| The Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) serotype is the leading cause of viral myocarditis. Presently, the Dallas Criteria is the gold standard for diagnosis. In the present study, we utilized microarrays to search for differentially expressed genes between CVB3-infected mice and control mice in order to identify novel diagnostic targets. A/J mice were infected with 10pfu of CVB3. Total RNA was extracted from heart tissue and analyzed by cDNA microarray. The Aldo-Keto Reductase AKR1C13 gene was found to have the greatest degree of upregulation following reverse labeling (Floor Flip) and was independently confirmed using real time RT-PCR. Microarray conducted on blood samples also showed AKR1C13 to be upregulated. Microarrays conducted on AB and MI mice showed no change in the expression of AKR1C13. AKR1C4 occupies the syntenic region of AKR1C13 in the human genome and was shown to be upregulated in human biopsy samples of myocarditis when examined by RT-PCR. We have identified the Aldo-Keto Reductase AYR1C4 gene as a possible candidate for use as a diagnostic tool in human myocarditis. |
