title: Assessment of control tissue for gene and protein expression studies: a comparison of three alternative lung sources.
abstract: The use of an appropriate control group in human research is essential in investigating the level of a pathological disorder. This study aimed to compare three alternative sources of control lung tissue and to determine their suitability for gene and protein expression studies. Gene and protein expression levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and gelatinase families and their receptors were measured using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The gene expression levels of VEGFA, placental growth factor (PGF), and their receptors, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1), and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) as well as matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and the inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 were significantly higher in lung cancer resections. The gene expression level of MMP-9 was significantly lower in the corresponding samples. Altered protein expression was also detected, depending on the area assessed. The results of this study show that none of the three control groups studied are completely suitable for gene and protein studies associated with the VEGF and gelatinase families, highlighting the need for researchers to be selective in which controls they opt for.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Research Group, University of Queensland, Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. m.passmore@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Passmore
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nataatmadja
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9