NSC were unchanged (Additional file 4: Figure S4B). To further confirm the contribution from the male/female gender, we tested the transcript levels of Xist gene (the gene is involved in X-chromosome inactivation) by qRT-PCR. We did not detect any significant change in Xist gene expression at different stages of NSC differentiation (Additional file 4: Figure S4C). These results indicate that our observed changes in Mecp2 expression are not due to altered contribution of male and female cells. Taken together, our results suggest a possible link between the Mecp2 isoform-specific expression and DNA methylation at the Mecp2 REs within the Mecp2 promoter and intron 1 during NSC differentiation.
