Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in diabetes-induced embryopathy by cDNA microarray / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Our purpose in this study is to investigate genes involved in the development of diabetes-induced embryonic malformations. Methods Two groups of 70-90 day old Sprague-Dawley rats were employed in our study: group 1 was normal control rats receiving a normal diet (n=3); group 2 consisted of experimentally-induced diabetic rats by intravenous injection of 65mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ) on pregnancy day 6 with an attempt to reproduce malformations in embryos (n=3). Embryos were examined on day 12 under light microscopy to look for morphological defect of the neural tube (NTD). Yolk sac cells were harvested from each group and RNA was isolated. Genes expression profiles in yolk sac cells were analyzed using a DNA microarray technique. Results Gene expression patterns were compared in a total of 1200 genes between experimentally-induced diabetic rats and normal control rats, and 79 of genes were found to express differently between the two groups. Forty-two of genes were up-regulated in yolk sac cells of diabetic rats, such as apoptosis related genes BAX, bcl-2, heat shock 70kD protein and glucose-transporter 3; 37 of genes were down-regulated, such as phospholipase A2, insulin-like growth factor II receptor. Conclusion Understanding of differently expressed genes should help us disclose the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental process during diabetes-associated embryonic morphogenesis, and it also might provide a useful tool in rapid diagnosis and prevention of malformation in early gestation stage of diabetic subjects.