title: Genome-wide study reveals an important role of spontaneous autoimmunity, cardiomyocyte differentiation defect and anti-angiogenic activities in gender-specific gene expression in Keshan disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Keshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The etiology of KD is still under debate and there is no effective approach to preventing and curing this disease. Young women of child-bearing age are the most frequent victims in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between molecular pathogenic mechanisms in male and female KD sufferers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted RNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KD patients (12 women and 4 men) and controls (12 women and 4 men). Then the isolated RNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Agilent human 4×44k whole genome microarrays. Gene expression was examined using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was also performed to validate our microarray results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the genes differentially expressed in female KD patients we identified: HLA-DOA, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQA1 associated with spontaneous autoimmunity; BMP5 and BMP7, involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation defect; and ADAMTS 8, CCL23, and TNFSF15, implicated in anti-angiogenic activities. These genes are involved in the canonical pathways and networks recognized for the female KD sufferers and might be related to the pathogenic mechanism of KD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results might help to explain the higher susceptibility of women to this disease.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Shulan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Wuhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Cuiyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. Email: guox@mail.xjtu.edu.cn).
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Shandong Institute for Prevention & Treatment of Endemic Disease, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
authors.forename: Youzhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000071096:ADAMTS Proteins; D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055417:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5 / Q000235:genetics; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000235:genetics; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D059805:HLA-DR alpha-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D053380:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C525814:BMP5 protein, human; C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055417:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; C105504:CCL23 protein, human; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; C046148:HLA-DO antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; D059805:HLA-DR alpha-Chains; C117026:TNFSF15 protein, human; D053380:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071096:ADAMTS Proteins; C120807:ADAMTS8 protein, human