title: Cardiac gene expression of GATA-4 transcription factor in human trisomy 21 fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.
abstract: This study examines GATA-4 gene expression in cardiac tissue from fetuses with trisomy 21 presenting with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation. mRNA was extracted from cardiac tissue after termination of pregnancy at 10-18 weeks of gestation in ten trisomy 21 fetuses and 29 normal controls. Northern and slot blots were performed and densitometric analysis of slot blots was used to determine the steady-state levels of expression of GATA-4. GATA-4 transcript levels were also compared with ANP and BNP, which have previously been measured in the same panel of samples. GATA-4 expression increased significantly with gestation but there was no significant difference between fetuses with trisomy 21 and controls. There was no significant association between GATA-4 expression and the steady-state level of transcripts for the natriuretic peptides.
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine and Department of Molecular Medicine, Kings College Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Von Kaisenberg
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huggon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hyett
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farzaneh
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003720:Densitometry; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors