Transcription of anorexia candidate genes and an attempt of elaborating DNA microarray

Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder which affects about 0.1% of women. It is rare in males. Its aetiology is still unknown, but current evidence points to both psychosocial factors and the role of genes. The genes involved might influence response to stress, endocrine function, metabolic rate, personality and aspects of apetite, all of which have been impicated in this polygenic and multifactorial disorder. As the members of the EC Framework Five Consortium 'Factors in Healthy Eating' in an European polycentic study we have inbestigated 12 candidate genes, and the results will be published in a series of papers until the end of the year 2003. The Consortium applied EoI (Expression of Interest) for the EC Framework Six, which has been accepted as one of the first priorities within the FW6 and therefore opens chance for a membership in the future FW6 integrative project. In the EoI for this integrative project our laboratory was included as a centre for elaboration of DNA microarrays and investigation of systemic expression of the anorexia candidate genes - which is also the aim of this project application.