[An investigation of changes in gene expression profile of heart tissue in a rat sepsis model]

To investigate the changes in gene expression spectrum of heart tissue in septic rats by DNA microarrays.

Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sepsis group and control group with 15 rats in each group. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to reproduce rat sepsis model, and the success of reproduction was confirmed by examining the heart tissue with transmission electron microscope. Gene expression spectrum was studied with oligonucleotide gene expression profile microarray that contained 22 523 rat cDNA clones to detect the changes in gene expression pattern of rat heart tissue 24 hours after CLP. Genes with fluorescent signal of Cy3/Cy5 of ratio average (RA)>2.0 or RA<0.5 were identified as differential genes, then those that high correlated to sepsis were screened by means of related computer software, and their relationship was analyzed.

Electron microscopic examination of heart tissue demonstrated that the sepsis model was successfully reproduced. Compared to the controls, gene expression of 418 genes of heart tissue of septic rat were changed 24 hours after CLP, accounting for 1.86%, and among them 200 genes showed up-regulation, 218 genes with down-regulation. Among known functional genes, 84 genes up-regulated and 74 genes down-regulated. They were related with a range of genetic functions, such as acute stress reaction, signal transduction, immune response, energy metabolism related genes etc.

There are a series of changes in gene expression in heart tissue apparently induced by sepsis rat. DNA microarray technology provides a new tool for rapidly analyzing them.