title: Heterogeneous allele expression of pulmonary SP-D gene in rat large intestine and other tissues.
abstract: Random allele expression has recently been observed for several genes including interleukins and genes of the lymphoid system. We studied the hypothesis that the surfactant protein D (SP-D) gene, an innate host defense molecule, exhibits random allele expression in a tissue-specific manner. SP-D gene expression is tissue specific in the 14 tissues studied. Study of SP-D allelic expression in several tissues revealed a balanced biallelic (BB) in lung, and, in several extrapulmonary tissues, a heterogeneous pattern: BB, imbalanced biallelic (IB), and monoallelic (MO). The results from 103 heterozygous rats showed an expression profile in large intestine of BB (22%), IB (58%), and MO (20%). Among eight families, the percent of BB in siblings varied from 0 to 41%, MO from 0 to 33%, and IB from 49 to 83%. The parent-of-origin does not play a role in SP-D allele-specific expression. However, acquired epigenetic factors, family background, or other factors may contribute to the overall pattern of expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenwu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Floros
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010375:Pedigree; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D012333:RNA, Messenger