Transcription profiling of rat astrocyte cell line RCG-12 to investigate cell growth arrest and differentiation

We performed global scale microarray analysis to identify detailed mechanisms by which nonpermissive temperature induces cell growth arrest and differentiation in astrocyte RCG-12 cells harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen by using an Affymetrix GeneChip system. Astrocyte RCG-12 cells used in this study were derived from primary cultured rat cortical glia cells infecting with a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen. Although the cells grew continuously at the permissive temperature, the nonpermissive temperature led to cell growth arrest and differentiation. Of the 15,923 probe sets analyzed, nonpermissive temperature differentially expressed 556 probe sets by >2.0-fold. Experiment Overall Design: RCG-12 cells were cultured at permissive (33°C) or nonpermissive (39°C) temperature for 3 days. Total RNA samples were prepared from the cells. Gene expression was analyzed by an Affymetrix GeneChip® system with the Rat Expression Array 230A which was spotted with 15,923 probe sets. Sample preparation for array hybridization was carried out as described in the manufacture’s instructions.