Gene expression profiling of experimental asthma reveals a possible role of paraoxonase-1 in the disease.

In this study, we aimed to identify novel genes involved in experimental and human asthma, importance of which has not yet been recognized. In an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma, we applied microarray gene expression analysis at different time points after allergen challenges. Advanced statistical methods were used to relate gene expression changes to cellular processes and to integrate our results into multiple levels of information available in public databases.

Integrative molecular bioinformatics study of human adrenocortical tumors: microRNA, tissue-specific target prediction, and pathway analysis.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the pathogenesis of several neoplasms; however, there are no data on their expression patterns and possible roles in adrenocortical tumors. Our objective was to study adrenocortical tumors by an integrative bioinformatics analysis involving miR and transcriptomics profiling, pathway analysis, and a novel, tissue-specific miR target prediction approach. Thirty-six tissue samples including normal adrenocortical tissues, benign adenomas, and adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) were studied by simultaneous miR and mRNA profiling.

IL-18 induces a marked gene expression profile change and increased Ccl1 (I-309) production in mouse mucosal mast cell homologs.

Helminthic infections, which are particularly common in the developing world, are associated with the accumulation of mucosal mast cells (MMCs) in the epithelial layer of the gut. Although intestinal parasite infection models argue that IL-18 plays a role in MMC differentiation and function, the direct effect of IL-18 on MMCs is still not well understood. To clarify the role of IL-18 in mast cell biology, we analyzed gene expression changes in MMCs in vitro.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection status is dependent on the subtypes of asthma and allergy.

This study was undertaken to investigate the association of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection (CPI) with asthma and allergy. One hundred forty-one patients with asthma aged 3-21 years, 125 healthy controls aged 3-21 years, and 62 allergic but nonasthmatic patients aged 4-20 years participated in this study. C.

TIM-3 is expressed in melanoma cells and is upregulated in TGF-beta stimulated mast cells.

Many studies detect elevated numbers of mast cells in tumors, but it is still controversial whether they are beneficial or detrimental for tumor cells. Furthermore, many tumors, such as melanomas, produce large quantities of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and during tumorigenesis the apoptotic and growth-inhibitory effects of TGF-betas are lost. Based on these data we investigated the gene expression changes in TGF-betaI-treated human mast cells with DNA microarray and detected 45 differentially regulated genes, among them T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3).

Involvement of TNFalpha -308A promoter polymorphism in the development of asthma in children infected with Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

Several data indicate a connection between Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection and asthma. Although C. pneumoniae is a common cause of infection, not all infected patients develop asthma.

Gene expression profiles of vitrified in vivo derived 8-cell stage mouse embryos detected by high density oligonucleotide microarrays.

Very little is known about the effect of vitrification on gene functions after warming. The goals of our study were to compare the gene expression patterns, and identify those most affected. For this, 8-cell stage embryos were collected from ICR mice and vitrified with solid surface vitrification technique, while maintaining equal numbers of embryos as control.

Pediatric asthmatic patients have low serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Serum levels of MCP-1 were measured in children with and without asthma in order to determine a possible correlation between the MCP-1-2518A/G polymorphism, serum levels of MCP-1 and asthma. Two groups of subjects -160 children with asthma and 158 healthy children were screened with a PCR-based genotyping assay. Serum MCP-1 level was measured by ELISA.

[Pharmacogenomics of asthma: present and perspective].

One main area of pharmacogenomics is the discovery of new drugs and drug targets with molecular genetic or genomic methods; the other is the study of how genomic differences influence the variability in patients responses to drugs. In this review the authors summarise the most important results of this latter issue. Despite the availability of three major classes of therapeutic agents for asthma, it has been estimated that as many as half of asthmatic patients do not respond to treatment with beta2-agonists, leukotriene modifiers or inhaled corticosteroids.