This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
Microarray Data
The above microarray was obtained through comparison of fibroblasts from the joint fluid of human patients affected by either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. According to GEO, osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by a breakdown of cartilage, while rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation. I chose this microarray in particular because of it was most relevant option.
As you can see above, the expression pattern of the COL1A1 gene was notably different between the two different types of patients. In situ oligonucleotide technology was used to measure the expression of this gene using 12 different samples. Using the Cluster Heatmap option, I found COL1A1 to be clustered with THY1 and VDR. These genes may also be involved in COL1A1 interactions in osteogenesis imperfecta.
I would be interested in looking at how the expression of other proteins closely interacting with COL1A1 in the interactome. In particular, I would examine the expression levels of RUNX2, BMP2 and ZNF284 to determine how their expression might be different between these two types of arthritis.
References
Pohlers D, Beyer A, Koczan D, Wilhelm T et al. Constitutive upregulation of the transforming growth factor-beta pathway in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts. Arthritis Res Ther 2007;9(3):R59.