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Häsler R, Begun A, Freitag-Wolf S, Kerick M, Mah N, Zvirbliene A, Spehlmann ME, von Wurmb-Schwark N, Kupcinskas L, Rosenstiel P, Schreiber S. Genetic control of global gene expression levels in the intestinal mucosa: a human twin study. Physiol Genomics 2009; 38:73-9. [DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00010.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation between individuals, such as different mRNA expression levels, is influenced by genetic and nongenetic factors. Although several studies have addressed the interplay between genotypes and expression profiles in various model organisms in the recent years, the detailed and relative contributions of genetic and nongenetic factors in regulating plasticity of gene expression in barrier organs (e.g., skin, gut), which are exposed to continuous environmental challenge, are still poorly understood. Here we systematically monitored the level of genetic control over genomewide mRNA expression profiles in the healthy intestinal mucosa of 10 monozygotic and 10 dizygotic human twin pairs with microarray analyses. Our results, which are supported by real-time PCR and analysis of molecular phylogenetic conservation, indicate that genes associated with energy metabolism and cell and tissue regeneration pathways are under strong genetic control. Conversely, genes associated with immune response seem to be mainly controlled by exogenous factors. Further insights into the relative extent of genetic and nongenetic determinants of transcriptomal profiles and their influence on physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms are crucial to understanding the key role played by gene-environment interactions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Häsler
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Begun
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Freitag-Wolf
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Martin Kerick
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nancy Mah
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Aida Zvirbliene
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Martina E. Spehlmann
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Limas Kupcinskas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stefan Schreiber
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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102
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Dejager L, Libert C, Montagutelli X. Thirty years of Mus spretus: a promising future. Trends Genet 2009; 25:234-41. [PMID: 19361882 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2009.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Revised: 03/25/2009] [Accepted: 03/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Extensive genetic polymorphisms in Mus spretus have ensured its widespread use in many areas of genetics. With the recent increase in the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms available for laboratory mouse strains, M. spretus is becoming less appealing, in particular for genetic mapping. Although M. spretus mice are aggressive and poor breeders, they have a bright future because they provide phenotypes unobserved in laboratory strains, and tools are available for modifying their genome and dissecting the genetic architecture of complex traits. Furthermore, they provide information on fundamental genetic questions, such as the details of evolution of genomes and speciation. Here, we examine the use of M. spretus from these perspectives. The impending completion of the M. spretus genome sequence will synergize these advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Dejager
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
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103
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Gunter C. The importance of networking. Nat Rev Genet 2009. [DOI: 10.1038/nrg2543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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