Screening and identification of genes for cell autonomous sex identity in chicken somatic cells.

Zidi Jin, Xiaolin Wu, Aneeqa Imtiaz, Jing Ge, Haizhou Gong, Minmeng Zhao, Daoqing Gong, Long Liu, Tuoyu Geng

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Article in Poultry science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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9 authors.

Zidi JinCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Xiaolin WuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Aneeqa ImtiazCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Jing GeCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Haizhou GongCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Minmeng ZhaoCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Daoqing GongCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

Long LiuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. Electronic address: liulong@yzu.edu.cn.

Tuoyu GengCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. Electronic address: tygeng@yzu.edu.cn.

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6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chicken somatic cells exhibit cell autonomous sex identity (CASI), where sexual features are determined by sex chromosomes rather than hormones. CASI arises from sex‑biased gene expression due to lack of dosage compensation on sex chromosomes. To identify CASI‑determining genes (CASIDGs), we analyzed transcriptomes of wattles (phenotypically hormone‑sensitive) and pectoral muscles (phenotypically hormone‑unresponsive) from 6‑week‑old roosters and hens, with or without sex hormone treatment. Inter‑sex differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly located on the Z chromosome and autosomes 1‑2, while hormone‑affected DEGs predominantly on autosomes 1‑3. After removing hormone‑affected DEGs from the inter‑sex DEGs, 285 DEGs (51.23% on sex chromosome) remained for pectoral muscle, and 255 DEGs (63.93% on sex chromosome) for wattle. Out of the 89 DEGs shared by these two tissues, 88 were located on sex chromosomes and were considered candidate CASIDGs. These candidate CASIDGs were mainly enriched in mitochondrial protein synthesis and isomerase activity-related pathways. Among the CASIDGs, HINT1 and MED18 were validated according to the screening criteria. Overexpressing these two genes in primary muscle cells could affect immune/inflammatory responses, cell proliferation and migration, cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix interactions. Additionally, 139 autosomal DEGs for pectoral muscle and 92 for wattle were identified as candidate sex marker genes. Among these, IRF9 and CCL4 were co‑regulated by HINT1 and MED18. In conclusion, the sex characteristics of chicken somatic cells reflect the combined effects of CASIDGs and sex hormones. HINT1 and MED18 are confirmed as candidate CASIDGs. These findings lay a solid foundation for elucidating the CASI mechanism in avian somatic cells.

Indexed as

Cell autonomous sex identityChickenSex determining geneSex hormoneSex marker gene

Identifiers

PMID42743722

DOI10.1016/j.psj.2026.107733

PMCPMC13594839

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