Microarray Analysis of Space-flown Murine Thymus Tissue

Microarray Analysis of Space-flown Murine Thymus Tissue Reveals Changes in Gene Expression Regulating Stress and Glucocorticoid Receptors. We used microarrays to detail the gene expression of space-flown thymic tissue and identified distinct classes of up-regulated genes during this process. We report here microarray gene expression analysis in young adult C57BL/6NTac mice at 8 weeks of age after exposure to spaceflight aboard the space shuttle (STS-118) for a period of 13 days. Upon conclusion of the mission thymus lobes were extracted from space flown mice (FLT) as well as age- and sex-matched ground control mice similarly housed in animal enclosure modules (AEM). mRNA was extracted and an automated array analysis for gene expression was performed. Examination of the microarray data revealed 970 individual probes that had a 1.5 fold or greater change. When these data were averaged (n=4) we identified 12 genes that were significantly up- or down-regulated by at least 1.5 fold after spaceflight (p < 0.05). Together these data demonstrate that spaceflight induces significant changes in the thymic mRNA expression of genes that regulate stress glucocorticoid receptor metabolism and T cell signaling activity. These data explain in part the reported systemic compromise of the immune system after exposure to the microgravity of space.

空间飞行小鼠胸腺组织的微阵列分析揭示了调节压力和糖皮质激素受体的基因表达的变化。本研究采用微阵列技术详细分析了空间飞行胸腺组织的基因表达，并确定了在此过程中上调基因的特定类别。本研究报告了在8周大的成年C57BL/6NTac小鼠（经国际空间站（STS-118）搭载进行为期13天的空间飞行后）的胸腺组织微阵列基因表达分析。任务完成后，从空间飞行小鼠（FLT）以及年龄和性别匹配的地面对照组小鼠（在动物生活单元（AEM）中饲养）中提取胸腺叶。提取mRNA并进行自动化的基因表达阵列分析。对微阵列数据的检查揭示了970个具有1.5倍或更大变化的独立探针。当这些数据平均（n=4）时，我们确定了12个基因在空间飞行后至少上调或下调1.5倍（p < 0.05）。这些数据共同表明，空间飞行会导致胸腺mRNA表达中调节压力、糖皮质激素受体代谢和T细胞信号活性基因的显著变化。这些数据部分解释了在暴露于空间微重力后报道的免疫系统系统性损害。