Probing regulatory proteins for vascular contraction by deoxyribonucleic acid microarray

Background and Objectives: The heat-shock response modulates contractility of vascular smooth muscles. With complementary deoxyribonucleic acid microarray, we tried to identify the novel genes that are involved in the regulation of vascular contraction after heat shock. Materials and Methods: Human radial artery strips were mounted in organ baths, exposed at 42°C for 45 minutes, and returned to equilibrate at 37°C. This study examined gene expression profile associated with heat-shock response in radial arteries of patients with hyperlipidemia by using a microarray that contained 5763 human cDNA. The results of microarray hybridization experiments from the radial arteries of 4 different subjects were analyzed and classified by the cluster program. Results: Among these differentially-expressed genes, Hsp70, Hsp10, αB-crystallin, and Hsp60 were significantly increased by the heat shock response. Of non-HSP genes, 15 genes increased, while 22 genes decreased. Among these 37 genes, αB-crystallin (CRYAB) (up 1.92-fold), myosin, light polypeptide kinase transcript variant 8, 6 (up 1.70-fold, up 1.68-fold), catenin (cadherin-associated protein, alpha-like 1) (down-0.57 fold) and tropomyosin 3 (down 0.68-fold) were thought to be related with the contraction. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that Hsp70, Hsp10 and αB-crystallin were significantly increased. Conclusion: Gene expression profile by heat shock provides information about genes implicated in augmentation of vascular contraction after heat shock.