Endometriosis Gene Expression Heterogeneity and Biosignature: A Phylogenetic Analysis
Figure 1
Cladogram and a corresponding heat map of selected genes. (a) A most parsimonious cladogram depicting a hierarchical classification of 10 ectopic endometriosis and 10 matched eutopic endometrial specimens from the same patients. The number of clonal gene expression aberrations is located at the crossing bar, and the directionality of change from eutopic endometrium to ectopic endometriosis specimen is indicated by an arrow. The transitional zone is denoted by the asterisk. (b) Heat map of 16 selected genes corresponds to the 10 endometriosis specimens and exemplifies heterogeneous gene expression profile of the endometriosis specimens. Synapomorphies are the aberrant clonal gene expressions that are shared by the specimens placed at the nodal point (at the bifurcations). The cladogram models the cumulative genetic change; it quantifies the severity of molecular disruption and points out the direction of change accumulation along the main axis of the cladogram in a hierarchical mode. The horizontal frame denotes the heterogeneity of the 16 genes highlighted within the heat map for two of the specimens. Note that the heat map is arranged to line up directly with the corresponding endometriosis specimens located on the adjacent cladogram.
