Gene expression signatures of spleen-derived and bone marrow-derived CD11b+ cells in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice

To further search for potential gene targets which are involved in the pathological process of atherosclerosis, we have employed whole genome microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism. The CD11b+ cells were isolated from spleen and bone marrow of mice by magnetic beads, and four genotype mice of HDC-/-, STAT4-/-, STAT6-/- and WT were examined in this experiment. The mice were divided into 2 groups: 1. control group 2. HFD group. Mice in control group were given a normal diet; mice in HFD group were fed with high-fat diet for 3 months. The data showed hundreds of up-regulated or down-regulated genes in HFD-fed mice, which were functionally connected with cholesterol synthesis and reverse cholesterol transport. The gene expression was measured in spleen-derived and bone marrow-derived CD11b+ cells of mice. Mice were divided into control and HFD groups. There were five mice in each group.