Transcription profiling of gastric mucosa in PAI-1 knockout mice to study the role of PAI-1 in hypergastrinemia

We are studying the role of PAI-1 in hypergastrinemic transgenic mice (PAI-1 knockout, HK-ATPase beta knockout and corresponding control strains). As a model of hypergastrinaemia, HK-ATPase beta knockout mice are preferred instead of giving a high dose of proton pump inhibitors daily. We have successfully crossed these two strains and generated double knockout mice (PAI-1--/HK-ATPase--) and 3 different control groups (PAI-1++/HK-ATPase++, PAI-1--/HK-ATPase++ and PAI-1++/HK-ATPase--) (9 animals in each group). The gastric phenotype of all mice has been examined by morphologic and molecular analysis after 12 months. Gastric biopsies and blood samples have been taken for histology, large scale gene expression analysis, verification of mRNA and protein expression and gastrin measurements. Global gene expression analysis has been done on gastric mucosal samples from all groups of mice. The differences between wild type mice and the transgenic animals are expected to provide novel hypotheses on the role of PAI-1 in gastrin-induced changes in the gastric mucosa.