Identification of brain transcriptional variability reproduced in peripheral blood: an approach for mapping brain eQTLs

ABSTRACT: Genome-wide gene expression studies may provide a comprehensive insight in gene activities and biological pathways differing between individuals and tissues (even closely related tissues building complex organs such as the brain). Our research addressed both kinds of gene expression variation – between brain regions and between individuals – by expression profiling in brain tissues derived from eight brain regions and blood from 12 vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). We employed the non-human primate model to assure tissue quality and to enhance the probability of precise dissection of the brain tissues, which is difficult to realize in human subjects. We characterized brain regional differences in gene expression levels which may relate to specific functions of brain tissues including disease symptoms affecting specific brain regions. We focused on inter-individual variability of brain transcript levels in different regions that correlates well between blood and brain tissues and therefore could be further reliably studied in easily accessible blood samples. Applying very stringent transcript selection criteria including 1). considerable similarities between brain and blood tissues, 2). consistent repeat measurements in blood, 3). higher inter-individual than intra-individual variability and 4). detection in all tissue samples, allowed us to identify transcripts in which inter-individual variation in brain expression profiles indicates possible genetic factors regulating gene transcript levels. High heritabilities of these transcript levels indicated that our approach focusing on transcripts showing higher inter-individual variability than intra-individual variability identifies transcripts with a strong genetic component.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens Chlorocebus sabaeus

PROVIDER: GSE15301 | GEO | 2009/08/21

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA115831

REPOSITORIES: GEO