# Cell Cycle Kinetics and Sister Chromatid Exchange in Mosaic Turner Syndrome

## TL;DR

This study examines cell growth and chromosome instability in mosaic Turner syndrome patients, finding that certain cell types may become more prevalent over time.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the proliferation dynamics and chromosome instability of different cell lineages in mosaic Turner syndrome.

## Key findings

- 45,X cells showed a proliferative disadvantage compared to 46,XN cells in some participants.
- 46,X+der(X) cells had the highest sister chromatid exchange frequency, indicating higher instability.
- Younger mosaic TS participants showed a slightly higher proliferation index in 46,X+der(X)/der(Y) cells compared to 45,X cells.

## Abstract

Turner syndrome (TS) is caused by a complete or partial absence of an X or Y chromosome, including chromosomal mosaicism, affecting 1 in 2500 female live births. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is used as a sensitive indicator of spontaneous chromosome instability. Cells from mosaic patients constitute useful material for SCE evaluations as they grow under the influence of the same genetic background and endogenous and exogenous factors. We evaluated the proliferation dynamics and SCE frequencies of 45,X and 46,XN cells of 17 mosaic TS patients. In two participants, the 45,X cells exhibited a proliferative disadvantage in relation to 46,XN cells after 72 h of cultivation. The analysis of the mean proliferation index (PI) showed a trend for a significant difference between the 45,X and 46,X+der(X)/der(Y) cell lineages; however, there were no intra-individual differences. On the other hand, mean SCE frequencies showed that 46,X+der(X) had the highest mean value and 46,XX the lowest, with 45,X occupying an intermediate position among the lineages found in at least three participants; moreover, there were intra-individual differences in five patients. Although 46,X+der(X)/der(Y) cell lineages, found in more than 70% of participants, were the most unstable, they had a slightly higher mean PI than the 45,X cell lineages in younger (≤17 years) mosaic TS participants. This suggests that cells with a karyotype distinct from 45,X may increase with time in mosaic TS children and adolescents.