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Human brain weight is correlated with expression of the 'housekeeping genes' beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) and

P J Harrison1, L M Laatikainen, E M Tunbridge

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. paul.harrison@psych.ox.ac.uk

Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
|September 14, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Brain weight influences mRNA measurements in specific human brain regions. This finding suggests researchers should consider brain weight as a variable in gene expression studies, especially for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Gene expression studies in post-mortem human brain tissue are influenced by numerous variables.
  • Brain weight has not been previously recognized as a factor affecting mRNA measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential relationship between brain weight and mRNA abundance in post-mortem human brain tissue.
  • To determine if brain weight is a confounding factor in quantitative gene expression analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data from 104 adult brains were analyzed.
  • Data from five 'housekeeping genes' across cerebellum, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex were examined.
  • Statistical analyses included correlations, partial correlations, and multiple regression, adjusting for age and sex.

Main Results:

  • Brain weight correlated with raw mRNA data for beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) in the cerebellum and TATA-binding protein (TBP) in the hippocampus.
  • In the hippocampus, the geometric mean of three housekeeping gene transcripts also correlated significantly with brain weight.
  • No correlations were observed in the anterior cingulate cortex or for other examined mRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • Brain weight may influence mRNA abundance in specific human brain regions, particularly for commonly used reference genes.
  • These findings necessitate replication and further investigation into the impact of brain weight on gene expression studies.
  • Researchers should consider assessing brain weight as a potential covariate in quantitative gene expression studies of the human brain, especially in neurological and psychiatric research.

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