Statistically, women have more autoimmune diseases than men do. According to the NY Times, the mystery may lie in the X chromosome according to a new study recently reported in the Journal Cell and reported by the NY Times. In autoimmune problems like lupus and multiple sclerosis, a special set of molecules that act on the extra X chromosome carried by women can sometimes confuse the immune system according to the most recent researchers. Will this lead to better treatments or cures? Check out the article below Why Do Women Have More Autoimmune Diseases? Study Points to X Chromosome The molecules that silence a woman’s second X chromosome can confuse the immune system, a new study suggests. By Carl Zimmer Feb. 1, 2024 Women are much more likely than men to have their immune system turn against them, resulting in an array of so-called autoimmune diseases, like lupus and multiple sclerosis. A study published on Thursday offers an explanation rooted in the X chromosome. The research, published in the journal Cell, suggests that a special set of molecules that act on the extra X chromosome carried by women can sometimes confuse the immune system. Independent experts said that the molecules are unlikely to be the sole reason autoimmune disease skews female. But if the results hold up in further experiments, it might be possible to base new treatments on these molecules, rather than on the current drugs that blunt the entire immune system. “Maybe that’s a better strategy,” said Dr. Howard Chang, a geneticist and dermatologist at Stanford who led the new study. Read more