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Biomedical subjects

G Klein

Publications and source records attributed to G Klein.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Consistent chromosome 3p deletion and loss of heterozygosity in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney tissues have been examined from 34 patients with sporadic, nonhereditary RCC. Eighteen of the 21 cytogenetically examined tumors (86%) had a detectable anomaly of chromosome arm 3p distal to band 3p11.2-p13, manifested as a deletion, combined with the nonreciprocal translocation of a segment from another chromosome or monosomy 3. Restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis showed loss of D1S1 heterozygosity in 16 of the 21 cases (76%). D3S2 heterozygosity was lost in 2 of 11 cases (18%). The variability of the breakpoint between 3p11.2 and 3p13 and the absence of a consistently translocated segment from another chromosome suggests a genetic-loss mechanism, while the activation of a dominant oncogene appears less likely. Together with the previously demonstrated involvement of the 3p14.2 region in a familial case, these findings suggest that RCCs may arise by the deletion of a "recessive cancer gene," as do retinoblastoma and Wilms tumor. The relevant locus must be located on the telomeric side of the D1S1 locus on the short arm of chromosome 3.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1988

Drosophila homolog of the murine Int-1 protooncogene.

We have isolated phage clones from Drosophila melanogaster genomic and cDNA libraries containing a sequence homologous to the murine Int-1 protooncogene. The Drosophila gene is represented by a single locus at position 28A1-2 on chromosome 2. The gene is expressed as a 2.9-kilobase-long polyadenylylated mRNA in embryo, larval, and pupal stages. It is hardly detectable in adult flies. The longest open reading frame of the cDNA clone corresponds to a protein 469 amino acids long. Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequences shows that the Drosophila protein is 86 amino acids longer than its murine counterpart. In spite of the difference in length, the two proteins are highly conserved with an overall sequence homology of 54%. Both Drosophila and murine Int-1 proteins begin with a hydrophobic leader sequence and contain cysteine residues and sites for glycosylation (four in the murine protein and one in the Drosophila protein) in conserved positions, suggesting that they play important functional roles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of acute haemodynamic effects of dopexamine hydrochloride, dobutamine and sodium nitroprusside in chronic heart failure.

Dopexamine hydrochloride (Dopacard) is a new synthetic catecholamine compound, which possesses potent beta 2-adrenergic and DA1-dopaminergic agonistic properties. It is free of alpha-adrenergic activity, has no beta 1-adrenergic activity and is less potent at DA2-dopaminergic receptors than dopamine. In the present study the acute haemodynamic effects of dopexamine hydrochloride were compared to those of dobutamine and nitroprusside in 12 patients with idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy in an open crossover study. With dopexamine hydrochloride, there were dose-dependent increases from control in cardiac output and stroke volume, decreases in blood pressure, right and left atrial pressure, systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance and little change in heart rate. Similar effects were seen with nitroprusside, apart from a marked increase in heart rate, and with dobutamine, except that systolic aortic blood pressure increased and there was no change in diastolic or mean pressure or pulmonary artery systolic pressure. In general, dopexamine hydrochloride produced effects between those produced by the other two treatments. This suggests that dopexamine with its combined vasodilator and inotropic action has a desirable cardiovascular profile with advantages over the beta 1-receptor agonist dobutamine and the pure vasodilator sodium nitroprusside.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Characterization of the serological response in man to the latent membrane protein and the six nuclear antigens encoded by Epstein-Barr virus.

A total of 116 sera from healthy individuals and from patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied with respect to antibody responses to each of the seven known transformation-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded antigens [latent membrane protein (LMP) and six nuclear proteins (EBNAs 1 to 6)]. The antibodies were detected using modified standard immunoblotting techniques. Antibodies to LMP were detected for the first time in sera from 6/27 (22%) healthy, EBV-immune individuals (seropositive for the viral capsid antigens). An increased incidence of anti-LMP antibodies was found in EBV-immune sera from patients with BL (17/24 positive; 71%), NPC (21/33; 64%), and RA (16/21; 76%). Antibodies to EBNA 1 were detected in all EBV-immune sera at a standard 1:20 dilution. Antibodies to the other EBNAs were detected in only a proportion of these sera (20 to 95%) at the same dilution. Only minor disease-associated differences in the incidence of these antibodies were observed, the most consistent being that RA sera had a higher incidence of antibodies to EBNAs 2 to 6 compared with healthy controls. Testing of the sera at a 1:100 dilution suggested that there were some disease-related differences in the titres of anti-EBNA antibodies. At this serum dilution, a reduced incidence of antibodies to EBNA 2 was seen in NPC (6/31) compared with RA (18/19) and healthy EBV-seropositives (16/26); antibodies to EBNA 3 were detected at an increased incidence in BL (8/15) and NPC (16/31) compared with control sera (7/26); antibodies to EBNA 4 were detected at increased incidence in BL (5/15) and RA (6/19) compared with control sera (1/26); and antibodies to EBNA 6 were detected at increased incidence in NPC (19/31) and RA (7/19) compared with control sera (3/26).

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1988

Buoyant density characterization of neoplastic cell populations in patients with chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia.

Leukemic cells from a series of patients with chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were analyzed for their buoyant density on discontinuous Percoll gradients. The density profile varied markedly between different patients and also between samples from different body compartments within the same patient. A good correlation was observed between buoyant density and maturation stage of the leukemic clones as judged by Ig-expression and their reactivity with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Phorbol-ester-induced changes in the leukemic cells were found to be accompanied by a general decrease in their buoyant density. No correlation between density and clinical parameters such as cell counts, clinical stage and survival could be noted. Buoyant density characterization of leukemic B-cell populations is seen as a useful, rapid and simple marker of compartmentalization within the B-lymphocyte maturation spectrum but its clinical relevance remains to be established.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1988

6;7 chromosomal translocation in spontaneously arising rat immunocytomas: evidence for c-myc breakpoint clustering and correlation between isotypic expression and the c-myc target.

Our previous studies have shown that spontaneously arising immunocytomas in the LOU/Ws1 strain of rats contain a t(6;7) chromosomal translocation in all seven tumors studied (F. M. Babonits, J. Spira, G. Klein, and H. Bazin, Int. J. Cancer 29:431-437, 1982). We have also shown that the c-myc is located on chromosome 7 (J. Sümegi, J. Spira, H. Bazin, J. Szpirer, G. Levan, and G. Klein, Nature (London) 306:497-499, 1983) and the immunoglobulin H cluster on chromosome 6 (W.S. Pear, G. Wahlström, J. Szpirer, G. Levan, G. Klein, and J. Sümegi, Immunogenetics 23:393-395, 1986). We now report a detailed cytogenetic and molecular analysis of nine additional rat immunocytomas. The t(6;7) chromosomal translocation is found in all tumors. Mapping of the c-myc breakpoints showed that in 10 of 14 tumors, the c-myc breakpoints are clustered in a 1.5-kilobase region upstream of exon 1. In contrast with sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma and mouse plasmacytoma, only 1 of 14 tumors contains the c-myc breakpoints in either exon 1 or intron 1. Analysis of the sequences juxtaposed to the c-myc show that immunoglobulin H switch regions are the targets in at least five tumors and that there is a strong correlation between the secreted immunoglobulin and the c-myc target. Unlike sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma and mouse plasmacytoma, at least two rat immunocytomas show recombination of the c-myc with sequences distinct from immunoglobulin switch regions.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Structure and expression of B-myc, a new member of the myc gene family.

The myc family of genes contains five functional members. We describe the cloning of a new member of the myc family from rat genomic and cDNA libraries, designated B-myc. A fragment of cloned B-myc was used to map the corresponding rat locus by Southern blotting of DNA prepared from rat X mouse somatic cell hybrids. B-myc mapped to rat chromosome 3. We have previously mapped the c-myc to rat chromosome 7 (J. Sümegi, J. Spira, H. Bazin, J. Szpirer, G. Levan, and G. Klein, Nature [London] 306:497-498, 1983) and N-myc and L-myc to rat chromosomes 6 and 5, respectively (S. Ingvarsson, C. Asker, Z. Wirschubsky, J. Szpirer, G. Levan, G. Klein, and J. Sümegi, Somat. Cell Mol. Genet. 13:335-339, 1987). A partial sequence of B-myc had extensive sequence homology to the c-myc protein-coding region, and the detection of intron homology further indicated that these two genes are closely related. The DNA regions conserved among the myc family members, designated myc boxes, were highly conserved between c-myc and B-myc. A lower degree of homology was detected in other parts of the coding region in c-myc and B-myc not present in N-myc and L-myc. A 1.3-kilobase B-myc-specific mRNA was detected in most rat tissues, with the highest expression in the brain. This resembled the expression pattern of c-myc, although at different relative levels, and was in contrast to the more tissue-specific expression of N-myc and L-myc. B-myc was expressed at uniformly high levels in all fetal tissues and during subsequent postnatal development, in contrast to the stage-specific expression of c-myc.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Neural cell adhesion molecules during embryonic induction and development of the kidney.

The neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM) are a family of related glycoproteins with Mr of 180, 140 and 120 x 10(3) (180K etc.). In the embryo, they are often highly sialylated and migrate as a diffuse band of 170-250K. N-CAM are found in non-neural tissues and we have now studied the expression of N-CAM in the developing mouse kidney. During kidney development, a unique conversion of a mesenchyme to an epithelium occurs and it is thought that this is mediated by an increase in cell adhesivity. By immunofluorescence, we show that N-CAM is present already at onset of kidney development on the cells of the uninduced nephrogenic mesenchyme. After induction, when the cells convert into an epithelium, they lose N-CAM gradually and instead begin to express uvomorulin, another primary CAM. By using an organ culture model, we could rather precisely show that N-CAM and uvomorulin are coexpressed for a short period, but, when epithelial cell polarization is evident, only uvomorulin is present on the epithelium, whereas N-CAM is confined to the surrounding mesenchyme. Immunoblotting for N-CAM revealed that the 'embryonic' form of N-CAM, the broad 170-250K band was not present in the embryonic kidney, which instead expressed the three distinct 180K, 140K and 120K bands typical of adult neurones. The 180K and 140K bands were gradually lost during development and were no longer detectable in adult kidneys. By using an N-CAM cDNA, we detected three different mRNAs of 7.4, 6.7 and 4.3 kb in the developing kidney, but this expression was restricted to the embryonic and early postnatal stages. No transcripts were detectable in adult kidneys. The studies do not support the hypothesis that N-CAM expression in the kidney is turned on by embryonic induction. Rather, we suggest that N-CAM are important adhesives for the predetermined, but not yet induced, nephrogenic mesenchyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Tumour suppressor genes.

Genes that can inhibit the expression of the tumorigenic phenotype have been detected by the fusion of normal and malignant cells, the phenotypic reversion of in vitro transformants, the induction of terminal differentiation of malignant cell lineages, the loss of 'recessive cancer genes', the discovery of regulatory sequences in the immediate vicinity of certain oncogenes, and the inhibition of tumour growth by normal cell products. Such tumour suppressor genes will probably turn out to be as, if not more, diversified as the oncogenes. Consideration of both kinds of genes may reveal common or interrelated functional properties.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

The artificial selection of the directly acting or acute RNA tumor viruses for high transforming ability has led to the isolation of defective retroviral genomes that have picked up, by accidental recombination, some of the important genes that influence, trigger or regulate cell division. These genes belong to at least four functionally different groups. Each of them can contribute to tumor development and/or progression after activation by structural or regulatory changes. Growth factor genes may act as oncogenes following constitutive activation in a cell that normally responds to, but does not produce, the corresponding growth factor (the autocrine model, exemplified by sis). Growth factor receptors may be fixed in a state of continuous, faulty signalling by the truncation of their external, ligand binding portion (examples: erb-B, fms). Genes coding for proteins involved in signal transduction may be activated by point mutations in certain, important domains (example: the ras-family). DNA binding proteins, presumably involved in DNA replication may drive cell division after constitutive activation by retroviral insertion, chromosomal translocation or gene amplification (example: the myc-family).

Gene Amplification↗
PubMed1988

[Spontaneous variability of complex ventricular extrasystoles over a period of up to 4 years].

In a prospective study, the influence of the length of the time interval on spontaneous variability was investigated in 100 patients with CAD or IDC and untreated ventricular arrhythmia of Lown grade IV. Patient follow-up was carried out over 260 +/- 387 days. In each of the 498 ambulatory Holter tapes, the mean hourly arrhythmia count (AC) of couplets and salvos was verified. The variability of ACs between two Holter ECGs was defined as the logarithm of the quotient AC day 2(n + 0.01)/AC day 1(n + 0.01). The spontaneous distribution of variability quotients (means +/- 2 SD) was defined separately for couplets and salvos and for each of four ranges of control intervals (0-6 days, 7-89 days, 90-364 days, greater than or equal to 365 days). The percentage change in arrhythmia count necessary to establish drug efficacy (R), was calculated according to the formula R(%) = (10(0) - 10(-2SD].100, whereas the percentage change necessary to prove aggravation of arrhythmia (A) was assessed by the formula A(%) = (10(0) + 10(+2SD].100. For couplets, R extended from 90%, 94%, 98% to 99%; A increased from 1114%, 1895%, 6153% to 14032%, respectively. For salvos, R remained almost unchanged at a high level with 95%, 98%, 98%, 99%. The figures of A were 2189%, 4650%, 5698% and 9650%, respectively. It is concluded that the spontaneous variability of complex ventricular arrhythmias is remarkably high with short control intervals and increases further with longer ones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1988

Chromosome localization and expression pattern of Lmyc and Bmyc in murine embryonal carcinoma cells.

Using Southern blot analysis of DNA from mouse-hamster somatic cell hybrids, we have mapped Lmyc and Bmyc, two members of the myc family of genes, to mouse chromosomes 4 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, we have compared the regulation of Lmyc and Bmyc expression under different growth conditions and during in vitro differentiation of the murine EC line F9 and considered the findings in relation to our previous studies on Nmyc and c-myc expression in the same line (Sejersen et al., 1987). Lmyc was down-regulated at an early stage of visceral endoderm differentiation, similarly to c-myc and Nmyc, while Bmyc was expressed at a constant low level at all stages. Lmyc, but not c-myc and Nmyc, was upregulated in terminally differentiated visceral endoderm cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide for 4 h induced a 70% increase in Lmyc and 30% increase in Bmyc transcript levels, indicating that the expression of these genes is negatively regulated by a short-lived protein. Mitogenic stimulation with insulin and transferrin did not affect Lmyc and Bmyc mRNA levels. Lmyc transcripts have a half life of 30 min, whereas the Bmyc transcript is highly stable, with a half life of 6 h. The half-lives of the c-myc and Nmyc transcripts have been estimated previously as 40 and 130 min, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Immunological aspects of B-cell derived tumors in humans and rodents.

Translocation of the c-myc protooncogene to an immunoglobulin locus is a rate-limiting step in the genesis of three B-cell derived tumors: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in humans, mouse plasmocytoma (MPC) and rat immunocytoma (RIC). Its consequences have been best analysed in BL. They involve a non-immunological and an immunological component. The former acts by preventing the B-cell from leaving the cycling compartment and entering the resting stage when programmed to do so. The latter acts by the down-regulation of certain HLA class I polymorphic specificities, leukocyte adhesion molecules and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded proteins. Together, they contribute to the escape of the BL cell from the host immune response.--We have also described a non-clonogenic, non-tumorigenic "revertant" subline among five EBV-convertants of an originally highly tumorigenic, EBV-negative BL line. The other four convertants have remained highly tumorigenic. Suppression of the tumorigenicity is associated with a switch to a lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL)-like phenotype, accompanied by the appearance of several activation markers. It is suggested that the LCL-type immunoblast comes under the influence of host feed-back controls that normally contribute to the constancy of the B-cell pool.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Multicenter evaluation of a specific pancreatic isoamylase assay based on a double monoclonal-antibody technique.

Eleven evaluators from nine laboratories in five countries evaluated a new immunoinhibition method for pancreatic isoamylase determination that is as simple to perform as that for total amylase. The precision at low and intermediate activity concentrations was superior, and at high concentrations it equalled that of the wheat-germ inhibitor method. The test was linear to approximately 2000 U/L, depending on the instrumentation used. The percentage salivary isoamylase activities remaining in specimens after reaction with two monoclonal antibodies ranged from 2 to 4.4%. Comparative studies showed good correlation with the wheat-germ inhibitor (r greater than 0.978) and electrophoresis methods (r = 0.920). Hemolysis, lipemia, and bilirubinemia have no effect on results. Interlaboratory studies demonstrated excellent transferability of the method, if instruments are calibrated with the same calibrator. Reference intervals for pancreatic isoamylase are 13 to 64 U/L (25 degrees C), 13 to 83 U/L (30 degrees C), and 17 to 115 U/L (37 degrees C). A clinical evaluation of patients with acute pancreatitis showed that pancreatic isoamylase has a greater clinical sensitivity than total amylase.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

[Chronic polyarthritis in advanced age].

Approximately a quarter of polyarthritis in the elderly is beginning with a single- or oligo-articular attack of big joints. The first attack of the shoulder joints is noticed especially in men. Most of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly have a gradually progressive course. There is often showed a very high blood sedimentation rate (BSR); rheumatoid factor is rare. Generally there is a strongly marked osteoporosis. The success of therapy with disease modifying agents is comparable with that of younger patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but there is a smaller tolerance to gold and D-penicillamine. In some non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs a lower dosage is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Elevated expression of c-myc and N-myc produces distinct changes in nuclear fine structure and chromatin organization.

The proto-oncogenes c-myc and N-myc encode nuclear phosphoproteins with unknown function. Here, c-myc or N-myc, or hybrid constructs of the two, were transfected into fibroblastic cells (CV-1) using SV40-based high expression vectors. The cells were studied by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to determine the localization of the two myc proteins within the nucleus and their influence on nuclear fine structure and chromatin organization. In c-myc transfected cells the overproduced protein product accumulated in large amorphous globules that displaced the normal chromatin and did not stain for DNA. In N-myc transfected cells condensed chromatin loops were formed. They were attached to the nuclear envelope and by traction in the latter they may have contributed to give the nucleus its irregular shape in these cells. During mitosis the chromatin loops persisted as clearly identifiable entities within the chromosomes, suggesting a rigid conformation that did not allow normal chromosome packaging. These findings suggest that the c-myc and N-myc proteins bind to different structures and may have different functions. Observations on cells transfected with hybrid constructs indicated that both the second and third exon of c-myc were required to yield a product that behaved like the c-myc protein. In contrast, domains encoded by the second exon of N-myc were sufficient to give rise to a product that morphologically behaved like the N-myc protein.

Animals↗