C-TREAT - Center for Tissue Repair, Epithelial Biology and Inflammation, And Transformation

Molecular Pathology & Microarray Core

Purpose

The acquisition of tissue from fixed or fresh human specimens or the use of new or established human cell lines is important models from which to study gene expression. Gene expression provides information on the transcription and translation of normal or altered genes that can affect the growth of intestinal or hepatic epithelial and stellate cells, provide clues to cell programs that are activated or inactivated when stressed by reactive oxygen species and bacterial products, allow analysis of genetic programs that shift from normal to newly expressed states when inflamed and can determine expression profiles that permanently change during transformation towards a self-sustaining immortal state. Understanding the genetic programs under the varying conditions is important for crafting therapeutic approaches for patients. Access to powerful tools for determining gene expression through C-TREAT, particularly at low cost, will facilitate usage of the services provided for by the Molecular Pathobiology Core by Full and Associate Members. This Core is designed to provide accessibility to services that individual labs cannot provide financially to enhance the study of gene expression from samples or cells from individual investigators.

Core Services

The Core will provide the following services to C-TREAT members:

• Assistance in the acquisition/analysis of cells by laser capture microscopy.
  
  
• Assistance in the conduct and analysis of fluorescent-based detection of gene expression.
  
  
• Assistance in the conduct and analysis of gene expression using microarrays.
  
  
• Core Resources and Equipment.