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Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2007; 13(26): 3614-3618
Published online Jul 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i26.3614
Visceral fat and insulin resistance as predictors of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Abhasnee Sobhonslidsuk, Sutipong Jongjirasiri, Ammarin Thakkinstian, Naruemon Wisedopas, Pongamorn Bunnag, Gobchai Puavilai
Abhasnee Sobhonslidsuk, Pongamorn Bunnag, Gobchai Puavilai, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Sutipong Jongjirasiri, Department of Radiology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Ammarin Thakkinstian, Clinical Epidermiology unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Naruemon Wisedopas, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Mahidol University, Thailand
Correspondence to: Dr. Abhasnee Sobhonslidsuk, Department of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, 270 Rama 6 road, Rajathevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. teasb@mahidol.ac.th
Telephone: +66-2-2011304 Fax: +66-2-2011387
Received: February 16, 2007
Revised: February 18, 2007
Accepted: March 21, 2007
Published online: July 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To analyze the gene expression profiles of mice livers injured by Leigongteng and explore the relationship between the differentially expressed genes and liver damage.

METHODS: The experimental mice were randomly divided into a control group and a liver-injured group in which the mice were administrated 33 μγ of triptolide/kg per day for 30 d. Liver mRNAs were extracted from animals in both groups and were reverse-transcribed to cDNA with dUTP labeled by different fluorescence (Cy3, Cy5) as hybridization probes. The mixed probes were hybridized with oligonucleotide microarray chips. The fluorescent signal results were acquired by scanner and analyzed with software.

RESULTS: Among the 35 852 target genes, 29 genes were found to be significantly differentially expressed, with 20 genes up-regulated and 9 genes down-regulated. The reliability of the differentially expressed genes was validated by RT-PCR experiments of 5 randomly selected differentially expressed genes.

CONCLUSION: Based on the biological functions of the differentially expressed genes, it is obvious that the occurrence and development of liver damage induced by Leigongteng in mice are highly associated with immune response, metabolism, apoptosis and the cell skeleton of liver cells. This might be important for elucidating the regulatory network of gene expression associated with liver damage and it may also be important for discovering the pathogenic mechanisms of liver damage induced by Leigongteng.

Keywords: Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook.f., Gene expre-ssion profile, Oligonucleotide microarray, Mice