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1.
J Dev Orig Health Dis ; 3(5): 333-41, 2012 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25102262

ABSTRACT

The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is known to begin before birth and the impact of the intrauterine environment on subsequent adult health is currently being investigated from many quarters. Following our studies demonstrating the impact of hypoxia in utero and consequent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on the rat cardiovascular system, we hypothesized that changes extend throughout the vasculature and alter function of the renal artery. In addition, we hypothesized that hypoxia induces renal senescence as a potential mediator of altered vascular function. We demonstrated that IUGR females had decreased responses to the adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE; pEC50 6.50 ± 0.05 control v. 6.17 ± 0.09 IUGR, P < 0.05) and the endothelium-dependent vasodilator methylcholine (MCh; E max 89.8 ± 7.0% control v. 41.0 ± 6.5% IUGR, P < 0.001). In IUGR females, this was characterised by increased basal nitric oxide (NO) modulation of vasoconstriction (PE pEC50 6.17 ± 0.09 IUGR v. 6.42 ± 0.08 in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME; P < 0.01) but decreased activated NO modulation (no change in MCh responses in the presence of l-NAME), respectively. In contrast, IUGR males had no changes in PE or MCh responses but demonstrated increased basal NO (PE pEC50 6.29 ± 0.06 IUGR v. 6.42 ± 0.12 plus l-NAME, P < 0.01) and activated NO (E max 37.8 ± 9.4% control v. -0.8 ± 13.0% plus l-NAME, P < 0.05) modulation. No significant changes were found in gross kidney morphology, proteinuria or markers of cellular senescence in either sex. In summary, renal vascular function was altered by hypoxia in utero in a sex-dependent manner but was unlikely to be mediated by premature renal senescence.


Subject(s)
Fetal Growth Retardation/etiology , Hypoxia/complications , Renal Artery/physiology , Animals , Choline/analogs & derivatives , Choline/pharmacology , Female , Male , Nitric Oxide/blood , Phenylephrine/pharmacology , Pregnancy , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects , Rats, Sprague-Dawley
2.
Cytogenet Genome Res ; 128(4): 245-9, 2010 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20431279

ABSTRACT

Here we report the clinical and cytogenetic results of a family carrying a cryptic translocation involving chromosome 3pter and 21qter detected by single nucleotide polymorphism array and subtelomeric fluorescent in situ hybridisation analysis. The index patient, with mild mental retardation in combination with minor dysmorphic features, inherited the derivative chromosome 21 resulting in a partial trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 3 and a partial monosomy of the long arm of chromosome 21. Her apparently healthy brother inherited the derivative chromosome 3 resulting in a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 3 and a terminal duplication of the long arm of chromosome 21. We discuss the different phenotypes for the 2 genotypes and argue for the importance of reporting these imbalances to achieve accurate genetic counseling in prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 , Segmental Duplications, Genomic , Sequence Deletion , Translocation, Genetic , Child , Child, Preschool , Face/abnormalities , Family , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Karyotyping , Male , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Trisomy
4.
Prenat Diagn ; 25(2): 151-5, 2005 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15712342

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to characterise a marker chromosome in cultured amniocytes of a fetus with a mos 47,XX,+mar[3]/46,XX[14] karyotype. METHODS: The indication for prenatal cytogenetic analysis of cultured amniocytes was advanced maternal age. Classic banding techniques (GTG- and C-banding) were performed. Microdissection combined with reverse painting was used to disclose the exact origin of the marker; the result was confirmed by chromosome painting and FISH with band-specific probes. RESULTS: Analysis of GTG-banded chromosomes showed a small marker chromosome in 3 of the 17 colonies analysed. Subsequently, C-banding showed no alphoid sequences, suggesting the presence of a neocentromere. The parent's karyotypes were normal. After normal ultrasound findings, the parents decided to continue the pregnancy. Chromosome analysis in peripheral blood after birth demonstrated that the marker chromosome was present in 50% of the lymphocytes. Using microFISH, the marker was further characterised and appeared to be derived from chromosome region (8)(p22 --> pter). CONCLUSION: Accurate identification of the marker chromosome was very important for prenatal counselling. Combining the results of GTG- and C-banding analysis with the results of the (micro)FISH, we concluded that the patient's karyotype is: mos 47,XX,+mar.rev ish der(8)(p22 --> pter)[50]/46,XX[50].


Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 , Prenatal Diagnosis , Trisomy/diagnosis , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Age , Pedigree , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second
5.
Leukemia ; 16(4): 755-61, 2002 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11960364

ABSTRACT

About 30% of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) carry TAL1 gene aberrations. In the majority of cases (approximately 25%), this concerns a submicroscopic deletion of approximately 90 kb in chromosome region 1p32, which deletes the coding regions of the SIL gene and the untranslated region of the TAL1 gene, thereby placing the TAL1 gene under control of the SIL promoter region. Translocation (1;14)(p32;q11) involving the TAL1 gene occurs at a much lower frequency (3%), whereas some other rare variant translocations have been described as well. In this study we developed a set of TAL1 FISH probes based on the split-signal FISH principle that enables detection of both types of TAL1 gene aberrations in single test. For this purpose, one probe was designed downstream of the TAL1 gene (TAL1-D) and the second probe in the region upstream of the TAL1 gene, partly covering the SIL gene (SIL-U). We show that this split-signal FISH probe set allows reliable detection of the unaffected SIL-TAL1 gene region with a fusion signal, SIL-TAL1 fusion genes with loss of the SIL-U signal, and TAL1 gene translocations with a split-signal, independent of the involved partner gene.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell/genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins , Translocation, Genetic , Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors , Chromosome Breakage , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics , Gene Deletion , Gene Library , Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Karyotyping , Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell/immunology , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1 , Transcription Factors/genetics
6.
J Mol Med (Berl) ; 79(11): 631-40, 2001 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11715066

ABSTRACT

T cell differentiation in the thymus is characterized by a hierarchical order of rearrangement steps in the T cell receptor (TCR) genes, resulting in the joining of V, D, and J gene segments. During each of the rearrangement steps, DNA fragments between rearranging V, D, and J gene segments are deleted as circular excision products, the so-called TRECs (T cell receptor excision circles). TRECs are assumed to have a high over-time stability, but they can not multiply and consequently are diluted during T cell proliferation. It was recently suggested that quantitative detection of TRECs would allow for direct measurement of thymic output. The deltaRec-psiJalpha TREC appears to be the best marker, because the majority of thymocyte expansion occurs before this TREC is formed. However, apart from thymic output several other factors determine the TREC content of a T cell population, such as cell division and cell death. Likewise, the number of TRECs depends not only on thymic output, but also on the longevity of naive T cells. This warrants caution with regard to the interpretation of TREC data as measured in healthy and diseased individuals. deltaRec-psiJalpha TREC detection is a new and elegant tool for identification of recent thymic emigrants in the periphery, but further research is required for making quantitative estimations of thymic output with the use of TREC analysis.


Subject(s)
Gene Rearrangement , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism , Thymus Gland/cytology , Thymus Gland/metabolism , Animals , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Biomarkers , Cell Differentiation , Cell Division , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV-1/metabolism , Humans , Models, Biological , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics , T-Lymphocytes/cytology , Time Factors
7.
Nat Med ; 6(9): 1036-42, 2000 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10973325

ABSTRACT

Recent thymic emigrants can be identified by T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) formed during T-cell receptor rearrangement. Decreasing numbers of TRECs have been observed with aging and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected individuals, suggesting thymic impairment. Here, we show that in healthy individuals, declining thymic output will affect the TREC content only when accompanied by naive T-cell division. The rapid decline in TRECs observed during HIV-1 infection and the increase following HAART are better explained not by thymic impairment, but by changes in peripheral T-cell division rates. Our data indicate that TREC content in healthy individuals is only indirectly related to thymic output, and in HIV-1 infection is mainly affected by immune activation.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/immunology , HIV-1/immunology , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Thymus Gland/immunology , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Division , Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Humans , T-Lymphocytes/cytology
8.
EMBO J ; 18(10): 2793-802, 1999 May 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10329625

ABSTRACT

Enforced expression of Id3, which has the capacity to inhibit many basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, in human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells that have not undergone T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements inhibits development of the transduced cells into TCRalpha beta and gamma delta cells in a fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC). Here we document that overexpression of Id3, in progenitors that have initiated TCR gene rearrangements (pre-T cells), inhibits development into TCRalpha beta but not into TCRgamma delta T cells. Furthermore, Id3 impedes expression of recombination activating genes and downregulates pre-Talpha mRNA. These observations suggest possible mechanisms by which Id3 overexpression can differentially affect development of pre-T cells into TCRalpha beta and gamma delta cells. We also observed that cell surface CD4(-)CD8(-)CD3(-) cells with rearranged TCR genes developed from Id3-transduced but not from control-transduced pre-T cells in an FTOC. These cells had properties of both natural killer (NK) and pre-T cells. These findings suggest that bHLH factors are required to control T cell development after the T/NK developmental checkpoint.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Neoplasm Proteins , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Antigens, CD/immunology , Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Gene Expression Regulation , Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte/genetics , Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs , Humans , Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins , Retroviridae/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Thymus Gland , Transduction, Genetic
9.
Blood ; 93(9): 3033-43, 1999 May 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10216100

ABSTRACT

Recent studies have identified several populations of progenitor cells in the human thymus. The hematopoietic precursor activity of these populations has been determined. The most primitive human thymocytes express high levels of CD34 and lack CD1a. These cells acquire CD1a and differentiate into CD4(+)CD8(+) through CD3(-)CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD3(-)CD4(+) CD8alpha+beta- intermediate populations. The status of gene rearrangements in the various TCR loci, in particular of TCRdelta and TCRgamma, has not been analyzed in detail. In the present study we have determined the status of TCR gene rearrangements of early human postnatal thymocyte subpopulations by Southern blot analysis. Our results indicate that TCRdelta rearrangements initiate in CD34(+)CD1a- cells preceding those in the TCRgamma and TCRbeta loci that commence in CD34(+)CD1a+ cells. Furthermore, we have examined at which cellular stage TCRbeta selection occurs in humans. We analyzed expression of cytoplasmic TCRbeta and cell-surface CD3 on thymocytes that lack a mature TCRalphabeta. In addition, we overexpressed a constitutive-active mutant of p56(lckF505) by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer in sequential stages of T-cell development and analyzed the effect in a fetal thymic organ culture system. Evidence is presented that TCRbeta selection in humans is initiated at the transition of the CD3(-)CD4(+)CD8(-) into the CD4(+)CD8alpha+beta- stage.


Subject(s)
Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Child, Preschool , Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Humans , Infant , Models, Immunological , Oligonucleotide Probes , Polymerase Chain Reaction , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/cytology , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/cytology , Thymus Gland/immunology
10.
Immunol Rev ; 165: 75-86, 1998 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9850853

ABSTRACT

T-cell development is initiated when CD34+ pluripotent stem cells or their immediate progeny leave the bone marrow to migrate to the thymus. Upon arrival in the thymus the stem cell progeny is not yet committed to the T-cell lineage as it has the capability to develop into T, natural killer (NK) and dendritic cells (DC). Primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells in the human thymus express CD34 and lack CD1a. When these progenitor cells develop into T cells they traverse a number of checkpoints. One early checkpoint is the induction of T-cell commitment, which correlates with appearance of CD1a and involves the loss of capacity to develop into NK cells and DC and the initiation of T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements. Basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors play a role in induction of T-cell commitment. CD1a+CD34+ cells develop into CD4+CD8 alpha+ beta+ cells by upregulating first CD4, followed by CD8 alpha and then CD8 beta. Selection for productive TCR beta gene rearrangements (beta selection) likely occurs in the CD4+CD8 alpha+ beta- and CD4+CD8 alpha+ beta+ populations. Although the T and NK-cell lineages are closely related to each other, NK cells can develop independently of the thymus. The fetal thymus is most likely one site of NK-cell development.


Subject(s)
Dendritic Cells/cytology , Killer Cells, Natural/cytology , T-Lymphocytes/cytology , Thymus Gland/cytology , Animals , Cell Differentiation , Cell Movement , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology , Humans
11.
Immunology ; 93(2): 208-12, 1998 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9616370

ABSTRACT

The differentiation mechanisms that force thymocytes into the T-cell receptor (TCR)-alpha beta or TCR-gamma delta lineage are poorly understood, but rearrangement processes in the TCR-alpha/delta locus are likely to play an important role. It is assumed that the TCR-delta gene is deleted prior to V alpha-J alpha rearrangements by rearrangement of the so-called TCR-delta-deleting elements delta Rec and psi J alpha. However, the TCR-delta gene can also be deleted via V delta-J alpha rearrangements. We studied the different TCR-delta-deleting rearrangements of V delta 1, delta Rec, V delta 2 and V delta 3 to J alpha gene segments in human thymocytes and peripheral blood using polymerase chain reaction analysis. The V delta 1 gene segment is the most upstream V delta gene segment tested and appears to rearrange to almost all J alpha gene segments. In contrast, the delta Rec and V delta 2 gene segments only rearrange to the 5'-located J alpha gene segments, thereby preserving an extensive TCR-alpha combinatorial diversity, because most J alpha gene segments are kept available for subsequent V alpha-J alpha rearrangements. Based on our combined data we hypothesize that the different V delta gene segments and the delta Rec gene segment play different roles in T-cell development with regard to TCR-delta deletion.


Subject(s)
Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Thymus Gland/immunology , Adolescent , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Gene Deletion , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology , Oligonucleotide Probes , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Thymus Gland/embryology
12.
Int Immunol ; 10(12): 1873-80, 1998 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9885908

ABSTRACT

Recombination of deltaRec to psiJalpha will delete the TCR delta gene, which is thought to play an important role in the bifurcation of the TCR alphabeta versus TCR gammadelta differentiation lineages. We recently detected a DNA-binding protein in human thymocytes, the so-called PJA-BP, which recognizes the psiJalpha gene segment and might be one of the factors involved in the regulation of preferential deltaRec-psiJalpha rearrangements. We now investigate PJA-BP expression and its correlation with TCR delta gene deletion in thymocytes. Our electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments showed that the PJA-BP is evolutionary conserved in human, murine and simian thymocytes. Using a large series of human hematopoietic malignancies (n = 30), we conclude that PJA-BP expression is thymocyte specific and seems to be restricted to thymocytes committed to the TCR alphabeta lineage. Analysis of seven well-defined human thymocyte subpopulations showed that preferential deltaRec-psiJalpha rearrangements as well as PJA-BP expression can be detected from the immature CD34-/CD1+/CD3-/CD4+/CD8alpha+beta- thymocyte differentiation stage onwards. These experiments indicate that expression of PJA-BP in human thymocytes starts simultaneously with preferential deltaRec-psiJalpha rearrangements, which supports our hypothesis that PJA-BP is one of the factors involved in the preferential recombination of deltaRec to psiJalpha.


Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis , Gene Deletion , Genes, T-Cell Receptor delta , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , T-Lymphocytes/cytology , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Animals , Base Sequence , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Cell Lineage/immunology , Child, Preschool , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Haplorhini , Hematologic Neoplasms/genetics , Hematologic Neoplasms/metabolism , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Molecular Sequence Data , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/biosynthesis , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
13.
J Immunol ; 159(9): 4341-9, 1997 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9379030

ABSTRACT

The so-called TCR-delta-deleting elements, deltaRec and psiJ alpha, flank the major part of the TCR-delta gene complex. By rearranging to each other, the deltaRec and psiJ alpha gene segments delete the TCR-delta gene complex and prepare the allele for subsequent TCR-alpha rearrangement. This intermediate rearrangement is thought to be a specific rearrangement event. In our studies on TCR-delta deletion mechanisms, we identified several T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) with continuous activity of the deltaRec-psiJ alpha rearrangement process. Extensive Southern blot, PCR, and sequencing analyses on the coding joints as well as the signal joints of the deltaRec-psiJ alpha rearrangements in these patients allowed us to prove that this continuous rearrangement activity occurred in the leukemic cells and that these cells, therefore, represent a polyclonal subpopulation within the otherwise monoclonal T-ALL. In additional studies, we also identified a T cell line (DND41) with continuous activity of the deltaRec-psiJ alpha rearrangement process. Our data suggest that the ongoing deltaRec-psiJ alpha gene rearrangements predominantly occur in T cells that cannot express a functional TCR-gammadelta, due to biallelic out-of-frame TCR-delta and/or TCR-gamma gene rearrangements. The described T-ALL and the T cell line can serve as an experimental model in further studies on the regulatory elements involved in the specific deletion of the TCR-delta gene complex.


Subject(s)
DNA Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics , Gene Deletion , Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte , Leukemia, T-Cell/genetics , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , DNA Nucleotidyltransferases/immunology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genes, Immunoglobulin , Humans , Leukemia, T-Cell/immunology , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology , VDJ Recombinases
14.
J Immunol ; 158(3): 1208-16, 1997 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9013961

ABSTRACT

The major part of the TCR-delta locus is flanked by the so-called TCR-delta-deleting elements deltaRec and psi(J)alpha, which preferentially rearrange to each other in human thymocytes. On the basis of our combined Southern blot and PCR analyses, we also identified the prominent deltaRec-Jalpha58 rearrangement and three other preferential deltaRec rearrangements. The latter rearrangements concern deltaRec rearrangements to the Ddelta3, Jdelta1, and Jdelta3 gene segments. These deltaRec rearrangements do not delete the complete TCR-delta locus and are homologous to Vdelta-Jdelta rearrangements, because the majority of their junctional regions contain Ddelta gene segments. In contrast, the prominent deltaRec-psi(J)alpha and deltaRec-Jalpha58 rearrangements, representing approximately 68 and approximately 23% of all deltaRec rearrangements, respectively, are homologous to Valpha-Jalpha rearrangements, because Ddelta gene segments are absent in their junctional regions. Additional PCR analysis of Vdelta-psi(J)alpha and Vdelta-Jalpha58 coding and signal joints revealed also that these rearrangements resemble Valpha-Jalpha rearrangements, except for Vdelta2-psi(J)alpha and Vdelta2-Jalpha58 rearrangements, which resemble Vdelta-Jdelta rearrangements. Our data show that virtually all TCR-delta-deleting rearrangements are Valpha-like, and the high frequency of these rearrangements in the human thymus suggests that most thymocytes use these rearrangements to further differentiate into the TCR-alphabeta lineage. Based on the very low frequency of deltaRec and psi(J)alpha rearrangements in 4% of the T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients (n = 151) and 6% of the T cell lines (n = 26), we hypothesize that rearranged TCR-delta-deleting elements exist for only an extremely short period during thymocyte differentiation, probably due to rapid subsequent Valpha-Jalpha rearrangements.


Subject(s)
Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , Sequence Deletion , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Alleles , Base Sequence , Blotting, Southern , Humans , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid , Thymus Gland/embryology , Tumor Cells, Cultured
15.
J Immunol ; 156(10): 3806-14, 1996 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8621917

ABSTRACT

The TCR is a heterodimeric molecule composed of either gamma delta or alpha beta chains. The differentiation mechanisms that force thymocytes into the gamma delta alpha beta lineage are poorly understood, but rearrangement processes in the TCR-delta alpha locus are likely to play an important role. The TCR-delta gene complex is flanked by the delta-deleting elements delta Rec and psi J alpha, which are assumed to delete the TCR-delta gene before V alpha-J alpha rearrangement. The nonproductive delta Rec-psi J alpha recombination occurs at high frequency in both fetal and postnatal immature thymocytes. To find DNA binding proteins involved in the delta Rec-psi J alpha preferential rearrangement, we performed electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the recombination signal sequence of psi J alpha with additional upstream and downstream sequences. We observed a 180-kDa DNA binding protein in nuclear extracts from human thymocytes that recognized a 46-bp binding site on the psi J alpha gene segment, containing the core motif GTTAATAGG. The psi J alpha binding protein, which we call PJA-BP, was also detected in immature CD3-T cell lines with TCR-delta genes deleted on both alleles, in a TCR-alpha beta+ cell line, and in two of four myeloid cell lines. This protein was absent in a TCR-gamma delta+ T cell line, in nonhemopoietic cell lines, and in all but one B cell lines tested. Although we could detect binding activity of the PJA-BP to some other TCR-J alpha gene segments, we postulate that binding of PJA-BP to the psi J alpha gene segment is one of the factors involved in the preferential delta Rec-psi J alpha gene rearrangement process.


Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins/isolation & purification , Pseudogenes/immunology , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics , Sequence Deletion/immunology , Thymus Gland/immunology , Adult , Base Sequence , Child, Preschool , DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte/immunology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Molecular Sequence Data , Molecular Weight , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism , Thymus Gland/metabolism
16.
Eur J Immunol ; 23(12): 3109-14, 1993 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8258324

ABSTRACT

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an immunodeficiency disease in man, resulting from an arrest in early B cell differentiation. The gene defective in XLA has recently been identified and encodes a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase, named Bruton's tyrosine kinase (btk), essential for cell differentiation and proliferation at the transition from pre-B to later B cell stages. In this study we investigated btk expression by Northern blotting experiments in a series of human (precursor-) B cell lines, acute lymphoblastic leukemias and plasmacytomas. btk was found to be already expressed in very early stages of B cell differentiation, even prior to immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) or light (L) chain gene rearrangements. Transcripts were also detected at the pre-B cell stage and in mature B cells, irrespective of the Ig H chain class expressed. Approximately at the transition from mature B cells to plasma cells, expression of the btk gene is down-regulated. In addition, the btk gene was found to be expressed in myeloid cell lines and acute myeloid leukemias. btk expression in myeloid cells is probably not a prerequisite for myeloid differentiation, since myeloid cells in XLA patients seem not to be affected. No btk expression was found in T-lineage cells. The btk expression profile, i.e. from early precursor-B cell stages preceding Ig rearrangement up to mature B cells, supports the hypothesis that the XLA defect resides in a critical step of B cell development which is independent of the Ig gene recombination machinery.


Subject(s)
Agammaglobulinemia/genetics , B-Lymphocytes/enzymology , Genetic Linkage , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/enzymology , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , X Chromosome , B-Lymphocytes/physiology , Cell Differentiation , Cell Line, Transformed , Gene Expression , Gene Rearrangement , Genes, Immunoglobulin , Herpesvirus 4, Human , Humans , RNA, Messenger/analysis , T-Lymphocytes/enzymology
17.
Leukemia ; 7(12): 1939-47, 1993 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8255092

ABSTRACT

The transmembrane forms of all immunoglobulin (Ig) classes are associated with two glycoproteins, mb-1 and B29, that are crucial for signal transduction following antigen binding to the Ig molecule. We have investigated the transcription and protein expression of mb-1 and B29 genes during B-cell development. Sixty human continuous cell lines (35 B-lineage, 11 T-lineage, 11 myeloid-lineage and three non-hematopoietic) and 75 hematopoietic malignancies (55 B-lineage, 12 T-lineage and eight myeloid-lineage), were tested for RNA expression by Northern blotting experiments with the mb-1 pRA3 cDNA probe, and a newly isolated B29 cDNA probe. Protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy of cytocentrifuge preparations, which were labeled with the anti-mb-1 HM57 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and an anti-B29 polyclonal antiserum, directed against intracellular epitopes of these polypeptides. Except for two early precursor B-cell lines, mb-1 and B29 transcripts and proteins were detected in all B-cell lines and B-cell malignancies, i.e. from immature to more mature B cells, irrespective of their Ig class expression. Transcription of mb-1 genes seems to be down-regulated at the plasma cell stage, because no mb-1 transcripts and mb-1 proteins could be detected in the four plasma cell lines and two plasma cell leukemias tested. B29 transcripts were detectable in these cell samples, but low levels of B29 proteins were only detected in one plasma cell line. The HM57 mAb gave strong labeling on fresh cytocentrifuge preparations of all B-cell samples, and this mb-1 protein expression appeared to be B-cell specific. We therefore conclude that the HM57 mAb is well suited for the detection of the mb-1 molecule as a pan-B-cell marker for the diagnosis of immature and mature B-cell malignancies. The expression pattern of the mb-1 protein is comparable to that of the CD19 and CD22 antigens, but has the advantage of being B-lineage specific. Although B29 protein expression was restricted to B-lineage cells, the anti-B29 antiserum is less suitable for diagnosis of B-cell malignancies, because of the variable and generally weak signals on cytocentrifuge preparations.


Subject(s)
Antigens, CD , Gene Expression , Genes, Immunoglobulin/genetics , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Leukemia/genetics , Lymphoma/genetics , Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics , Phosphoproteins/genetics , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/genetics , Transcription, Genetic , B-Lymphocytes/metabolism , B-Lymphocytes/pathology , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Blotting, Northern , CD79 Antigens , Cell Line , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/pathology , Humans , Leukemia/metabolism , Leukemia/pathology , Leukemia, B-Cell/diagnosis , Lymphoma/metabolism , Lymphoma/pathology , Lymphoma, B-Cell/diagnosis , Membrane Glycoproteins/analysis , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Phosphoproteins/analysis , Phosphoproteins/metabolism , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/analysis , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/metabolism , Tumor Cells, Cultured/metabolism
19.
J Immunol Methods ; 142(2): 187-98, 1991 Sep 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-1717598

ABSTRACT

Three mouse monoclonal antibodies (Moabs) have been obtained with specificity for the 7B2 protein, a proposed member of the granin family of neuroendocrine proteins. Bacterially produced hybrid proteins of 7B2 were used as immunogens. The Moabs were designated MON-100, MON-101, and MON-102. Furthermore, we report the construction of 35 deletion mutants of the glutathione S-transferase-7B2 (GST-7B2) fusion-gene using recombinant DNA technology. The hybrid proteins encoded by eleven of these mutants were used in epitope mapping experiments and the results of these studies strongly suggested that recognition of 7B2 by all three Moabs involved the same 16 amino acid region of 7B2 (from amino acid residue 128-135). This was further substantiated by the observation that MON-101 and MON-102 specifically recognized a conjugate between bovine serum albumin and the synthetic peptide Phe-Glu-Pro-Glu-His-Asp-Tyr-Pro-Gly-Leu-Gly-Lys based upon the deduced amino acid sequence of the predicted epitope region in 7B2. In an approach to generate a series of 7B2-specific Moabs targeted against another epitope region in the 7B2 protein, the hybrid protein encoded by deletion mutant pPV32 was used as the immunogen. This protein lacked the epitope region recognized by the first series of Moabs. A second series of three Moabs, designated MON-142, MON-143, and MON-144, was obtained and, in all three cases, the region of 7B2 from amino acid residue 64-94 appeared to be involved in specific recognition by the Moabs. The whole panel of six anti-7B2 antibodies appeared to be useful in immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis of the 7B2 protein and specifically stained neuroendocrine cells in immunohistochemical experiments. Using a double determinant sandwich enzyme immunoassay, 7B2 protein levels in rat pituitary were determined as 20 ng/mg tissue.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology , Cloning, Molecular , Epitopes/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Peptide Mapping/methods , Pituitary Hormones/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/biosynthesis , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Blotting, Western , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Glutathione Transferase , Humans , Immunoglobulin Isotypes/analysis , Immunohistochemistry , Molecular Sequence Data , Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2 , Pituitary Hormones/immunology , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics , Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid , Xenopus laevis
20.
Nutr Cancer ; 11(1): 41-53, 1988.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-3353311

ABSTRACT

The relative validity of information and food consumption in the distant past was assessed by combining a dietary history (referring to the recent past) with a food frequency list (monitoring major changes over the past 12-14 years). This approach was evaluated in a study of two groups of apparently healthy elderly people (mean age 80 years) who had participated in a food consumption study 12-14 years before the start of the present study. One group consisted of 18 harbor employees who retired subsequent to the initial assessment of food intake. On the average, each member of this group had reduced his food consumption by about 1,000 kcal. The other group consisted of 46 elderly men and women who had retired before their food consumption was measured initially. This group had not markedly changed their food intake. The results showed that both groups overestimated changes in their food intake and that the systematic overestimation and random error were similar for both groups. If the men in both groups were combined to form one group, a valid ranking of subjects in small and large consumers of energy and most of the selected nutrients was possible. However, current food intake influenced the accuracy of the measurement of past food intake.


Subject(s)
Diet Surveys , Diet/trends , Food Supply , Nutrition Surveys , Aged , Data Collection/methods , Data Collection/standards , Energy Intake , Feeding Behavior , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective Studies
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