Differential gene expression profiling for identification of potential pathogenic genes and pathways in carotid unstable plaques / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the molecular mechanism in the formation of unstable plaques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cDNA microarray E-MTAB-2055 was downloaded from ArrayExpress database to screen the differentially expressed genes in 24 ruptured plaques against 24 stable plaques. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to define the biological processes and pathways involved in disease progression. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed to identify the risk modules with close interactions. Five pairs of carotid specimens were used to validate 3 differentially expressed genes of the risk modules by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 439 genes showed differential expression in our analysis, including 232 up-regulated and 207 down-regulated genes according to the data filter criteria. Immune-related biological processes and pathways were greatly enriched. The protein-protein interaction network and module analysis suggested that TYROBP, VCL and CXCR4 might play critical roles in the development of unstable plaques, and differential expressions of CXCR4 and TYROBP in carotid plaques were confirmed by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study shows the differential gene expression profile, potential biological processes and signaling pathways involved in the process of plaque rupture. TYROBP may be a new candidate disease gene in the pathogenesis of unstable plaques.</p>

Pulmonary expression levels of fibroblast growth factor receptors and lung fibrosis in mice at different ages / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation of pulmonary expressions of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1-4) with lung fibrosis and aging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of FGFR1-4 in the lung tissues, and lung fibrosis was observed by HE and Masson staining in mice at different ages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 4 subtypes of FGFR showed different expression levels in the lung tissues of mice, and FGFR2 had the highest expressions. The expression levels of all the 4 FGFR subtypes in 8-month-old mice were significantly lower than those in 5-week-old mice. The 8-month-old mice tended to present with histological changes of lung fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FGFR expressions is down-regulated with aging in mice. Among the FGFR subtypes, FGFR2 is expressed at the highest level. The occurrence of lung fibrosis with aging is probably associated with down-regulated FGFR expression. FGF/FGFR signaling may participate in the aging process and regulation of lung fibrosis.</p>