Sex chromsomes affect gene expression of autoantigen specific CD4+ T cells

To determine the role of sex chromsomes in sex differences of autoimmune disease, we used high throughput RNA sequencing to analyze the transciptomes of autoantigen specific CD4+ T cells from XX and XY- mice using the “four core genotypes” mouse model. Overall design: Female mice from the "four core genotypes" mouse model (XX and XY-) were gonadectomized at 4-6 weeks old and subsequently immunized with MOG 35-55 peptide emulsified in complete fraunds adjuvant, suppplemented with myobacterium tuberculosis H27Ra for 10 days. Auxillary, brachial, and inguinal draining lymph nodes were collected and processed into single cell suspensions. Cells were stiumulated with MOG 35-55 and IL-12 for 36 hours. Stimulated cells were sorted for CD4+ T cells using the EasySep Mouse CD4+ T cell isolation kit (STEMCELL), and RNA was isolated for analysis by high throughput RNA sequencing.