Gene Expression Analysis of Methotrexate-induced Hepatotoxicity between in vitro and in vivo

The recent DNA microarray technology enables us to understand gene expression profiling in cell line and animal models. The technology has potential possibility to comprehend mechanism of multiple genes were related to compounds which have toxicity in biological system. So, microarray system has been used for the prediction of toxicity through gene expression induced by toxicants. It has been shown that compounds with similar toxic mechanisms produce similar changes in gene expression in vivo system. Here we focus on the use of toxicogenomics for the determination of gene expression analysis associated with hepatotoxicity in rat liver and cell line (WB-F344). Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapy agent that has been used for many years in the treatment of cancer because it affects cells that are rapidly dividing. Also it has been known the toxicity of MTX, in a MTX abortion, it stops embryonic cells from dividing and multiplying and is a non-surgical method of ending pregnancy in its early stages. We have shown DNA microarray analyses to assess MTX-specific expression profiles in vivo and in vitro. Male Sprague-Dawely VAF+ albino rats of 5-6 weeks old and WB-F344 cell line have been treated with MTX. Total RNA was isolated from Rat liver and cell line that has treated with MTX. 4.8 K cDNA microarray in house has been used for gene expression profiling of MTX treatment. We have found quite distinct gene expression patterns induced by MTX in a cell line and in vivo system.