Protein-DNA array-based identification of transcription factor activities differentially regulated in obliterative bronchiolitis.

Lung transplantation has already become the preferred treatment option for a variety of end-stage pulmonary failure. However the long-term results of lung transplantation are still not compelling and the major death reason is commonly due to obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) which is considered as chronic rejection presenting manifests physiologically as a progressive decline in FEV1. Transcription factors (TFs) play a key role in regulating gene expression and in providing an interconnecting regulatory between related pathway elements. Although the transcription factors are required for expression of the proinflammatory cytokines and immune proteins which are involved in obliterative bronchiolitis following lung transplantation, the alterations of the transcription factors in OB have not yet been revealed. Therefore, to investigate the alteration pattern of the transcription factors in OB, we used protein/DNA arrays. Mice orthotopic tracheal transplantation model was used in this studying. In this study, we explored the activity profiles of TFs in Protein/DNA array data of tracheal tissue in 14 and 28 day after transplanted. From a total of 345 screened TFs, we identified 42 TFs that showed associated with OB progression. Our data indicate that TFs may be potentially involved in the pathogenesis of OB, and can prevent, diagnose and treat OB after lung transplantation. In development of OB, some of the TFs may have ability to modulate the transcription of inflammatory proteins such cytokines, inflammatory enzymes and so on.