OBJECTIVETo characterize a mRNA expression profile of unlethal warm ischemic injury in rat livers and to clarify the controlling genes and molecular pathogenesis.

METHODSOne group of rats underwent surgeries to make a warm ischemic injury of their livers and another group of rats (controls) had sham operations; then 8 hybridized RNA samples were used in microarray analysis. The data were submitted to public databases, such as Gene Bank, dbEST, Unigene and Refseq, and then batch filtrated. Hierarchical clustering algorithm was applied in analyzing the differential expression genes and individual samples according to GeneCluster 3.0 software.

RESULTSAmong the total 8804 probe sets, the expressions of 927 genes were down-regulated and 885 genes were up-regulated in the ischemia group when compared with normal controls. Between them, 40 genes were down-regulated and 29 genes up-regulated more than 3 fold (P less than 0.01); then Hsp70 and CyclinD1 were confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR test.

CONCLUSIONIn the present study, we provide the first report of large-scale changes in hepatic gene expression induced by nonlethal warm ischemic injury. Most of up-regulated genes belong to the groups that are important in maintaining cell structure, division, differentiation, tricarboxylic acid cycle and tissue repair. Discovering such candidate genes of protective effects may be of help to prevent warm ischemic injury and to treat this serious disorder.