Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine
Biological differences between sexes should be considered in all stages of research, as sexual dimorphism starts in utero leading to sex-specific fetal programming. In numerous biomedical fields, there is still a lack of stratification by sex despite primary cultured cells retaining memory of the se...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/52 |
| _version_ | 1797411937411137536 |
|---|---|
| author | Ilaria Campesi Flavia Franconi Andrea Montella Salvatore Dessole Giampiero Capobianco |
| author_facet | Ilaria Campesi Flavia Franconi Andrea Montella Salvatore Dessole Giampiero Capobianco |
| author_sort | Ilaria Campesi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biological differences between sexes should be considered in all stages of research, as sexual dimorphism starts in utero leading to sex-specific fetal programming. In numerous biomedical fields, there is still a lack of stratification by sex despite primary cultured cells retaining memory of the sex and of the donor. The sex of donors in biological research must be known because variations in cells and cellular components can be used as endpoints, biomarkers and/or targets of pharmacological studies. This selective review focuses on the current findings regarding sex differences observed in the umbilical cord, a widely used source of research samples, both in the blood and in the circulating cells, as well as in the different cellular models obtainable from it. Moreover, an overview on sex differences in fetal programming is reported. As it emerges that the sex variable is still often forgotten in experimental models, we suggest that it should be mandatory to adopt sex-oriented research, because only awareness of these issues can lead to innovative research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:53:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00fe65e14e294da89c58be0a8bd0c0f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:53:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-00fe65e14e294da89c58be0a8bd0c0f82023-12-03T13:07:50ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-01-011115210.3390/life11010052Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific MedicineIlaria Campesi0Flavia Franconi1Andrea Montella2Salvatore Dessole3Giampiero Capobianco4Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyLaboratorio Nazionale sulla Farmacologia e Medicina di Genere, Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture Biosistemi, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyBiological differences between sexes should be considered in all stages of research, as sexual dimorphism starts in utero leading to sex-specific fetal programming. In numerous biomedical fields, there is still a lack of stratification by sex despite primary cultured cells retaining memory of the sex and of the donor. The sex of donors in biological research must be known because variations in cells and cellular components can be used as endpoints, biomarkers and/or targets of pharmacological studies. This selective review focuses on the current findings regarding sex differences observed in the umbilical cord, a widely used source of research samples, both in the blood and in the circulating cells, as well as in the different cellular models obtainable from it. Moreover, an overview on sex differences in fetal programming is reported. As it emerges that the sex variable is still often forgotten in experimental models, we suggest that it should be mandatory to adopt sex-oriented research, because only awareness of these issues can lead to innovative research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/52umbilical cordsex differencesfetal programmingpreclinical research |
| spellingShingle | Ilaria Campesi Flavia Franconi Andrea Montella Salvatore Dessole Giampiero Capobianco Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine Life umbilical cord sex differences fetal programming preclinical research |
| title | Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine |
| title_full | Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine |
| title_fullStr | Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine |
| title_short | Human Umbilical Cord: Information Mine in Sex-Specific Medicine |
| title_sort | human umbilical cord information mine in sex specific medicine |
| topic | umbilical cord sex differences fetal programming preclinical research |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/52 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ilariacampesi humanumbilicalcordinformationmineinsexspecificmedicine AT flaviafranconi humanumbilicalcordinformationmineinsexspecificmedicine AT andreamontella humanumbilicalcordinformationmineinsexspecificmedicine AT salvatoredessole humanumbilicalcordinformationmineinsexspecificmedicine AT giampierocapobianco humanumbilicalcordinformationmineinsexspecificmedicine |