Renal Allograft Survival in Nonhuman Primates Infused With Donor Antigen-Pulsed Autologous Regulatory Dendritic Cells.

Systemic administration of autologous regulatory dendritic cells (DCreg; unpulsed or pulsed with donor antigen [Ag]), prolongs allograft survival and promotes transplant tolerance in rodents. Here, we demonstrate that nonhuman primate (NHP) monocyte-derived DCreg preloaded with cell membrane vesicles from allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells induce T cell hyporesponsiveness to donor alloantigen (alloAg) in vitro. These donor alloAg-pulsed autologous DCreg (1.4-3.6 × 106 /kg) were administered intravenously, 1 day before MHC-mismatched renal transplantation to rhesus monkeys treated with costimulation blockade (cytotoxic T lymphocyte Ag 4 immunoglobulin [CTLA4] Ig) and tapered rapamycin. Prolongation of graft median survival time from 39.5 days (no DCreg infusion; n = 6 historical controls) and 29 days with control unpulsed DCreg (n = 2), to 56 days with donor Ag-pulsed DCreg (n = 5) was associated with evidence of modulated host CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to donor Ag and attenuation of systemic IL-17 production. Circulating anti-donor antibody (Ab) was not detected until CTLA4 Ig withdrawal. One monkey treated with donor Ag-pulsed DCreg rejected its graft in association with progressively elevated anti-donor Ab, 525 days posttransplant (160 days after withdrawal of immunosuppression). These findings indicate a modest but not statistically significant beneficial effect of donor Ag-pulsed autologous DCreg infusion on NHP graft survival when administered with a minimal immunosuppressive drug regimen.

Regulatory T Cell Infusion Can Enhance Memory T Cell and Alloantibody Responses in Lymphodepleted Nonhuman Primate Heart Allograft Recipients.

The ability of regulatory T cells (Treg) to prolong allograft survival and promote transplant tolerance in lymphodepleted rodents is well established. Few studies, however, have addressed the therapeutic potential of adoptively transferred, CD4(+) CD25(+) CD127(-) Foxp3(+) (Treg) in clinically relevant large animal models. We infused ex vivo-expanded, functionally stable, nonselected Treg (up to a maximum cumulative dose of 1.87 billion cells) into antithymocyte globulin-lymphodepleted, MHC-mismatched cynomolgus monkey heart graft recipients before homeostatic recovery of effector T cells. The monkeys also received tacrolimus, anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies and tapered rapamycin maintenance therapy. Treg administration in single or multiple doses during the early postsurgical period (up to 1 month posttransplantation), when host T cells were profoundly depleted, resulted in inferior graft function compared with controls. This was accompanied by increased incidences of effector memory T cells, enhanced interferon-γ production by host CD8(+) T cells, elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and antidonor alloantibodies. The findings caution against infusion of Treg during the early posttransplantation period after lymphodepletion. Despite marked but transient increases in Treg relative to endogenous effector T cells and use of reputed "Treg-friendly" agents, the host environment/immune effector mechanisms instigated under these conditions can perturb rather than favor the potential therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred Treg.

Sequential monitoring and stability of ex vivo-expanded autologous and nonautologous regulatory T cells following infusion in nonhuman primates.

Ex vivo-expanded cynomolgus monkey CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) regulatory T cells (Treg) maintained Foxp3 demethylation status at the Treg-specific demethylation region, and potently suppressed T cell proliferation through three rounds of expansion. When carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester- or violet proliferation dye 450-labeled autologous (auto) and nonautologous (non-auto)-expanded Treg were infused into monkeys, the number of labeled auto-Treg in peripheral blood declined rapidly during the first week, but persisted at low levels in both normal and anti-thymocyte globulin plus rapamycin-treated (immunosuppressed; IS) animals for at least 3 weeks. By contrast, MHC-mismatched non-auto-Treg could not be detected in normal monkey blood or in blood of two out of the three IS monkeys by day 6 postinfusion. They were also more difficult to detect than auto-Treg in peripheral lymphoid tissue. Both auto- and non-auto-Treg maintained Ki67 expression early after infusion. Sequential monitoring revealed that adoptively transferred auto-Treg maintained similarly high levels of Foxp3 and CD25 and low CD127 compared with endogenous Treg, although Foxp3 staining diminished over time in these nontransplanted recipients. Thus, infused ex vivo-expanded auto-Treg persist longer than MHC-mismatched non-auto-Treg in blood of nonhuman primates and can be detected in secondary lymphoid tissue. Host lymphodepletion and rapamycin administration did not consistently prolong the persistence of non-auto-Treg in these sites.

Combined in vivo and in silico investigations of activation of glycolysis in contracting skeletal muscle.

The hypothesis was tested that the variation of in vivo glycolytic flux with contraction frequency in skeletal muscle can be qualitatively and quantitatively explained by calcium-calmodulin activation of phosphofructokinase (PFK-1). Ischemic rat tibialis anterior muscle was electrically stimulated at frequencies between 0 and 80 Hz to covary the ATP turnover rate and calcium concentration in the tissue. Estimates of in vivo glycolytic rates and cellular free energetic states were derived from dynamic changes in intramuscular pH and phosphocreatine content, respectively, determined by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS). Computational modeling was applied to relate these empirical observations to understanding of the biochemistry of muscle glycolysis. Hereto, the kinetic model of PFK activity in a previously reported mathematical model of the glycolytic pathway (Vinnakota KC, Rusk J, Palmer L, Shankland E, Kushmerick MJ. J Physiol 588: 1961-1983, 2010) was adapted to contain a calcium-calmodulin binding sensitivity. The two main results were introduction of regulation of PFK-1 activity by binding of a calcium-calmodulin complex in combination with activation by increased concentrations of AMP and ADP was essential to qualitatively and quantitatively explain the experimental observations. Secondly, the model predicted that shutdown of glycolytic ATP production flux in muscle postexercise may lag behind deactivation of PFK-1 (timescales: 5-10 s vs. 100-200 ms, respectively) as a result of accumulation of glycolytic intermediates downstream of PFK during contractions.

Immunogenetic Management Software: a new tool for visualization and analysis of complex immunogenetic datasets.

Here we describe the Immunogenetic Management Software (IMS) system, a novel web-based application that permits multiplexed analysis of complex immunogenetic traits that are necessary for the accurate planning and execution of experiments involving large animal models, including nonhuman primates. IMS is capable of housing complex pedigree relationships, microsatellite-based MHC typing data, as well as MHC pyrosequencing expression analysis of class I alleles. It includes a novel, automated MHC haplotype naming algorithm and has accomplished an innovative visualization protocol that allows users to view multiple familial and MHC haplotype relationships through a single, interactive graphical interface. Detailed DNA and RNA-based data can also be queried and analyzed in a highly accessible fashion, and flexible search capabilities allow experimental choices to be made based on multiple, individualized and expandable immunogenetic factors. This web application is implemented in Java, MySQL, Tomcat, and Apache, with supported browsers including Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows and Safari on Mac OS. The software is freely available for distribution to noncommercial users by contacting Leslie.kean@emory.edu. A demonstration site for the software is available at http://typing.emory.edu/typing_demo , user name: imsdemo7@gmail.com and password: imsdemo.

Resources for genetic management and genomics research on non-human primates at the National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs).

The National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) established Working Groups (WGs) for developing resources and mechanisms to facilitate collaborations among non-human primate (NHP) researchers. Here we report the progress of the Genome Banking and the Genetics and Genomics WGs in developing resources to advance the exchange, analysis and comparison of NHP genetic and genomic data across the NPRCs. The Genome Banking WG has established a National NHP DNA bank comprising 1250 DNA samples from unrelated animals and family trios from the 10 NHP species housed within the NPRC system. The Genetics and Genomics WG is developing SNP arrays that will provide a uniform, highly informative, efficient and low-cost method for rhesus and long-tailed macaque genotyping across the eight NPRCs. This WG is also establishing a Biomedical Informatics Research Network-based portal for shared bioinformatics resources including vital statistics, genotype and population data and information on the National NHP DNA bank.

Acute molecular response of mouse hindlimb muscles to chronic stimulation.

Stimulation of the mouse hindlimb via the sciatic nerve was performed for a 4-h period to investigate acute muscle gene activation in a model of muscle phenotype conversion. Initial force production (1.6 +/- 0.1 g/g body wt) declined 45% within 10 min and was maintained for the remainder of the experiment. Force returned to initial levels upon study completion. An immediate-early growth response was present in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle (FOS, JUN, activating transcription factor 3, and musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene) with a similar but attenuated pattern in the soleus muscle. Transcript profiles showed decreased fast fiber-specific mRNA (myosin heavy chains 2A and 2B, fast troponins T(3) and I, alpha-tropomyosin, muscle creatine kinase, and parvalbumin) and increased slow transcripts (myosin heavy chain-1beta/slow, troponin C slow, and tropomyosin 3y) in the EDL versus soleus muscles. Histological analysis of the EDL revealed glycogen depletion without inflammatory cell infiltration in stimulated versus control muscles, whereas ultrastructural analysis showed no evidence of myofiber damage after stimulation. Multiple fiber type-specific transcription factors (tea domain family member 1, nuclear factor of activated T cells 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha and -beta, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha) increased in the EDL along with transcription factors characteristic of embryogenesis (Kruppel-like factor 4; SRY box containing 17; transcription factor 15; PBX/knotted 1 homeobox 1; and embryonic lethal, abnormal vision). No established in vivo satellite cell markers or genes activated in our parallel experiments of satellite cell proliferation in vitro (cyclins A(2), B(2), C, and E(1) and MyoD) were differentially increased in the stimulated muscles. These results indicated that the molecular onset of fast to slow phenotype conversion occurred in the EDL within 4 h of stimulation without injury or satellite cell recruitment. This conversion was associated with the expression of phenotype-specific transcription factors from resident fiber myonuclei, including the activation of nascent developmental transcriptional programs.

Multinuclear NMR studies of an actively dividing artificial tumor.

Growth of the A549 cell line in a perfusion system suitable for use in a magnetic resonance study has been characterized and shown to be stable physiologically and hence appropriate for serial observations. Several methods of monitoring cell growth were compared to assess the behavior of the cells in this system. Comparison between NMR metabolite data and cell growth via cell counting showed that 31P NMR signals accurately reported cell doubling time. In contrast to most NMR cell culture systems, viable cells can be recovered from the perfusion system after the NMR measurements for further biochemical studies. These data further suggest that this system will be useful for studying the physiology and biochemistry of exponentially growing cells for at least two days in NMR tube culture.

Contraction increases the T(2) of muscle in fresh water but not in marine invertebrates.

Previous studies suggest that the activity-induced increase in (1)H-NMR transverse relaxation time (T(2)) observed in mammalian skeletal muscles is related to an osmotic effect of intracellular metabolite accumulation. This hypothesis was tested by comparing T(2) (measured by (1)H-NMR imaging at 4.7 T) and metabolite changes (measured by (31)P-NMR spectroscopy) after stimulation in the muscles of a freshwater (crayfish, Orconectes virilis) vs two osmoconforming marine invertebrates (lobster, Homarus americanus; scallop, Argopecten concentricus). Intracellular pH significantly decreased after stimulation in the lobster tail muscle, but not in the crayfish tail or scallop phasic adductor muscles. The decrease in phosphoarginine-to-ATP ratio after stimulation was similar in the three muscles. Muscle T(2) increased from 37 to 43 ms (p < 0.02, n = 7) after stimulation in crayfish, but was unchanged in lobster muscle (32 ms, n = 7), and significantly decreased (from 40 to 36 ms, p < 0.02, n = 11) in scallop muscle. The observation that T(2) does not increase after stimulation in muscles of marine invertebrates with high natural osmolarity is consistent with the hypothesis that the T(2) increase in mammalian muscle is related to osmotically driven shifts of fluid between subcellular compartments.

Kinetic characterization of hexokinase isoenzymes from glioma cells: implications for FDG imaging of human brain tumors.

Quantitative imaging of glucose metabolism of human brain tumors with PET utilizes 2-[(18)F]-fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and a conversion factor called the lumped constant (LC), which relates the metabolic rate of FDG to glucose. Since tumors have greater uptake of FDG than would be predicted by the metabolism of native glucose, the characteristic of tumors that governs the uptake of FDG must be part of the LC. The LC is chiefly determined by the phosphorylation ratio (PR), which is comprised of the kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) of hexokinase (HK) for glucose as well as for FDG (LC proportional to (Km(glc) x Vmax(FDG))/(Km(FDG) x Vmax(glc)). The value of the LC has been estimated from imaging studies, but not validated in vitro from HK kinetic parameters. In this study we measured the kinetic constants of bovine and 36B-10 rat glioma HK I (predominant in normal brain) and 36B-10 glioma HK II (increased in brain tumors) for the hexose substrates glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and FDG. Our principal results show that the KmGlc < KmFDG << Km2DG and that PR2DG < PRFDG. The FDG LC calculated from our kinetic parameters for normal brain, possessing predominantly HK I, would be higher than the normal brain LC predicted from animal studies using 2DG or human PET studies using FDG or 2DG. These results also suggest that a shift from HK I to HK II, which has been observed to increase in brain tumors, would have little effect on the value of the tumor LC.

Mammary tumor induction and premature ovarian failure in ApcMin mice are not enhanced by Brca2 deficiency.

Inherited BRCA2 mutations predispose individuals to breast cancer and increase risk at other sites. Recent studies have suggested a role for the APC I1307K allele as a low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility gene that enhances the phenotypic effects of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. To model the consequences of inheriting mutant alleles of the BRCA2 and APC tumor suppressor genes, we examined tumor outcome in C57BL/6 mice with mutations in the Brca2 and Apc genes. We hypothesized that if the Brca2 and Apc genes were interacting to influence mammary tumor susceptibility, then mammary tumor incidence and/or multiplicity would be altered in mice that had inherited mutations in both genes. Female and male offspring treated with a single IP injection of 50 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) at 35 days of age developed mammary adenoacanthomas by 100 days of age. The female Apc-mutant and Brca2/Apc double-mutant progeny had mean mammary tumor multiplicities of 6.7+/-2.8 and 7.2+/-2.7, respectively, compared to wild-type and Brca2-mutant females, which had mean mammary tumor multiplicities of 0.1+/-0.4 and 0.3+/-0.5, respectively. Female ENU-treated Apc-mutant and Brca2/Apc double heterozygotes were also susceptible to premature ovarian failure. Thus, the inheritance of an Apc mutation predisposes ENU-treated female and male mice to mammary tumors and, in the case of female mice, to ovarian failure. These results indicate that mammary tumor development in Apc-mutant mice can progress independently of ovarian hormones. The Apc mutation-driven phenotypes were not modified by mutation of Brca2, perhaps because Brca2 acts in a hormonally dependent pathway of mammary carcinogenesis.

BRCA2-null embryonic survival is prolonged on the BALB/c genetic background.

Women who inherit mutations in the BRCA2 cancer susceptibility gene have an 85% chance of developing breast cancer. The function of the BRCA2 gene remains elusive, but there is evidence to support its role in transcriptional transactivation, tumor suppression, and the maintenance of genomic integrity. Individuals with identical BRCA2 mutations display a different distribution of cancers, suggesting that there are low-penetrance genes that can modify disease outcome. We hypothesized that genetic background could influence embryonic survival of a Brca2 mutation in mice. Brca2-null embryos with a 129/SvEv genetic background (129(B2-/-)) died before embryonic day 8. 5. Transfer of this Brca2 mutation onto the BALB/cJ genetic background (BALB/c(B2-/-)) extended survival to embryonic day 10.5. These results indicate that the BALB/c background harbors genetic modifiers that can prolong Brca2-null embryonic survival. The extended survival of BALB/c(B2-/-) embryos enabled us to ask whether transcriptional regulation of the Brca1 and Brca2 genes is interdependent. The interdependence of Brca1 and Brca2 was evaluated by studying Brca2 gene expression in BALB/c(B1-/-) embryos and Brca1 gene expression in BALB/c(B2-/-) embryos. Nonisotopic in situ hybridization demonstrated that Brca2 transcript levels were comparable in BALB/c(B1-/-) embryos and wild-type littermates. Likewise, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions confirmed Brca1 mRNA expression in embryonic day 8.5 BALB/c(B2-/-) embryos that was comparable to Brca2-heterozygous littermates. Thus, the Brca1 and Brca2 transcripts are expressed independently of one another in Brca1- and Brca2-null embryos. Mol. Carcinog. 28:174-183, 2000.

Mice heterozygous for a Brca1 or Brca2 mutation display distinct mammary gland and ovarian phenotypes in response to diethylstilbestrol.

Women who inherit mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are predisposed to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. We used mice with a Brca1 mutation on a BALB/cJ inbred background (BALB/cB1+/- mice) or a Brca2 genetic alteration on the 129/SvEv genetic background (129B2+/- mice) to investigate potential gene-environment interactions between defects in these genes and treatment with the highly estrogenic compound diethylstilbestrol (DES). Beginning at 3 weeks of age, BALB/cB1+/-, 129B2+/-, and wild-type female mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing 640 ppb DES for 26 weeks. DES treatment caused vaginal epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, uterine inflammation, adenomyosis, and fibrosis, as well as oviductal smooth muscle hypertrophy. The severity of the DES response was mouse strain specific. The estrogen-responsive 129/SvEv strain exhibited an extreme response in the reproductive tract, whereas the effect in BALB/cJ and C3H/HeN(MMTV-) mice was less severe. The Brca1 and Brca2 genetic alterations influenced the phenotypic response of BALB/cJ and 129/SvEv inbred strains, respectively, to DES in the mammary gland and ovary. The mammary duct branching morphology was inhibited in DES-treated BALB/cB1+/- mice compared with similarly treated BALB/cB1+/+ littermates. In addition, the majority of BALB/cB1+/- mice had atrophied ovaries, whereas wild-type littermates were largely diagnosed with arrested follicular development. The mammary ductal architecture in untreated 129B2+/- mice revealed a subtle inhibited branching phenotype that was enhanced with DES treatment. However, no significant differences were observed in ovarian pathology between 129B2+/+ and 129B2+/- mice. These data suggest that estrogenic compounds may modulate mammary gland or ovarian morphology in BALB/cB1+/- and 129B2+/- mice. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that compromised DNA repair processes in cells harboring Brca1 or Brca2 mutations lead to inhibited growth and differentiation compared with the proliferative response of wild-type cells to DES treatment.

Mutation analysis of the pRb pathway in 2',3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1, 3-butadiene-induced mouse lymphomas.

The pRb pathway plays a key role in controlling the G1/S transition in cell cycle progression. Aberrations of various components of the pRb pathway, such as retinoblastoma protein and its upstream actors including cyclin D1, cyclin dependence kinase-4 and p16/p15 cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, have been reported in a variety of human tumors. Furthermore, the alterations of retinoblastoma protein and its upstream components often occur in a reciprocal manner. Previously, we have reported frequent inactivation of the Cdkn2a/Cdkn2b loci encoding p16/p15 cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors in a subset of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1, 3-butadiene-induced mouse lymphomas (S.-M. Zhuang, A. Schippert, A. Haugen-Strano, R.W. Wiseman, P. Söderkvist, Inactivation of p16(INK4a)-alpha, p16(INK4a)-beta and p15(INK4b) genes in 2', 3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1,3-butadiene-induced lymphomas, Oncogene 16 (1998) 803-808), indicating the involvement of pRb pathway in lymphomagenesis. To investigate whether alteration of other components in pRb pathway is an alternative mechanism underlying the development of these chemically induced lymphomas, we have examined the genetic status of Rb1, Ccnd1 and Cdk4 genes that encode retinoblastoma protein, cyclin D1 and cyclin dependence kinase-4, respectively. Gross alterations of the Rb1, Ccnd1, and Cdk4 genes were not detected by Southern analysis in any of the tumors examined. In addition, single-strand conformation analysis failed to reveal point mutations in the Cdk4 amino terminal domain that is important for its association with Cdkn2a gene products. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying the development of 2', 3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1,3-butadiene-induced lymphomas involve inactivation of p16/p15 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors but not genomic alterations of the Rb1, Ccnd1 and Cdk4 genes.

A germ-line p53 mutation accelerates pulmonary tumorigenesis: p53-independent efficacy of chemopreventive agents green tea or dexamethasone/myo-inositol and chemotherapeutic agents taxol or adriamycin.

Recent evidence indicates that individuals with a p53 germ-line mutation (Li-Fraumeni syndrome) have a 50% risk of developing lung cancer by age 60. In this study, p53 heterozygous knockout mice and p53 transgenic mice carrying a dominant negative mutant were crossed with the A/J mouse, which is highly susceptible to lung tumor induction, to investigate whether a p53 germ-line mutation is a predisposing gene for carcinogen-induced pulmonary adenomas in mice. The number of lung tumors was not significantly increased in (TSG-p53 x A/J)F1 p53 heterozygous knockout mice as compared with that in (TSG-p53 x A/J)F1 wt mice 16 weeks after exposure to N-nitrosomethylurea (MNU). In contrast, an average of 22 lung tumors were observed in (UL53-3 x A/J)F1 mice carrying a mutant p53 transgene (135Valp53) compared with an average of 7 lung tumors seen in (UL53-3 x A/J)F1 wt mice after treatment with N-nitrosomethylurea. Similar enhancement of lung tumor multiplicity (approximately 3-fold) was seen when mutant versus wt mice were treated with the tobacco-related carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene or 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. These results suggest that the mutant p53 transgene may have a dominant negative effect on the wt p53. The potential usefulness of this new mouse model in lung cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy was examined. The chemopreventive efficacy of the green tea or a combination of dietary dexamethasone and myoinositol and the chemotherapeutic efficacy of Taxol or Adriamycin was examined in wt mice or mice with a mutation in the p53 gene. Mice treated with dexamethasone/myo-inositol and green tea displayed an average of 70 and 50% inhibition of lung tumors, respectively, regardless of p53 status. Similarly, when mice bearing established lung adenomas were treated with Taxol or Adriamycin, a decrease in tumor volume of approximately 70% was observed independent of p53 mutation status. Thus, the (UL53-3 x A/J)F1 p53 transgenic mouse seems to be an excellent model for human carriers of p53 germ-line mutations (Li-Fraumeni syndrome). Furthermore, the lung adenomas generated in this model possess mutations in both the K-ras proto-oncogene and the p53 tumor suppressor gene. This model should prove directly useful for chemoprevention and chemotherapy studies.

Use of p53 transgenic mice in the development of cancer models for multiple purposes.

The tumor suppressor gene p53 is perhaps the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer, being mutated in a high percentage of colon, breast, skin, bladder, and many cancers of the aerodigestive tract. Individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, who routinely have a germline mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, are at high risk for lung cancer, confirming its intimate role in lung tumorigenesis in humans. In contrast, the majority of chemically induced or spontaneous cancers in rodents do not contain mutations in p53. Therefore, we examined a transgenic mouse that contains a dominant negative mutation (Arg135Val) in the p53 gene placed under the control of its own endogenous promoter. The resulting mice have 3 copies of the mutated transgene as well as 2 normal p53 alleles. In the chemical carcinogenesis studies, we employed mice containing the mutated p53 gene to examine for carcinogen susceptibility. We found that mice with the p53 mutation, on an A/J F1 background, were more susceptible to a number of potential lung carcinogens, including N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and the known tobacco carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and benzo(a)pyrene (BP). Mice with a mutant p53 developed larger tumors and roughly 3 times as many tumors, emphasizing the potential effects of a p53 mutation both on tumor initiation and progression. In addition, we examined 2 nonlung carcinogens, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a colon carcinogen, and N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (OHBBN), a bladder carcinogen. Interestingly a germline p53 mutation increased the incidence of DMH-induced colon, lung, hepatic, and uterine tumors, while having limited effects on OHBBN-induced bladder tumors. Because of its heightened susceptibility we are examining the use of this model in smoke-induced tumorigenesis in A/J mice as well. Employing the lung adenomas induced by NNK, we found that mice with or without a p53 mutation were equally susceptible to the chemopreventive effects of dexamethasone plus myo-inisitol and green tea. These tumors, which arise in a highly reproducible manner in p53 transgenic mice following carcinogen treatment, have mutations in both p53 and the K-ras oncogene. Thus, this model appears useful for examining for potential chemotherapeutic agents. p53-mutated or wild-type mice were equally susceptible to the therapeutic effects of Taxol or Adriamycin. Interestingly, piroxicam was similarly effective in inhibiting colon tumor formation by DMH in mice with or without a mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. In contrast, lung and uterine tumors developing in these mice were not susceptible to the chemopreventive effects of piroxicam. In summary, mice with mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene appear to be particularly applicable for basic mechanistic studies, for screening for potential carcinogens, and for screening for chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents.

Sequence analysis of the rat Brca1 homolog and its promoter region.

Since the identification of the human breast and ovarian cancer gene, BRCA1, a large spectrum of germline mutations has been characterized that predispose women to developing these diseases. We have determined the complete coding sequence for the rat BRCA1 homolog and compared it with those of the mouse, dog, and human to help identify the important functional domains of the BRCA1 protein. The overall rat Brcal amino acid identity compared with the predicted mouse, dog, and human gene products is 81%, 69%, and 58%, respectively. In spite of this low overall homology, the amino terminal RING finger domain and one of two nuclear localization signals are highly conserved among these species. In addition, two BRCT domains at the carboxy terminus and a highly acidic region are relatively well conserved. We have also identified several putative regulatory elements through comparison of the bidirectional BRCA1 promoter regions among the rat, mouse, and human genes. These include motifs for CCAAT and G/C boxes, as well as potential SP1, CREB, and NFkB transcription factor binding sites. Finally, analysis of splice variants from rat mammary gland, ovary, testis, spleen, and liver tissues revealed that, while alternative transcripts are detectable, full-length transcripts are the predominant steady-state form.

Inactivations of p16INK4a-alpha, p16INK4a-beta and p15INK4b genes in 2',3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1,3-butadiene-induced murine lymphomas.

The p16INK4a (alpha and beta form) and p15INK4b genes were analysed for homozygous deletion, hypermethylation and point mutation in B6C3F1 mouse lymphomas induced by 2',3'-dideoxycytidine or 1,3-butadiene. Although the p16INK4a-alpha gene appeared normal in DNA from 2',3'-dideoxycytidine-induced lymphomas, Southern analyses revealed homozygous deletions or rearrangements of the p16INK4a-beta and/or p15INK4b genes in four of 16 tumours. Surprisingly, two of these lymphomas showed exclusive deletions of the p16INK4a EIbeta exon. The p15INK4b promoter region was hypermethylated in two additional 2',3'-dideoxycytidine-induced lymphomas. In contrast, homozygous deletions spanning the p16INK4a and p15INK4b loci were observed in only two of 31 1,3-butadiene-induced tumours. Thus, these cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor genes may play a significant role in chemically induced mouse lymphomas and support the contention of tumour suppressor activity for the p19ARF protein encoded by the p16INK4a-beta gene. Different genetic pathways may be involved in the development of these chemically induced tumours since we have previously shown that mutations in p53 and ras genes are common in 1,3-butadiene- but not 2',3'-dideoxycytidine-induced lymphomas.

Brca1 and Brca2 expression patterns in mitotic and meiotic cells of mice.

The mouse homologues of the breast cancer susceptibility genes, Brca1 and Brca2, are expressed in a cell cycle-dependent fashion in vitro and appear to be regulated by similar or overlapping pathways. Therefore, we compared the non isotopic in situ hybridization expression patterns of Brca1 and Brca2 mRNA in vivo in mitotic and meiotic cells during mouse embryogenesis, mammary gland development, and in adult tissues including testes, ovaries, and hormonally altered ovaries. Brca1 and Brca2 are expressed concordantly in proliferating cells of embryos, and the mammary gland undergoing morphogenesis and in most adult tissues. The expression pattern of Brca1 and Brca2 correlates with the localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, an indicator of proliferative activity. In the ovary, Brca1 and Brca2 exhibited a comparable hormone-independent pattern of expression in oocytes, granulosa cells and thecal cells of developing follicles. In the testes, Brca1 and Brca2 were expressed in mitotic spermatogonia and early meiotic prophase spermatocytes. Northern analyses of prepubertal mouse testes revealed that the time course of Brca2 expression was delayed in spermatogonia relative to Brca1. Thus, while Brca1 and Brca2 share concordant cell-specific patterns of expression in most proliferating tissues, these observations suggest that they may have distinct roles during meiosis.