Figure 2

Macrophage exposure to Magnéli phases activates gene expression profiles associated with apoptosis and mitochondria dysfunction. (A) Gene expression was evaluated using real time PCR based Superarrays (Qiagen). For each gene target on the array, fold change was calculated based on ΔΔCt values. Genes found to be ±2-fold change in expression from untreated specimens were defined as significant. The resultant data was evaluated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to define pathways and global correlations between gene expression profiles and biological functions. Cell death signaling, specifically apoptosis, was the top pathway up-regulated in the macrophages following Magnéli phase exposure. IPA further identified gene expression profiles consistent with mitochondria dysfunction as a potential factor associated with the increased apoptosis signaling. (B) Pathways associated with inflammation and specifically inflammation associated cell death (i.e., pyroptosis and necroptosis) were significantly down-regulated at the level of gene transcription. Either fold change in gene expression or z-score values are displayed for each node as appropriate.