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Biomedical subjects

M Buchwald

Publications and source records attributed to M Buchwald.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Cystic fibrosis locus defined by a genetically linked polymorphic DNA marker.

A polymorphic DNA marker has been found genetically linked, in a set of 39 human families, to an autosomal recessive gene that causes cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease affecting one in 2000 Caucasian children. The DNA marker (called D0CRI-917) is also linked to the PON locus, which by independent evidence is linked to the CF locus. The best estimates of the genetic distances are 5 centimorgans between the DNA marker and PON and 15 centimorgans between the DNA marker and the CF locus, meaning that the location of the disease gene has been narrowed to about 1 percent of the human genome (about 30 million base pairs). Although the data are consistent with the interpretation that a single locus causes cystic fibrosis, the possibility of genetic heterogeneity remains. The discovery of a linked DNA polymorphism is the first step in molecular analysis of the CF gene and its causative role in the disease.

Aryldialkylphosphatase↗

The free cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in Duchenne muscular dystrophy lymphocytes.

An increased cellular Ca2+ content has been associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, estimates of the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cells of DMD patients were not available. We compared the [Ca2+]i levels of normal and DMD peripheral blood lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts using the novel probe, quin 2, an internally trapped fluorescent indicator. The [Ca2+]i levels of normal and DMD cells were not significantly different.

Calcium↗

Identification of two complementation groups in Fanconi anemia.

Considerable variation can be observed in the clinical presentation of Fanconi anemia (FA) patients and in the degree of sensitivity of their cells to DNA damaging agents. We have examined the hypothesis that genetic heterogeneity underlies this variation by testing for complementation in somatic cell hybrids constructed from FA cells. Hybrids were formed by fusing lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from four different FA patients. Complementation of the cellular defects in FA was tested by examining sensitivity to growth inhibition by mitomycin C(MMC), spontaneous chromosome breakage, and MMC-induced chromosome breakage in the hybrid cells. These studies revealed the presence of at least two complementation groups, suggesting that there may be two or more different FA genes.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

Culture of sweat gland epithelial cells from normal individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis.

Recent electrophysiological and pharmacological studies have confirmed previous clinical evidence that the gene defect in cystic fibrosis is strongly expressed in the sweat gland. This has provided a major impetus to efforts to culture the cells of this tissue in order to provide a source of experimental material for molecular studies. Toward this end, eccrine sweat glands were isolated from collagenase treated skin specimens and the secretory coil and the reabsorptive duct separated. Segments of each portion of the gland were transferred to a plastic or collagen substrate and covered with serum-containing or serum-free defined growth media. Epithelial cell outgrowth took place in both media but fibroblast overgrowth occurred in the presence of serum at concentrations as low as 1%. In serum-free medium both secretory and reabsorptive cells formed tightly joined epithelial sheets, first as monolayers and later as multilayers consisting of at least six cell layers. Growth continued for approximately fifteen generations each of about two and a half days. Remarkably large domes or hemicysts with diameters as great as two cm were formed, apparently attesting to the retention of the capacity of the cells to actively transport ions and water. Ultrastructurally, cells which grew out from the secretory coil resembled the fluid secreting clear cells; neither dark cells nor myoepithelial cells were propagated.

Cell Division↗

Volume regulation of Chinese hamster ovary cells in anisoosmotic media.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells when suspended in anisoosmotic media regulate their volumes by the activation of specific ion transport pathways. In hypoosmotic media the cells first swell and then return to their isoosmotic volumes by the loss of cellular KCl and osmotically obliged water. This regulatory volume decrease (RVD) is insensitive to ouabain or bumetanide but is blocked by quinine, cetiedil and oligomycin C. Based on cell volume and membrane potential measurements under various experimental conditions, we conclude that hypoosmotic shock activates independent, conductive transport pathways for K+ and for Cl-, respectively. The anion pathway can also transport NO3- and SCN- but not gluconate- anions. Osmotic shrinkage of CHO cells does not produce a regulatory volume increase (RVI) unless the cells have previously undergone a cycle of RVD. RVI is a Na+-dependent, amiloride-sensitive, but ouabain- and oligomycin-insensitive process, probably involving a Na+-H+ exchange system. Internal acidification of isoosmotic cells by addition of a permeable weak acid also activates an amiloride-sensitive Na+-H+ exchange, producing a volume increase. Both RVD and RVI in CHO cells seem to involve molecular mechanisms similar to those described for the volume regulation of lymphocytes, indicating the prevalence of these phenomena in nucleated mammalian cells. Cultured CHO cell lines may provide a basis for a genetic characterization of the volume-regulatory transport pathways.

Animals↗

Is cytoplasmic Ca2+ in lymphocytes elevated in cystic fibrosis?

An increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ( [Ca2+]i) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. We compared the [Ca2+]i levels of normal and cystic fibrosis peripheral blood lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts using quin 2, an internally trapped indicator. The [Ca2+]i levels of normal and cystic fibrosis cells were not significantly different. The ionophore-releasable intracellular Ca2+ stores were also comparable in both types of individual.

Adolescent↗

A gene regulating the time dependence of alpha-L-fucosidase concentration is closely linked with the structural gene in man.

The dependence of the specific activities of human alpha-L-fucosidase and four other lysosomal glycosidases on cell growth was determined in long-term lymphoid cell lines in which the polymorphic forms of alpha-L-fucosidase were identified by isoelectric focusing. In cultured lymphoblasts of Fu-1 phenotype the alpha-L-fucosidase synthesis during cell growth was found to be proportional to the general amount of protein. However, in cells derived from individuals possessing at least one FUCA*2 allele, the amount of enzyme increased progressively during the log-phase of growth, reaching a maximum at the transition to the stationary phase. The maximum increase of enzyme concentration was observed in the mid-log phase of exponential growth. The results may be explained by the existence of a regulatory locus FUCT which maps in close proximity to the structural gene. The FUCT locus which controls the amount of enzyme in the cell appears to be specific for alpha-L-fucosidase.

Cell Division↗

Use of cultured human cells for biochemical analysis.

The use of cultured human cells for biochemical analysis is increasing. This reflects the many advantages of such cells over tissue samples: independence of the measurements from the biological milieu of the donor, better control of experimental variables and the possibility of immortalizing the patient via his cells. Concomitant with these advantages, however, are certain new experimental variables which, if not properly controlled, can yield spurious results. This paper describes the types of cultured human cells that are generally available and the basic steps involved in their culture, as well as a discussion of the sources of variability in biochemical measurements which can be attributed to cell culture.

Aging↗

Persistence of freely replicating SV40 recombinant molecules carrying a selectable marker in permissive simian cells.

We have demonstrated that a SV40-pBR322 recombinant vector (pSV2-gpt) carrying a bacterial gene of selectable phenotype (Eco-gpt) may persist extrachromosomally in COS1 cells, a simian cell line that endogenously produces SV40 large T antigen. The amount of circular (supercoiled) recombinant DNA was estimated to be between 5 and 2000 copies per cell among several pSV2-transformed COS1 clonal lines examined. Complete pSV2 molecules were found in the majority of the transformants, although some of the pSV2 DNAs recovered were shown to have deletions in the pBR322 region. Our results indicate that removal of the pBR322 "inhibitory sequence" in pSV2 is not necessary for stable maintenance of these recombinant molecules in COS1 cells. In addition, large amounts of pSV2-related high molecular weight DNAs, probably concatemers of pSV2, were detected in the transformed lines.

Animals↗

Introduction and recovery of a selectable bacterial gene from the genome of mammalian cells.

The simian virus 40 (SV40)-pBR322 recombinant, pSV2, carrying the origin of SV40 replication and the gpt gene of Escherichia coli, has been stably introduced into Chinese hamster ovary hprt- cells. All gpt-transformed cell lines were found to contain one or more insertions of pSV2 sequences exclusively associated with high-molecular-weight DNA. Additional analyses showed that at least one integrated copy in each cell line retained an intact gpt gene and flanking SV40 sequences required for expression of xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. Most cell lines contained pSV2 sequences which had integrated with partial sequence duplication. Upon fusion with COS-1 cells, a simian cell line permissive for autonomous pSV2 replication, most gpt-transformed cell lines produced low-molecular-weight DNA molecules related to pSV2. The majority of these replicating DNAs were indistinguishable from the original transfecting plasmid in both size and restriction enzyme cleavage pattern. In addition, the recovered DNA molecules were able to confer ampicillin resistance to E. coli and to transform mouse L cells and Gpt- E. coli to a Gpt+ phenotype. These studies indicate that all of the genetic information carried by this SV40-plasmid recombinant can be introduced into and retrieved from the genome of mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Susceptibility of Fanconi's anemia lymphoblasts to DNA-cross-linking and alkylating agents.

In order to develop the usefulness of Fanconi's anemia (FA) lymphoblast lines for biochemical and genetic studies, we have determined their sensitivity to a variety of DNA-damaging chemicals. We have adapted a growth inhibiton protocol in which the sensitivity of a cell line is characterized by the drug concentration yielding a 50% inhibiton of growth (EC50). The DNA-cross-linking agents, mitomycin C, nitrogen mustard, melphalan, 1,3-butadiene diepoxide, cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II), and cyclophosphamide, were all more toxic to four FA cell lines than to five normal lines. Three lines, HSC 72 (FA), 99 (FA) and 230 (FA), had EC50s that were 10 to 20 times lower than that of controls while the fourth line, HSC 62 (FA), had an intermediate EC50. Three nitrosourea compounds were also more toxic to FA cells than to controls. However, 2 normal cell lines (HSC 92 and 93) had nitrosourea EC50s 4 to 7 times lower than the other nine controls and overlapped the sensitivity of the intermediate [HSC 62 (FA)] cell line. The same 2 normal cell lines were also more sensitive than 12 other controls, including FA heterozygotes, xeroderma pigmentosum, and ataxia telangiectasis, to the monofunctional alkylating agents, ethyl methane sulfonate, methyl methane sulfonate, and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Heterogeneity was also found with FA lines. Two FA cell lines (HSC 72 and 230) had EC50s lower than all control lines while one FA line (HSC 99) had an EC50 similar to that of the resistant normal lines. FA and normal cells had nearly the same sensitivity to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and bleomycin. These results demonstrate that FA lymphoblast lines are more sensitive than normal cell lines to all DNA-cross-linking agents examined. These cell lines should therefore be useful for the analysis of DNA cross-link repair and the biochemical defect in FA. We have also found an unexpected sensitivity of some FA and normal lines to monofunctional alkylating agents.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Effect of cycloheximide and dexamethasone phosphate on hyaluronic acid synthesis and secretion in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

We have studied some aspects of the regulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts derived from normal individuals. In these cells 85% of radiolabeled glucosamine is incorporated into two types of macromolecules, hyaluronic acid and glycoproteins, characterized by district partitions between the cell and medium compartments. Treatment of cells with cycloheximide under conditions in which protein and glycoprotein synthesis is inhibited by at least 90% has no effect on hyaluronic acid synthesis. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that protein synthesis is not necessary for the synthesis of hyaluronic acid. Conversely, 5 X 10(-6) M dexamethasone phosphate inhibits hyaluronic acid by 60% but has no effect on protein or glycoprotein or glycoprotein synthesis. Concomitant treatment with dexamethasone phosphate and cycloheximide restores the synthesis of hyaluronic acid to normal values. The dexamethasone phosphate effect on hyaluronic acid synthesis is therefore not a primary induction response since it requires protein synthesis. The secretion of hyaluronic acid and glycoproteins from the cells into the medium is not affected by either of the two drugs. This experimental approach will be useful in the study of the regulation of glycosaminoglycan metabolism in human cells especially with respect to disorders of connective tissue.

Cells, Cultured↗

Killing of fibroblasts by dexamethasone or dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate is not a valid test for cystic fibrosis.

Assays based on the counting of total cells and of colony-forming cells were used to demonstrate that neither dexamethasone nor dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) kills human fibroblasts under a variety of conditions. These results contradict those of previous studies showing that dexamethasone and dibutyryl cyclic AMP kill a higher percentage of fibroblasts from normal humans than from individuals with cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

Plasma membrane lipids of human diploid fibroblasts from normal individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis.

The lipid composition of isolated plasma membranes of human skin fibroblasts is described for the first time. Plasma membranes from a number of strains of fibroblasts from patients with cystic fibrosis and matched normals were isolated by a recently described procedure and analysed for major phospholipid classes, cholesterol and fatty acids. No differences in the quantities of these compounds were detected between cells of the two different origins. The fetal calf serum used to supplement the growth medium contained relatively more palmitoleate and oleate but less stearate than the membranes. There were also no consistent differences between cystic fibrosis and normal membranes in terms of the fatty acid compositions of their individual phospholipid classes. Consistent with this lack of chemical change in the lipids of membranes of cystic fibrosis cells, the degree of fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene, an index of fluidity, was also unchanged.

Cells, Cultured↗