Sex matters: XIST and DDX3Y gene expression as a tool to determine fetal sex in human first trimester placenta

Denise Hoch; Boris Novakovic; Silvija Cvitic; Richard Saffery; Gernot Desoye; Alejandro Majali-Martinez

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.016

Sex matters: XIST and DDX3Y gene expression as a tool to determine fetal sex in human first trimester placenta

Placenta. 2020 Aug:97:68-70. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.016. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Authors

Denise Hoch¹, Boris Novakovic², Silvija Cvitic³, Richard Saffery⁴, Gernot Desoye⁵, Alejandro Majali-Martinez⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8036, Austria. Electronic address: denise.hoch@medunigraz.at.
² Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, 3052, Australia. Electronic address: boris.novakovic@mcri.edu.au.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8036, Austria; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Research Unit of Analytical Mass Spectrometry, Cell Biology and Biochemistry of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8036, Austria. Electronic address: silvija.tokic@medunigraz.at.
⁴ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, 3052, Australia. Electronic address: richard.saffery@mcri.edu.au.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8036, Austria. Electronic address: gernot.desoye@medunigraz.at.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, 8036, Austria. Electronic address: a.majali-martinez@medunigraz.at.

PMID: 32792067
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.06.016

Abstract

Fetal sex influences placental function as well as maternal and fetal health, being an important factor to consider in pregnancy studies. However, fetal sex determination in the first trimester of pregnancy still faces some technical limitations. Here we describe an RT-qPCR technique to determine fetal sex based on X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) and DEAD-Box helicase 3 Y-linked (DDX3Y) gene expression. This method is straightforward, reliable, fast and applicable on both, placental tissue and primary cells.

Keywords: Early pregnancy; Fetal sex; Placenta; RT-qPCR; Trophoblasts.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics*
Female
Gene Expression*
Humans
Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / genetics*
Placenta / metabolism*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, First / genetics*
Pregnancy Trimester, First / metabolism
RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
Sex Determination Analysis / methods*
Trophoblasts / metabolism

Substances

Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
RNA, Long Noncoding
XIST non-coding RNA
DDX3Y protein, human
DEAD-box RNA Helicases