[The use of microarrays for gene expression analysis in premature children--new strategy of searching for genetic basis of late complications of prematurity--preliminary research].

Progress achieved in the development of medical care for children born prematurely has resulted in increased survival of the smallest and most immature infants. At the same time increased incidence of the late complications of prematurity such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become a growing problem. The aim of the study was to identify groups of genes potentially involved in the development of long-term complications of prematurity, by conducting genome wide microarray expression analysis. The prospective cohort study was conducted, 52 premature babies were included. At the 5th, 14th and 28th day of life samples of the peripheral blood were taken from the study participants. Subsequently, total RNA was extracted and microarray experiment, with the use of GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Array (Affymetrix), was performed. The analysis of the results was carried out in the separate cohorts of prematures. Within 52 infants 2 groups were distinguished--children without BPD (n = 25) and children with BPD (n = 27). Significant difference in the expression of 251 genes was observed. Additionally, a group of 20 participants of the study, in whom ROP was diagnosed, was compared with the group of the remaining 32 children without proven retinopathy. The analysis revealed a significant difference in the expression between the analyzed groups with regard to 752 genes. Further study is needed to verify the obtained results. The impact of the over- and underexpressed genes should be studied, as well as detailed analysis of the metabolic pathways should be performed.