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Gene expression profiling in a mouse model for African trypanosomiasis

Genes & Immunity volume 7, pages 667–679 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

This study aimed to provide the foundation for an integrative approach to the identification of the mechanisms underlying the response to infection with Trypanosoma congolense, and to identify pathways that have previously been overlooked. We undertook a large-scale gene expression analysis study comparing susceptible A/J and more tolerant C57BL/6 mice. In an initial time course experiment, we monitored the development of parasitaemia and anaemia in every individual. Based on the kinetics of disease progression, we extracted total RNA from liver at days 0, 4, 7, 10 and 17 post infection and performed a microarray analysis. We identified 64 genes that were differentially expressed in the two strains in non-infected animals, of which nine genes remained largely unaffected by the disease. Gene expression profiling at stages of low, peak, clearance and recurrence of parasitaemia suggest that susceptibility is associated with high expression of genes coding for chemokines (e.g. Ccl24, Ccl27 and Cxcl13), complement components (C1q and C3) and interferon receptor alpha (Ifnar1). Additionally, susceptible A/J mice expressed higher levels of some potassium channel genes. In contrast, messenger RNA levels of a few immune response, metabolism and protease genes (e.g. Prss7 and Mmp13) were higher in the tolerant C57BL/6 strain as compared to A/J.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the expert assistance of Dr Fuad Iraqi, Moses Ogugo, John Wambugu, Bob King and the staff of the ILRI animal facility. We thank Drs Helen Hilton and Peter Underhill from MRC Harwell for their assistance in performing the microarray study. This work was supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust and from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) KI-801.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    S Kierstein, J Naessens, Y Nakamura, J Gibson & S Kemp

  2. School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    S Kierstein

  3. School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    H Noyes & S Kemp

  4. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Y Nakamura

  5. MGU Harwell, Didcot, UK

    C Pritchard

  6. Institute for Genetics and Bioinformatics, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

    J Gibson

  7. School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    A Brass

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  1. S Kierstein
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Correspondence to S Kierstein.

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Kierstein, S., Noyes, H., Naessens, J. et al. Gene expression profiling in a mouse model for African trypanosomiasis. Genes Immun 7, 667–679 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6364345

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