Differential expression of 14 genes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord detected using gridded cDNA arrays

In order to obtain insight into the aetiology and pathogenesis of amyotroph ic lateral sclerosis (ALS), high-density gene discovery arrays (GDA human v ersion 1.2) containing 18 400 non-redundant EST cDNAs pooled from different tissue libraries have been used to monitor gene expression in lumbar spina l cord from ALS cases compared with controls. Quantitative filter analysis revealed differential expression of cDNAs normalized to internal standards. These candidates have been further investigated and their expression in sp inal cord characterized in a panel of ALS and control subjects. Significant differential expression was obtained for 14 genes, 13 being elevated (up t o six-fold) and one decreased (by 80%) in ALS. Amongst those elevated in AL S were thioredoxin and glial fibrilary acid protein, which have already bee n shown to be up-regulated in ALS, thus supporting the reliability of this approach. The other differentially regulated transcripts confirmed in the e xpression studies represent potential candidates in ALS pathogenesis being involved in antioxidant systems, neuroinflammation, the regulation of motor neurone function, lipid metabolism, protease inhibition and protection aga inst apoptosis. The use of the GDA system has greatly facilitated the scree ning and retrieval of sequence information and has generated useful informa tion on the cascade of molecular events occurring in ALS and potentially ma y highlight new candidates playing a role in the aetiology and progression of this disease.