Noninvasive stool-based detection of infant gastrointestinal development using gene expression profiles from exfoliated epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: We have developed a novel molecular methodology that utilizes stool samples containing intact sloughed epithelial cells to quantify intestinal gene expression profiles in the developing human neonate. Since nutrition exerts a major role in regulating neonatal intestinal development and function, our goal was to identify gene sets (combinations) that are differentially regulated in response to infant feeding. For this purpose, fecal mRNA was isolated from exclusively breast-fed (n = 12) and formula-fed (n = 10) infants at 3 mo of age. Linear discriminant analysis was successfully used to identify the single genes and the two- to three-gene combinations that best distinguish the feeding groups. In addition, putative "master" regulatory genes were identified using coefficient of determination

SUBMITTER: Chapkin RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2867429 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature