Stress & Toxicity PathwayFinder RT² Profiler PCR Array profiles the expression of 84 key genes regulated during cellular responses to stress and toxic compounds. Cells exposed to stress or toxins, either in vitro or in vivo, respond in a variety of ways depending on the stress and the cell type. Key front-line target organs such as heart, kidney, liver, and skin must be equipped to respond to stress-inducing or toxic environmental insults in an appropriate way. Toxicologists use cultured cells from these organs as model systems to ascertain the effects of test compounds. Reactive oxygen species induce oxidative stress, and elevated temperatures induce heat shock. Imbalances in osmolarity and inhibitors of ion channels cause osmotic stress, while protein synthesis inhibitors activate the unfolded protein response. Stress response pathways often cross-talk, particularly under prolonged exposure conditions or exposure to multiple stresses. For example, inflammation induces stress responses, but specific chronic sources of stress, such as oxidative stress and heat shock, also induce inflammation. These stresses can ultimately cause DNA damage or other types of cellular damage, which can lead to cell death if not repaired. Studying the potential activation of these pathways simultaneously can identify compounds or experimental conditions toxic to cells, evaluate the cell’s ability to respond to cellular damage, and identify potential interactions between the stress responses. Using real-time PCR, research studies can easily and reliably analyze the expression of a focused panel of genes involved in cellular stress and toxic insults with this array.