermin et al. (2008) conducted an observational in dilated cardiomyopathy (n=102). Sex (female vs male) and age (<55 vs >55 years) vs. Male sex and age >55 years was evaluated on Gene expression differences by sex and age (p=<0.05). In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, >1800 genes displayed sexual dimorphism (adjusted P<0.05), and >140 genes were differentially expressed by age in females but zero in males.
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