DNA microarray gene expression analysis of a vocal fold polyp and granuloma

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling has important applications in advancing knowledge of vocal fold biology. With the use of DNA microarray technology, analysis of global patterns of gene expression can reveal unexpected networks of coordinated regulation in the extracellular matrix of the lamina propria. Transcriptional gene expression patterns for 2 vocal fold pathologies-vocal fold polyp (VP; N = 1) and vocal fold granuloma (VG; N = 1) were analyzed by means of DNA microarray analysis for 4,632 human genes using another patient's true vocal fold (TVF; N = 1) as a control. Twenty-four and 29 genes for VG and VP, respectively, were established to be either over- or underexpressed compared to that of TVF Five-way cluster analysis revealed broad patterns that suggest a potential degree of organization underlying gene expression in these tissues. For the 1 VG, genes involved represent inflammation and wound healing; for the 1 VP, involved genes demonstrate a tempered wound repair response and increased epithelial manifestations. These results successfully demonstrate the use of DNA microarray technology as a new approach for further investigations dissecting vocal fold disease. Further investigation is needed on larger sample sizes to establish transcriptional gene expression patterns for VP and VG.