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Biomedical subjects

A L Beaudet

Publications and source records attributed to A L Beaudet.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Inflammatory and immune responses are impaired in mice deficient in intercellular adhesion molecule 1.

Gene targeting was used to produce mice deficient in intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) or CD54, an immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecule that binds beta 2 integrins. Homozygous deficient animals develop normally, are fertile, and have a moderate granulocytosis. The nature of the mutation, RNA analysis, and immunostaining are consistent with complete loss of surface expression of ICAM-1. Deficient mice exhibit prominent abnormalities of inflammatory responses including impaired neutrophil emigration in response to chemical peritonitis and decreased contact hypersensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Mutant cells provided negligible stimulation in the mixed lymphocyte reaction, although they proliferated normally as responder cells. These mutant animals will be extremely valuable for examining the role of ICAM-1 and its counterreceptors in inflammatory disease processes and atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Gene targeting yields a CD18-mutant mouse for study of inflammation.

CD18 is the common beta subunit for the heterodimeric leukocyte integrins that mediate many inflammatory cell adhesion responses including binding to intercellular adhesion molecules 1 and 2. CD18 deficiency in humans causes a severe granulocyte disorder with susceptibility to bacterial infections and high morbidity and mortality. Gene targeting was used to prepare an insertion mutation in the murine CD18 gene. The insertion mutation resulted in a hypomorphic rather than a null allele due to low expression from a cryptic promoter in the plasmid construct. Homozygous mutant mice are viable and fertile, demonstrate a mild granulocytosis, and have 2 or 16% of normal CD18 expression on granulocytes in the resting or activated state, respectively. Mutant mice show an impaired inflammatory response to a chemical peritonitis and delayed rejection of cardiac transplants. These CD18-mutant mice provide a model of the moderate form of the human disease and should be extremely valuable for in vivo analysis of the role of leukocyte integrin-dependent adhesion in inflammatory disease models.

Animals↗

A complete YAC contig of the Prader-Willi/Angelman chromosome region (15q11-q13) and refined localization of the SNRPN gene.

Since a previous report of a partial YAC contig of the Prader-Willi/Angelman chromosome region (15q11-q13), a complete contig spanning approximately 3.5 Mb has been developed. YACs were isolated from two human genomic libraries by PCR and hybridization screening methods. Twenty-three sequence-tagged sites (STSs) were mapped within the contig, a density of approximately 1 per 200 kb. Overlaps between YAC clones were identified by Alu-PCR dot-blot analysis and confirmed by STS mapping or hybridization with ends of YAC inserts. The gene encoding small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated peptide N (SNRPN), recently identified as a candidate gene for Prader-Willi syndrome, was localized within this contig between markers PW71 and TD3-21. Loci mapped within and immediately flanking the Prader-Willi/Angelman chromosome region contig are ordered as follows: cen-IR39-ML34-IR4-3R-TD189-1-PW71-SNRPN -TD3-21- LS6-1-GABRB3,D15S97-GABRA5-IR10-1-CMW1+ ++-tel. This YAC contig will be a useful resource for more detailed physical mapping of the region, for generation of new DNA markers, and for mapping or cloning candidate genes for the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes.

Angelman Syndrome↗

Expansion of an unstable trinucleotide CAG repeat in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by neurodegeneration of the cerebellum, spinal cord and brainstem. A 1.2-Megabase stretch of DNA from the short arm of chromosome 6 containing the SCA1 locus was isolated in a yeast artificial chromosome contig and subcloned into cosmids. A highly polymorphic CAG repeat was identified in this region and was found to be unstable and expanded in individuals with SCA1. There is a direct correlation between the size of the (CAG)n repeat expansion and the age-of-onset of SCA1, with larger alleles occurring in juvenile cases. We also show that the repeat is present in a 10 kilobase mRNA transcript. SCA1 is therefore the fifth genetic disorder to display a mutational mechanism involving an unstable trinucleotide repeat.

Base Sequence↗

Expression of human CD18 in murine granulocytes and improved efficiency for infection of deficient human lymphoblasts.

The CD18 gene encodes the beta 2-subunit of leukocyte integrins, and mutations in this gene cause extreme host susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infection. Because expression of CD18 is restricted to bone marrow-derived cells, this disorder is considered an excellent candidate for somatic gene therapy utilizing ex vivo infection of bone marrow stem cells. We have constructed a retroviral vector expressing CD18 with the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) long terminal repeat (LTR) as the promoter, and high-titer ecotropic and amphotropic producer cell lines were isolated using the GP+E-86 and GP+envAM12 safe packaging cell lines. Infection of CD18-deficient lymphoblasts resulted both in expression of immunodetectable CD18 at 35-40% of normal levels on 55-60% of cells and in functional restoration of CD18-dependent aggregation. All of 16 mice transplanted with syngeneic bone marrow infected with the CD18 retrovirus expressed human CD18 on 17-36% of granulocytes at 2 weeks after transplantation, and expression was appropriately up-regulated in response to stimulation with zymosan-activated serum. This recombinant retrovirus should prove useful for further studies of somatic gene therapy for CD18 deficiency.

3T3 Cells↗

A severe phenotype in mice with a duplication of exon 3 in the cystic fibrosis locus.

To develop an animal model for cystic fibrosis (CF), targeted gene disruption in embryonic stem (ES) cells was used to generate a duplication of exon 3 (cftrm1Bay allele) of the mouse CF gene. ES cells containing this mutation were used to generate chimeric animals that transmitted the mutant allele through the germline. Homozygous mutant animals display a severe phenotype, with approximately 40% dying within 1 week from intestinal obstruction. RNAase protection analysis of the cftrm1Bay allele did not detect any normal mRNA (< 1-2% of wild-type) in mutant animals. Pathologic changes in the intestines from mutant mice included mucus accumulation in the crypts and intestinal lumen, dilatation of the bases of the crypts, enlargement of goblet cells, and the presence of concretions in the crypts or between the villi. Changes were also present in the mucosal glands of the pharynx and the minor sublingual glands, where dilatation of acini and accumulation of eosinophilic material were evident. Atrophy of acinar cells that may be secondary to nutritional deficiency and mild inflammation in the main pancreatic duct were present in the pancreas of mutant animals. No changes were noted in the lung, trachea, liver, or male reproductive tract of mutant animals, and mutant males were fertile. Homozygous mutant mice showed defects in cAMP-mediated ion transport both in ileum and in cultured fetal tracheal explants. Thus, an additional mouse model for CF has been generated that should prove useful for the understanding of the pathogenesis and the development of treatments for CF.

Alleles↗

Retroviral mediated expression of CD18 in normal and deficient human bone marrow progenitor cells.

The CD18 gene encodes the beta subunit of leukocyte integrins, and autosomal recessive deficiency of CD18 in humans causes a life-threatening abnormality of granulocyte migration. A high titer amphotropic retrovirus encoding CD18 was used to infect bone marrow cells from normal and CD18-deficient human donors. Infected cells were maintained in a long-term culture system and analyzed (1) using PCR to detect the provirus in granulocyte or macrophage colonies (CFU-GMs) derived from the culture, (2) using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) to detect transcripts in the floating cells in the culture, and (3) using immunostaining of the floating cells to analyze expression of human CD18. By both cocultivation and supernatant infection, a significant fraction (10-82%) of the CFU-GMs were positive for the provirus after five weeks in long-term culture, and as high as 10-15% of the floating cells were positive by immunostaining after nine weeks in the long-term culture. In all cases, cocultivation showed higher infection efficiency than supernatant infection. This is the first report of the introduction of human CD18 cDNA into the bone marrow progenitor cells of patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

3T3 Cells↗

A search for the primary abnormality in adult-onset type II citrullinemia.

Deficiency of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) causes citrullinemia in human beings. Type II citrullinemia is found in most patients with adult-onset citrullinemia in Japan, and ASS deficiency is found specifically in the liver. Previous studies have shown that the decrease of hepatic ASS activity is caused by a decrease in enzyme protein with normal kinetic properties and that there were no apparent abnormalities in the amount, translational activity, and gross structure of hepatic ASS mRNA. In the present work, we show by sequencing analysis that there was no mutation in the ASS mRNA from two patients with type II citrullinemia. We also report RFLP analysis of a consanguineous family with type II citrullinemia, by using three DNA polymorphisms located within the ASS gene locus. In spite of having consanguineous parents, the patient was not a homozygous haplotype for the ASS gene. The RFLP analysis of 16 affected patients from consanguineous parents showed that 5 of 16 patients had the heterozygous pattern for one of the three DNA probes and that the frequency of the heterozygous haplotype was not different from the control frequency. These results suggest that the primary defect of type II citrullinemia is not within the ASS gene locus.

Adolescent↗

Molecular cloning and analysis of in vivo expression of murine P-selectin.

P-selectin (CD62) is a rapidly inducible cell surface adhesion molecule that is expressed on platelets and endothelial cells and mediates their interaction with leukocytes. In vitro studies have suggested that this receptor may play an important role in hemostasis and in inflammatory response to tissue injury. We report the molecular cloning and sequencing of murine cDNA for P-selectin. The lectin, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains are highly conserved between mouse and human, with an overall amino acid identity of 79%. To further investigate the biology of this adhesion molecule in vivo, we analyzed mRNA levels for P-selectin in mice after injection with endotoxin. Northern blot data indicate that the cellular response in vivo includes a rapid increase in the level of mRNA, presumably for new synthesis of P-selectin. The increase in mRNA is maximal at 4 hours, and turnover is relatively rapid, with levels of RNA having decreased substantially by 6 hours following stimulation with endotoxin. After administration of endotoxin, the highest levels of mRNA expression were detected in liver, lung, kidney, and heart.

3T3 Cells↗

An initiation codon mutation in CD18 in association with the moderate phenotype of leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CD18 gene which codes for the beta 2 integrin subunit. We studied two patients, the first of which had a moderate LAD phenotype and expressed only 9% of CD11/CD18 on blood leukocytes. RNA from lymphoblasts was reverse-transcribed, and the cDNA was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. An ATG to AAG alteration in the initiation codon was detected in 39 of 45 (87%) cDNA clones. This mutation was detected in the father, but not in the mother. The maternal defect was shown to be a frameshift mutation with the deletion of a single T in the aspartic acid codon at position 690 (GAT), 11 amino acids N-terminal to the beginning of the transmembrane domain. This mutation predicts a polypeptide which would terminate without transmembrane or cytoplasmic domains. The frameshift mutation was also found in the second patient who had the severe phenotype of LAD (less than 1% of CD11/CD18), indicating that this allele does not encode a functional protein. The partial expression in the patient with a moderate phenotype must be derived from the initiation codon mutation and may be due to a low level of initiation of translation of the CD18 mRNA at the second codon (CUG).

Antigens, CD↗

Genetic testing for cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis occurs in 1 in 2000 to 4000 whites, and about 1 in 25 people are heterozygous carriers. The CF gene is cloned, and a single common mutation is found on 70% to 75% of CF chromosomes in most populations. Numerous different mutations are found on the remaining CF chromosomes. DNA analysis for carrier testing should be offered to relatives of CF patients and to reproductive partners of proven carriers. Population based carrier screening could detect about 72% of at-risk couples, and pilot studies are in progress to assess the feasibility of such screening. With regard to these factors, the possibility of gene therapy, and the questions raised, CF serves as a useful model for many genetic disorders.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Characterization of the murine Icam-1 gene.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) is a cell adhesion molecule that interacts with the leukocyte beta 2 integrins, LFA-1 and Mac-1. Murine inflammatory models are being utilized increasingly to define the role that ICAM-1 induction plays in the initiation of inflammation. We have isolated murine genomic clones that contain the Icam-1 gene including over 2 kb of 5' flanking sequence. The gene for murine Icam-1 spans over 13 kb and is composed of seven exons and six introns. Each of the extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains of ICAM-1 is encoded by a single exon that ends with the first base of the next codon. Examination of ICAM-1 expression in vivo shows that mRNA levels of ICAM-1 are low in all organs except for the lung but increase markedly in multiple organs at 3 h after administration of endotoxin. The 5' flanking region of the murine gene contains a putative TATA box and potential SP-1, AP-1, and AP-3 sites in positions nearly identical to those in the human gene.

Animals↗

Isolation, mapping, and characterization of two cDNA clones expressed in the cerebellum.

In an effort to characterize genes expressed in the cerebellum, we have isolated two cDNA clones, H11B (D16S286) and 507 (D5S344), that hybridized to a cerebellar cDNA probe. Using a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids, cDNA clone H11B was mapped to human chromosome 16, and clone 507 was mapped to human chromosome 5. TaqI RFLPs were identified with both clones and were used for linkage analysis in the CEPH families. D16S286 was tightly linked to several markers near chromosome 16p13, and D5S344 was tightly linked to several markers on chromosome 5q. Sequence tagged sites or expressed sequence tags were generated from the 3' untranslated regions of both cDNA clones.

Animals↗

Long-term expression of human argininosuccinate synthetase in mice following bone marrow transplantation with retrovirus-transduced hematopoietic stem cells.

Amphotropic and ecotropic packaging cell lines were used to obtain high titers (greater than 10(6) colony forming units/ml) of retroviruses encoding human argininosuccinate synthetase, and these viruses were used to transduce murine bone marrow cells using cocultivation in vitro. The bone marrow cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated recipient mice, and argininosuccinate synthetase activity was measured in peripheral blood. Transduction with amphotropic retrovirus resulted in short-term expression for a period of 1-8 weeks, and no animals expressed the human gene after 25 weeks. Over 60% of the animals transplanted with cells transduced with ecotropic retrovirus expressed the human gene 44 weeks post-transplant, although the level of expression varied over a wide range. Analysis of the DNA from transplanted animals demonstrated the presence of the human sequence in expressing animals, and S1 nuclease analysis of RNA confirmed the presence of the human RNA transcripts. Analysis of granulocyte/macrophage (GM) colonies derived from the bone marrow of transplanted, expressing animals revealed a correlation between the level of expression of the transduced gene with the percentage of GM colonies carrying the human gene sequence. These data demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining long-term expression of genes introduced into bone marrow cells using retroviral vectors and the feasibility of obtaining expression of a gene not normally expressed in bone marrow.

Animals↗