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Biomedical subjects

G Lenoir

Publications and source records attributed to G Lenoir.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

When Epstein-Barr virus persistently infects B-cell lines, it frequently integrates.

In this study we used Gardella gel analysis of intact DNA, Southern blotting of digested DNA, and fluorescence in situ hybridization to provide complementary and unequivocal information on the state of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome in persistently infected cells. The fluorescence in situ hybridization technique allowed us to directly visualize both integrated and episomal EBV DNA at the single-cell level. We show here that circularization of the EBV genome is rarely detected upon infecting activated normal B cells. The virus can persist upon infection of a different proliferating B-cell target, EBV-negative Burkitt's lymphoma tumor cell lines. Analysis of 16 such lines reveal again, that the virus infrequently persists as covalently closed episomes; rather, the virus preferentially persists by integrating into the host DNA (10 of 16 clones). The integrated virus is linear and usually intact, although 3 of 10 isolates have deletions from the left-hand end including the latent origin of replication. At the level of our analysis, no obvious relationship was seen between the integration sites. These studies provide, for the first time, a reproducible in vitro model system to study integration by EBV.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus genomes in AIDS related lymphomas: sensitivity and specificity of in situ hybridisation compared with Southern blotting.

Eighteen cases of AIDS related, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were examined for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes using in situ hybridisation with a 35S-labelled probe. The results were compared with those obtained independently by Southern blot analysis with a 32P-labelled probe of frozen tissue from the same tumours. Technically satisfactory results were obtained with both methods in 15 lymphomas. EBV DNA was detected in seven of 15 (47%) cases by in situ hybridisation and in eight of 15 (53%) cases by Southern blotting (including all the cases positive by in situ hybridisation). The results of EBV DNA detection by the two techniques were identical in 14 of 15 (93%) cases. In situ hybridisation gave no false positive results. This study shows that the sensitivity and specificity of in situ hybridisation for the detection of EBV genomes in AIDS related lymphomas approaches that of Southern blotting, even when using routinely processed archival, paraffin wax embedded material.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Antibiotic treatment of cystic fibrosis].

Lower respiratory tract superinfection is nearly constant in cystic fibrosis and has a significant impact on mortality. The three organisms which most often colonize the bronchial tree are Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The latter organism is found in 70% to 90% of older cystic fibrosis patients. P. aeruginosa infections are remarkably persistent and cause severe, extensive lung damage. Antimicrobial therapy is indicated in patients with clinical symptoms (fever, weight loss, changes in sputum and auscultation) and should be selected on the basis of cytobacteriologic studies of sputum. Oral antibiotics are usually successful in eradicating S. aureus and H. influenzae. Conversely, intravenous therapy is required in most cases of P. aeruginosa infection. Fifteen-day courses are given repeatedly, either on a routine basis every three months, or whenever new clinical symptoms develop. Antimicrobials usually fail to eradicate P. aeruginosa even when significant clinical improvement occurs. Two-drug therapy and judicious use of the various available anti-microbial agents should delay development of resistant strains, an event which is nearly inevitable as antimicrobial treatments are repeated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Mucoviscidosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis].

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe disease inducing bronchopulmonary anatomic lesions which complicate those already present in patients with cystic fibrosis. The frequency of this association is estimated between 0.6 and 10% according to American studies. Diagnosis of ABPA is difficult, as findings such as sibilant rales, pulmonary infiltrates, bronchiectasies, anti-aspergillus precipitins may be present as single features in patients with cystic fibrosis. Thus it is important to ascertain the diagnosis as oral corticosteroid treatment is the only one able to prevent evolution towards bronchiectasies and pulmonary fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

Cystic fibrosis in the population of Reunion Island.

The frequencies of the delta F 508 mutation and haplotypes linked to the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene and detected with DNA probes XV-2C and KM-19 have been studied in the population of Reunion Island, a French province located in the Indian Ocean. The deletion was present in 41.3% of CF chromosomes, whereas this proportion is about 70% in the French population. The delta F 508 mutation was associated with the haplotype B defined by the DNA markers XV-2C (allele 1) and KM-19 (allele 2) in 76.4% of CF chromosomes, while this proportion is over 90% in the French population. Founder effect, genetic drift and admixture can explain these differences.

Child↗

[Arthritis in mucoviscidosis. 4 new cases and review of the literature].

Arthritis in mucoviscidosis has been described as aseptic arthritis with the picture of oligo or polyarticular intermittent rheumatism, independent of the pulmonary course of the disease, often accompanied by skin signs, sometimes in the form of vasculitis, and without radiological signs. Chronic forms with the presence of rheumatoid factor and/or radiological signs have also been described. The authors found 4 cases of arthritis (incidence 2%) in a retrospective study of 208 patients with mucoviscidosis. These included one case of typical intermittent rheumatism, one of chronic arthritis of the wrist with positive rheumatoid factor, one case associated with purpura, the course of which was linked to pulmonary secondary infections, and one case of polyarthritis with spinal pain which was difficult to classify. Arthritis in mucoviscidosis appears to be a clinically heterogeneous entity, the pathophysiology of which could involve various immune reactions, secondary to a chronic bacterial stimulus of bronchopulmonary origin.

Arthritis↗

[Colonization by pyocyanic bacillus and its treatment in cystic fibrosis].

In cystic fibrosis infection is localized to the bronchi and self-perpetuated by a disorder of mucociliary clearance. At a certain stage of the disease infection is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), and the patient cannot get rid of it as cystic fibrosis reduces his defence mechanisms against this organism, a naturally weak pathogen. The presence and significance of persistent bronchial PA infection result from complex phenomena which have been summarized as "an opportunistic organism in a host whose defences have been very peculiarly compromised". The toxicity of PA and the inappropriate inflammatory response of the host concur to create permanent alveolar lesions which are gradually spreading out. The effectiveness of antibiotics depends on the organism and its resistance, on pharmacokinetic factors bringing the drug in situ and on local conditions of redox, physico-chemical environment and nutrition. Other factors intervene more roughly, including patient's age, liver impairment, lung anatomy (excluded areas), general malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Thus, the part played by other treatments in the antibiotic therapy of cystic fibrosis can no longer be ignored, just as it is no longer sensible to limit the use of antibiotics to obvious infections. To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics is not easy, but it can be demonstrated beyond any doubt when the above mentioned factors are taken into account. The use of antibiotics creates practical problems relating to their cost, their dosage, their side-effects, the adequacy of therapeutic infrastructures and, above all, it raises the question of short- and long-term changes in microbial ecology.

Adolescent↗

Stable expression and function of EBV/C3d receptor following genomic transfection into murine fibroblast L cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the C3d component of complement bind to the same cell surface receptor (EBVR/CR2) which is part of the B lymphocyte differentiation antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of the cluster of differentiation 21 (CD21). To analyze EBV and C3d binding to this receptor, mouse fibroblasts were transfected with human genomic DNA and rare CD21-positive cells were selected and cloned by cell sorting. The presence of the human gene in host cell DNA as well as its transcription product were assayed with a cloned EBVR/CR2 cDNA by Southern and Northern blotting analysis, respectively. A glycoprotein of apparent molecular mass of 140 kDa, similar to that found in human B lymphocytes, was immunoprecipitated with anti-CD21 mAb and proved to be functional since both C3d and EBV bound efficiently and specifically to mouse cells expressing EBVR/CR2. However, no expression of EBV nuclear antigens, early antigens and viral capsid antigens was detected in cells exposed to EBV. This indicates that the presence of EBVR/CR2 is not sufficient to allow full infection of mouse fibroblasts.

Animals↗

Inhibition of HSV-1 multiplication in rat embryo fibroblasts constitutively expressing the EJ-ras oncogene.

In order to examine cellular gene involvement in HSV-1 expression, we constructed different rat embryo fibroblast cell lines immortalized by adenovirus E1A or c-myc, with or without the human EJ bladder carcinoma transforming oncogene EJ-ras. HSV-1 multiplication was strongly inhibited in cells expressing EJ-ras genes compared to immortalized control cells. Virus adsorption and penetration were not quantitatively modified, but HSV-1 DNA replication was inhibited. The expression of viral thymidine kinase (TK) activity after infection by recombinant virus with the TK coding sequence under immediate-early (IE) promoter control showed that IE gene expression is inhibited in cells expressing EJ-ras. Analysis of IE gene transcription by Northern-blot hybridization and by nuclear run-off transcription assay indicates that this inhibition takes place at the transcriptional level.

Adenovirus Early Proteins↗

Assignment of the gene for neuroendocrine protein 7B2 (SGNE1 locus) to mouse chromosome region 2[E3-F3] and to human chromosome region 15q11-q15.

The gene for 7B2, a protein found in the secretory granules of neural and endocrine cells (gene symbol SGNE1) was localized to the E3-F3 region of mouse chromosome 2 and to the q11-q15 region of human chromosome 15. This was determined by in situ hybridization, using a mouse 7B2 cDNA and an intronic fragment of the corresponding human gene as probes. The respective locations of SGNE1 in the two species correlate with the conservation of loci between these subregions of mouse chromosome 2 and human chromosome 15. Clinically, the human SGNE1 DNA fragment may serve as a molecular probe of this locus in both the Prader-Willi and the Angelman syndromes, which are often accompanied by submicroscopic chromosomal deletions in the 15q11-15q13 region.

Animals↗

Structure and regulation of the blast-2/CD23 antigen in epithelial cells from nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is tightly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and very heavily infiltrated with T lymphocytes. We demonstrated recently that NPC epithelial cells produce immuno-regulatory molecules, including the Blast-2/CD23 antigen, which is induced in B lymphocytes upon infection by EBV. We demonstrate here that CD23 expression is a non-constant but highly specific feature of epithelial cells from NPC. The C15 and C17 NPC tumor cells express mainly the b form of CD23, which is known to be non-lineage-specific and IL-4-inducible. C17 cells were found also to weakly express the a form of CD23, which has been described as B cell-specific. In addition, several factors potentially released in vivo by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are able to regulate CD23 expression in NPC cells. In particular, we found that IL-4 was a potent inducer of CD23 expression in C15 cells, as shown at both the protein and the mRNA levels. These results, together with the already reported expression of class II MHC antigens and the release of IL-1 by NPC cells, suggest that the interactions between TILs and malignant cells are a key factor in NPC pathogenesis and development.

Animals↗

Cystic fibrosis patients' B-lymphocyte response is resistant to the in vitro enhancing effect of corticosteroids.

Cystic fibrosis is associated with an cAMP-regulated channel defect, which has been evidenced in many cell types including B lymphocytes. To document a B-cell dysfunction potentially related to this defect, we studied the in vitro IgG production by lymphocytes from 11 cystic fibrosis patients. B lymphocytes were co-cultured with autologous monocytes and stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan or with Nocardia-delipidated cell mitogen in the presence of low concentrations of IL2. Cystic fibrosis patients' cells produced amounts of IgG comparable with that of normal and control patients' cells. However, dexamethasone (10(-7) mol l-1) had no effect on the response of cystic fibrosis patients' cells, whereas it enhanced that of the latter two groups. This resistance of cystic fibrosis cells was true with concentrations of dexamethasone up to 10(-6) mol l-1, whereas this agent induced a dose-related enhancement from 10(-8) to 10(-6) mol l-1 in cultures of normal cells. Co-culture experiments showed that cystic fibrosis B lymphocytes themselves are resistant to the effect of dexamethasone. In contrast dexamethasone normally suppressed the anti-CD3 antibody-induced response of cystic fibrosis T cells in the presence of IL2 and the IL1 alpha- or beta-induced collagenase production of cystic fibrosis fibroblast cell lines. Thus cystic fibrosis B lymphocytes exhibit a selective defect which may interfere with the normal interactions between the hormonal and immune systems and may participate in the sensitivity of cystic fibrosis patients to bacterial bronchopulmonary infections.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of platelet-activating factor biosynthesis via the acetyltransferase by arachidonic and oleic acids in ionophore A23187-stimulated bovine neutrophils.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator of inflammation and allergy that is synthesized by several inflammatory cells including neutrophils. Addition of exogenous arachidonic acid to ionophore A23187-stimulated bovine neutrophils led to the inhibition of PAF biosynthesis assayed by incorporation of [3H]acetate into PAF and by bioassay; under the same conditions, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) formation was not decreased. The activities of the PAF metabolism enzymes indicated that the PAF synthesis inhibition by arachidonic acid is mediated via the acetyltransferase inhibition which is the last enzyme of the PAF formation. Another unsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, exhibited the same inhibitory effect on [3H]acetate-PAF formation; however, the saturated stearic acid did not lead to any inhibition. These findings suggest that liberation of unsaturated fatty acids from membrane phospholipids, as a consequence of phospholipase A2 activation, would modulate PAF formation via inhibition of the acetyltransferase. In addition, the utilization of arachidonic acid oleic acids in activated neutrophils furnishes an easy means of blocking PAF synthesis in order to understand the role of this mediator in cellular processes.

Acetates↗

t(2;8) variant translocation in Burkitt's lymphoma: mapping of chromosomal breakpoints by in situ hybridization.

In 6 different Burkitt lymphoma cell lines with t(2;8) variant translocations (J1, LY66, LY91, BL21, BL64, JBL2) the breakpoints on chromosome 8q+ were mapped in relation to each other and to c-myc by in situ hybridization. The probes used were derived from chromosome 8q24 and comprised a c-myc probe, a probe located 48 kb downstream of c-myc, 3 probes adjacent to the chromosomal breakpoints of BL64, LY91 and JBL2, respectively, and 2 probes located in the 5' and 3' part of the thyroglobulin gene. The breakpoints of LY91 and JBL2 lie less than 200 kb and greater than 200 kb downstream of c-myc, whereas the distance to c-myc of the BL64 breakpoint and of the thyroglobulin probes is unknown. By recording the hybridization signals specific for these probes on chromosomes 2p- and 8q+ of each cell line it was possible to establish the order of breakpoints on band 8q24 relative to the c-myc and thyroglobulin genes as follows: centromere--c-myc--J1--BL64--BL21--LY91--JBL2--+ ++LY66--thyroglobulin--telomere. This information is essential for further mapping of this important chromosomal region.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Limiting dilution cloning of B cells from patients with multiple myeloma: emergence of non-malignant B-cell lines.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of slowly proliferating malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). Several reports have shown the existence of an abnormal B-cell compartment including proliferative idiotypic B cells (i.e., B cells bearing the same idiotypic determinants as the myeloma protein) in the BM and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with MM. In order to study whether this abnormal compartment can be grown in vitro, we cultured the PB and BM of 23 patients with MM using limiting dilution methods. Our purpose was to restrict the effect of suppressor cells and the possible overgrowth of the cultures by the more rapidly growing B cells, which occurs in bulk cultures. Spontaneously growing cells were obtained only from patients seropositive for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and all the cultures were composed of B cells carrying the EBV genome. Thus, positive cultures were generated only in the presence of B cells latently infected with EBV in vivo. The mean frequency of these B cells (1 in 25,000 B cells) was as low in MM patients as in healthy donors. This low frequency indicated that malignant cells do not bear the EBV genome in vivo and that the in vivo regulation of the EBV infection is unaffected in patients with MM. No Ig-gene rearrangements, specific of the autologous myeloma cells, were found in the cell lines obtained from BM or PB. Thus, the putative malignant B cells or myeloma cells were not able to generate cell lines in vitro, either spontaneously or after endogenous infection with EBV.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Studies of variations of subcutaneously infused desferrioxamine and iron movements in thalassaemia children.

Desferrioxamine (DFO) plus ferrioxamine (FO) variations and alterations in plasma and urinary iron (Fe) levels were investigated in eight children with thalassaemia major during a 12-h s.c. DFO infusion at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. During the infusion, blood samples were regularly taken and total urine was also regularly collected in all patients. In the plasma, a mean DFO plus FO plateau level of 9 mg/l was reached after 4 h and remained steady in the subsequent 8 h. At 30 h the mean DFO plus FO concentration in plasma was still 4.5 mg/l. At 30 h, the urinary excretion ranged from 15% to 70% of the infused dose (mean: 42%). In plasma, the Fe concentration increased on average by 20% (range 10%-30%), remained steady during the DFO infusion, then returned to the basal level after 16-24 h. Urinary Fe excretion started early and still persisted 18 h after the infusion. The amount excreted at 30 h ranged from 5 to 27 mg (mean: 13.6 mg). This study emphasizes the delay in obtaining a DFO plus FO plateau in plasma, the important interindividual variations and the slow decrease of the drug after the end of the infusion. It points out the delay and the values of the urinary Fe excretion compared to the plasmatic and urinary drug variations.

Adolescent↗