2381/41991 A. A. Maan A. A. Maan J. Eales J. Eales A. Akbarov A. Akbarov J. Rowland J. Rowland X. Xu X. Xu Mark A Jobling Mark A Jobling F. J. Charchar F. J. Charchar M. Tomaszewski M. Tomaszewski Nilesh Samani Nilesh Samani The Y chromosome: a blueprint for men's health? University of Leicester 2018 Cardiovascular Diseases Chromosomes, Human, Y Genetic Predisposition to Disease Humans Immunity Male 2018-05-08 10:20:17 Journal contribution https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/The_Y_chromosome_a_blueprint_for_men_s_health_/10198250 The Y chromosome has long been considered a 'genetic wasteland' on a trajectory to completely disappear from the human genome. The perception of its physiological function was restricted to sex determination and spermatogenesis. These views have been challenged in recent times with the identification of multiple ubiquitously expressed Y-chromosome genes and the discovery of several unexpected associations between the Y chromosome, immune system and complex polygenic traits. The collected evidence suggests that the Y chromosome influences immune and inflammatory responses in men, translating into genetically programmed susceptibility to diseases with a strong immune component. Phylogenetic studies reveal that carriers of a common European lineage of the Y chromosome (haplogroup I) possess increased risk of coronary artery disease. This occurs amidst upregulation of inflammation and suppression of adaptive immunity in this Y lineage, as well as inferior outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus infection. From structural analysis and experimental data, the UTY (Ubiquitously Transcribed Tetratricopeptide Repeat Containing, Y-Linked) gene is emerging as a promising candidate underlying the associations between Y-chromosome variants and the immunity-driven susceptibility to complex disease. This review synthesises the recent structural, experimental and clinical insights into the human Y chromosome in the context of men's susceptibility to disease (with a particular emphasis on cardiovascular disease) and provides an overview of the paradigm shift in the perception of the Y chromosome.