The Research On Differences And Similarities Of Gene Expression Profiles Of Kidney-Yang Deficient Physique At Different Age Segments

Objective:To reveal gene expression characteristics in different age groups of kidney yang deficiency through analysis of gene expression in different age groups of kidney yang deficiency, and to investigate gene regulation mode of kidney yang prevail and ail in young, mature, and old aged groups.Methods:1. According to kidney yang deficient constitution criteria of constitution classification criteria by China Association of Chinese Medicine, we had revised and improved these criteria for subject enrollment as inclusion criteria.2. Screening included cases strictly in accordance with inclusion criteria of kidney yang deficient constitution. The included cases were divided into three groups:young group (0-10 years old), mature group (29-39 years old) and old aged group (60-70 years old).3. The difference of gene expression profiles in different age groups of kidney yang deficient constitution was studied by technology of microarray. Screening differentially expressed genes, GO classification, molecular pathway analysis were all applied here to explore gene regulation mode of kidney yang prevail and ail in young, mature, and old aged groups.Results:1. Study of ancient and modern literatures had confirmed that constitution was extendedly applied and had significance in disease prevention and health care of Traditional Chinese Medicine2. Assessment questionnaire for kidney yang deficient constitution with 22 questions was developed for kidney yang deficient constitution diagnosis.3. 267 rows of differentially expressed gene in kidney yang deficient children were obtained from analysis of differentially expressed gene (P<0.01), mainly involving hematopoietic system related genes; 344 rows of differentially expressed gene in kidney yang deficient mature group were obtained (P<0.01), mainly involving cell growth and proliferation; 19 rows of differentially expressed gene in kidney yang deficient old aged group were gained (P<0.01), mainly involving reproduction related genes; 881 rows of differentially expressed genes (P<0.01) of kidney yang deficient constitution in all age groups were observed compared with normal control group, mainly involving metabolism and cell proliferation related genes. 4.16 rows of kidney yang deficient constitution related GO in children group were found through GO analysis (P<0.05); 9 rows of kidney yang deficient constitution related GO in mature group were found (P<0.05); 3 rows of kidney yang deficient constitution related GO in old aged group were found (P<0.05); 20 rows of kidney yang deficient constitution related GO of kidney yang deficient constitution in all age groups were found compared with normal control group (P<0.05), mainly involving some functions concentrating in immune system, enzyme activity, reproduction, and metabolism of each group respectively.5.32 rows of pathways associating immune system of kidney yang deficient constitution children were found through signal pathway analysis (P<0.01); 19 rows of pathways associating metabolism of kidney yang deficient constitution mature group were found through signal pathway analysis (P<0.05); 3 rows of pathways of old aged kidney yang deficient constitution were observed(P<0.05); 34 rows of pathways of kidney yang deficient constitution in all age groups were found compared with normal control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:1. The theory of kidney yang deficient constitution was widely applied in clinical practice and had guiding significance for syndrome differentiation and health care.2. Differentially expressed gene profiles of kidney yang deficient constitution were significant different among various age groups, the children group mainly manifested kidney yang deficient constitution in hematopoietic system and immune system; the mature group mainly manifested kidney yang deficient constitution in some influence of cell growth and proliferation, which might contribute to the aging process; the old aged group mainly manifested kidney yang deficient constitution in depression of reproductive system; and the overall analysis of all age groups suggested they mainly manifested kidney yang deficient constitution in energy synthesis and metabolic disorders, meanwhile it also suggested that elevated expression of tumor-related genes was not directly associated with tumorigenesis, but were more likely to be part of aging mechanism.3. This study demonstrated that there was age difference of kidney yang deficient constitution in biological basis, thus we could master the clinical characteristics of kidney yang deficiency of different ages. This study also provided evidence and reference for better control and prevention of kidney yang deficiency.