Comprehensive gene expression analysis in liver tissue following forced activation of Notch1 and Notch2 signaling.

We compared the effects of Notch1 and Notch2 signaling induced by AAV8-mediated forced expression of Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1) and Notch2 intracellular domain (NICD2), respectively, in the liver. Eight-week-old wild-type male mice were injected intraperitoneally with an NICD1- and/or NICD2-overexpressing AAV8 vector. Efficient AAV8-mediated gene transfer was confirmed by co-expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence in hepatocytes. A comprehensive gene expression analysis using DNA microarray indicated that the expression levels of 1704 and 1325 genes were altered by overexpressing NICD1 and NICD2, respectively, compared with the control group expressing only GFP. C57Bl6/J male mice were injected intraperitoneally with adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) expressing control GFP (6 × 10^11 vg/mouse), NICD1 and GFP (3 × 10^11 vg each/mouse), NICD2 and GFP (3 × 10^11 vg each//mouse), or NICD1&NICD2 (3 × 10^11 vg each/ mouse). Five days later, total RNA was isolated from excised liver tissues and subjected to expression microarray analysis.