Application of a cDNA microarray for the analysis of muscular dystrophies and childhood leukemias

Aim. Microarray technique can measure the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously and can identify subtle changes in expression between different biological states. Methods. Using our cDNA collection obtained from systematic sequencing of cDNA libraries from skeletal muscle, heart and bone marrow tissues, we have developed a microarray composed of 4670 sequences corresponding to the 400-500 bp region located at the 3′-end of cDNA transcripts. Results. We used this microarray platform in order to investigate the expression profile in 4 different pathologies: limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD 2B), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD1A), congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) and a group of childhood leukaemias. Our aim is to compare different pathologies in order to identify significant genes whose expression characterize each single disease. Conclusion. The cDNA microarray platform developed in our laboratory allow the identification of differentially expressed genes in muscular dystrophies and in childhood leukaemias in order to better define the molecular mechanism of these pathologies. Moreover our microarray experiments identify different forms of the same pathology on the base of the transcriptional profile.