Y-Chromosome Genetic Variation Associated With Atherosclerosis and Inflammation.

Abstract

Human GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Studies) have identified over 100 loci contributing to coronary artery disease (CAD), but such studies have largely ignored the Y chromosome (chr).1 In this issue of ATVB, Eales et al2 have identified a significant association between genetic variants on the Y chr and CAD in 129 133 men from the UK Biobank study. They followed up on this finding by identifying epigenetic and gene expression patterns associated with the variants and they present evidence that the Y chr gene ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Y-linked, a histone demethylase, may contribute through its inflammatory effects in macrophages.