Ischemic preconditioning at a distance: Altered gene expression in mouse heart and other organs following brief occlusion of the mesenteric artery

Remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been defined as a brief episode of ischemia/reperfusion in an organ that protects another remote organ from the damage induced by subsequent and prolonged ischemia. As yet, no study has been conducted with the purpose of elucidating a precise association between remote IPC and patterns of gene-transcription in cardiac tissue. In this study, using a cDNA microarray, we analyzed the gene expression profile in murine heart at 24 h after brief cycles of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. The profile revealed that IPC induces significant levels of expression of many genes known to be associated with the stress response, redox regulation, growth and metabolism, DNA repair and other functions. The result of cDNA microarray profile from heart was also compared with those from other organs (lung, kidney and intestine). The genes identified in the expression profile may be associated with remote IPC induced late phase organ protection.