Transthyretin Ala97Ser is associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy in a Chinese-Taiwanese family.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Alanine↗
Biomedical subjects
A Bybee
Publications and source records attributed to A Bybee.
The genetic basis of autosomal dominant familial Mediterranean fever.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is classically an autosomal recessive periodic inflammatory disease occurring in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern populations. It is caused by mutations affecting both alleles of MEFV, a gene that encodes pyrin (marenostrin), an uncharacterized neutrophil protein. Occasional reports of autosomal dominant FMF have often been discounted, on the basis that asymptomatic FMF carriers are common in certain populations, and give rise to pseudo-dominant inheritance. We performed comprehensive MEFV genotyping in five families in whom FMF appeared to be inherited dominantly. Transmission proved to be pseudo-dominant in two cases, but true dominant inheritance of FMF with variable penetrance was supported by the genotyping results in the other three families. The disease in these cases was associated with heterozygosity for either pyrin DeltaM694 alone or the compound pyrin variant E148Q/M694I, the latter occurring in two unrelated families. Complete MEFV sequencing failed to identify any coding region abnormality in the other allele in any of these cases, and, in the largest kindred, single-allele disease transmission was further supported by analysis of silent single nucleotide polymorphisms, which proved that affected individuals had at least three different complementary alleles. Studies of two further unrelated British patients with FMF associated with simple heterozygosity for pyrin DeltaM694 were also consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance. The clinical features of dominantly inherited FMF were absolutely typical, including AA amyloidosis in a patient with pyrin DeltaM694. These findings extend the spectrum of FMF, and suggest that the methionine residue at position 694 makes a crucial contribution to pyrin's function, and that a 50% complement of normal pyrin activity does not prevent susceptibility to FMF.
Amyloidosis↗
Serum amyloid P component controls chromatin degradation and prevents antinuclear autoimmunity.
Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a highly conserved plasma protein named for its universal presence in amyloid deposits, is the single normal circulating protein that shows specific calcium-dependent binding to DNA and chromatin in physiological conditions. The avid binding of SAP displaces H1-type histones and thereby solubilizes native long chromatin, which is otherwise profoundly insoluble at the physiological ionic strength of extracellular fluids. Furthermore, SAP binds in vivo both to apoptotic cells, the surface blebs of which bear chromatin fragments, and to nuclear debris released by necrosis. SAP may therefore participate in handling of chromatin exposed by cell death. Here we show that mice with targeted deletion of the SAP gene spontaneously develop antinuclear autoimmunity and severe glomerulonephritis, a phenotype resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus, a serious autoimmune disease. The SAP-/- mice also have enhanced anti-DNA responses to immunization with extrinsic chromatin, and we demonstrate that degradation of long chromatin is retarded in the presence of SAP both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that SAP has an important physiological role, inhibiting the formation of pathogenic autoantibodies against chromatin and DNA, probably by binding to chromatin and regulating its degradation.
Animals↗
CD34+-selected peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: tumour cell contamination and outcome.
Thirty-six patients with multiple myeloma (23 PR1, nine PR2, four stable disease) were entered into a pilot study evaluating the use of CD34+-selected peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT) following high-dose melphalan alone or high-dose melphalan and total body irradiation. Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). CD34+ selection using the Cellpro Ceprate-SC system was performed in 22 cases with an adequate yield in 20. 10 patients failed to mobilize sufficient cells to permit selection and in four cases selection was not performed for other reasons. 16 patients therefore received unselected PBPC. Tumour cell contamination was evaluated by IgH gene fingerprinting (fpPCR). Harvested PBPC were fpPCR positive in 13/20 CD34+-selected cases and remained positive after selection in seven. Harvested PBPC were studied in 9/16 patients receiving unselected cells; fpPCR was positive in five and negative in four. There was no difference in event-free survival (EFS) between the CD34+-selected group and the unselected group (median 21 and 26 months, respectively, P=ns). The CD34+-selection process therefore reduced contamination but did not eliminate it completely, and in this small non-randomized study there was no apparent clinical benefit of CD34+ selection.
Adult↗
Phenotypic and molecular analysis of six human cell lines derived from patients with plasma cell dyscrasia.
Cell lines RPMI 8226, JJN3, U266 B1, NCI-H929 (all EBV-) and ARH77 and HS-Sultan (both EBV+) have been extensively characterized in this study. EBV- lines expressed the phenotype (CD138-, CD19+, CD20+) whereas EBV+ were (CD138+, CD19-, CD20-). CD56 expression was restricted to EBV- cell lines, with the exception of U266 B1, whereas PCA-1 was strongly expressed on five of the six cell lines. Only EBV+ cell lines bound peanut-agglutinin (PNA). However, all cell lines bound the lectin Jacalin that binds the same receptor as PNA, irrespective of the receptors sialylation status. By RT-PCR and direct sequencing of their IgH V/D/J domains, ARH77 was demonstrated to use the germline sequence VH4-34/dm1/JH6b, whereas no arrangement was demonstrated for RPMI 8226, suggesting IgH gene deletion or mutation. HLA class I and II antigens were detected using HLA typing on all cell lines warranting their use as suitable targets for HLA-restricted cytotoxic T cells. By sensitive RT-PCR, mRNA for IL-6, IL-6R and TNFbeta was found expressed in all cell lines. IL-1 mRNA expression was predominantly associated with the EBV+ phenotype. Although mRNA for IL-3 and GM-CSF was never detected, transcripts for c-kit ligand and, more commonly, its receptor were. Likewise GM-CSF, M-CSF and erythropoietin mRNA transcripts were detected in the majority of cell lines.
Base Sequence↗
Molecular and functional characterisation of E2F-5, a new member of the E2F family.
The transcription factor DRTF1/E2F is implicated in the control of cellular proliferation due to its interaction with key regulators of cell cycle progression, such as the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor gene product and related pocket proteins, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. DRTF1/E2F DNA binding activity arises when a member of two distinct families of proteins, DP and E2F, interact as DP/E2F heterodimers. Here, we report the isolation and characterisation of a new member of the E2F family of proteins, called E2F-5. E2F-5 was isolated through a yeast two hybrid assay in which a 14.5 d.p.c. mouse embryo library was screened for molecules capable of binding to murine DP-1, but also interacts with all known members of the DP family of proteins. E2F-5 exists as a physiological heterodimer with DP-1 in the generic DRTF1/E2F DNA binding activity present in mammalian cell extracts, an interaction which results in co-operative DNA binding activity and transcriptional activation through the E2F site. A potent transcriptional activation domain, which functions in both yeast and mammalian cells and resides in the C-terminal region of E2F-5, is specifically inactivated upon pocket protein binding. Comparison of the sequence with other members of the family indicates that E2F-5 shows a greater level of similarity with E2F-4 than to E2F-1, -2 and -3. The structural and functional similarity of E2F-5 and E2F-4 defines a subfamily of E2F proteins.
3T3 Cells↗
Proto-oncogenic properties of the DP family of proteins.
The cellular transcription factor DRTF1/E2F is implicated in the control of cellular proliferation due to its interaction with key regulators of cell cycle progression, such as the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor gene product, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. DRTF1/E2F is a heterodimeric DNA binding activity which arises when a member of two distinct families of proteins, DP and E2F, interact as DP/E2F heterodimers, for example, DP-1 and E2F-1. In DRTF1/E2F the activity of DP-1 is under cell cycle control, possibly by phosphorylation, and in many types of cells it is a frequent, if not general DNA binding component of DRTF1/E2F. The expression of other DP proteins, such as DP-2, is tissue-restricted. Here, we show that DP-1 and DP-2 are integrated with another growth regulating pathway which involves signal transduction emanating from activated Ras protein. Thus, activated Ha-ras can co-operate with DP-1 or DP-2 in the transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts, establishing for the first time that DP proteins are endowed with proto-oncogenic activity. Moreover, an analysis of a dominant-negative and mutant DP-1 proteins suggests that the primary target through which DP-1 mediates its oncogenic activity is unlikely to be due to the regulation of E2F site-transcription, suggesting an E2F-independent effector function for DP-1. These results therefore establish DP genes as proto-oncogenes and thus argue that deregulating the normal control of DP protein activity will be important in promoting aberrant cellular proliferation.
Animals↗
Differentiation-linked changes in tyrosine phosphorylation, functional activity, and gene expression downstream from the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor.
The HL-60 model of myeloid maturation was used to test whether changes in signaling from the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor accompany maturation-related changes in cellular responses to GM-CSF. Receptor expression, tyrosine phosphorylation, functional activity, and c-fos gene expression were measured. Functional GM-CSF receptors were present throughout differentiation as both uninduced and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells responded to GM-CSF, albeit in different ways. Uninduced promyelocytes proliferated in response to GM-CSF, whereas DMSO-induced cells lost the capacity to proliferate but did respond with increased expression of beta 2-integrins, enhanced respiratory burst activity, and metabolism of arachidonic acid. GM-CSF-stimulated upregulation of c-fos mRNA expression was not detected in immature cells but developed after 2 to 4 days with DMSO in line with a marked increase in responsiveness to stimulation with phorbol ester, showing that increased expression of c-fos is predominantly a feature of mature phagocytes. GM-CSF stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of a broadly similar range of proteins in both uninduced and DMSO-treated HL-60 cells, but protein bands were more heavily phosphorylated in DMSO-induced cells. Phosphorylation was rapid in onset and very transient in immature cells. Phosphorylation of several proteins, in particular a 130-kD band, was more sustained in DMSO-induced cells. These differences in signaling were not because of numerical differences in receptors, because reduction of GM-CSF concentration to trigger equivalent numbers of high-affinity receptors delayed the onset of phosphorylation in DMSO-induced cells. We conclude that there are maturation-related changes in signaling downstream from the GM-CSF receptor.
Arachidonic Acid↗
The synthesis of p58cyclin A and the phosphorylation of p34cdc2 are inhibited in human lymphoid cells arrested in G1 by alpha-interferon.
Daudi cells arrest in G1 in the presence of alpha-interferon. Such cells have little p58cyclin A, probably due to inhibition of p58cyclin A synthesis. The phosphorylation-associated migration shift of p34cdc2 is not seen in alpha-interferon-arrested cells. Cells arrested in late G1 by aphidicolin have abundant p58cyclin A and phosphorylated p34cdc2. Cell sorting showed that p58cyclin A increases in proliferating cells in late G1 and coincides with phosphorylation of p34cdc2.
Aphidicolin↗
The retinoblastoma protein is partially phosphorylated during early G1 in cycling cells but not in G1 cells arrested with alpha-interferon.
The retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is thought to act as a tumour suppressor which is inactivated by phosphorylation. In quiescent (G0) cells pRB exists in a hypophosphorylated form (pRB110), but proliferating cells in G1 contain a significant proportion of phosphorylated pRB (pRB112-114). Studies of synchronized or elutriated cells have suggested that the phosphorylated forms of pRB disappear as cells pass from G2/M to G0/G1 and that pRB is phosphorylated again to pRB114 at the G1/S border. In this study we used two-parameter flow cytometry and cell sorting to isolate cycling cells in early and late G1 (G1A and G1B), and we show that partially phosphorylated pRB is present in cycling human lymphoid cells even in G1A. These G1A cells contain intermediate forms of pRB which become further phosphorylated to pRB112-114 as cells pass into G1B. Therefore pRB is at least partially phosphorylated from early G1 onwards. Cell cycle arrest by alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) results in an accumulation of cells in both G1A and G1B, and these cells contain mainly pRB110. Since pRB110 is thought to prevent cell proliferation, the cytostatic effect of alpha-IFN may therefore occur by preventing the initial phosphorylation of pRB during or prior to G1A.
Cell Cycle↗
Interferon-alpha treatment of Daudi cells down-regulates the octamer binding transcription/DNA replication factors Oct-1 and Oct-2.
Treatment of Daudi cells with alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) results in a considerable decrease in the levels of the octamer-binding DNA replication/transcription factors Oct-1 and Oct-2 and specifically inhibits gene expression by octamer-containing promoters. The inhibitory effect on octamer-binding proteins also occurs after culturing cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate but it does not occur following alpha-IFN treatment of an alpha-IFN-resistant variant of the Daudi cell line or of HeLa cells. We discuss the potential role of the decreased levels of octamer-binding proteins in the inhibition of cell proliferation.
Base Sequence↗
Cell cycle regulation.
Over the past few years there has been a resurgance of interest in the cell cycle. The excitement has mainly been due to the fact that researchers all over the world who had been working on seemingly different processes in yeast, fruit flies, frogs and man have found that many of the processes and individual proteins have been highly conserved. In essence, what regulates the cell cycle in yeast also works in man. This review is biased towards cell cycle regulation in mammalian cells but we have also covered what is known about similar mechanisms in other organisms to provide a broader perspective to the field. We outline what is currently known about the cell cycle and the key points at which cell proliferation is controlled. We summarise recent work on cell cycle control genes and antioncogenes and the post-transcriptional regulation of the proteins for which they code. Finally we cover the relationship between the cell cycle and differentiation.
Cell Cycle↗
Recovery of hyperplastic responsiveness in rat liver after dosing with the peroxisome proliferator methylclofenapate.
Methylclofenapate (MCP) was administered daily by gavage (25 mg/kg) for 7 days to groups of adult male rats. Dosing was interrupted for 28, 35, 56, 70 or 84 days and then resumed (25 mg/kg by gavage at 0 and 24 h). During the second period of dosing animals were killed in groups of three at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 h after the resumption of dosing. Hepatocytes in S-phase, labelled with bromodeoxy-uridine, were analysed by flow cytometry, cell sorting and microscopy. It was observed that total S-phase activity was just significantly elevated (approximately 20% of maximum) over corn oil controls after an interval of 28 days between initial and subsequent dosing periods. After an interval of 35 days total S-phase activity was approximately 65% of maximum, and full hyperplastic responsiveness, equal to that observed in naive animals given MCP, was detected after interruptions in dosing of 56, 70 and 84 days. The recovery of S-phase responsiveness during the interruptions in dosing was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of 2 X 2N hepatocytes from approximately 10% in animals dosed continuously with MCP, to approximately 11.4% after 28 days interruption, 17% after 35 days and control levels (approximately 20%) after 56, 70 and 84 days. Irrespective of the magnitude of the hyperplasia elicited by the second period of dosing with MCP, the proportion of 2 X 2N cells was reduced to the same levels as those observed in animals dosed continuously with MCP (approximately 10%). Very low S-phase activity (0.05%) was observed in animals dosed continuously with MCP, this level of activity being similar to that in animals given corn oil continuously.
Animals↗
The phosphorylation state of the retinoblastoma (RB) protein in G0/G1 is dependent on growth status.
The product of the retinoblastoma gene (RB) is a nuclear phosphoprotein which is thought to regulate the proliferation of cells. Its phosphorylation state changes with passage through the cell cycle and it has been proposed that RB protein in its hypo-phosphorylated form prevents cells proliferating. We have investigated the phosphorylation state of the RB protein in an actively-dividing human B-lymphoblastoid cell line and after cell cycle arrest caused by alpha-Interferon (alpha-IFN). We show that the phosphorylation state of the RB protein in cells with 2N DNA content depends on whether the cells are actively cycling. Our data is compatible with the proposal that dephosphorylation of the RB protein allows cells to enter a quiescent state. This study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms which may mediate the cytostatic effects of alpha-IFN.
Cell Line↗
Mitosis and histopathology in rat liver during methylclofenapate-induced hyperplasia.
Liver hyperplasia was induced in rats by daily administration of methylclofenapate (25 mg/kg by gavage). An increase in the incidence of colchicine-arrested metaphases was observed with peaks occurring at 40 h (1.3%), 64 h (6.4%) and 84 h (6.8%) after the start of treatment. This response contrasted with the much larger (21.3%) peak in arrested metaphases at 36 h after partial hepatectomy, but was still unexpectedly large in comparison with the S-phase response to methylclofenapate reported in a previous study. Progressive hypertrophic histopathological changes were apparent during the whole course of treatment.
Animals↗
Studies on the hyperplastic responsiveness of binucleated rat hepatocytes.
Rats were dosed by gavage for 28 days with 25 mg/kg of 3'methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'M) followed by 4 days dosing with 0.5 ml/100 g corn oil. Livers from animals were taken at intervals during the 4 days of corn oil dosing and examined for S-phase activity and nuclearity. The treatment regime caused an increase in the proportion of diploid (2N) cells in the hepatocyte population, a decrease in the proportion of binucleated (2 x 2N) cells of approximately 50%, and induced an increase in cell replication. A second group of rats was dosed for 28 days with 0.5 ml/100 g corn oil followed by 4 days administration of 25 mg/kg methylclofenapate (MCP). Analysis of hepatocytes taken during the MCP treatment revealed that there was acute hyperplasia, involving mainly the 2 x 2N hepatocytes, resulting in a reduction of approximately 50% of the 2 x 2N cells and an accompanying increase in the proportion of 4N cells. When a third group was given 3'M for 28 days followed by 4 days administration of MCP, there was, at the outset of MCP dosing, a hepatocyte population typical of 3'M dosed animals, with an elevated proportion of 2N cells and a 2 x 2N fraction that was reduced to approximately 50% of control levels. During the 4 days of MCP dosing there was a wave of hyperplasia involving S-phase activity in the remaining 2 x 2N hepatocytes. The proportion of 2 x 2N cells decreased further during this period and there was a concomitant increase in 4N cells. The 2N fraction, already elevated, was not further affected. These results indicate that both genotoxic and non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens induce acute changes in the rat hepatocyte population that involve 2 x 2N cells, and that the effects appear to involve separate sub-populations of 2 x 2N hepatocytes.
Animals↗
Rapid proliferative response of rat thyroid gland to a single injection of TSH in vivo.
Mitotic and labelling indices were studied in the thyroid follicular cells of the male rat within the first hour after a single injection of TSH or TSH vehicle, using the metaphase arrest agent vincristine sulphate. There was a significant increase in metaphase index over control values 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after injection of TSH. There was no significant change in the tritiated thymidine labelling index in TSH-treated rats in comparison with vehicle-injected controls. None of the metaphase figures was labelled, showing that G2 in this tissue is longer than 2 h.
Animals↗
The short-term effects of a single injection of isoproterenol on proliferation in the submandibular gland, parotid gland and oesophagus in vivo.
Mitotic and labelling indices were studied in the submandibular, parotid and oesophageal cells of male mice within the first 6 hr (but particularly within the 1st hr) of a single injection of isoproterenol or saline, using the metaphase arrest agent (vincristine) which was previously tested for efficacy in submandibular gland. There was a significant increase in the metaphase index of the salivary glands over control values 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after isoproterenol. In contrast, there were no significant changes in the metaphase index of basal cells of the oesophagus. There was no significant change in the labelling index in isoproterenol-treated mice in comparison with saline-injected control animals. Possible explanations for the rapid mitotic response in murine salivary glands are considered; a rapid efflux from G2 into mitosis is thought to be the most likely.
Animals↗