Multi-tissue coexpression networks reveal unexpected subnetworks associated with disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity is a particularly complex disease that at least partially involves genetic and environmental perturbations to gene-networks connecting the hypothalamus and several metabolic tissues, resulting in an energy imbalance at the systems level.

Results

To provide an inter-tissue view of obesity with respect to molecular states that are associated with physiological states, we developed a framework for constructing tissue-to-tissue coexpression networks between genes in the hypothalamus, liver or adipose tissue. These networks have a scale-free architecture and are strikingly independent of gene-gene coexpression networks that are constructed from more standard analyses of single tissues. This is the first systematic effort to study inter-tissue relationships and

SUBMITTER: Dobrin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2718521 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature