title: Transcriptome meta-analysis reveals common differential and global gene expression profiles in cystic fibrosis and other respiratory disorders and identifies CFTR regulators.
abstract: A meta-analysis of 13 independent microarray data sets was performed and gene expression profiles from cystic fibrosis (CF), similar disorders (COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, IPF: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asthma), environmental conditions (smoking, epithelial injury), related cellular processes (epithelial differentiation/regeneration), and non-respiratory "control" conditions (schizophrenia, dieting), were compared. Similarity among differentially expressed (DE) gene lists was assessed using a permutation test, and a clustergram was constructed, identifying common gene markers. Global gene expression values were standardized using a novel approach, revealing that similarities between independent data sets run deeper than shared DE genes. Correlation of gene expression values identified putative gene regulators of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, of potential therapeutic significance. Our study provides a novel perspective on CF epithelial gene expression in the context of other lung disorders and conditions, and highlights the contribution of differentiation/EMT and injury to gene signatures of respiratory disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luka A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Hugo M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, DEIO and CEAUL, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lisete
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Informatics, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andre O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Falcao
authors.affiliation: University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Amaral
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; differentiation; meta-analysis; respiratory disease; transcriptome