Evaluation of Changes in the Expression Level of some Genes Involved in Decompression Sickness in the Pressure Changes

Abstract

This study evaluates the expression level of genes that change by pressure changes in astronautics and diving disorders such as decompression sickness. This study was performed on five skilled divers to analyze the expression level of TLR-2, HSP-72, IL-1b, NF-kB, and MPO genes that are responsible for pro-inflammatory conditions. In addition, the expression level of DRD4 and BNIP3 genes (Astronaut index genes that were previously measured in a spacecraft study on mice) was analyzed on native Iranian samples. Blood samples were taken half an hour after diving, RNA was extracted, and cDNA was synthesized. Then, real-time PCR was done. Based on the results obtained using the T-Student statistical method, it was found that the expression level of all genes except MPO and TLR-2 genes increased significantly after exposure to pressure changes and diving activities. These conditions can be a permanent effect after pressure changes and can be considered an indicator for healthy people under stress in diving and astronautics.

Keywords

• gene expression
• decompression sickness
• pro-inflammatory
• astronautics
• primer
• real-time pcr
• pressure changes