IDENTIFICATION OF VARIATION IN CALRETICULIN GENE EXPRESSION LEVELS IN WHOLE BLOOD OF HEALTHY HUMAN SUBJECTS

Abstract

Objective: Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional protein, ubiquitously present in endoplasmic reticulum and plays an important role in maintenance of cellular calcium homeostasis. In humans, age-related rate of CRT gene expression has not been reported.

Methods: In the present work we sought to investigate the level of CRT expression in healthy young and aged subjects. Blood samples from 24 healthy volunteers were examined for mRNA encoding CRT by Quantitative real-time-PCR.

Results: qRT-PCR analysis showed a slight reduction in CRT gene expression among aged samples as compared to young samples but these results were not statistically significant. This primary report demonstrates the expression of CRT in healthy volunteers.

Conclusion: Though preliminary, these findings merits further investigation to resolve the relationship between age and variation in expression of CRT.

 

Key words: Calreticulin, age, gene expression, quantitative real time PCR.