IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Sex differences in hematopoietic progenitors: defining the roles of gonadal vs chromosomal sex

Sex differences in hematopoietic progenitors: defining the roles of gonadal vs chromosomal sex

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The talk examined sex differences in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in mice and whether these differences are driven by hormones, chromosomes, or both. Male mice had more LSK cells, especially lymphoid-biased MPP4 progenitors, and male long-term HSCs showed better competitive engraftment than female HSCs in mixed bone marrow chimeras, suggesting an intrinsic advantage imprinted before transfer. Using four-core genotype mice, the speaker found that gonadal sex was the main driver of increased HSPC numbers, though some chromosomal effects were also seen in specific progenitor subsets. Early-life testosterone exposure may contribute, since effects appeared even before puberty. However, chromosome complement did not clearly affect long-term stem cell fitness in competition assays. Overall, the study indicates that gonadal sex strongly shapes HSPC abundance, while male HSCs appear intrinsically fitter in transplantation settings.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Room 104AB

Session Bone Marrow Hematopoiesis

Speaker Susan Kovats

Track Hematopoiesis and Immune System Development (HEM)

Year 2026

Keywords

hematopoietic stem cells

sex differences

gonadal sex

male HSC fitness

bone marrow chimeras

April 16, 2026 4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

104AB

Bone Marrow Hematopoiesis

Susan Kovats

Hematopoiesis and Immune System Development (HEM)

2026