ABSTRACT
Global gene expression analysis may be investigated in a number of ways, including fullgenome microarrays, which are specialized array panels that contain specifi c series of DNA or RNA sequences that may be directly or indirectly related to the immune system and the highthroughput platforms for genotyping and haplotype mapping. While genome-wide, large-scale arrays may be useful for generalized toxicological screening, the management and interpretation of the large numbers of gene changes which may or may not be relevant to the immune system is diffi cult. “Data overload” may be minimized by using commercially available pathway mapping tools that focus on patterns of gene expression in subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DC) which encompass signaling pathways for differentiation and proliferation that would (i) allow for the monitoring of the progress of the immune response and (ii) help identify defects at the cellular and molecular level ( 4 ).
