Microarray analysis of transgenic mice specifically overexpressing FOXO1 in skeletal muscle (FOXO1 Tg mice)

FOXO1, a member of the FOXO forkhead type transcription factors, is markedly up-regulated in skeletal muscle during atrophy. Previously, we created transgenic mice specifically overexpressing FOXO1 in skeletal muscle (FOXO1 Tg mice). These mice weighed less than the wildtype control mice, had a reduced skeletal muscle mass. In this study, to better understand changes in skeletal muscle during atrophy, we performed a microarray analysis of skeletal muscle in wild-type control and FOXO1 Tg mice. The microarray data shows that in the skeletal muscles of FOXO1 Tg mice, gene expression of PGC-1β, a transcriptional regulator whose increased expression activates energy-expenditure-related genes in skeletal muscles, is decreased. For microarray analysis, RNA was isolated from the gastrocnemius skeletal muscle of control mice (25 weeks of age) and FOXO1 Tg mice (25 weeks of age) (Kamei et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry 279:41114-41123, 2004). Samples from wild-type (N=6) and FOXO1 Tg (N=5) mice were pooled before use.