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Biomedical subjects

M J Saunders

Publications and source records attributed to M J Saunders.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Detection of t(8;21) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in patients in remission of acute myeloid leukaemia type M2 after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.

Seven patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) type M2 and t(8;21), treated with intensive chemotherapy followed in two cases by allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT), were tested for the presence of transcripts of the characteristic chimaeric gene AML1/ETO by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at serial intervals during remission. Six patients, including both BMT patients, demonstrated persistence of t(8;21), one being consistently negative in peripheral blood but bone marrow positive. Bone marrow may, therefore, be more reliable than peripheral blood for detecting residual t(8;21) cells. Our results show persistence of t(8;21) cells in AML-M2 patients following chemotherapy or BMT, some of whom were in long-term remission.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Relapsed myelodysplastic clone differs from acute onset clone as shown by X-linked DNA polymorphism patterns in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

We have used a recombinant strategy based on X-chromosome-linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms to analyze clonality in a female patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She presented with features compatible with a diagnosis of refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation, but soon progressed into overt AML. Intensive chemotherapy successfully induced a complete remission, but she later relapsed into a second myelodysplastic phase. Although analysis at presentation and relapse showed that hematopoiesis was clonal at both phases of the patient's disease, the genotype of the two clones was different. We believe the unexpected finding of a switch in clonality shows new insights into the biology and origin of AML.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Clonal remissions in acute myeloid leukaemia are commonly associated with features of trilineage myelodysplasia during remission.

Clonal haemopoiesis has previously been demonstrated in some 30% of patients in remission of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Whilst a 'clonal remission' in many such patients may represent a skewed X-chromosome inactivation pattern in haemopoietic cells, its relationship to an underlying preleukaemic state remains uncertain. We therefore analysed the clonal status of 48 female patients in remission of AML using X-chromosome linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within the X-linked PGK and HPRT genes and the DXS255 (M27 beta) locus, and carried out in conjunction a detailed study of the morphological and karyotypic features of the patients' bone marrows. During remission, 35 patients (73%) with AML demonstrated nonclonal haemopoiesis, and their bone marrows were morphologically normal. Remission haemopoietic tissue in nine cases (19%) showed a skewed X-chromosome inactivation pattern and remission bone marrows in these patients had features of trilineage myelodysplasia (TMDS), with seven having similar features at presentation. Analysis of constitutional DNA showed a non-clonal pattern in seven of these patients, but was unsuccessful in two cases. These nine patients with post-chemotherapy TMDS were considered to have true clonal haemopoiesis. Four patients (8%) with a skewed X-chromosome inactivation pattern had normal remission bone marrows. Analysis of constitutional DNA showed a skewed pattern in two of these patients, but was unsuccessful in two cases. Cytogenetic investigation during remission in the nine patients with TMDS showed a normal karyotype in four cases and the acquisition of new karyotypic abnormalities in three cases. In contrast, 10 female patients in remission of de novo acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were shown to have non-clonal haemopoiesis. We conclude that the majority of patients with AML who achieve remission after cytoreductive chemotherapy have non-clonal haemopoiesis, and when clonal remissions are observed these are commonly associated with the development of trilineage myelodysplasia in the bone marrow, with or without karyotypic abnormalities. True clonal remission in association with morphologically normal haemopoiesis is a rare entity, the significance and frequency of which remain uncertain.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of allele frequency and loss at the Harvey ras locus in myeloid malignancies.

The hypothesis that 'rare' variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) alleles of the Harvey ras (Ha-ras) locus are an inherited predisposing factor in myeloid malignancies has been evaluated. We describe an application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which amplifies the VNTR region at the Ha-ras locus and offers a number of advantages over conventional Southern analysis. Ha-ras VNTR genotypes were assigned to 57 normal subjects, 46 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), 26 with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and 49 with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL). By comparison with previous reports we found significantly higher frequencies of rare alleles (20.2%) in our normal subjects of whom more than 35% had at least one 'rare' allele. The frequencies of rare alleles in the patient groups was not significantly different from the normal group (chi 2 = 0.54, p = 0.91). In studies of constitutional and leukaemic DNA from patients with AML, we found that allelic loss at the Ha-ras locus was not a common phenomenon. The improved resolution achievable with PCR compared with Southern analysis was demonstrated by the inability of Southern analysis to resolve six out of 34 PCR heterozygotes. We therefore suggest that previous studies showing linkage between rare Ha-ras alleles and susceptibility to malignancy should be reevaluated using our sensitive PCR technique.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

An electrophysiological and spectroscopic study of the properties and structure of biological calcium channels. Investigations of a model ion channel.

The N- and C-terminally protected peptide N-acetyl-Asp-Phe-Ala-Asn-Arg-Val-Leu-Leu-Ser-Leu-Phe-Thr-Ile-Glu-Met-Leu -Leu-Lys-Met-Leu-NH2, closely based on the sequence of the putative S2 membrane spanning helix of domain II of the dihydropyridine receptor calcium channel of the T-system of skeletal muscle, residues 465-486 (Tanabe et al. (1987) Nature 328, 313-318) has been synthesised. Conductance measurements in planar lipid bilayers show that the peptide is capable of inducing the transmembrane passage of calcium and barium ions, in preference to monovalent cations. No anion conductance is observed. 1H-NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that in an amphilic solvent, methanol, the peptide forms highly stable structures characterised by very slow exchange with solvent of peptide N-H protons. Double-quantum filtered phase-sensitive COSY shows that, on the basis of NH-CH alpha scalar coupling constants, most peptide torsion angles are appropriate to an overall alpha-helical conformation; the presence of some alpha-helix is also supported by CD measurements. Most side-chain connectivities have been identified in a DIPSI-TOCSY experiment. This evidence has been used to construct a low-resolution model of the ion-conducting channel of the muscle T-system dihydropyridine receptor from the sequences of the four homologous putative channel-lining stretches. It is characterised by an association of acidic residues at the putative extra-membranous face of the channel, followed by a predominantly hydrophobic band. The next prominent feature of the model is an ordered array of four acidic residues (glutamates 100, 478, 846 and 1164), followed by four lysines (104, 482, 850 and 1168) which may play a gating role.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Purification and immunological detection of pea nuclear intermediate filaments: evidence for plant nuclear lamins.

A major structural component of the inner face of the nuclear envelope in vertebrates and invertebrates is the nuclear lamina, an array of 1-3 extrinsic membrane proteins, lamins A, B and C. These proteins are highly homologous to intermediate filaments and are classified as type V. We report the first purification, antigenic characterization and immunocytochemical localization of putative plant lamin proteins from pea nuclei. We conclude that plant cells contain this ancestral class of intermediate filaments in their nuclei and that regulation of nuclear envelope assembly/disassembly and mitosis in plants may be similar to that in animal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cytokinin increases intracellular Ca2+ in Funaria: detection with Indo-1.

Changes in intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) after cytokinin-treatment in protonema cells of the moss Funaria hygrometrica have been measured using the pentapotassium salt of Indo-1. The extent of dye loading strongly depended on lowering the pH of the incubation medium to 5.0. Exposing dye-loaded cells briefly with Mn2+ did not quench fluorescence suggesting that the source of fluorescence is from the cytoplasm and not from the cell wall. Indo-1 remains responsive to changes in [Ca2+]i in Funaria cells. The [Ca2+]i in quiescent cells (with and without extracellular Ca2+) is 250 nM, which is within the range of reported [Ca2+]i of other plant cells. Treatment of cells with extracellular cytokinin in 4 mM Ca2+ induced a three-fold increase in [Ca2+]i to 750 nM in target caulonema cells. This increase was not observed in Ca(2+)-free medium. These target cells respond to cytokinin treatment by an asymmetrical division, while non-target chloronema cells do not divide. Cytokinin appears to increase [Ca2+]i by extracellular Ca2+ uptake. However, non-target chloronema cells and tip cells also respond to cytokinin treatment by increasing [Ca2+]i. The differential physiological response of these cell types to hormonal stimulation must lie further down the signal transduction chain.

Calcium↗
PubMed1990

Long-term cardiorespiratory effects of amelioration of renal anaemia by erythropoietin.

The long-term cardiorespiratory effects of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment were investigated in ten haemodialysis patients by means of maximum exercise testing, lung function tests, echocardiography, chest X-ray, and rheological assessment over 12 months. There were significant rises in exercise time (mean [SD] 13.2 [5.5] to 20.0 [6.2] min), maximum oxygen consumption (19.1 [7.0] to 25.0 [6.7] ml.min-1.kg-1), and anaerobic threshold (11.7 [3.6] to 15.4 [4.8] ml.min-1.kg-1) after 2 months of erythropoietin treatment. The improvements were maintained but not augmented on repeat testing after 4, 8, and 12 months of therapy. Carbon monoxide transfer [corrected] rose from 15.5 (2.9) to 18.6 (3.7) ml.min-1.mm Hg-1. There was a substantial reduction in exercise-induced cardiac ischaemia (eight patients had significant ST segment depression before erythropoietin, only one after 2 months' treatment, and none after 12 months' treatment), despite a significant rise in whole blood viscosity. Left ventricular mass, as estimated by echocardiography, progressively decreased from 354 (169) g to 251 (95) g after 12 months' treatment, and four patients showed a reduction in cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-ray.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Nucleosome depletion alters the chromatin structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromeres.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromeric DNA is packaged into a highly nuclease-resistant chromatin core of approximately 200 base pairs of DNA. The structure of the centromere in chromosome III is somewhat larger than a 160-base-pair nucleosomal core and encompasses the conserved centromere DNA elements (CDE I, II, and III). Extensive mutational analysis has revealed the sequence requirements for centromere function. Mutations affecting the segregation properties of centromeres also exhibit altered chromatin structures in vivo. Thus the structure, as delineated by nuclease digestion, correlated with functional centromeres. We have determined the contribution of histone proteins to this unique structural organization. Nucleosome depletion by repression of either histone H2B or H4 rendered the cell incapable of chromosome segregation. Histone repression resulted in increased nuclease sensitivity of centromere DNA, with up to 40% of CEN3 DNA molecules becoming accessible to nucleolytic attack. Nucleosome depletion also resulted in an alteration in the distribution of nuclease cutting sites in the DNA surrounding CEN3. These data provide the first indication that authentic nucleosomal subunits flank the centromere and suggest that nucleosomes may be the central core of the centromere itself.

Chromatin↗
PubMed1990

Calcium and plant hormone action.

Plant cells contain all the elements for a calcium-based messenger system that could couple the external stimuli of hormones to their physiological response. These include a highly regulated low cytoplasmic calcium level, plasma membrane and endomembrane calcium pumps and channels, and spatially controlled calcium-dependent regulatory proteins and kinases. However much of the evidence for calcium as a second messenger in plants is fragmentary and circumstantial. There is some evidence linking auxin to fluctuations in free calcium but most of the evidence points to auxin as a calcium antagonist or having little or no effect on calcium levels. The possibility that polar auxin transport is coupled to calcium transport in the opposite direction is strong. There are several recent reports that abscisic acid is a calcium agonists but the data are still preliminary and there are alternative reports that indicate that abscisic acid may actually lower calmodulin levels. There is a close link between gibberellic acid and increases in intracellular free calcium in the barley aleurone system. These studies need to be extended to other gibberellin-dependent physiological responses. The most convincing evidence that has accumulated correlates cytokinin-stimulation of several different responses with increases in intracellular calcium by activation of plasma membrane ion channels. There is also a need to recognize that we don't understand stimulus-response coupling yet in the simplest of plant systems and the higher plants present a daunting challenge to plant scientists. It is unlikely that all hormone effects on all plants will be explained by invoking calcium as a second messenger and we must recognize that the mechanism of action of plant hormones may be quite complex and diverse.

Abscisic Acid↗