BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: In gene expression studies, endogenous controls that are constitutively expressed (housekeeping genes) are commonly used to normalize for variations in cDNA synthesis efficiency. In the present study, a frequently used control gene, beta-actin, was examined in ovine heart valves to evaluate its applicability as a housekeeping gene for this tissue. METHODS: Interstitial cells (IC) of the four heart valves were isolated using the outgrowth explant method. Cells were cultured under different serum conditions (10% or 20% fetal bovine serum or 20% sheep serum) up to passage (P) 5. mRNA from fresh tissue and from cells at P0 and P5 was isolated, and expression of beta-actin determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). An identical control sample was used for each PCR and each gel electrophoresis. Data were expressed as a relative value of this control sample. RESULTS: beta-Actin expression in the aortic valve was significantly lower than in other valves. The mRNA level of beta-actin was four-fold lower in freshly isolated IC than in cultured IC. Once up-regulated by in-vitro culturing conditions, beta-actin expression did not change from P0 to P5. An important increase in the variation of beta-actin expression was observed in cultured cells as compared to fresh cells. Different serum conditions did not lead to different beta-actin levels. CONCLUSION: Due to the variation in expression, beta-actin cannot be used as a reference for gene expression of ovine-derived heart valve IC in culture.
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: In gene expression studies, endogenous controls that are constitutively expressed (housekeeping genes) are commonly used to normalize for variations in cDNA synthesis efficiency. In the present study, a frequently used control gene, beta-actin, was examined in ovine heart valves to evaluate its applicability as a housekeeping gene for this tissue. METHODS: Interstitial cells (IC) of the four heart valves were isolated using the outgrowth explant method. Cells were cultured under different serum conditions (10% or 20% fetal bovine serum or 20% sheep serum) up to passage (P) 5. mRNA from fresh tissue and from cells at P0 and P5 was isolated, and expression of beta-actin determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). An identical control sample was used for each PCR and each gel electrophoresis. Data were expressed as a relative value of this control sample. RESULTS:beta-Actin expression in the aortic valve was significantly lower than in other valves. The mRNA level of beta-actin was four-fold lower in freshly isolated IC than in cultured IC. Once up-regulated by in-vitro culturing conditions, beta-actin expression did not change from P0 to P5. An important increase in the variation of beta-actin expression was observed in cultured cells as compared to fresh cells. Different serum conditions did not lead to different beta-actin levels. CONCLUSION: Due to the variation in expression, beta-actin cannot be used as a reference for gene expression of ovine-derived heart valve IC in culture.
Authors: Georgina M Aldridge; David M Podrebarac; William T Greenough; Ivan Jeanne Weiler Journal: J Neurosci Methods Date: 2008-05-15 Impact factor: 2.390
Authors: Carmen Rueda-Martínez; Oscar Lamas; María José Mataró; Juan Robledo-Carmona; Gemma Sánchez-Espín; Manuel Jiménez-Navarro; Miguel Such-Martínez; Borja Fernández Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-05-19 Impact factor: 3.240