Identification of the difference in gene expression between glioma stem cells and neural stem cells by oligonucleotide microarray

Objective To identify the differential expressed genes of human glioma stem cells(GSCs) and human neural stem cells(NSCs) by gene chip technology. Methods Human HOA5.1 OneArray microarray(including 29 186 genes) was adopted and hybridized with probes which were prepared from the total RNAs of GSCs and NSCs. Differential expressed genes between the GSCs and NSCs were assayed after scanning oligonucleotide microarray with ScanArray 4000, and some of these genes such as DCX, PTGS2, SCGN, GAD2, OTX2, PEG10 and NRXN3 were verified by real-time-Q-PCR method. Results Compared with the genes in normal NSCs, 1372 down-regulated and 1501 up-regulated genes in GSCs were revealed by means of microarray, and these genes were associated with axon guidance, cell cycle, cell adhesion, immune-inflammatory responses and cancer-related signal pathways. The results of qRT-PCR were consistent with that of microarray. Conclusions Multiple genes play important roles in development of glioma. This study may provide new clues for the targeted therapy of malignant glioma.