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Biomedical subjects

C A Alper

Publications and source records attributed to C A Alper.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Extended major histocompatibility complex haplotypes in patients with multiple sclerosis.

We derived complete haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex for 33 patients with MS and their families. The DR2 allele and DR2-bearing extended haplotypes, in proportion, were overrepresented on chromosomes of MS patients compared with parental chromosomes not transmitted to MS offspring. We did not confirm previous reports that particular alleles at the BF locus are overrepresented in MS or that C2 hypocomplementemia is present. These results suggest that the DR2 allele is a risk factor for MS, and not merely a genetic marker of the population of origin.

Alleles↗
PubMed1989

Monoclonal and oligoclonal gammopathy after bone marrow transplantation.

Serial serum protein electrophoreses were performed on 60 patients undergoing allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). More than 50% of patients (31 of 60) developed transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies that appeared an average of 84 days posttransplantation (range 27 to 336 days) and persisted an average of 175 days (range 14 to 652 days). Immunofixation analysis revealed 82% of the M components to be of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) type and 18% to be IgM; 56% were kappa and 44% were lambda. A strong correlation between development of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and appearance of M components was observed (73% incidence in GVHD patients v 27% in non-GVHD patients, P = .0003). Two of the three syngeneic graft recipients also developed monoclonal gammopathies. Evidence of oligoclonal circulating B-cell populations was found in 68% of patients posttransplantation by flow cytometric B-cell clonal excess assay. No correlation of recovery of particular B- or T-lymphocyte subsets and development of M components was seen. The development of transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies after transplantation may be a ubiquitous finding reflecting recapitulation of early B-cell ontogeny.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1988

Major histocompatibility complex associations with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study focused on clinical subsets within systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in order to identify more homogeneous patient groups in which to define disease susceptibility gene(s). Analysis of the major histocompatibility complex gene products and genes with major histocompatibility complex class II and class III locus-specific probes and oligonucleotide probes for selected human leukocyte antigen DQ-beta alleles showed significant increases of human leukocyte antigen DR2 and the rare DQ-beta allele DR2-DQw1.AZH in the lupus nephritis patients compared with lupus patients without renal disease (relative risk = 8.3). C4A null was detected in one third of all of the SLE patients. In two thirds of the C4A null patients this was due to a DR3-associated C4A gene deletion. The remaining third may have a regulatory defect and this was DR2-associated. DR4 was significantly decreased in the nephritis patients in comparison with the non-renal SLE patients (relative risk = 0.3). A novel DQ-beta gene has been sequenced from two SLE patients that has not been observed in the normal population. Potential implications of these findings are discussed.

Complement C2↗
PubMed1988

The distribution of human C4 DNA variants in relation to major histocompatibility complex alleles and extended haplotypes.

A C4 DNA polymorphism that can subdivide C4 allotypes and major histocompatibility complex-linked complement gene cluster allele combinations (complotypes) that are not distinguishable by standard electrophoretic means was used to assess further the distribution and linkage association of C4 variants. Segregation of the DNA polymorphism in family studies allowed assignment of particular variants to particular major histocompatibility complex haplotypes. These studies revealed that some complotypes were exclusively correlated with a particular C4 DNA variant, whereas others were not and could be subdivided according to which particular C4 DNA variant was observed. When complotypes that could be subdivided at the DNA level were considered in relation to flanking major histocompatibility complex markers, it was apparent that complotypes associated with major histocompatibility complex "extended haplotypes" had an exclusive correlation with a particular C4 DNA variant. This finding supports the hypothesis that "extended haplotypes" are unique associations of major histocompatibility complex allele combinations and are genetically similar, stably inherited units.

Alleles↗
PubMed1988

Two variants of DRw52, DR3, and DQw2 specificities distinguish two different DR3-bearing extended haplotypes.

HLA-DR beta and DQ beta MHC antigens present on B-lymphoblastoid cell lines homozygous for either [HLA-B8,DR3,SC01] or [HLA-B18,DR3,F1C30] were studied by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Comparison of neuraminidase-treated DR proteins from these cells showed that DR3-bearing cells express two DR beta genes. However, one DR beta chain (beta a) is nonpolymorphic, whereas the other beta chain (beta b) is polymorphic. Two variants of DR beta (DR3 or DRw52) and two of DQ beta (DQw2) were found, with all the examples of each extended haplotype carrying only one of these sets of variants. The variants thus absolutely distinguished the two DR3-bearing extended haplotypes. These results support the hypothesis of extended haplotypes at the protein level, and demonstrate the fixity of alleles on them in the HLA-B-D/DR region.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1988

An immunoblotting technique for direct visualization of Chido and Rodgers reactivity on C4 variants after electrophoresis.

An immunoblotting technique allows direct visualization of Chido and Rodgers antigenic determinants on intact C4 proteins. C4 molecules separated by electrophoresis are selectively transferred to nitrocellulose membranes saturated with goat antiserum to human C4. The membranes are then incubated in alloanti-Chido or anti-Rodgers followed by enzyme-conjugated goat antihuman IgG. Molecules with Chido or Rodgers reactivity are visualized by incubation with an indicator substrate for the bound enzyme.

Complement C4↗
PubMed1988

Genetically determined polymorphism of the circulating human breast cancer-associated DF3 antigen.

The murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) DF3 was prepared against a human breast carcinoma. Previous studies have demonstrated that DF3 antigen levels are elevated in plasma of patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, MAb DF3 reacts with circulating glycoproteins of different molecular weights ranging from approximately 300 to 450 kd. The present study demonstrates that plasma DF3 antigen is comprised of at least four moieties with slow (S), intermediate (I), rapid (R) and very rapid (VR) electrophoretic mobilities. The electrophoretic mobility patterns for circulating DF3 antigen differ among individuals. Moreover, DF3 antigen is detectable in urine, and the electrophoretic mobility of the urinary moieties is similar, but not identical, to that in the plasma. Studies in family members suggest that the electrophoretic heterogeneity of plasma DF3 antigen is determined by codominant expression of multiple alleles at a single locus. This locus may code for the core protein of DF3 antigen. These findings thus identify a genetically determined polymorphism of a circulating tumor-associated glycoprotein.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Metabolism of C4 and linkage analysis in a kindred with hereditary incomplete C4 deficiency.

We studied a kindred in which C4 deficiency had been discovered. Unlike families with total absence of C4, in this kindred C4 deficiency was found to be incomplete, autosomal dominant, not caused by null alleles, and not associated with a high incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. The deficient state was caused by hyposynthesis of C4, not by hypercatabolism. The locus for incomplete C4 deficiency was not closely linked to the major histocompatibility complex. The abnormal autosomal dominant allele is, apparently, rare, and how it causes decreased synthesis of C4 is unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

There are two C4 genetic loci and a null allele in the chimpanzee.

Genetic polymorphism in C4 in the chimpanzee was studied by agarose gel electrophoresis of desialated plasma and development of patterns by immunofixation with antiserum to human C4 and by a C4-sensitive hemolytic overlay. In general, immunofixation patterns showed multiple partially overlapping bands of which only the most cathodal had strong hemolytic activity. In analogy to human C4, the latter were designated C4B, whereas those detected by immunofixation which had little hemolytic activity were designated C4A. Chimp C4A and C4B reacted with human and mouse (monoclonal) anti-C4B and human anti-Ch1 but neither reacted with monoclonal anti-C4A or human anti-Ch2, Ch3, Rg1, or Rg2. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the alpha chain of C4B showed a slightly lower apparent relative mass than that of C4A at around Mr 93,000. There were three C4A variants and two C4B variants inherited in families as autosomal codominant traits, as C4A-C4B cosegregating pairs with no detectable crossing-over. These pairs were inherited with chimpanzee leukocyte antigen types C2 and BF variants without detectable crossing-over. Half-null C4 haplotypes with C4B QO were observed in family studies. Nine BF, C2, C4A, C4B allelic haplotypic combinations (complotypes) were identified among presumably unrelated chimpanzees.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

Molecular analysis distinguishes two HLA-DR3-bearing major histocompatibility complex extended haplotypes.

We detected restriction fragment length polymorphisms that distinguish the extended haplotype HLA-B8,DR3,SCO1 from HLA-B18,DR3,F1C3O at the DR beta and DQ beta loci with five of seven restriction endonucleases used. One set of restriction fragments was always found on HLA-B8,DR3,SCO1 and associated with DRw52a, while the other was present on HLA-B18, DR3,F1C3O and correlated with DRw52b (the gene encoding the subtype of DRw52 associated with the BO1 or LB-Q1 antigen). Furthermore, using a full-length DQ beta gene probe, we found division in the DQw2 haplotype, in which DQw2a always associated with HLA-B8, DR3,SCO1, while DQw2b always occurred with HLA-B18,DR3,F1C3O. Our evidence thus indicates that serologically defined HLA-DR3, HLA-DRw52, and HLA-DQw2 are each produced by two structurally very different sets of genes, one set occurring in HLA-B8, DR3,SCO1, and the other in HLA-B18,DR3,F1C3O.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

Identification of HLA-B44 subtypes associated with extended MHC haplotypes.

The HLA class I antigen B44 is found in each of two different extended major histocompatibility haplotypes (allele combinations of HLA-B, HLA-DR, and complement genes BF, C2, C4A, and C4B in linkage disequilibrium). Using isoelectric focusing, two variants of HLA-B44 were identified. The basic variant was found in all cell lines with the extended haplotype HLA-B44, DR7, FC31, and the acidic variant in all cell lines with the extended haplotype HLA-B44, DR4, SC30. The occurrence of each antigen variant with a unique extended haplotype explains previous observations concerning the nonrandom association of B44 variants with DR antigens.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1987

Sharing of MHC haplotypes among apparently unrelated patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

From the study of HLA, complement, and glyoxalase I alleles in 82 Venezuelan individuals belonging to 19 families of mixed ethnic origin having 20 affected newborns with salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency, a total of 38 disease haplotypes and 53 nondisease haplotypes were found. Of the pathological haplotypes 47% were found to share the HLA-B39 or -Bw62 specificities, 55% of them in combination with the BFS, C2C, C4A4, C4B2 (SC42) complotype. The frequencies of HLA-B39 and -Bw62 among the affected haplotypes were 29 and 18% as compared with 6 and 0% among the nondisease haplotypes of the same families. Statistical associations (P less than 0.01) with salt-wasting adrenal hyperplasia were found with the SC42 complotype and with the combination SC42, HLA-B39. These results are markedly different from those reported in the literature which show an "association" at the population level among many Caucasoid samples of HLA-Bw47 and the extended haplotype (HLA-Bw47, DR7,FC91,0) with the salt-wasting form of the disease. Furthermore, four of the unrelated patients reported here were homozygous for all the major histocompatibility complex loci tested, while three others were homozygous for at least two HLA loci. Analysis of the geographical origin of the grandparents indicated clustering of the deficiency carrier HLA haplotypes. This observation, together with the fact that there is an excess of homozygotes among the patients in Venezuela, strongly suggests that salt-wasting 21-OH deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia is mostly the result of a founder effect of relatively hyperplasia is mostly the result of a founder effect identity by descent of a few abnormal alleles at the 21-OHB locus in most cases. The mutation marked by HLA-Bw47 was not observed in this population.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1987

Inherited deficiencies of complement components in man.

Isolated inherited deficiency states of almost every complement protein have been recognized. Almost all are autosomal recessive traits. Deficiency of the early-acting components C1, C4 and C2 is associated with increased risk of immune complex disease, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with deficiency of C3, factor I or factor H have increased susceptibility to infection by pyogenic bacteria, whereas those with deficiencies of properdin, C5, C6, C7 or C8 are prone to systemic neisserial infection. Inherited deficiency of C1 inhibitor is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, is genetically heterogeneous, and is associated with attacks of angioedema and consumption of C4 and C2. There is evidence that a plasmin-modified fragment of C2 is responsible for the angioedema in this disorder. Administration of androgens tends to correct the biochemical abnormalities of hereditary angioedema and to prevent attacks.

Angioedema↗
PubMed1987

Extended major histocompatibility complex haplotypes in patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

We have studied major histocompatibility complex markers in randomly ascertained Caucasian patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy and their families. The frequencies of extended haplotypes, defined as haplotypes of specific HLA-B, DR, BF, C2, C4A, and C4B allelic combinations, occurring more frequently than expected, were compared on patient chromosomes, on normal chromosomes from the study families, and on chromosomes from normal families. Over half of patient chromosomes consisted almost entirely of two extended haplotypes [HLA-B8, DR3, SC01] and [HLA-B44, DR7, FC31] which, with nonextended HLA-DR7, accounted for the previously observed HLA markers of this disease: HLA-B8, DR3, and DR7. There was no increase in HLA-DR3 on nonextended haplotypes or in other extended haplotypes with HLA-DR3 or DR7. The distribution of homozygotes and heterozygotes for HLA-DR3 and DR7 was consistent with recessive inheritance of the major histocompatibility complex-linked susceptibility gene for gluten-sensitive enteropathy. On the other hand, by odds ratio analysis and from the sum of DR3 and DR7 homozygotes compared with DR3/DR7 heterozygotes, there was an increase in heterozygotes and a decrease in homozygotes suggesting the presence of modifying phenomena.

Celiac Disease↗
PubMed1987

The autosomal dominant form of "pure" familial spastic paraplegia: clinical findings and linkage analysis of a large pedigree.

We studied 33 affected members in a family with autosomal dominant "pure" familial spastic paraplegia (FSP). Symptoms began in the fourth or fifth decade, expression varied, and progression was slow. We excluded close linkage to the HLA locus (distal end of short arm of chromosome 6); C8 alpha-gamma locus (proximal end of short arm of chromosome 1); PGM1 (middle region of short arm of chromosome 1); and P blood group (location unknown). Although there was no statistically significant linkage between FSP and any of the other markers, lod scores were positive with loci for GC (vitamin D binding globulin) located on chromosome 4 (4q11-q13) and Rh located on chromosome 1 (1p34-p36).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Complotypes, extended haplotypes, male segregation distortion, and disease markers.

From our studies in Caucasian families of HLA, complement, and glyoxalase alleles have developed the concepts of the complotype and the extended haplotype. complotypes are clusters of the four genes for complement proteins encoded within the MHC designated (in arbitrary order) by their BF, C2, C4A, and C4B alleles. They are inherited in families and occur in populations as functionally single genetic units and exhibit linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B and HLA-DR alleles which are complotype, rather than complement gene allele, specific. In Caucasians, there are 10-12 common sets of HLA-B, DR, complotype sets that show significant linkage disequilibrium. These haplotypes constitute 25-30% of all MHC haplotypes in Caucasians. Because there is evidence for relative fixity of alleles on these chromosomes to an unknown extent beyond the HLA-B-DR interval, they have been called extended MHC haplotypes. It appears likely that it is these extended haplotypes that provide most of the known linkage disequilibrium pairs previously reported for MHC alleles as well as many of the known MHC allele-disease associations. The most common extended haplotype [HLA-B8, DR3, SC01], when it carries GLO2, is increased in type I diabetes mellitus and probably a number of other diseases, including gluten-sensitive enteropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. In the families with these disorders studied by us, this haplotype exhibits male segregation distortion, a feature displayed by t-mutants found in wild mouse populations. This feature constitutes an important selective advantage for the chromosome and may contribute to the accumulation of susceptibility mutations for a variety of diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of HLA-Bw73 by serology and one-dimensional isoelectric focusing patterns.

The HLA-Bw73 antigen has been characterized by antisera in the Ninth International Histocompatibility Workshop. The International Workshop antibodies 9w245, 9w246, and 9w247 detected HLA-B7 and one or more antigens of this group (HLA-B40, Bw22, Bw42, or Bw48) in addition to HLA-Bw73. We have serologically characterized three additional antibodies, in two family studies, which contain anti-Bw73 (two of the antisera also contain anti-B7 activity). We have performed absorption studies with the three antisera, which indicate that anti-Bw73 activity is removed by HLA-B7 positive lymphocytes in two of the antisera and that, in one case, anti-B7 activity is removed by HLA-Bw73 positive HLA-B7 negative lymphocytes. The third antiserum is cytotoxicity negative absorption positive for HLA-B7. Neither HLA-B27 positive nor HLA-B8 positive lymphocytes removed any antibody activity. Using one-dimensional isoelectric focusing, unique bands have been characterized for over 30 Caucasian allotypes, including HLA-B7 and HLA-B27. Lymphocytes from two families carrying the HLA-Bw73 antigen were analyzed by isoelectric focusing. These two families show that HLA-Bw73 has a band migrating in the gel very close to HLA-B35 but distant from the cross-reactive group HLA-B7. These studies indicate that HLA antigens which share common epitopes (including those recently characterized, such as HLA-Bw73 and HLA-B7), can be distinguished serologically and by isoelectric focusing.

Antibodies↗