Loss of chromosome Y causes defective immune-surveillance, which leads to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in aging men

We recently made three discoveries related to acquired Loss Of chromosome Y (LOY) in blood of adult/aging men.

LOY is associated with: a) shorter survival and increased mortality from cancer; b) Alzheimer’s disease (AD); and c) smoking of tobacco, which induces LOY.

These findings are basis for research towards understanding why and how LOY causes cancer and AD.We hypothesize that LOY is a causative factor behind a predisposition to cancer and AD.

We also hypothesize that LOY disturbs the functions of immune-surveillance, which is vital for elimination of abnormal cells/structures throughout soma.The overarching aim is to move the LOY-project from epidemiological associations towards understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms.

We aim to validate LOY as a disease biomarker by studies of single- and sorted cells in blood and in target tissues such as brains affected by AD and tumors/metastases.

We aim also to identify the subset of immune cells that are predominantly responsible for the disease risks of cancer and AD.

Moreover, we will study the combined impact of LOY on gene expression and CpG methylation in selected ex-vivo subtypes of leukocytes with LOY and in normal state.It is known that men have a shorter life expectancy, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear.

The impact of our research is broad, as we have an opportunity to understand the mechanisms of why men live on shorter than women.