Postmortem interval effect on RNA and gene expression in human brain tissue.

Author(s): Birdsill AC, Walker DG, Lue L, Sue LI, Beach TG

Publication: Cell Tissue Bank, 2011, Vol. 12, Page 311-8

PubMed ID: 20703815 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine if RNA yield and integrity are correlated to PMI in brain specimens collected at autopsy from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, or neurological normal controls. A total of 79 brain specimens were collected and frozen by placement of 0.75 cm thick segments on dry ice, after which they were stored at -70 or -80 degrees C for 1-17 y before analysis.

   Summary of Findings:

   PMI was weakly, albeit significantly, negatively correlated to both RIN (r= -0.34; p=0.002) and RNA yield (r=-0.25; p=0.02). RIN and RNA yield were not significantly correlated with the subject's age, gender, diagnosis, or the length of time frozen specimens were stored prior to extraction and analysis.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Autopsy
   • Alzheimer's Disease
   • Parkinson's Disease
   • Normal
   • Other diagnoses

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	Automated electrophoresis/Bioanalyzer

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	1-45 h (mean 6.6 h)
   Storage	Storage duration	1-17 y
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Parkinson's disease Alzheimer's disease Cerebrovascular disease Neurodegenerative disease Neurologically normal
   Preaquisition	Patient age	61-96 y (mean 81 y)
   Preaquisition	Patient gender	Female Male

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2. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine if mRNA transcript levels are correlated to PMI in brain specimens collected at autopsy from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. A total of 43 brain specimens were collected and frozen by placement of 0.75 cm thick segments on dry ice, after which they were stored at -70 or -80 degrees C before analysis for an unspecified length of time.

   Summary of Findings:

   Of the genes represented on the SABiosciences RT-Profiler PCR Array for Human Alzheimer's Disease, 4 transcripts (ADAM9, LPL, PRKCG, SERPINA3) displayed a significant and negative correlation to advancing PMI, although the strength of the correlations were modest (r= -0.419 to -0.468; p<0.01).

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Autopsy
   • Alzheimer's Disease

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	Real-time qRT-PCR
   RNA	Low density array

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Low density array Specific	Targeted nucleic acid	ADAM9 LPL PRKCG SERPINA3
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	1.5-45 h (mean 5.8 h)

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