Analysis of genes dominantly expressed in rat cerebral endothelial cells using suppression subtractive hybridization.
In mammals, a fully developed, highly branched vascular system specialized for each particular organ or tissue is essential for obtaining metabolic nutrients supply. The formation of a blood-brain barrier that protects against environmental insults is a distinguishing feature of the brain's vascular system. Since this is accomplished by cerebral endothelial cells (CECs), we analyzed the genes specifically and/or dominantly expressed in rat CECs using Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH). We found 39 genes specifically and/or dominantly expressed in CECs. 24 genes of known function (thrombospondin-2, vimentin, etc.), 13 genes of known sequence but unknown function including 7 of ESTs (SNERG1, rat GPCR, etc.), and 2 novel genes. The physiological significance of these genes in CECs has been under investigation. SSH is useful for identifying genes regulated in an organ-specific manner in cells such as CECs to obtain clarification of their physiological roles.
Shibata
Takahisa
T
Department of Clinical Cell Biology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Misawa
Norihiko
N
Takeo
Chikari
C
Saeki
Naokatsu
N
Saito
Yasushi
Y
Tatsuno
Ichiro
I
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013382:Subtraction Technique