A clinically applicable single cell method for detecting loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in different types of leukocytes using flow cytometry

Men live shorter lives compared with women.

My discoveries regarding pathological consequences of loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in blood leukocytes, helps explain this sex-difference.

LOY is the most common somatic mutation and is associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, old men with LOY survives on average only half as long.

Identification of men with LOY in blood in future healthcare could help set earlier diagnosis of disease, which could lead to better treatment options and higher survival in aging men. Current methods can detect LOY with confidence only when it occurs in >10% of the cells in a sample.

Clinical applications demands new cost effective tools with high sensitivity and specificity, and the project aims at satisfying these needs.

We will develop a novel method for improved detection of LOY in different types of blood leukocytes, based on available technologies such as proximity ligation assay (PLA) and flow cytometry. The tool will be adapted for clinical as well as for research use. Together with experienced collaborators, I will lead the progress of the four-year long project.

The tasks include identification of targetable LOY-specific cell surface proteins as well as detecting these on the single cell level, before adopting the new LOY detection system for use in flow cytometry. Clinical utility of LOY would serve to increase the survival of men and reduce the sex bias in longevity.