title: Global differential expression of genes located in the Down Syndrome Critical Region in normal human brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The information of gene expression obtained from databases, have made possible the extraction and analysis of data related with several molecular processes involving not only in brain homeostasis but its disruption in some neuropathologies; principally in Down syndrome and the Alzheimer disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the levels of transcription of 19 genes located in the Down Syndrome Critical Region (DSCR) with their expression in several substructures of normal human brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were obtained expression profiles of 19 DSCR genes in 42 brain substructures, from gene expression values available at the database of the human brain of the Brain Atlas of the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences", (http://human.brain-map.org/). The co-expression patterns of DSCR genes in brain were calculated by using multivariate statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highest levels of gene expression were registered at caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and putamen among central areas of cerebral cortex. Increased expression levels of RCAN1 that encode by a protein involved in signal transduction process of the CNS were recorded for PCP4 that participates in the binding to calmodulin and TTC3; a protein that is associated with differentiation of neurons. That previously identified brain structures play a crucial role in the learning process, in different class of memory and in motor skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The precise regulation of DSCR gene expression is crucial to maintain the brain homeostasis, especially in those areas with high levels of gene expression associated with a remarkable process of learning and cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia ; Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis LABIOMOL. Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Dianora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis LABIOMOL. Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia ; Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis LABIOMOL. Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martha C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Satizábal
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia ; Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis LABIOMOL. Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Vallejo
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Brain; Down Syndrome critical region; cerebral cortex; gene expression profiling; homeostasis; oligonucleotide array sequence analysis; transcriptome