Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells

Abstract Background Mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) is a frequent somatic alteration observed in aging males, linked to clonal hematopoiesis and elevated risks of hematologic malignancies. However, the direct physiological implications of LOY in elderly patients with hematologic disorders rema...

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Main Authors: Lin Liu, Liangshun You, Huan Xu, Lu Wang, Shuqi Zhao, Hongyan Tong, Jie Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14584-0
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author Lin Liu
Liangshun You
Huan Xu
Lu Wang
Shuqi Zhao
Hongyan Tong
Jie Jin
author_facet Lin Liu
Liangshun You
Huan Xu
Lu Wang
Shuqi Zhao
Hongyan Tong
Jie Jin
author_sort Lin Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) is a frequent somatic alteration observed in aging males, linked to clonal hematopoiesis and elevated risks of hematologic malignancies. However, the direct physiological implications of LOY in elderly patients with hematologic disorders remain unclear. We investigated blood biomarker changes associated with LOY in elderly male patients with hematologic malignancies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 196 elderly male patients (median age, 71 years) with LOY detected via bone marrow karyotyping (2017–2022). Participants were stratified into four groups: no disease (n = 22); acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (including refractory anemia [RA], refractory anemia with excess blasts [RAEB], and RAEB in transformation [RAEB-T]), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) (AML/MDS group, n = 52); multiple myeloma (MM, n = 37); and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) (CLL/lymphoma group, n = 85). Controls (n = 120) exhibited normal 46,XY karyotypes. Blood markers (n = 22)—including blood cell counts, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and thyroid hormones—were assessed using non-parametric tests and multivariate regression analysis. Results LOY was detected in 4% of patients (3% pure LOY, 1% LOY with additional abnormalities). AML/MDS patients with LOY were younger (median 68.5 vs. 75.5 years in no-disease, p = 0.004) and exhibited higher LOY burden (60% vs. 33% in CLL/lymphoma, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed age as an independent risk factor for AML/MDS (p = 0.002), while LOY burden specifically correlated with CLL/lymphoma (p = 0.012). Distinct biomarker profiles emerged: LOY-positive AML/MDS patients showed reduced hemoglobin, platelets, and cytokines (e.g., reduced interleukin-2, interferon-gamma) versus controls (p < 0.05), whereas CLL/lymphoma cases correlated with decreased immunoglobulins (IgM) and cytokines (e.g., interleukin-4, interleukin-17 A). Notably, individuals without hematologic disease exhibited stable biomarker profiles irrespective of LOY status, suggesting context-dependent effects of LOY. A high LOY burden (≥ 75%) was associated with cytopenias in AML/MDS, characterized by decreased white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count (NEC), and platelet (PLT) count (p < 0.05). Conclusion LOY exhibits disease-specific associations with immune-metabolic dysregulation, particularly in AML/MDS and CLL/lymphoma. Its varying burden and biomarker profiles suggest potential utility in risk stratification, warranting further prospective validation.
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spelling doaj-art-6aeddcdd86774e3bba7ecf859a1cf0e82025-08-20T03:45:56ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-07-0125111010.1186/s12885-025-14584-0Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cellsLin Liu0Liangshun You1Huan Xu2Lu Wang3Shuqi Zhao4Hongyan Tong5Jie Jin6Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineAbstract Background Mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) is a frequent somatic alteration observed in aging males, linked to clonal hematopoiesis and elevated risks of hematologic malignancies. However, the direct physiological implications of LOY in elderly patients with hematologic disorders remain unclear. We investigated blood biomarker changes associated with LOY in elderly male patients with hematologic malignancies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 196 elderly male patients (median age, 71 years) with LOY detected via bone marrow karyotyping (2017–2022). Participants were stratified into four groups: no disease (n = 22); acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (including refractory anemia [RA], refractory anemia with excess blasts [RAEB], and RAEB in transformation [RAEB-T]), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) (AML/MDS group, n = 52); multiple myeloma (MM, n = 37); and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) (CLL/lymphoma group, n = 85). Controls (n = 120) exhibited normal 46,XY karyotypes. Blood markers (n = 22)—including blood cell counts, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and thyroid hormones—were assessed using non-parametric tests and multivariate regression analysis. Results LOY was detected in 4% of patients (3% pure LOY, 1% LOY with additional abnormalities). AML/MDS patients with LOY were younger (median 68.5 vs. 75.5 years in no-disease, p = 0.004) and exhibited higher LOY burden (60% vs. 33% in CLL/lymphoma, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed age as an independent risk factor for AML/MDS (p = 0.002), while LOY burden specifically correlated with CLL/lymphoma (p = 0.012). Distinct biomarker profiles emerged: LOY-positive AML/MDS patients showed reduced hemoglobin, platelets, and cytokines (e.g., reduced interleukin-2, interferon-gamma) versus controls (p < 0.05), whereas CLL/lymphoma cases correlated with decreased immunoglobulins (IgM) and cytokines (e.g., interleukin-4, interleukin-17 A). Notably, individuals without hematologic disease exhibited stable biomarker profiles irrespective of LOY status, suggesting context-dependent effects of LOY. A high LOY burden (≥ 75%) was associated with cytopenias in AML/MDS, characterized by decreased white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count (NEC), and platelet (PLT) count (p < 0.05). Conclusion LOY exhibits disease-specific associations with immune-metabolic dysregulation, particularly in AML/MDS and CLL/lymphoma. Its varying burden and biomarker profiles suggest potential utility in risk stratification, warranting further prospective validation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14584-0Mosaic loss of Y chromosomeHematologic malignanciesElderly patientsClonal hematopoiesisBiomarkers
spellingShingle Lin Liu
Liangshun You
Huan Xu
Lu Wang
Shuqi Zhao
Hongyan Tong
Jie Jin
Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
BMC Cancer
Mosaic loss of Y chromosome
Hematologic malignancies
Elderly patients
Clonal hematopoiesis
Biomarkers
title Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
title_full Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
title_fullStr Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
title_full_unstemmed Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
title_short Blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow cells
title_sort blood biomarkers are altered in elderly hematological patients exhibiting a mosaic loss of the y chromosome in bone marrow cells
topic Mosaic loss of Y chromosome
Hematologic malignancies
Elderly patients
Clonal hematopoiesis
Biomarkers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14584-0
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