Effect of classic preconditioning on the gene expression pattern of rat hearts: a DNA microarray study

To profile gene expression patterns involved in ischemic preconditioning, we monitored global gene expression changes by DNA microarray analysis of 3200 rat-specific genes and by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in rat hearts. Forty-nine genes with altered expression were found after ischemia/reperfusion as compared to control non-ischemic hearts and 31 genes were characteristic for classic preconditioning followed by ischemia/reperfusion as compared to ischemia/reperfusion without preconditioning. Genes with altered expression due to ischemia and/or preconditioning included those controlling protein degradation, stress responses, apoptosis, metabolic enzymes, regulatory proteins, and several unknown cellular functions. Metallothionein, natriuretic peptides, coagulation factor VII, cysteine proteinase inhibitor, peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma and myosin light chain kinase genes were previously suspected to be related to several cardiovascular diseases, however, most of these genes have not previously been shown to be related to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Some genes were observed to change specifically in response to preconditioning: oligoadenylate synthase, chaperonin subunit epsilon, a cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE9A1), a secretory carrier membrane protein, an amino acid transporter, and protease 28 subunit. None of these genes has previously been shown to be involved in the mechanism of preconditioning.