Study of immune-associated genes in the aged rats by cDNA microarray

Objective: To screen the changes of immune-associate genes expression which is related with the ageing using cDNA microar-ray.Methods:The mRNA from the spleens of young and aged rats were extracted respectively and reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporation of different fluorescent-labeled dUTP as the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were hybridized to the cDNA microarray that contains the cDNA products of 416 immune-associated genes. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and showed the gene expression differences between the young and the aged. Some biochemical assays were used to confirm the physiological differences between the young rats and the aged rats. Results: Among the examined genes, 13 down-regulated genes were identified. These genes correlated with immuned response, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and DNA/RNA repair. Only one gene which encoded α-amylase was much higher in the aged than that in the young. Conclusion: Further analysis of the differenially expressed immune-associated genes based on cDNA microarray will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of the ageing.