ABSTRACT: We investigated gene expression in mice subjected to acute and chronic social stress of different duration. Microarray data showed that chronic stress affected genes involved in function of vascular system (Alas2, Hbb-b1, Hba-a2, Hba-a1), injury response (Vwf, Mgp, Cfh, Fbln5, Col3a1, Ctgf) and inflammation (Isg20, Ctla2a, Ctla2b,Lcn2, Lrg1, Rsad2,S100a8, S100a9). Review of the literature revealed that the most frequently regulated genes (up or down) were Igfbp2, Igf2, Prlr, App, Cdh1, Col1A1, Clic6, Enpp2, Sostdc1,Itgb6, Mef2c, Spp1, and Zeb2. Obtained results suggest that stress may affect brain functions through the stress-induced dysfunction of the vascular system. Some of the key genes revealed by the review of published data participate both in the response to injury and in the mecha
