Tracking gene expression in primary immunodeficiencies.
OBJECTIVE
Extensive research on molecular genetics in recent decades has provided a wealth of information about the mechanisms of primary immunodeficiency diseases. Microarray technology enables the survey of the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. This review focuses on the commonly used arrays and initial applications in the study of primary immunodeficiency diseases. The application of this technology has been found to accelerate the discovery rate of gene expression disturbances in primary immunodeficiency diseases and provide potential molecular diagnostic tools.


RESULTS
The important role of microarray technology in functional genomic study has been demonstrated by the exponential growth in the number of scientific publications in the last few years. Microarray analysis has been used to study gene expression in several immunodeficiency diseases with known gene mutations as well as those with unknown causes. It has provided snapshots of gene expression and has presented the molecular phenotypes in the cells at defined times and under certain stimulation conditions. Studies comparing differential gene expression in patients and normal controls have allowed us to better understand the immunodeficiencies at the molecular level.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of microarray technology in immunodeficiency study has facilitated tracking the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. The molecular phenotypes obtained from microarray results can be used in diagnosis of diseases, supplemental to clinical phenotypes. It is a powerful survey tool that can detect disturbed gene expression in immunodeficiency diseases, which will provide clues for disease gene discovery and potential targets for drug development.
Qin
Haiying
H
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Yamada
Masafumi
M
Tian
Lan
L
Stewart
Donn M
DM
Gulino
A Virginia
AV
Nelson
David L
DL
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000235:genetics; D020960:omega-Conotoxins
C461486:AM336; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014688:Venoms; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; D008780:Methyltransferases