DNA microarray profiling to identify norepinephrine-response genes in A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells

AIM: To define the gene expression changes of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to norepinephrine (NE). METHODS: The expression adrenergic receptors (AR) were determined by radioligand binding assay in A7r5 cells. Gene expression profiles were identified by cDNA microarray after A7r5 cells were treated with NE for 24 h, and mRNA expressions of α_1A-AR and α_1B-AR were confirmed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: α₁-AR and β-AR existed in A7r5 cells. Seventy-five genes with changed expression in response to NE were screened out. These genes are involved in cell structure, cell/organism defense, metabolism, signal transduction and so on. α_1A-, α_1B-AR mRNA expression identified by microarray and realtime quantitive PCR displayed similar patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression profile in response to NE was analyzed comprehensively with the microarray technique. NE induces many kinds of different function genes in A7r5 cells, which may provide a novel insight into the particular role of NE that modulates multiple aspects of biological function in VSMCs.