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J N Buxbaum

Publications and source records attributed to J N Buxbaum.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Enhanced expression of oncogene-encoded mRNA in a rat model of colon cancer.

We have studied the expression of oncogene-encoded mRNAs in a rat model of colon cancer. In this model, rats are intrarectally administered several low doses of the direct-acting carcinogen, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Tumors, predominantly adenomas, develop 5-7 months following administration of the carcinogen, and many of these progress to carcinomas. Upon assaying the steady-state levels of oncogene-encoded transcripts in normal rat colon, we found that fos and N-myc are highly expressed; H-ras, K-ras, myc, myb, and neu messages are present at lower levels; and N-ras, abl, and raf mRNAs are absent. When we compared transcript levels in rat tumors to those in normal colons from the same animal, we observed a 2-4 fold increase in both myc- and H-ras-encoded mRNAs and a 2-7 fold increase in myb message, but no change in expression of any of the 7 other genes. To test whether this increased expression is related to tumor production or is simply a result of the more rapid cellular turnover observed in tumor tissue, the level of oncogene-encoded transcripts was assayed in colonic mucosae of rats given two treatments known to enhance cell turnover and DNA synthesis in the colon. Neither acute application of MNU nor a diet containing 1% cholic acid caused any change in the level of oncogene-encoded mRNAs in rat colons, thus suggesting that the increased abundance of myc, myb, and H-ras messages in tumors is associated with tumor formation. The enhancement of expression of these genes in adenomas, as well as in carcinomas, further suggests that these alterations occur relatively early during the tumorigenic process.

Adenoma↗

Frequency and genetic background of the position 122 (Val----Ile) variant transthyretin gene in the black population.

Transthyretin (TTR) (122 Val----Ile), caused by a point mutation which destroys a MaeIII restriction site, is associated with cardiac amyloidosis in black individuals. To estimate the frequency of the MaeIII(-) gene in the black population without overt cardiac disease, DNA from 177 black individuals without amyloidosis was amplified by the PCR around TTR codon 122 and was digested with MaeIII. The MaeIII(-) gene frequency was 4/354 (1.1%; 95% confidence interval 0.32%2.7%), suggesting that the variant is relatively common in blacks. HLA genotype testing did not suggest that the TTR (122 Val----Ile) heterozygotes were of a closely related genetic background.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease: light chain and light and heavy chain deposition diseases and their relation to light chain amyloidosis. Clinical features, immunopathology, and molecular analysis.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition occurs in tissues as Congo Red binding fibrils in light chain amyloidosis, as less structured deposits in light chain deposition disease, and as similar but distinct deposits in light and heavy chain deposition disease. The nonamyloid forms were found in 13 patients who had evidence of plasmacytic dyscrasia by the immunohistochemical detection of immunoglobulin light chains of kappa or lambda class (with or without staining for a single heavy chain isotype) and by the absence of amyloid P component in tissue sections that did not show the birefringence characteristic of amyloid after Congo Red staining. All but two of the patients presented with proteinuria with or without azotemia. Clinical syndromes involving other organ systems were less common but occasionally severe. Four patients had overt multiple myeloma. Three others had hypercalcemia and mild bone marrow plasmacytosis but no lytic lesions. Analyses of immunoglobulin synthesis in bone marrow cells from seven patients showed excess light chains in all and incomplete light chains or heavy chain fragments in six, regardless of whether an intact monoclonal protein or related subunit was in the serum or urine. The fibrillar (amyloidotic) and nonfibrillar forms of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition occur either in overt multiple myeloma or in the course of less neoplastically aggressive plasmacytic dyscrasias. Bone marrow cells from patients with either type produce immunoglobulin fragments that are related to those deposited in the affected tissues.

Adult↗

A homozygous transthyretin variant associated with senile systemic amyloidosis: evidence for a late-onset disease of genetic etiology.

Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) is a late-onset disease characterized by deposition of amyloid fibrils containing transthyretin (TTR). Amino acid sequencing of protein isolated from the amyloid fibrils of a patient with SSA identified TTR containing a position - 122 isoleucine-for-valine substitution. This change led to the prediction of a genomic G-to-A transition, destroying an MaeIII restriction site. We confirmed the presence of the variant DNA fragment both by Southern blotting and by visualization of MaeIII digests of DNA amplified around codon 122, by using the polymerase chain reaction. The patient's DNA was entirely resistant to MaeIII cleavage; therefore, only the mutant sequence was present. DNA from none of either 24 controls or six other SSA patients contained the variant. Quantitative Southern blotting demonstrated that the patient's DNA contained two copies of the TTR gene per genome; the mutation was therefore homozygous rather than hemizygous. In the present case, the homozygous mutation TTR (122 Val----Ile) is associated with SSA, a finding which is consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance of this condition.

Age Factors↗

A Thy-1 negative lymphoma cell variant defective in the formation of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol membrane protein anchors.

Thy-1 is a glycoprotein present on the membrane of murine cells of the T-lineage. The mature Thy-1 is anchored to the membrane via a glycolipid, phosphatidylinositide. In order to study the regulation of the synthesis and membrane insertion of this protein, the biochemical properties of a Thy-1.2 negative variant T-lymphoma cell (RL male 1.4) were studied. It contains intracellular Thy-1 protein but fails to express it on the cell surface. While the wild type and the mutant show similar labelling of the intracellular Thy-1 glycoprotein with amino acids, no ethanolamine is incorporated into the Thy-1 molecule of RL male 1.4. A plasmid, pT1, containing the normal Thy-1.2 gene and bacterial gpt gene was transfected into RL male 1.4 and into the murine plasmacytoma cell, J558L. A transfected plasmacytoma, T1J2, synthesized a normal sized Thy-1 protein and displayed the antigen on the membrane. In contrast, the mycophenolic acid resistant RL male 1.4 transfectants did not display Thy-1.2 on the cell surface, despite the presence of substantial amounts of Thy-1 intracellularly. Two other antigens known to be anchored in the membrane by phospholipid, Ly-6e and Qa-2, were also examined in RL male 1.4. RL male 1.4 did not express Ly-6e after alpha interferon induction. In addition, the expression of Qa-2 antigen was greatly diminished in RL male 1.4 in comparison to RL male 1.3. Thus, the defect in RL male 1.4 is not restricted to Thy-1.2, but includes other similarly anchored glycoproteins as well. This implies that the addition of phospholipid to core proteins is similar, if not identical, for all these molecules and that the RL male 1.4 cell lacks the capacity to from the lipid glycoprotein linkage required for the expression of these proteins on the cell surface.

Animals↗

Restriction fragment analysis confirms the position 33 mutation in transthyretin from an Israeli patient (SKO) with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

Transthyretin isolated from amyloid fibrils from an Israeli patient with Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy was sequenced by two research groups. One laboratory reported a position 49 Thr----Gly substitution, while the other noted a Phe for Ile interchange at amino acid 33. We used a transthyretin cDNA probe to study DNA from this patient by Southern blotting. The DNA displayed the unique Bcl I restriction site predicted by the mutation in codon 33. Because of the close size of the normal (6.40 kb), and variant (6.27 kb) fragments, the variant was more easily demonstrated after digestion with both Bcl I and Sph I, which generated two easily resolvable fragments of 2.39 and 2.27 kb.

Amyloidosis↗

Oncogene alterations in primary human colon tumors.

We have examined alterations in six oncogenes--H-ras, K-ras, N-ras, myc, fos, and N-myc--in nine primary human colon tumors. Tumors were obtained within an hour of resection; as a control for each tumor, adjacent normal colon tissue was also obtained. Deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from each tissue sample was assayed by digesting with appropriate restriction endonucleases and, after gel electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose, hybridizing with radiolabeled oncogene probes. Amplification of the myc locus, relative to adjacent normal colon tissue, was observed in two of these tumors; by dot-blotting, it was estimated that myc was amplified twofold to fivefold in each tumor. No rearrangements of myc, however, were observed in any of these tumors. Examination of the H-ras alleles of these nine tumors revealed that eight possess only "common" alleles of this gene, and that each was identical to its control. Normal colon DNA of the ninth patient, however, was found to possess both a "common" and a "rare" allele, and the "common" allele of H-ras appeared to be deleted in the tumor DNA of this patient. A restriction polymorphism indicative of a mutation in the 12th codon of K-ras was not found in any of these tumors, and we observed no evidence of rearrangement of amplification of the N-ras, K-ras, fos, or N-myc genes.

Alleles↗

Isolation of highly malignant Thy-1-positive revertants from cultured cloned Thy-1-negative lymphoma cells of low tumorigenicity.

We have used a positive immunoselection method to isolate a Thy-1-positive revertant of a Thy-1-negative line. The technique makes use of the ability of surface bound antigen-antibody complexes containing the enzyme catalase to protect cells from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide. The revertant cells produce a Thy-1 molecule indistinguishable from that produced by the original parent line, and they resemble that line in being far more tumorigenic than the Thy-1-negative variant.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin abnormalities in Paget's disease of bone.

Several patients with Paget's disease have been reported to have monoclonal IgM proteins in their serum. We have systematically studied 26 patients with Paget's disease severe enough to require diphosphonate therapy. Five of these patients were found to have isolated elevations of serum IgM which were well outside the normal range for their age, sex and race. An additional patient had elevations of both IgG and IgM. These patients seem to represent a subset of Pagetics. They do not differ from the remainder of the group with respect to severity or extent of disease, response to therapy, presence of intercurrent disease or age. They do have a different male to female ratio. These observations suggest that some patients with Paget's disease may have disordered immune regulation or that they may be undergoing a primary response to an agent involved in the aetiology or pathogenesis of the disease.

Aged↗

Identification of a new marker (Ly RL male 1) for cells of the T lineage by an auto-antithymocyte serum.

The sera of mice surviving challenge with a Thy-1-negative variant of the thymoma RL male 1 contain antibodies which identify a new cell surface antigen (Ly RL male 1) present on cells of the T lineage. This antigen appears early in the development of the lineage and it can be detected on most thymocyte precursors. Its presence on prothymocytes can serve to distinguish these cells from their multipotential precursors. The antigen is present on many thymocytes, and dividing thymocytes are more susceptible to its cytotoxic activity than is the total population. Ly RL male 1-antigen-positive cells can be detected in peripheral lymphoid tissues by both functional assays and absorption. Treatment of peripheral lymphoid cells with the antiserum leads to significant reduction in MLR and helper activity but does not alter mitogen reactivity or lymphocytotoxicity. Animals with significant serum levels of anti-RL male 1 are deficient in their ability to produce IgG antibody to sheep erythrocytes.

Animals↗

gamma Heavy chain disease in man: cDNA sequence supports partial gene deletion model.

Human gamma heavy chain disease (HCD) is characterized by the presence in serum of a short monoclonal Ig gamma chain unattached to light chains. Although most HCD proteins have internal deletions, in some the defect is NH2-terminal. The OMM gamma 3 HCD serum protein is of the latter type, having undergone an extensive NH2-terminal deletion with a sequence starting within the hinge. A cell line synthesizing the OMM protein has enabled us to study the biogenesis of the abnormal molecule. In vitro translation of isolated mRNA yields a protein containing a hydrophobic NH2-terminal leader sequence. In the intact cell, the precursor molecule is processed normally to yield a protein with an NH2-terminal sequence homologous to the beginning of the variable (V) region. The nucleotide sequence of cDNA prepared from the OMM mRNA encodes a 19-amino acid leader followed by the first 15 residues of the V region. An extensive internal deletion encompasses the remainder of the V and the entire CH1 domain. Immediately following the short V region, there is information in the cDNA for the entire normal hinge. The primary synthetic product is thus an internally deleted molecule that undergoes postsynthetic degradation to yield the NH2-terminally deleted serum protein. The structure of the OMM mRNA suggests that the protein abnormality results from a partial gene deletion rather than defective splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Demonstration of a hematopoietic stem cell antigen (SC-1) on a murine lymphoma and isolation of variants lacking the antigen.

Murine multipotential hematopoietic stem cells (CFU-s) bear an antigen (SC-1) which is recognized by heterologous antisera to mouse brain. We have found that cloned Thy-1 negative variants of the T-cell lymphoma RL male 1 are sensitive to complement-mediated cytolysis by anti-brain serum and can absorb the anti-stem cell activity from the antiserum. We have isolated several subclones derived from a primary Thy-1 negative variant which are not susceptible to anti-brain serum. The surface of the resistant lines has little or no antigen capable of binding anti-mouse brain antibodies as measured by either immunofluorescence or a radioimmunoassay. These lines are also unable to absorb the antibodies responsible for the cytotoxic effect of rabbit anti-mouse brain serum against CFU-s. We conclude that the predominant antigen, serologically detectable on Thy-1 negative variants of RL male 1, is SC-1.

Animals↗

Nodular glomerulopathy associated with nonamyloidotic kappa light chain deposits and excess immunoglobulin light chain synthesis.

A nodular glomerulopathy characterized by mesangial deposits of monoclonal kappa light chains was detected by immunofluorescence in a renal biopsy from a patient with proteinuria and hypertension. These nodules lacked the tinctorial and morphologic features of amyloid. Ultrastructurally, the nodules contained electron-dense granular deposits as well as fibrils in parallel arrangement. The fibrils measured 110-140 A in diameter. They were consistent in size with amyloid fibrils. However, they differed in lacking the randomly oriented network of typical amyloid fibrils and more closely resembled fibrils intrinsic to mesangial matrix. The patient had no bone marrow or X-ray evidence of myeloma and no evidence of free monoclonal light chains in serum or concentrated urines. Biosynthetic studies of the patient's bone marrow cells demonstrated unbalanced immunoglobulin synthesis with excess production of monoclonal kappa light chains. These observations suggest that the observed glomerulopathy results from direct deposition of monoclonal light chains. Deposits with kappa light chain determinants have been found in 7 other patients with similar nodular glomerulopathies, 4 of whom had diagnosed clinical myeloma. The lesion of nonamyloidotic nodular glomerulopathy previously described in 19 patients, nor examined by immunopathologic techniques or not shown to contain light chain determinants, may have a similar pathogenesis.

Adult↗

Immunologic basis of resistance to RL male 1 induced by immunoselected Thy-1.2 negative variants.

Variant cell lines that have lost the Thy-1 antigen have a reduced capacity to induce tumors in syngeneic recipients when compared to Thy-1 positive clones. The negative variants are cloned, cultured cells obtained from the Thy-1.2(theta) positive BALB/c lymphoma RL male 1 in a single-step immunoselection procedure. The reduction appears to be related to an alteration in the host response to the tumor, since both the variant and parental cells induce tumors equally well in irradiated mice. Males are much more susceptible to the inoculated tumor cells, suggesting that the relevant response is restricted to females. A majority of female animals that survive challenge with the variant do not allow growth of the parental tumor when they are injected with a quantity of cells that is uniformly fatal in untreated recipients. Most of the surviving females have an antibody in their sera that is cytotoxic for the variant, its parent, and normal thymocytes. None of the few surviving males had significant titers of the antibody. Cell-mediated immunity directed toward the positive and negative tumor cells was demonstrable in half the surviving animals of both sexes.

Animals↗

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression in a Thy-l alloantigen variant lymphoma cell line.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) expression was examined in the clones of the radiation induced murine leukemia, RL male 1, which differ in Thy-1.2 alloantigen expression and tumourigenicity in syngeneic mice. Both cell lines displayed predominant cytoplasmic localization of TdT and equal sensitivities to specific TdT inhibitors. The R1 male 1.3 + cell line (Thy-1.2 positive and tumourigenic) demonstrated overall higher levels of TdT activity and different elution patterns on phosphocellulose chromatography compared with the RL male 1.4 - (Thy-1.2 negative and poorly tumourgenic) cell line. These findings suggest an association of TdT expression with tumourigenicity properties in leukemic T lymphocytes.

Animals↗