Genome‐wide analysis of gene expression in dendritic cells from rat regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in orchestrating immune response occurring in liver regeneration (LR). However, there are few details about relationship between DCs and LR at the molecular level. In this study, we firstly obtained high-purity DCs by the combination of Percoll density gradient centrifugation and immunomagentic bead sorting, then measured genome-wide gene expression in DCs from rat regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy (PH) using rat genome 230 2·0 microarray composed of 25,020 genes, and verified the reliability of microarray data with RT-PCR method. Among 25,020 genes present on the array, 1621 known genes and 1307 unknown genes, totally 2928 genes, were identified to be LR-related. H-clustering analysis showed that 2928 genes were grouped into three expression patterns: up-regulation, down-regulation and complex changes in expression. And 1621 known genes were functionally grouped into at least 23 biological categories. When expression patterns were combined with gene functions, as a whole, the genes involved in immune/defence response, inflammatory response and secretion of active substance in DCs were highly enriched in down-regulated pattern. DCs exhibited the reduced immune/defence and inflammatory response, and the suppressed secretion capacity of active substances after PH. A further analysis of genes expressed in the phase-dependent manner during LR suggested the rapid induction of genes encoding some transcription factors and cytokines in DCs at immediate-early phase, the unobvious enhancement of metabolic process, immunity and inflammation at proliferation phase, while the impairment of detoxification, immunity and inflammation at terminal phase.