Gene expression profiling reveals an inflammatory process in the anx/anx mutant mice.

Anorexia (anx) is a recessive mutation that causes lethal starvation in homozygous mice. Studies of anx/anx mice hypothalamus have shown abnormalities in the orexigenic (NPY/AGRP neurons) and the anorexigenic (POMC/CART neurons) pathways. By gene expression profiling using cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays, we have shown that a surexpression of genes involved in inflammatory process occurred in anx mice hypothalamus.

Adult mouse brain gene expression patterns bear an embryologic imprint.

The current model to explain the organization of the mammalian nervous system is based on studies of anatomy, embryology, and evolution. To further investigate the molecular organization of the adult mammalian brain, we have built a gene expression-based brain map. We measured gene expression patterns for 24 neural tissues covering the mouse central nervous system and found, surprisingly, that the adult brain bears a transcriptional "imprint" consistent with both embryological origins and classic evolutionary relationships.

Exploring interactions between rat hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells using gene expression profiling.

Cocultivation of primary hepatocytes with a plethora of nonparenchymal cells (from within and outside the liver) has been shown to support hepatic functions in vitro. Despite significant investigation into this phenomenon, the molecular mechanism underlying epithelial-nonparenchymal interactions in hepatocyte cocultures remains poorly understood. In this study, we present a functional genomic approach utilizing gene expression profiling to isolate molecular mediators potentially involved in induction of liver-specific functions by nonparenchymal cells.

Genomics and neurological phenotypes: applications for seizure-induced damage.

It is sometimes assumed that because the brain is such a complex organ, experimental genomics methods are not directly applicable to neurobiological studies. In fact, it is because the brain and brain process are complex that it is even more important to apply methods that allow large numbers of genes to be monitored across a significant number of experiments. How can we begin to understand the mechanisms underlying various brain functions, and how can we understand what can and does go wrong in disease? How can such tasks be accomplished without being overly costly and time- and labor-intensive? We and others have put DNA microarray technology to work to address a variety of biological problems, and in particular to study the brain and various brain functions.