Whole genome microarray gene expression profiling of transgenic mouse hearts with four-fold increased BBLN contents

The study performed whole genome microarray gene expression profiling of mouse hearts from BBLN-transgenic mice with four-fold increased cardiac BBLN (Bublin coiled coil protein) contents (Tg-BBLN-low) in comparison to non-transgenic FVB hearts. Tg-BBLN-low mice with four-fold increased cardiac BBLN expression under control of the myocardium-specific alpha-MHC promoter developed features of compensated heart failure with increasing age, which was characterized by a significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography. To investigate the compensated heart failure phenotype of Tg-BBLN-low mice, whole genome micoarray gene expression profiling was performed. The microarray data show that moderately increased cardiac BBLN levels are sufficient to induce features of pathological cardiac remodeling. Whole genome microarray gene expression profiling was performed of mouse hearts from BBLN-transgenic mice with four-fold increased BBLN-contents. Hearts were isolated from eight-month-old, male Tg-BBLN-low mice and from male, age-matched non-transgenic FVB mice, which were used as controls.