Expression patterns and significance of different genes in developing stage of human fetal skin / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To comprehensively analyse the transcriptional changes of genes and their biologic significance that occurred in the process of development of human fetal skin by using high-density oligonucleotide DNA array. Methods Samples of human fetal skin were obtained from aborted fetuese of 10W, 15W, 24W, 32W EGA (estimated gestational age) respectively. Total RNAs were isolated from of skin specimens of fetuses of different EGA, and mRNAs were purified and labeled with incorporation of fluorescent dUTP to prepare the hybridization probes by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Approximately 21 329 human genes were spotted on a chemical-material-coated-glass plate in array. Results According to the hybridization results from oligonucleotide DNA microarray, gene expresion patterns and functions were analysed. Gene-chip disclosed a large scale of information in developmental human fetal skin, rendering a convenient way to investigate the temporal and spatial expressions of gene profile among skin cells. Many specific genes transcription expressed differently at different stages of development of fetal skin, suggesting their key roles in development, differentiation and regulation. Conclusions Microarray or DNA chip technology has revolutioned biological research by empowering to broaden the scope of collecting genomic information. Therefore, microarray-based study is able to reveal a substantial number of genes which might participate in embryogenesis and development of human skin. The present study demonstrated a previously unrecongnized role of gene expression in the control of human fetal skin growth and structure during its developmental stage. A complicated network of skin development process was fairly well characterized.