Leukocytes with chromosome Y loss have reduced abundance of the cell surface immunoprotein CD99

Abstract Mosaic loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in immune cells is a male-specific mutation associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The CD99 gene, positioned in the pseudoautosomal regions of chromosomes X and Y, encodes a cell surface protein essential for several key properties of leukocytes and immune system functions. Here we used CITE-seq for simultaneous quantification of CD99 derived mRNA and cell surface CD99 protein abundance in relation to LOY in single cells. The abundance of CD99 molecules was lower on the surfaces of LOY cells compared with cells without this aneuploidy in all six types of leukocytes studied, while the abundance of CD proteins encoded by genes located on autosomal chromosomes were independent from LOY. These results connect LOY in single cells with immune related cellular properties at the protein level, providing mechanistic insight regarding disease vulnerability in men affected with mosaic chromosome Y loss in blood leukocytes.