Screening of candidated molecular markers in polymyositis using GenMAPP software.

OBJECTIVE

To screen and identify candidated molecular markers in polymyositis (PM).

METHODS

The differential gene expression profile in PM was constructed. Gene MicroArray Pathway Profiler (GenMAPP) software was used to analyze the changes of microassay gene expression profiles and to identify candidate molecular markers in PM. The results of differential gene expression profile were furthermore verified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR,and Western blot were performed to confirm the differential expressed gene.

RESULTS

Compared with normal muscle tissues, we found 119 genes, including 8 expressed sequence tag (EST) genes with 3 folds differential gene expression among 17 000 genes in PM. A total of 64 genes and 47 genes were found up-regulated and down-regulated in PM, respectively. These genes were found to be associated with cell proliferation, signal transduction, cell cycle, gene transcription, and DNA damage and repair. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expression levels of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha, and IL-1alpha genes were remarkably up-regulated in PM.

CONCLUSION

The development of PM might be regulated by multi-gene expression and NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha, and IL-1alpha genes might be candidate molecular markers of PM.