Altered patterns of gene expression specific to thoracic aortic aneurysms: microarray analysis of surgically resected specimens.
Changes in the expression levels of several genes have been described in aortic aneurysm specimens, however, the spectrum of diverse molecular alterations remains to be elucidated. We attempted to identify key molecules that modulate the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm, using a complimentary DNA microarray carrying approximately 13,000 human genes. Segments of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and adjacent normal thoracic aortic tissues without aneurysmal changes (NTA) were obtained from 20 patients undergoing graft surgery. RNA obtained from five pairs of TAA and NTA samples was compared to determine aneurysm-specific alterations using microarray. Further, the expression levels of several genes of interest were verified in the remaining specimens by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In microarray assays, several types of the matrix metalloproteinases were upregulated as reported previously. Also, 220 genes suggested to be involved in protein degradation, inflammation, apoptosis, stress response, intracellular signaling, and other processes were significantly upregulated. Many of these genes have not been previously implicated in cardiovascular disease. The real time RT-PCR independently confirmed that the expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, ADAMTS-1, and caspase 4 were consistently increased in TAA. The results indicate that many genes are involved in a complicated manner in the pathogenesis of TAA. Investigation of these genes will help clarify the pathogenesis of this disease, and may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
Taketani
Tsuyoshi
T
Depertment of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan.
Imai
Yasushi
Y
Morota
Tetsuro
T
Maemura
Koji
K
Morita
Hiroyuki
H
Hayashi
Dobun
D
Yamazaki
Tsutomu
T
Nagai
Ryozo
R
Takamoto
Shinichi
S
D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071097:ADAMTS1 Protein; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053471:Caspases, Initiator; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D019483:Disintegrins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C093516:CASP4 protein, human; D020169:Caspases; D053471:Caspases, Initiator; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071097:ADAMTS1 Protein; C103859:ADAMTS1 protein, human; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9