Gene expression patterns in skeletal muscle of thermally injured children treated with oxandrolone.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze gene expression patterns in skeletal muscle from burned children.


BACKGROUND
Analysis of gene expression patterns in skeletal muscle from burned children can help provide a fundamental understanding of muscle wasting at the molecular level. This study is the first to use such an approach in burned children receiving anabolic treatment.


METHODS
Children who received 0.1 mg/kg oxandrolone twice a day (n = 7) were compared to placebo (n = 7). Net protein balance was determined before and after treatment with oxandrolone. Total RNA, extracted from muscle biopsies obtained from burned children age 3 to 18 years, was purified, reverse transcribed, and biotinylated cRNA hybridized to the human high-density oligonucleotide array (U95Av2). Western blot analysis verified the mRNA changes at their protein level.


RESULTS
DNA microarray analysis showed two genes significantly changed in muscle from burned children receiving placebo, while the expression of 21 genes was altered with oxandrolone. Muscle net protein balance increased with oxandrolone treatment compared to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA microarray technology will help identify molecular changes that can serve as targets for new therapies to attenuate muscle wasting in severely burned children and thus improve recovery and early rehabilitation.
Barrow
Robert E
RE
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550, USA. rbarrow@utmb.edu
Dasu
Mohan R K
MR
Ferrando
Arny A
AA
Spies
Marcus
M
Thomas
Steven J
SJ
Perez-Polo
J Regino
JR
Herndon
David N
DN
D000293:Adolescent; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010074:Oxandrolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010074:Oxandrolone