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Development of a quantitative assay for SARS coronavirus and correlation of GAPDH mRNA with SARS coronavirus in clinical specimens.

AIMS: To develop a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) detection and explore the potential of using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA as an internal control to exclude false negative results. METHODS: SARS-CoV and GAPDH mRNA were both measured in 26 specimens from 16 patients with SARS, 40 follow up specimens from the same batch of patients, and appropriate control subjects. The relation between SARS positivity and GAPDH mRNA concentration was investigated using the chi2 test. Increasing the sensitivity for SARS-CoV and GAPDH mRNA detection was investigated in follow up specimens in which SARS-CoV and GAPDH mRNA were not detected initially. RESULTS: Varying amounts of SARS-CoV were found in the 26 SARS-CoV positive specimens and SARS-CoV was not detected in the 40 follow up specimens and controls. In addition, concentrations of GAPDH mRNA were significantly different between the patients with SARS, follow up specimens, and healthy controls (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.05). Moreover, GAPDH mRNA concentrations were highly correlated with SARS-CoV positivity (chi2 = 5.43; p<0.05). Finally, SARS-CoV and GAPDH mRNA were both detected in three follow up urine specimens that were initially negative when the amount of cDNA used was increased from 5 microl to 10 and 15 microl. CONCLUSIONS: This Q-RT-PCR assay can be used to detect SARS-CoV. Moreover, GAPDH mRNA may be useful to rule out false negative results in SARS-CoV detection, and the current extraction method for urine may not be sensitive enough to detect low titres of SARS-CoV.

Actins↗

Limitations of cytokeratin 20 RT-PCR to detect disseminated tumour cells in blood and bone marrow of patients with colorectal cancer: expression in controls and downregulation in tumour tissue.

AIMS: Despite informative staging of patients with colorectal cancer, some patients with localised disease at diagnosis will develop recurrence or metastasis. Attempts to improve staging include sensitive detection of disseminated tumour cells in blood and bone marrow by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results of this study have been considered in relation to the controversial results in the literature to elucidate the usefulness of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) RT-PCR to detect disseminated tumour cells further. PATIENTS/METHODS: Blood and bone marrow samples from 30 patients with colorectal cancer were studied by CK20 RT-PCR. Specificity was evaluated in 47 blood and 15 bone marrow samples from non-cancer controls. In addition, the expression of CK20 mRNA and protein was studied in normal and tumour colon tissue samples. RESULTS: CK20 expression was detected in nine of 30 and nine of 19 of the blood and bone marrow samples from patients with colorectal cancer, respectively. In non-cancer control blood and bone marrow samples, CK20 expression was detected in 10 of 47 and four of 15, respectively. A difference between patient and control samples may be observed in terms of frequency of positive PCR tests. In tissue samples, CK20 mRNA expression was downregulated in tumour compared with normal colon tissue. CONCLUSIONS: CK20 expression was downregulated in tumour tissue compared with normal colon and a background expression of CK20 was seen in some control blood and bone marrow samples. Despite a lack of standardisation (which hampers comparison of studies), these results, together with other reports in the literature, suggest that CK20 may still be a suitable marker, but that background expression and threshold setting should be studied further.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Transcriptome profiling of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant with a constitutively activated Ras/cAMP pathway.

Often changes in gene expression levels have been considered significant only when above/below some arbitrarily chosen threshold. We investigated the effect of applying a purely statistical approach to microarray analysis and demonstrated that small changes in gene expression have biological significance. Whole genome microarray analysis of a pde2Delta mutant, constructed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae reference strain FY23, revealed altered expression of approximately 11% of protein encoding genes. The mutant, characterized by constitutive activation of the Ras/cAMP pathway, has increased sensitivity to stress, reduced ability to assimilate nonfermentable carbon sources, and some cell wall integrity defects. Applying the Munich Information Centre for Protein Sequences (MIPS) functional categories revealed increased expression of genes related to ribosome biogenesis and downregulation of genes in the cell rescue, defense, cell death and aging category, suggesting a decreased response to stress conditions. A reduced level of gene expression in the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR) was observed. Cell wall genes whose expression was affected by this mutation were also identified. Several of the cAMP-responsive orphan genes, upon further investigation, revealed cell wall functions; others had previously unidentified phenotypes assigned to them. This investigation provides a statistical global transcriptome analysis of the cellular response to constitutive activation of the Ras/cAMP pathway.

Cell Wall↗

Molecular characterization of rat gastric mucosal response to potent acid inhibition.

Potent acid inhibition with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is widely used in clinical medicine, especially for gastroesophageal reflux disease. PPIs cause profound changes in the intragastric environment with near-neutral pH and increase serum concentration of the gastric secretagogue hormone gastrin. Long-term hypergastrinemia increases mucosal thickness and enterochromaffin-like cell density in gastric corpus mucosa and results in development of gastric carcinoids in experimental animals. Our aim was to study responses to potent acid inhibition by characterizing genome-wide gene expression changes in gastric corpus mucosa in rats dosed with the PPI omeprazole. Nine rats received 400 micromol/kg omeprazole daily for 10 wk. Seven rats received vehicle only. Analysis of gastric corpus with microarrays representing 11,848 genes identified 134 genes with changed gene expression levels in omeprazole-dosed rats. Several of the identified genes were previously known to be affected by potent acid inhibition. Of the 62 genes with known functions that changed gene expression levels after PPI dosing, 27 are known to be involved in proliferation and apoptosis and immune, inflammatory, and stress responses. Our study indicates that microarray analysis can detect relevant gene expression changes in the complex gastric tissue, and that cellular processes involved in cell growth and defense responses are strongly affected by PPI dosing. Many genes are identified that were not previously known to be affected by inhibition of gastric acid secretion or that have unknown biological functions. Characterization of the roles of these genes may give new insight into molecular responses to treatment with PPIs.

Animals↗

Standardization of preanalytical factors for minimal residual disease analysis in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Optimal sample quality is a prerequisite to generate valid data in the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in leukemias. Thus, the risk of obtaining 'false'-negative results is increased when both quality and quantity of RNA are suboptimal. Factors which affect the sensitivity and consequently the validity of MRD results are reviewed. RNA degradation in unstabilized peripheral blood (PB) samples does not play a major role in samples being processed on the day of blood collection. However, the simulation of sample shipping at room temperature with a delay of sample processing of up to 3 days causes a dramatic loss of intact RNA. RNA degradation can be prevented by the use of a bedside RNA stabilization system. Additionally, the stabilizing procedure is capable of keeping real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) results comparable whether the sample is processed immediately or with a delay of up to 3 days. Consistent quantitative data cannot be obtained with unstabilized blood samples. Furthermore, the optimum volume of PB required for MRD diagnostics in patients with BCR-ABL-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in complete cytogenetic remission is revisited. Ten milliliters of PB is sufficient for processing on the day of blood collection whereas the use of only 5 ml PB may result in false-negative results. Standardization of preanalytical and analytical factors is necessary to provide a comparability of RQ-PCR results from different laboratories within multicenter studies. The definition of 'undetectable BCR-ABL' in an individual patient should take these preanalytical parameters into consideration.

Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl↗

Limitations of commonly used internal controls for real-time RT-PCR analysis of renal epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Progressive renal fibrotic disease is accompanied by the massive accumulation of myofibroblasts as defined by alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) expression. We quantitated gene expression using real-time RT-PCR analysis during conversion of primary cultured human renal tubular cells (RTC) to myofibroblasts after treatment with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). We report herein the limitations of commonly used reference genes for mRNA quantitation. METHODS: We determined the expression of alphaSMA and megakaryoblastic leukemia-1 (MKL1), a transcriptional regulator of alphaSMA, by quantitative real-time PCR using three common internal controls, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), cyclophilin A and 18S rRNA. RESULTS: Expression of GAPDH mRNA and cyclophilin A mRNA, and to a lesser extent, 18S rRNA levels varied over time in culture and with exposure to TGF-beta1. Thus, depending on which reference gene was used, TGF-beta1 appeared to have different effects on expression of MKL1 and alphaSMA. CONCLUSIONS: RTC converting to myofibroblasts in primary culture is a valuable system to study renal fibrosis in humans. However, variability in expression of reference genes with TGF-beta1 treatment illustrates the need to validate mRNA quantitation with multiple reference genes to provide accurate interpretation of fibrosis studies in the absence of a universal internal standard for mRNA expression.

Actins↗

Assay for human matrix gla protein in serum: potential applications in the cardiovascular field.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is synthesized in a vitamin K-dependent way in smooth muscle cells of the healthy vessel wall, and its mRNA transcription is substantially upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions. Here we report the preparation of a monoclonal antibody against human MGP and its use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation in serum samples were 5.4% and 12.6%, respectively, and the lower detection limit was 8.5% of the normal serum value. Individual within-day variations were <11% and did not show a distinct circadian pattern. Day-to-day variations in fasting morning samples were <8%. In a first explorative survey, serum MGP concentrations were found to be significantly increased in patients with severe atherosclerosis, whereas these values were normal in those with low bone mass and osteoporosis. This finding is consistent with the high MGP mRNA expression observed in atherosclerotic vessels and plaques. More elaborate studies are required to assess the potential clinical utility of this newly developed assay.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Sex genes for genomic analysis in human brain: internal controls for comparison of probe level data extraction.

BACKGROUND: Genomic studies of complex tissues pose unique analytical challenges for assessment of data quality, performance of statistical methods used for data extraction, and detection of differentially expressed genes. Ideally, to assess the accuracy of gene expression analysis methods, one needs a set of genes which are known to be differentially expressed in the samples and which can be used as a "gold standard". We introduce the idea of using sex-chromosome genes as an alternative to spiked-in control genes or simulations for assessment of microarray data and analysis methods. RESULTS: Expression of sex-chromosome genes were used as true internal biological controls to compare alternate probe-level data extraction algorithms (Microarray Suite 5.0 [MAS5.0], Model Based Expression Index [MBEI] and Robust Multi-array Average [RMA]), to assess microarray data quality and to establish some statistical guidelines for analyzing large-scale gene expression. These approaches were implemented on a large new dataset of human brain samples. RMA-generated gene expression values were markedly less variable and more reliable than MAS5.0 and MBEI-derived values. A statistical technique controlling the false discovery rate was applied to adjust for multiple testing, as an alternative to the Bonferroni method, and showed no evidence of false negative results. Fourteen probesets, representing nine Y- and two X-chromosome linked genes, displayed significant sex differences in brain prefrontal cortex gene expression. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have demonstrated the use of sex genes as true biological internal controls for genomic analysis of complex tissues, and suggested analytical guidelines for testing alternate oligonucleotide microarray data extraction protocols and for adjusting multiple statistical analysis of differentially expressed genes. Our results also provided evidence for sex differences in gene expression in the brain prefrontal cortex, supporting the notion of a putative direct role of sex-chromosome genes in differentiation and maintenance of sexual dimorphism of the central nervous system. Importantly, these analytical approaches are applicable to all microarray studies that include male and female human or animal subjects.

Algorithms↗

Multiple sequence alignments of partially coding nucleic acid sequences.

BACKGROUND: High quality sequence alignments of RNA and DNA sequences are an important prerequisite for the comparative analysis of genomic sequence data. Nucleic acid sequences, however, exhibit a much larger sequence heterogeneity compared to their encoded protein sequences due to the redundancy of the genetic code. It is desirable, therefore, to make use of the amino acid sequence when aligning coding nucleic acid sequences. In many cases, however, only a part of the sequence of interest is translated. On the other hand, overlapping reading frames may encode multiple alternative proteins, possibly with intermittent non-coding parts. Examples are, in particular, RNA virus genomes. RESULTS: The standard scoring scheme for nucleic acid alignments can be extended to incorporate simultaneously information on translation products in one or more reading frames. Here we present a multiple alignment tool, codaln, that implements a combined nucleic acid plus amino acid scoring model for pairwise and progressive multiple alignments that allows arbitrary weighting for almost all scoring parameters. Resource requirements of codaln are comparable with those of standard tools such as ClustalW. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the applicability of codaln to various biologically relevant types of sequences (bacteriophage Levivirus and Vertebrate Hox clusters) and show that the combination of nucleic acid and amino acid sequence information leads to improved alignments. These, in turn, increase the performance of analysis tools that depend strictly on good input alignments such as methods for detecting conserved RNA secondary structure elements.

Algorithms↗

Comprehensive quality control utilizing the prehybridization third-dye image leads to accurate gene expression measurements by cDNA microarrays.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression profiling using microarrays has become an important genetic tool. Spotted arrays prepared in academic labs have the advantage of low cost and high design and content flexibility, but are often limited by their susceptibility to quality control (QC) issues. Previously, we have reported a novel 3-color microarray technology that enabled array fabrication QC. In this report we further investigated its advantage in spot-level data QC. RESULTS: We found that inadequate amount of bound probes available for hybridization led to significant, gene-specific compression in ratio measurements, increased data variability, and printing pin dependent heterogeneities. The impact of such problems can be captured through the definition of quality scores, and efficiently controlled through quality-dependent filtering and normalization. We compared gene expression measurements derived using our data processing pipeline with the known input ratios of spiked in control clones, and with the measurements by quantitative real time RT-PCR. In each case, highly linear relationships (R2 > 0.94) were observed, with modest compression in the microarray measurements (correction factor < 1.17). CONCLUSION: Our microarray analytical and technical advancements enabled a better dissection of the sources of data variability and hence a more efficient QC. With that highly accurate gene expression measurements can be achieved using the cDNA microarray technology.

Animals↗

Statistical analysis of real-time PCR data.

BACKGROUND: Even though real-time PCR has been broadly applied in biomedical sciences, data processing procedures for the analysis of quantitative real-time PCR are still lacking; specifically in the realm of appropriate statistical treatment. Confidence interval and statistical significance considerations are not explicit in many of the current data analysis approaches. Based on the standard curve method and other useful data analysis methods, we present and compare four statistical approaches and models for the analysis of real-time PCR data. RESULTS: In the first approach, a multiple regression analysis model was developed to derive DeltaDeltaCt from estimation of interaction of gene and treatment effects. In the second approach, an ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) model was proposed, and the DeltaDeltaCt can be derived from analysis of effects of variables. The other two models involve calculation DeltaCt followed by a two group t-test and non-parametric analogous Wilcoxon test. SAS programs were developed for all four models and data output for analysis of a sample set are presented. In addition, a data quality control model was developed and implemented using SAS. CONCLUSION: Practical statistical solutions with SAS programs were developed for real-time PCR data and a sample dataset was analyzed with the SAS programs. The analysis using the various models and programs yielded similar results. Data quality control and analysis procedures presented here provide statistical elements for the estimation of the relative expression of genes using real-time PCR.

Analysis of Variance↗

Utilization of a labeled tracking oligonucleotide for visualization and quality control of spotted 70-mer arrays.

BACKGROUND: Spotted 70-mer oligonucleotide arrays offer potentially greater specificity and an alternative to expensive cDNA library maintenance and amplification. Since microarray fabrication is a considerable source of data variance, we previously directly tagged cDNA probes with a third fluorophore for prehybridization quality control. Fluorescently modifying oligonucleotide sets is cost prohibitive, therefore, a co-spotted Staphylococcus aureus-specific fluorescein-labeled "tracking" oligonucleotide is described to monitor fabrication variables of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis oligonucleotide microarray. RESULTS: Significantly (p < 0.01) improved DNA retention was achieved printing in 15% DMSO/1.5 M betaine compared to the vendor recommended buffers. Introduction of tracking oligonucleotide did not effect hybridization efficiency or introduce ratio measurement bias in hybridizations between M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis mprA. Linearity between the mean log Cy3/Cy5 ratios of genes differentially expressed from arrays either possessing or lacking the tracking oligonucleotide was observed (R2 = 0.90, p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences in Pearson's correlation coefficients of ratio data between replicates possessing (0.72 +/- 0.07), replicates lacking (0.74 +/- 0.10), or replicates with and without (0.70 +/- 0.04) the tracking oligonucleotide. ANOVA analysis confirmed the tracking oligonucleotide introduced no bias. Titrating target-specific oligonucleotide (40 microM to 0.78 microM) in the presence of 0.5 microM tracking oligonucleotide, revealed a fluorescein fluorescence inversely related to target-specific oligonucleotide molarity, making tracking oligonucleotide signal useful for quality control measurements and differentiating false negatives (synthesis failures and mechanical misses) from true negatives (no gene expression). CONCLUSIONS: This novel approach enables prehybridization array visualization for spotted oligonucleotide arrays and sets the stage for more sophisticated slide qualification and data filtering applications.

Analysis of Variance↗

Novel design and controls for focused DNA microarrays: applications in quality assurance/control and normalization for the Health Canada ToxArray.

BACKGROUND: Microarray normalizations typically apply methods that assume absence of global transcript shifts, or absence of changes in internal control features such as housekeeping genes. These normalization approaches are not appropriate for focused arrays with small sets of genes where a large portion may be expected to change. Furthermore, many microarrays lack control features that can be used for quality assurance (QA). Here, we describe a novel external control series integrated with a design feature that addresses the above issues. RESULTS: An EC dilution series that involves spike-in of a single concentration of the A. thaliana chlorophyll synthase gene to hybridize against spotted dilutions (0.000015 to 100 microM) of a single complimentary oligonucleotide representing the gene was developed. The EC series is printed in duplicate within each subgrid of the microarray and covers the full range of signal intensities from background to saturation. The design and placement of the series allows for QA examination of frequently encountered problems in hybridization (e.g., uneven hybridizations) and printing (e.g., cross-spot contamination). Additionally, we demonstrate that the series can be integrated with a LOWESS normalization to improve the detection of differential gene expression (improved sensitivity and predictivity) over LOWESS normalization on its own. CONCLUSION: The quality of microarray experiments and the normalization methods used affect the ability to measure accurate changes in gene expression. Novel methods are required for normalization of small focused microarrays, and for incorporating measures of performance and quality. We demonstrate that dilution of oligonucleotides on the microarray itself provides an innovative approach allowing the full dynamic range of the scanner to be covered with a single gene spike-in. The dilution series can be used in a composite normalization to improve detection of differential gene expression and to provide quality control measures.

Animals↗

Bacterial discrimination by means of a universal array approach mediated by LDR (ligase detection reaction).

BACKGROUND: PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes provides the most comprehensive and flexible means of sampling bacterial communities. Sequence analysis of these cloned fragments can provide a qualitative and quantitative insight of the microbial population under scrutiny although this approach is not suited to large-scale screenings. Other methods, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, heteroduplex or terminal restriction fragment analysis are rapid and therefore amenable to field-scale experiments. A very recent addition to these analytical tools is represented by microarray technology. RESULTS: Here we present our results using a Universal DNA Microarray approach as an analytical tool for bacterial discrimination. The proposed procedure is based on the properties of the DNA ligation reaction and requires the design of two probes specific for each target sequence. One oligo carries a fluorescent label and the other a unique sequence (cZipCode or complementary ZipCode) which identifies a ligation product. Ligated fragments, obtained in presence of a proper template (a PCR amplified fragment of the 16s rRNA gene) contain either the fluorescent label or the unique sequence and therefore are addressed to the location on the microarray where the ZipCode sequence has been spotted. Such an array is therefore "Universal" being unrelated to a specific molecular analysis. Here we present the design of probes specific for some groups of bacteria and their application to bacterial diagnostics. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of selective probes, ligation reaction and the Universal Array approach yielded an analytical procedure with a good power of discrimination among bacteria.

Bacteria↗

Molecular authentication of Radix Puerariae Lobatae and Radix Puerariae Thomsonii by ITS and 5S rRNA spacer sequencing.

In the present study, we examined nuclear DNA sequences in an attempt to reveal the relationships between Pueraria lobata (Willd). Ohwi, P. thomsonii Benth., and P. montana (Lour.) Merr. We found that internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA are highly divergent in P. lobata and P. thomsonii, and four types of ITS with different length are found in the two species. On the other hand, DNA sequences of 5S rRNA gene spacer are highly conserved across multiple copies in P. lobata and P. thomsonii, they could be used to identify P. lobata, P. thomsonii, and P. montana of this complex, and may serve as a useful tool in medical authentication of Radix Puerariae Lobatae and Radix Puerariae Thomsonii.

DNA, Plant↗

[Study on the "signal" constituents for the evaluation of animal crude drugs. VI. The identification method of cervi parvum cornu in medicines using DNA analysis].

Cervi Parvum Cornu has been widely used as an agent in commercially available tonic medicines. The establishment of the method for the identification of each agent, especially crude drugs in formulations, is very important from the viewpoint of the quality control of drugs. In this paper, we reported the examination on the extraction method of DNA from the formulations, and also on the PCR method using four sets of primers, amplifying the DNA fragments of the regions of 12S rRNA and/or cytochrome b genes. The same size of DNA fragments as in the Cervi Parvum Cornu reference sample were found in all PCR products obtained from four commercial tonic medicines investigated. Therefore, it was confirmed that Cervi Parvum Cornu was contained in all the tonic medicines used. The PCR method was found to be a useful method for the identification of Cervi Parvum Cornu in tonic medicines and the DNA fragments amplified by the PCR method was clarified to be also helpful materials as index constituents for Cervi Parvum Cornu.

Animals↗

PCR-based calibration curves for studies of quantitative gene expression in human monocytes: development and evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) used to detect small changes in specific mRNA concentrations is often associated with poor reproducibility. Thus, there is a need for stringent quality control in each step of the protocol. METHODS: Real-time PCR-based calibration curves for a target gene, tissue factor (TF), and a reference gene, beta-actin, generated from PCR amplicons were evaluated by running cDNA controls. In addition, the reverse transcription step was evaluated by running mRNA controls. Amplification efficiencies of calibrators and targets were determined. Variances within and between runs were estimated, and power statistics were applied to determine the concentration differences that could reliably be detected. RESULTS: Within- and between-run variations (CVs) of cDNA controls (TF and beta-actin), extrapolated from reproducible calibration curves (CVs of slopes, 4.3% and 2.7%, respectively) were 4-10% (within) and 15-38% (between) using both daily and "grand mean" calibration curves. CVs for the beta-actin mRNA controls were 12% (within) and 19-28% (between). Estimates of each step's contribution to the total variation were as follows: CV(RT-PCR), 28%; CV(PCR), 15%; CV(RT), 23% (difference between CV(RT-PCR) and CV(PCR)). PCR efficiencies were as follows: beta-actin calibrator/target, 1.96/1.95; TF calibrator/target, 1.95/1.93. Duplicate measurements could detect a twofold concentration difference (power, 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Daily PCR calibration curves generated from PCR amplicons were reproducible, allowing the use of a grand mean calibration curve. The reverse transcription step contributes the most to the total variation. By determining a system's total variance, power analysis may be used to disclose differences that can be reliably detected at a specified power.

Actins↗