[Pilot clinical and genetic study of Russian patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome].

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare hereditary syndrome characterized by presence of hamartoma polyps in intestinal tract and usually by mucocutaneous pigmentation. Clinical-genetic characteristics of Russian patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were studied for the first time. Four germline mutations in STK11gene were found in probands from six families and three of them had not been described previously. Clinical pattern of disease in Russian patients included: frequent polyposis of colon and stomach (62,5% and 75%, respectively) along with small bowel; frequent presence of malignant tumors (62,5%). These clinical aspects can help physicians to find out Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Molecular-genetic testing of individuals should be recommended.

The analysis of microRNAs miR-200C and miR-145 expression in colorectal cancer of different molecular subtypes.

The expression levels of microRNAs miR-200c and miR-145 in two groups of colorectal cancer differing by the presence/absence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMF) were studied. In the EMF-positive cancer, the level of miR-145 is increased, whereas the level of miR-200c is reduced. The reverse situation is observed in the EMI-negative cancer. MiR-145 can serve as a marker of the mesenchymal subtype of cancer. Gene expression profiles and microRNAs allow prognostically unfavorable tumors of the mesenchymal subtype to be distinguished.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and somatic alteration in colorectal cancer with and without peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Colorectal cancer is highly metastatic even when the tumors are small. To disseminate, cells use a complex and multistage process known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in which epithelial phenotype is transformed into mesenchymal phenotype. The objective of this study is to describe the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in terms of gene expression profile and somatic alterations in samples of colorectal cancer with or without peritoneal carcinomatosis. We analyzed samples taken from 38 patients with colorectal cancer (stages II-IV) and samples from 20 patients with colorectal cancer complicated by peritoneal carcinomatosis. The expression of ZEB1, ZEB2, CDH1, VIM, and SNAI1 was analyzed by real-time PCR. KRAS/BRAF mutations were mapped using sequencing. Microsatellite instability was evaluated by fragment analysis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition was detected in 6 out of 38 samples of colorectal cancer (stages II-IV), 7 out of 20 tumors from patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, and 19 out of 20 samples taken from carcinomatous nodules. Tumors of the mesenchymal subtype displayed high frequency of somatic mutations, microsatellite stability, and low degree of differentiation. The identification of epithelial-mesenchymal transition may be used as a marker of high metastatic potential, which is particularly relevant at early stages of tumor growth.

[Molecular genetics study of hereditary predisposition to diffuse gastric cancer in Russian patients].

About 3% of cases of gastric cancer (GC) cases are due to hereditary predisposition. Molecular causes of inherited predisposition to diffuse GC among Russian patients have not been studied. In the present work there was performed the molecular genetics study in 9 probands with signet-ring cell GC. Search of hereditary mutations was conducted in a suppressor gene of diffuse GC - the gene CDH1. We have discovered a new hereditary mutation (c.1005delA) and one rare variant (s.2253C> T). Frequency of hereditary mutations in sample of patients Russian was 1/9 (11,1%).

[The weakened form of familial adenomatosis: clinical and genetic characteristics and methods of treatment].

Clinical and genetic analysis of 24 Russian patients with attenuated form of family colon adenomatosis was undertaken. On the basis of obtained clinical and genetic data it was defined the algorithm of therapeutic measures in this group of patients--from dynamic monitoring or endoscopic polypectomy to performing extensive resections of the colon in situations associated with cancer development, an increase of the intensity of growth of polyps or an appearance of villous lesions. Some of the patients had molecular-genetics causes of a weakened form of family adenomatosis.

High incidence of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in ovarian cancer.

The incidence of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the studied sampling of 74 patients with ovarian cancer was 19%. The incidence of mutations in the Russian sampling of patients, formed without consideration for the family history, is one of the highest in European countries. Retrospective analysis showed that 9% patients carrying mutation had no family history of ovarian or breast cancer. The majority of mutations (86%) were detected in BRCA1 gene, where 5382insC mutation predominated (58%). These data suggest the possibility and advisability of screening for mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes in patients with ovarian cancer, particularly because this population includes patients without family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer.

New mutations in the APC gene in familial adenomatous polyposis: detection, characterization, and analysis.

The spectrum of mutations in the APC gene in familial adenomatous polyposis was detected in a sampling from the Russian population. Fifteen new mutations were found. Deletions associated with the loss of only 1 or 2 nucleotides (89% cases) prevailed among new (unique) mutations, while all known deletions were caused by the loss of 4 or 5 nucleotides. The detected differences in the deletion characteristics between unique and repeated mutations in the APC gene were typical of samples of patients from a number of populations. Samplings from different populations were heterogeneous by this sign. The incidence of 1-2-nucleotide deletions among unique and repeated deletions in the APC gene in patient samplings from different countries were in negative correlation.

Spectrum of mutations in BRCA1 gene in hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer in Russian families.

The 5382insC mutation predominated (94%) in the spectrum of detected mutations of BRCA1 gene. High incidence of this mutation in familial breast cancer detected for the first time attested to origination of 5382insC mutation from the European part of Russia. The percentage of families with mutations in BRCA1 gene and familial predisposition to ovarian cancer was significantly higher than in hereditary predisposition to breast cancer (p<0.007). These data suggest that clinical manifestation of the mutation depends on genotypical factors other than the position of this mutation in BRCA1 gene. The results prompt screening for hereditary predisposition to these diseases.

[Lymphocyte subpopulation of human peripheral blood responds to the low doses of ionizing radiation,interleukin-2 and to both factors]. / Subpopuliatsiia limfotsitov perifericheskoi krovi cheloveka, ékstre mal'no otvechaiushchaia na vozdeistvie malykh doz ioniziruiushchei radiatsii, interleikina-2 i sovmestnoe vliianie étikh faktorov.

Increasing of 3H-thymidine incorporation in lymphocytes of human peripheral blood which depends non-linearly on X-ray dose (3 cGy max) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentration (17.5 Units/ml) is shown. However addition of IL-2 (17.5 U/ml) into the medium of cells after irradiation (3 cGy) decreases almost to the control the effects induced by independently shown actions. Lymphocytes subpopulation responsible for the described phenomena are isolated during the fractionation of lymphocytes in the density gradient and pH (V-fraction BSA). Cell fraction less than 1-2% from the isolated lymphocytes is characterized by increasing of spontaneous corporation of 3H-thymidine, large sizes (d > 8 mkm), decreasing repair after UV-irradiation. It is believed that low dose irradiation and IL-2 activate this cell subpopulation of "last reaction", and higher doses of these factors and this both actions stopping 3H-thymidine incorporation initiate apoptosis. The relation of this sell subpopulation and before proposed ontogenetical reserve cells is discussed.

[Potential relationship between mutation process induced by low doses of ionizing radiation, and positional dynamics of chromosomes in nuclei of eukaryotic cells]. / O vozmozhnoi sviazi mutatsionnogo protsessa, indutsirovannogo malymi dozami ioniziruiushchei radiatsii, i pozitsionnoi dinamikoi khromosom v iadrakh kletok éukariot.

The mutation process has many stages. The information presented in this article suggest that a cell exposed to low LET radiation in the low-dose range (up to 1 cGy) must almost completely repair all spontaneous and radiation-induced DNA lesions. But reparation of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSB), which are the basis of genome instability has peculiarity. We have shown that the mechanisms of action of low doses (which initiate natural antimutagenic reactions of resting cells--an adaptive response) are associated with chromosome loci (centromere) movement in a cell nucleus. We suggest that the movement of chromosome loci in cell nucleus is the fundamental mechanism for repair of DSB and switching of the transcription of gene (it is known that in case of lymphoid cells Ikaros-complexes repressor is colocolizated with centromere loci); in particular, of nucleolar transcription activities because the latter is dependent on centromere arrangement. Because the movement of chromosome loci in both the mitotic cycle and under adapting dose on resting cells is much the same it could be assumed that in latter case the cells also lose their functional characteristic for differentiated resting cells. Under chronic exposure to low doses the functional changes can be the cause of organic changes if adapting dose affects the sufficient part of the cells. The role of cells of evolutional or ontogenetic reserve in mutation process is considered.

[The characteristics of unscheduled DNA synthesis and of the changes in the structural parameters of human lymphocyte nuclei after the action of x-ray radiation in low doses and in combination with UV irradiation]. / Osobennosti vneplanovogo sinteza DNK i izmenenii strukturnykh parametrov iader limfotsitov cheloveka posle deistviia rentgenovskogo izlucheniia v malykh dozakh i v sochetanii s UF-oblucheniem.

Effects of X-ray low doses (0.5-25 cGy) with following UV light (254 nm, 20 J/m2) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied. Reparation response registered by unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) activity was demonstrated to be the most intensive after action of X-rays in dose ranges 2-3 cGy and 15-20 cGy, and least intensive after 10 cGy. In those cells where UV light was followed by X-rays, dose ranges 2-3 cGy and 15-20 cGy cause essential decrease of UDS as compared with UV-light action only. The most intensive UDS was in those UV-irradiated lymphocytes which where previously exposed to 10 cGy of X-rays. At the same time 10 cGy cause minimal reparation response without UV light. Possible mechanisms of discovered phenomena are discussed. In particular, reaction on 2-3 cGy might be a reorganization of genome for adaptive response or an evolution reserve cells response. From 10 cGy the reason of reaction might be a reparation, induced by radiation.

[The effect of the environment on the repair of DNA damage in human lymphocytes]. / Vliianie okruzhaiushchei sredy na reparatsiiu povrezhdenii DNK limfotsitov cheloveka.

The dependence of UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in the unstimulated lymphocytes of human peripheral blood on the ionic strength (mu) of the culture medium has been shown. In the level of mu lower or higher than the physiological (mu ph) one, UDS significantly decreases. The effect of modification of mu due to the changes of ionic strength is absent in the lymphocytes of the classic form of xeroderma pigmentosum. The phenomenon may become useful in the development of a new test for revealing cells with a genetically or physiologically changed system of UV-induced DNA repair. The mechanisms of investigated phenomenon, particularly their dependence on the structure of chromatin, as well as the influence of ionic strength on binding of the repair enzymes with DNA are discussed.

[The dependence of DNA repair induced by genetically hazardous exposures on the ionic strength of the medium containing the cells]. / Zavisimost' reparatsii DNK, indutsirovannoi geneticheski opasnymi vozdeistviiami, ot ionnoi sily sredy, v kotoroi nakhodiatsia kletki.

The dependence of UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in non-stimulated lymphocytes of human peripheral blood on the ionic strength (mu) of the culture medium has been shown. With the level of mu lower or higher than physiological (mu ph) the UDS significantly decreases. The effect of modification of mu due to changes in ionic strength is absent in the lymphocytes of patients with the classic form of xeroderma pigmentosum. This phenomenon may become useful for development of a new test revealing cells with genetically or physiologically changed system of UV-induced DNA repair. Mechanisms of investigated phenomenon, particularly their dependence on the chromatin structure, as well as the influence of ionic strength on binding the repair enzymes with DNA are discussed.