Validated protocol for analyzing gene expression profiles in subsets of cells in complex tissues

The protocol uses laser dissection microscopy to isolate predestined cells from tissue sections and to subject their ribonucleic acid (RNA) to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In this way the molecular control of cell behavior in different compartments of healthy and diseased tissues can be determined. Moreover, the effects of therapeutic intervention can be analyzed at the molecular level in the cells of interest.

In general the technology allows the analysis of small groups of cells with comparable features in a complex tissue. The analysis of small groups of similar cells was until recently hampered by the low amount of material available for subsequent read-out technologies. Only recently this has changed due to technological breakthroughs which include the application of laser micro dissection to tissue analyses. This technique now routinely ensures good quality RNA for real-time RT-PCR analysis, and also allows protein based read-out techniques to be applied.

Our approach assigns the molecular basis of cell (dys)function and effects of drug treatment in complex tissue to specific cell types. This compartmentalization will provide a better insight in the true pharmacological behavior of a compound in relation to the disease status. Moreover, we have proven expertise in analyses of in vivo samples in endothelial biomedicine and vascular drug targeting research of inflammatory conditions and cancer.

We are looking for partners that are interested in expanding the application area of our technology to cover other disease areas, including cardiovascular disease and CNS. Our main expertise is in Renal disease and Oncology but we can work with any tissue.

We are also interested in co-development partners with relevant expertise to assist us in developing our technology further as a system to be integrated as a screening mechanism in the process of drug discovery & drug development.

CRO's or companies that have an advanced downstream processing system able to provide even finer output for our analysis method would also be interesting partners for us.