Promoter analysis suggests the implication of NFkappaB/C-Rel transcription factors in biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
Microarray studies used to describe altered gene expression patterns in tissues are a promising new way to provide insight into the pathomechanism of biliary atresia (BA). The hypothesis in this study was that altered gene expression in BA may be linked to regulatory transcription factors (TF). The overrepresentation of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) in the promoter regions of genes with altered expression would support this hypothesis.


METHODS
Using previously published data, the prevalence of TFBSs in the promoter regions of genes with altered expression in BA was analyzed and compared with the overall prevalence in known promoter sequences.


RESULTS
In the pooled BA gene list 195 different TFBS were identified. The prevalence of TFBSs of the members of NFkappaB/c-Rel family was higher compared with the background model.


CONCLUSIONS
NFkappaB/c-Rel play a role in the development and function of the immune system. Thus, the results of this study support current theories and experiments which link the immune system to perinatal BA. The information obtained in this analysis will help to understand the pathogenesis of BA, but further experimental and human data are required to validate the significance of these TFs in disease pathogenesis.
Gyorffy
András
A
Joint Research Laboratory, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. gyorffy@gyer1.sote.hu
Baranyai
Zsolt
Z
Cseh
Aron
A
Munkácsy
Gyöngyi
G
Jakab
Ferenc
F
Tulassay
Zsolt
Z
Gyorffy
Balázs
B
D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D016328:NF-kappa B