Gene expression signatures for auricular cartilages of microtia patients and controls

To explore the coding and non-coding gene expression in the auricular cartilage of microtia patients, we have employed RNA microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify the coding and non-coding genes differentially expressed in microtia patients and controls. The discarded auricular cartilage tissue from 10 unilateral Grade III isolated microtia patients during auricular reconstruction surgery and 5 volunteers without ear malformation or other physical abnormalities during tympanoplasty surgery were collected. All fresh tissues were harvested from the tragus and cavum conchae of the auricle. The RNA expression in auricular cartilage tissue was measured by microarray. One independent experiment was performed on each clinical sample.