Regional expression of HOXA4 along the aorta and its potential role in human abdominal aortic aneurysms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The infrarenal abdominal aorta exhibits increased disease susceptibility relative to other aortic regions. Allograft studies exchanging thoracic and abdominal segments showed that regional susceptibility is maintained regardless of location, suggesting substantial roles for embryological origin, tissue composition and site-specific gene expression.

Results

We analyzed gene expression with microarrays in baboon aortas, and found that members of the HOX gene family exhibited spatial expression differences. HOXA4 was chosen for further study, since it had decreased expression in the abdominal compared to the thoracic aorta. Western blot analysis from 24 human aortas demonstrated significantly higher HOXA4 protein levels in thoracic compared to abdominal tissues (P <

SUBMITTER: Lillvis JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3125234 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature