Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M J Cline

Publications and source records attributed to M J Cline.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Organ specific expression of ras oncoproteins during growth and development of the rat.

Expression of proteins encoded by the ras proto-oncogenes was examined in extracts from normal rat organs using anti-ras p21 antibodies generated against synthetic peptides. The highest level of ras p21 was found in brain (cerebrum) and was predominantly of c-Ha-ras origin. Levels of brain ras p21 did not vary from the newborn period of 3 months of age. Moderate levels of ras p21s were detected in lung, spleen and thymus. In contrast to the p21 in brain, these levels varied with the age of the rats and were encoded by other members of ras proto-oncogene family (Ki-ras or N-ras). This organ specific expression of different ras genes might be related to developmental control of gene expressions.

Animals↗

Expression of p21 ras oncoproteins in human cancers.

The expression of proteins encoded by ras oncogenes was examined in 52 fresh human tumors of 19 different types using antibodies generated to different peptide domains of ras proteins of molecular weight 21,000 (p21). Proteins related to ras genes were detected in 90% of tested tumors. In 21% of tumors there were high levels of ras p21 of greater than 40% of the level in a Harvey murine sarcoma virus transformed cell line. Predominance of either cellular Ha-ras or other ras p21s was found in 20 and 14% of tumors, respectively, and predominance of p21 other than Ha-ras was frequent in breast cancers. Abnormal electrophoretic mobility of p21 was observed in two cancers, and a novel rapidly migrating ras p21 was found in a rare malignant fibrohistiocytoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Studies of the putative transforming protein of the type I human T-cell leukemia virus.

The putative transforming protein of the type I human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is a 40-kilodalton protein encoded by the X region and is termed p40XI. On the basis of both subcellular fractionation techniques and immunocytochemical analysis, it is now shown that p40XI is a nuclear protein with a relatively short half-life (120 minutes). It is synthesized de novo in considerable quantities in a human T-cell line infected with and transformed by the virus in vitro, and it is not packaged in detectable amounts in the extracellular virus.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗

Efficient generation of antibodies to oncoproteins by using synthetic peptide antigens.

To examine the efficiency of generating protein-reactive antipeptide antibodies, 35 peptides encoded by retroviral or cellular oncogenes were used to immunize rabbits. Thirty-two peptides elicited antipeptide antibodies, of which 56% reacted with their respective oncoproteins. The length of the immunizing peptide was an important factor in generating antibodies reactive with native protein. Similar peptides differing in a single or a few amino acids could elicite antisera of markedly different reactivities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Separation by velocity sedimentation of human haemopoietic precursors forming colonies in vivo and in vitro cultures.

Cells which give rise to granulocyte-macrophage colonies under the influence of peripheral blood white cells (CFU-c (WBC] and Mo T cell conditioned medium (CFU-c (Mo] sedimented at a faster rate than the cells which form mixed erythroid-granulocytic colonies in methylcellulose in vitro (CFU-mix) and granulocytic (CFU-dg) and megakaryocytic (CFU-dm) colonies in diffusion chambers in mice. Despite identical peak sedimentation rate for the two CFU-c populations, sedimentation profiles suggest that they are heterogeneous with respect to size. A proportion of CFU-c (Mo) may be identical with CFU-dg and CFU-mix. Sedimentation profiles for cells which give rise to mixed colonies in vitro (CFU-mix) and to granulocytic colonies in diffusion chambers in cyclophosphamide pretreated mice (CFU-dg (CY] and in Mo conditioned medium treated mice (CFU-dg (Mo] were similar. On the average CFU-dm sedimented somewhat slower than CFU-dg. These and other observations suggesting a close relationship between CFU-dg and multipotential haemopoietic precursors are discussed.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

Identification of the putative transforming protein of the human T-cell leukemia viruses HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

The human T-cell leukemia viruses HTLV-I and HTLV-II are unique among the transforming retroviruses of vertebrates in their ability to transform human T cells in vitro and in their close association with human malignancies (T-cell lymphomas and leukemia). Their genomes are relatively simple, containing the genes gag, pol, env, and a 3' region termed "X." This 3' region may be responsible for the transforming potential of the viruses. The existence of proteins encoded by the 3' region has been postulated on the basis of multiple open reading frames. In the present study this region is shown to contain a gene encoding a protein of 40 kilodaltons in HTLV-I and 37 kilodaltons in HTLV-II. It is proposed that these proteins be called, respectively, p40xI and p37xII.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of cellular oncogenes in human malignancies.

Cellular oncogenes have been implicated in the induction of malignant transformation in some model systems in vitro and may be related to malignancies in vivo in some vertebrate species. This article describes a study of the expression of 15 cellular oncogenes in fresh human tumors from 54 patients, representing 20 different tumor types. More than one cellular oncogene was transcriptionally active in all of the tumors examined. In 14 patients it was possible to study normal and malignant tissue from the same organ. In many of these patients, the transcriptional activity of certain oncogenes was greater in the malignant than the normal tissue. The cellular fes (feline sarcoma) oncogene, not previously known to be transcribed in mammalian tissue, was found to be active in lung and hematopoietic malignancies.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Gene therapy.

A number of techniques are available for insertion of new genetic information into mammalian cells. some of these have been used successfully for genetic modification of germ line cells and somatic cells of living animals. Some of these techniques may be applicable to treatment of some of the genetic diseases of man, once problems related to the control of expression of introduced genes are solved.

DNA, Recombinant↗

Expression of cellular oncogenes during embryonic and fetal development of the mouse.

Cellular oncogenes are conserved with great fidelity across a broad span of evolution. This avid conservation suggests possible roles in critical physiologic functions. Little, however, is known about their activity in normal cellular processes. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of eight cellular oncogenes during embryonic and fetal development of the mouse. Five of these genes (c-myc, c-erb, c-Ha-ras, c-src, and c-sis) were expressed at appreciable levels, and four were modulated in a consistent manner during the course of prenatal development.

Age Factors↗

Oncogenes: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Cellular oncogenes comprise a small family of genes, highly conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, that code for proteins with diverse functions including DNA binding, protein kinase, and cellular growth factor activities. Cellular oncogenes are important in certain aspects of the proliferation and differentiation of normal cells. Under some circumstances these genes may also induce malignant transformation of normal cells. Various mechanisms may underlie their involvement in carcinogenesis. Incorporation of all, or part of, cellular oncogenes into RNA tumor viruses, mutations in gene structure, or translocation of cellular oncogenes from one chromosome to another may all be associated with the induction of malignant change in cells. In some of these situations altered oncogene products are made. Knowledge about the biology of oncogenes may lead to improved techniques for cancer detection and perhaps new approaches to cancer treatment.

Animals↗

Expression of a methotrexate-resistant dihydrofolate reductase gene by transformed hematopoietic cells of mice.

DNA-mediated gene transfer was used to introduce DNA from a methotrexate-resistant mouse fibroblast cell line into mouse bone marrow cells. This cell line contained a methotrexate-resistant dihydrofolate reductase, active at 10(-4) M methotrexate, which was electrophoretically separable from the wild-type mouse enzyme. Transformed hematopoietic cells were returned to irradiated mice and selected in vivo by methotrexate administration. Some recipients of transformed marrow cells expressed the electrophoretically distinct, methotrexate-resistant dihydrofolate reductase in hematopoietic cells. These observations suggest that successful transformation of marrow stem cells to methotrexate resistance is accomplished by insertion of a dihydrofolate reductase gene coding for a mutant enzyme that is highly resistant to methotrexate.

Animals↗

Circulating pluripotent haemopoietic cells in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.

Peripheral blood cells of 17 patients with myeloproliferative disorders were grown in vitro to form mixed colonies (CFU-mix). CFU-mix were found in four of nine patients with chronic phase chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML) at levels 28- to 132-fold higher than the upper limits of normal subjects. These patients also had higher than normal levels of circulating granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E) progenitors. Development of blastic crisis was associated with disappearance of CFU-mix from the blood. CFU-mix was detected in the blood of three of five patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) and two patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) at levels slightly higher than those of normal subjects. Our results are consistent with a clonal expansion of multipotent haematopoietic precursor cells in CML and abnormal kinetics of this cell in CML, PV and MMM.

Adult↗

Transcription of c-onc genes c-rasKi and c-fms during mouse development.

We investigated the expression of cellular sequences c-rasKi and c-fms, which are homologous to the oncogenes of Kirsten rat sarcoma virus and the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus, during murine development and in a variety of mouse tissues. The c-rasKi gene was found to be transcribed into two mRNA species of approximately 2.0 and 4.4 kilobases, whereas a single c-fms-related transcript of approximately 3.7 kilobases was identified. The c-rasKi gene appeared to be expressed ubiquitously, since similar levels of transcripts were observed in embryos, fetuses, extraembryonal structures, and a variety of postnatal tissues. In contrast, significant expression of c-fms was found to be confined to the placenta and extraembryonal membranes (i.e., combined yolk sac and amnion). The concentration of c-fms transcripts in the placenta increased approximately 15-fold (relative to day-7 to day-9 conceptuses) during development before reaching a plateau at day 14 to 15 of gestation. The time course of cfms expression in the extraembryonal membranes appeared to parallel the stage-specific pattern observed in the placenta. The level of c-fms transcripts in the extraembryonal tissues reached a level which was approximately 20- to 50-fold greater than that in the fetus. These findings suggest that the c-fms gene product may play a role in differentiation of extraembryonal structures or in transport processes occurring in these tissues. Our results indicate that the c-onc genes analyzed in the present study exert essentially different functions during mouse development.

Animals↗

Insertion of new genetic information into bone marrow cells of mice: comparison of two selectable genes.

A system for insertion of new genetic information into mouse hematopoietic cells is described. Two selectable genes were examined: herpesvirus thymidine kinase and a mutant mouse dihydrofolate reductase. The DHFR system appears to be superior in terms of the frequency and stability of gene insertion and expression in hematopoietic tissues. About 70% of mice had indirect (karyotypic) evidence of gene insertion; of these, about 60% (three of five) had stable expression of the inserted mutant DHFR. In contrast, only 13% of mice demonstrated stable karyotypic transformation by HSVtk, and of those with stable transformation five of seven showed persistent viral gene sequences in hematopoietic tissues.

Animals↗