Variations in gene expression among different types of human skeletal muscle.
There is a consistent variation in the response of different skeletal muscle groups to mutations in genes known to cause muscular dystrophy, yet these muscles appear histologically similar. To better understand these phenotypic differences, we analyzed gene expression patterns in control muscle specimens obtained from four sites at autopsy: deltoid, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior (TA). A total of 35 muscle samples from nine individuals (four pediatric and five geriatric) were studied. Factors potentially influencing gene expression in the different samples included individuality, age, muscle type, gender, cause of death, postmortem interval, and ethnicity. The first three factors, in decreasing order, were found to have a significant impact on the stratification of muscle specimens. A novel analytic method, using a second round of normalization, was used to elicit differences between muscle types. This approach may be extended to a broader survey, potentially elucidating a molecular classification of the skeletal muscles.
Kang
Peter B
PB
Genomics Program, Enders 561, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Kho
Alvin T
AT
Sanoudou
Despina
D
Haslett
Judith N
JN
Dow
Chad P
CP
Han
Mei
M
Blasko
Jessica M
JM
Lidov
Hart G W
HG
Beggs
Alan H
AH
Kunkel
Louis M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013053:Spectrophotometry
D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D012313:RNA; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases