Genome-wide screening of alpha-tocopherol sensitive genes in heart tissue from alpha-tocopherol transfer protein null mice (ATTP−/−)

Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (ATTP) null mice (ATTP−/−) have a systemic deficiency of alpha-tocopherol (AT). The heart AT levels of ATTP−/− are <10% of those in ATTP+/+ mice. The genomic responses of heart to AT deficiency were determined in 3 months old male ATTP−/− mice and compared with their ATTP+/+ littermate controls using Affymetrix 430A 2.0 high density oligonucleotide arrays. Differential analysis of ∼13 000 genes identified repression of genes related to immune system and activation of genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammation with no significant change in the expression of classical antioxidant genes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) in ATTP−/− as compared to ATTP+/+ mice. The present data identifies novel classes of AT sensitive genes in heart tissue.