Altered patterns of gene expression in response to myocardial infarction

The use of cDNA microarrays has made it possible to simultaneously analyze gene expression for thousands of genes. Microarray technology was used to e valuate the expression of >4000 genes in a rat model of myocardial infarcti on. More than 200 genes were identified that showed differential expression in response to myocardial infarction. Gene expression changes were monitor ed from 2 to 16 weeks after infarction in 2 regions of the heart, the left ventricle free wall and interventricular septum. A novel clustering program was used to identify patterns of expression within this large set of data. Unique patterns were revealed within the transcriptional responses that il luminate changes in biological processes associated with myocardial infarct ion.