X-Chromosome Inactivation and Related Diseases

X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the form of dosage compensation in mammalian female cells to balance X-linked gene expression levels of the two sexes. Many diseases are related to XCI due to inactivation escape and skewing, and the symptoms and severity of these diseases also largely depend on the status of XCI. They can be divided into 3 types: X-linked diseases, diseases that are affected by XCI escape, and X-chromosome aneuploidy. Here, we review representative diseases in terms of their definition, symptoms, and XCI's role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Automated summary

X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a mechanism in mammalian female cells to balance the expression levels of X-linked genes. Many diseases are associated with XCI, and their severity and symptoms largely depend on the status of XCI. This review discusses different types of diseases, their definitions, symptoms, and the role of XCI in their pathogenesis.