Development of gene expression signatures for vein graft restenosis following vascular grafting

To further development of our gene expression approach to cardiovascular disease, we have employed microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify genes with the potential to distinguish the therapeutic target of the vein graft restenosis following coronary artery bypass grafting. Vein graft samples were obtained from model rats which received external jugular vein-carotid bypass grafting at different postoperative timepoints (n=3/group; day 7, 14 and 28, respectively). Vein samples were also obtained from control rats without vascular grafting (n=3/group; day 0). Time-dependent gene expression profiles were described with microarray analysis. Expression of three lncRNA-mRNA pairs (AF062402-Src, BC091437-Edg1 and BC166461- Mcam) from this signature were quantified in the same RNA samples by real-time PCR, confirming the accuracy of the microarray data. Gene expression profiles were identified at day 7, 14 and 28 after the establishment of external jugular vein-carotid bypass model in experimental rats and at day 0 in control rats without receiving surgery. Three independent experiments were performed at each time (day 7, 14 and 28) after surgery.