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Biomedical subjects

J C Albrechts

Publications and source records attributed to J C Albrechts.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Duplication of chromosome region 8p23.1-->p23.3: a benign variant?

Chromosome analysis was performed in a 34-year-old man who was phenotypically normal except for oligoasthenozoospermia. In this patient, analysis of GTG-banded chromosomes showed in one chromosome 8 additional chromosomal material of unknown origin. To characterize the aberrant chromosome more precisely, a paint specific for chromosome region 8pter-->8p23.1 was generated by microdissection and degenerated oligonucleotide primed-polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR) and used as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) paint. After reverse painting, hybridization signals were only found on the short arm of the two chromosomes 8, with an enlarged signal on the derivative chromosome 8. The duplication was characterized further with band-specific FISH probes. We concluded that (part of) chromosome region 8p23.1-->p23.3 was duplicated. Chromosome analysis of the parents showed that the dup(8) was of maternal origin and that the fertile brother of the index patient also was a carrier of the chromosome aberration. There was no history of miscarriages. We suggest that duplication of region 8p23.1-->p23.3 can be regarded as euchromatic variant or duplication with no phenotypic effect.

Adult

Complex chromosome 9, 20, and 22 rearrangements in acute lymphoblastic leukemia with duplication of BCR and ABL sequences.

Cytogenetic analysis was performed on bone marrow cells from a 28-year-old woman who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Her karyotype was: 46,XX,t(9;22)(q34;q11)[6]/47, XX,+8,t(9;22)(q34;q11)[4]/47,XX,+8,t(9;22)(q34;q11),del(20)(q11)[2]/46, XX,t(9;22)(q34;q11),del[20](q11)[7]/45,XX,der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11),-20,-22 , +mar1[8]/45,XX,der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11),-20,-22,+mar2[3]. Both marker chromosomes are dicentric and have the same size and banding pattern but different primary constrictions. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated that both markers were derived from chromosomes 9, 20, and 22. FISH with the bcr/abl probe showed fusion of the BCR gene with the ABL gene; however, this fusion signal was present in duplicate on both marker chromosomes. To our knowledge, duplication of the BCR/ABL fusion signal on a single chromosome arm has not been reported before, except for the extensive amplification of BCR/ABL fusion signals in the leukemic cell line K-562. These data demonstrate that the marker chromosomes are the result of complex genomic rearrangements. At the molecular level, the BCR/ABL fusion gene encodes the p190 fusion protein. Similar findings have never been observed in any case of ALL.

Adult

Prenatally detected marker chromosome identified as an i(22)(p10) using (micro)FISH.

MicroFISH was used to elucidate the chromosomal origin of a prenatally detected marker chromosome. Five copies of the marker chromosome were collected from GTG-banded metaphases and amplified by means of DOP-PCR. The PCR product was labeled with blotine-14-dATP and used as a FISH probe for hybridization to metaphase chromosomes of the fetus (reverse painting). The marker appeared to be derived from the short arm of (an) acrocentric chromosome(s). After FISH with centromere-specific and band-specific probes complete characterization was possible and the marker chromosome appeared to consist of two short arms of chromosome 22. The pregnancy was continued and one year after birth the patient is developing normal.

Chromosome Inversion

Detection of a cryptic translocation t(13;20)(q34;p13) in an unexplained case of MCA/MR: value of FISH over high resolution banding.

Cryptic unbalanced chromosome rearrangements in the telomeric bands of the chromosomes may constitute a significant cause of unexplained mental retardation with or without congenital anomalies. We report on a boy with a terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 13, combined with a partial duplication of the short arm of chromosome 20, owing to a cryptic balanced translocation in his father. The karyotype of the father was 46XY,t(13;20)(q34;p13). The propositus presented with severe mental and growth retardation, microcephaly, facial anomalies including ptosis of the right upper eyelid, a high nasal bridge, small palpebral fissures, and bilateral epicanthus, hypospadias, and scoliosis. A younger brother died at birth and had a low birth weight, hypospadias, and a horseshoe kidney. Repeated chromosome analyses with high resolution banding in the propositus and his parents were apparently normal. Chromosome painting eventually disclosed the cryptic translocation in the father with unbalanced karyotype in the propositus. The importance of additional FISH analysis in patients with unexplained mental retardation, physical anomalies, and apparently normal chromosomes is emphasized.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Duplication within chromosome region 15q11-q13 in a patient with similarities to Prader-Willi syndrome confirmed by region-specific and band-specific fish.

We report on a patient presenting with mental retardation and obesity and a proximal duplication of chromosome 15. The patient shared some clinical signs with Prader-Willi syndrome. With a region-specific paint, generated by microdissection, a duplication in region 15q11.2-q13 was shown to be present. Subsequently, FISH with probes localized to chromosome region 15q11.2-q12 and microsatellite analysis was used to characterize this chromosome aberration further and an insertion duplication within the region frequently deleted in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome was demonstrated.

Child

Characterization of a partial trisomy 16q with FISH. Report of a patient and review of the literature.

Characterization of a partial trisomy 16 q with FISH: Report of a patient and literature review: We report on a 28-year-old male patient with severe growth and mental retardation, severe behavioural problems, especially automutilation, and a spastic quadriplegia. He showed no specific dysmorphism. The karyotype was 46, XY, dir dup(16) (q11.2-q13). The clinical and cytogenetical findings are compared with 3 previously reported cases with proximal duplication 16q.

Adult

Characterization of a de novo unbalanced translocation t(14q18q) using microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

We report on a patient with a de novo translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 14 and 18. The translocation was studied using microdissection in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization (micro-FISH). Five copies of the chromosomes involved in the translocation were isolated by microdissection and amplified by means of degenerate oligonucleotide primed-polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR). Reverse chromosome painting with the biotin-labeled PCR product showed that part of the q-arm of chromosome 18 had no signal. The deletion was characterized further by FISH with band-specific probes and it was concluded that the rearrangement was unbalanced: 46,XY,t(14;18)(14pter-->14q22::18q21.1-->18qter) (18pter-->18q12.2::14q22-->14qter). The patient, who presented with psychomotor retardation, mild obesity, pes equinovarus, strabismus, and facial anomalies, is compared with previously reported patients with an interstitial deletion of band 18q12.

Child, Preschool

A simple and efficient method for microdissection and microFISH.

A simple and efficient method for the dissection of (marker) chromosomes, (micro)nuclei, and chromosome regions is presented. Before microdissection, metaphases are overlaid with milli-Q water to rehydrate the chromosomes, which makes them soft and sticky. The dissected chromosome fragments are dissolved without proteinase-K or topoisomerase treatment and directly amplified using a degenerate oligonucleotide primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR). The advantages of this microFISH method over previously reported methods are: (1) microdissection in this way is very fast; (2) a chromosome, marker, (micro)nucleus, or chromosome region is collected as a whole using only one microneedle; (3) the dissected material sticks tightly to the needle without the risk of getting lost; (4) no Sequenase is used in the DOP-PCR reaction which reduces the risk of contamination.

Humans

Two cases of partial trisomy 8p and partial monosomy 21q in a family with a reciprocal translocation (8;21)(p21.1;q22.3).

We report on two mentally retarded adults with an unbalanced karyotype resulting from a familial balanced translocation between chromosomes 8 and 21, t(8;21)(p21.1;q22.3). This translocation has not been reported before. Both patients had partial trisomy 8p and partial monosomy 21q. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was used to determine the chromosomal breakpoints more precisely. The first patient showed mild mental retardation and facial dysmorphism, slightly resembling the earlier described trisomy 8p phenotype. He did not resemble his affected niece, who was more severely retarded, had serious epilepsy, but lacked the facial dysmorphism. Comparing the data of both patients with published reports of trisomy 8p, marked differences were found between patients with an inversion duplication (inv dup) 8p, patients with partial trisomy 8p caused by an unbalanced translocation, and our patients. Inv dup(8p) causes a recognisable phenotype, whereas the phenotype of trisomy 8p resulting from a translocation is much more variable, probably because of the accompanying monosomies. However, even the same abnormal karyotype can cause different phenotypes, as our patients show. Counselling carriers of the balanced translocation in this family, a 20-25% recurrence risk for unbalanced offspring and a 25% risk for miscarriages seem appropriate.

Adult

Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 6: two new patients and literature review.

Two children with a partial monosomy 6q are reported: a girl with an interstitial deletion [46,XX,del(6)(q16.2q23.1)], and a boy with a terminal deletion [46,XY,del(6)(q25.1)]. Both children presented with developmental delay, facial dysmorphism and a cardiac defect. The patients have been studied using G banding and cosmid probes specific for the long arm of chromosome 6. Clinical data are compared with patients reported in the literature.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Disclosure of five breakpoints in a complex chromosome rearrangement by microdissection and FISH.

Microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) were used to elucidate the nature of a complex chromosome translocation, after GTG banding failed in the complete characterisation of the structural rearrangement between chromosomes 6 and 12. These chromosomes were painted with chromosome specific paints and one of the chromosome regions involved in the translocation was isolated by microdissection. Ten copies of the microdissected region were collected with microneedles from GTG banded metaphases, transferred to a collecting drop, and amplified by means of DOP-PCR. The PCR product was labelled with biotin-14-dATP and used as a FISH probe for hybridisation to normal metaphase chromosomes and metaphase chromosomes of the patients (microFISH). FISH with this chromosome region specific painting probe and with chromosome band specific probes enabled the characterisation of a complex chromosome rearrangement with five breakpoints in two chromosomes. This resulted in the following karyotype: 46,XY,t(6;12)(6pter--> 6q12::12q24.1-->12qter;12qter-->12q13.3:: 6q16.2-->6q26::12q13.3-->12q24.1::6q12--> 6q16.2::6q26-->6qter).

Adolescent

Application of micro-FISH to delineate deletions.

Microdissection combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (micro-FISH) was used to visualize deletions in rearranged human chromosomes and in a de novo translocation. In each experiment five copies of a structurally aberrant chromosome or of the two chromosomes involved in the de novo translocation were isolated by microdissection and amplified using DOP-PCR. The PCR products were then used as probes for FISH to metaphase chromosomes of three patients. After reverse chromosome painting, the structurally aberrant chromosomes were completely painted, and the region deleted in the aberrant chromosomes was visible in the normal chromosomes. The smallest deletion that could be demonstrated this way was a microdeletion of approximately 6 x 10(6) bp, which is frequently reported in Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes.

Child

Partial trisomy and monosomy 8p due to inversion duplication.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes specific for a chromosomal subregion and chromosome-specific libraries (chromosome painting) are important new methods for assessing chromosome rearrangements. In this paper we present four patients with additional chromosomal material on chromosome 8p who have been studied using G-banding techniques, chromosome painting and FISH with cosmid probes specific for the region 8p23.1-->8pter. In all cases we found a partial inversion duplication of 8p along with a deletion of the region 8p23.1-->8pter.

Adult

Partial trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 18 due to inversion duplication and direct duplication.

We report one patient with a de novo inversion duplication 18 (pter-->cen) and two cases of direct tandem duplication 18 (pter-->cen), one due to maternal inheritance and the other arising as mosaicism of unknown origin. The duplications are demonstrated by high resolution banding. They were verified by in situ hybridization with a paint specific for chromosome 18 and with DNA probe LI.84 specific for the centromere region of chromosome 18. FISH with the genomic DNA probe pHRR68 specific for 18p11.32 revealed a subtle deletion concomitantly involved in the case of inversion duplication 18p. The patients exhibit slight developmental delay/moderate mental retardation and only a few dysmorphic features. The literature on trisomy 18p is reviewed and the present cases are compared to it.

Abnormalities, Multiple