Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P H Gumerlock

Publications and source records attributed to P H Gumerlock.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Increased c-Ki-ras expression in hamster lung exposed to N-nitrosodiethylamine and hyperoxia as detected by the polymerase chain reaction.

Neuroendocrine lung cancers can be induced in hamsters within 8-12 weeks by combined exposure to N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) and hyperoxia. The expression of the c-Ki-ras gene in this lung cancer model was studied using polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA (RNA/PCR). We used four different groups of hamsters, exposed for 6 weeks to DEN with hyperoxia (60% oxygen), DEN, hyperoxia, or ambient air, respectively. Total RNA was isolated from lung tissues and cDNA made prior to PCR amplification. A 234-bp product was amplified from c-Ki-ras cDNA and quantitated using scanning laser densitometry. The data obtained were normalized to the expression of the house keeping gene B-actin. The c-Ki-ras products were present after amplification of all hamster lung RNA samples. The hamster lungs exposed to DEN with hyperoxia displayed higher c-Ki-ras protooncogene expression than hamsters exposed to DEN, hyperoxia, or ambient air alone. Since the animals studied were sacrificed at 6 weeks, prior to the appearance of tumors, we conclude that this increased expression may indicate a role for c-Ki-ras in the initial steps in malignant transformation of neuroendocrine cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Bladder cancer. Human leukocyte antigen II, interleukin-6, and interleukin-6 receptor expression determined by the polymerase chain reaction.

The prediction of tumour biology rarely rests upon a single characteristic of the malignancy. The analysis of a single gene can complement standard histologic evaluation. The investigation of new parameters as well as the routine clinical analysis of gene expression is often limited because of the small amount of tissue available. This is particularly true of de novo human bladder cancers because they are generally small or handled in such a way as to hinder the analysis of multiple different parameters. Analysis of expressed mRNA by the polymerase chain reaction (RNA/PCR) is a method that allows the development of a profile of bladder cancer gene expression. The authors report the use of the RNA/PCR method to examine in bladder cancer the expression of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II gene family (HLA-DR, DQ, and DP) as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R). All de novo transitional cell carcinomas, one squamous carcinoma, and two transitional cell carcinoma cell lines expressed the majority of HLA class II genes. All samples expressed IL-6R RNA whereas production of IL-6 message was limited to one of the cell lines and to the high-grade bladder cancers. These results were combined with stage, grade, and DNA content to develop a profile of the cancers examined. Although an improved predictive index based on gene expression analysis by RNA/PCR has not been realized, a broader survey of human tumors for expression of these genes and others is likely to refine the classification of bladder cancer.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Activated ras alleles in human carcinoma of the prostate are rare.

Although oncogenically activated ras alleles are common in some types of human cancers, the frequency in human carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) has not previously been addressed. In this paper, we report a comprehensive screening of 19 CaPs and 3 CaP cell lines for activating point mutations in the sequences of the 12th and 61st codons of c-Ha-ras-1 and the c-Ki-ras-2 genes, as well as the 12th, 13th, and 61st codons of the c-N-ras gene. The 19 CaPs were chosen to represent a wide range of stages (B through D), Gleason scores (3 through 10), and DNA ploidy (diploid with low proliferation to nontetraploid-aneuploid). Fifteen of the tumors had been untreated prior to resection and 4 were obtained postradiation therapy. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify genomic DNA sequences and transcribed mRNA sequences of the ras genes prior to allele-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization. We have detected a mutant allele with a point mutation in the second nucleotide of the 61st codon of the c-Ha-ras-1 gene in one specimen. Thus, we conclude that the activation of ras alleles is not significant in the development or progression of most CaPs.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Viral Ha-ras mediated mammary tumor progression.

An immortal mammary epithelial cell line, Comma 1D, and primary cultures of mammary epithelial cells were used to examine the effects of vHa-ras on mammary tumor development. In culture, Comma 1D and primary cells were morphologically indistinguishable. Infection with a replication defective vHa-ras retroviral vector (psi ras) did not alter their in vitro phenotype. Uninfected Comma 1D cells implanted into gland-cleared mammary fat pads gave rise to dysplastic outgrowths, while implants of primary cells gave rise to normal gland structures. After psi ras infection, implants of Comma 1D cells progressed to adenocarcinomas and those of primary cells resulted in initiated dysplastic outgrowths. High level infection of either cell type with replication competent HaMSV (psi ras plus helper virus) resulted in in vitro transformation and undifferentiated in vivo tumors. Thus, in vivo analysis was necessary to detect the observed correlation between tumorigenic stage and level of infection. In this system, expression of vHa-ras was vital but not sufficient for mammary tumor initiation and progression, which resulted from an accumulation of events that did not need to occur in a specific order.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Human bladder and colon carcinomas contain activated ras p21. Specific detection of twelfth codon mutants.

Members of the ras family of proto-oncogenes code for 21,000-dalton molecular weight protein products (p21s). Transformation of cells from the normal to the malignant phenotype in experimental studies has been associated with point mutations within the coding region for these ras proteins. Recent reports demonstrate that 40% of human colon cancers and 20% of acute leukemias contain ras mutations in the twelfth or thirteenth codon that can result in amino acid substitutions at these positions in the p21 products. Similarly, studies of ras mRNA detected 40% of human colon tumors with twelfth codon c-Ki-ras mutant mRNA. The authors previously developed a nonradioactive double-antibody enzyme-linked immunoblot assay (ELIBA) for detection of normal and mutant ras p21. They have adapted that technology to specifically detect twelfth codon activated ras p21 utilizing mutation-specific antisera. In this report the authors show that one of seven de novo human bladder cancers and four of seven colon cancers express a twelfth codon activated ras p21. These results document that mutations at both the DNA and mRNA levels are ultimately translated into an abnormal protein product present in human tumors.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1989

RAS enzyme-linked immunoblot assay discriminates p21 species: a technique to dissect gene family expression.

The members of the RAS gene family of protooncogenes are of implied biological significance in oncogenesis. The precise role of these genes is unclear. One difficulty has been the inability to discriminate the individual p21 protein products of various ras genes in cell lines, de novo human tumors, and related normal tissues. In this report, specific proteins of the human c-Ha-ras-1, c-Ki-ras-2, and c-N-ras genes have been detected and discriminated by the differential use of various antisera recognizing these p21s. This enzyme-linked immunoblot assay utilizes a double antibody system in which monoclonal antibodies are initially used to immunoprecipitate the p21ras proteins. Immunoprecipitates are then subjected to one-dimensional Western blot analysis utilizing other antibodies raised against p21s, coupled with nonradiolabeled enzyme-linked colorimetric detection. By direct detection, the specific products of the three human ras genes can be discriminated. In addition, we describe the generation and characterization of a new anti-p21c-N-ras-specific antibody. The simultaneous expression into protein of multiple ras genes is unequivocally demonstrated in both homogeneous cell lines and heterogeneous human tissues. This new technique is also applicable for discrimination of the protein products of other gene families.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

ras p21 expression in ovine pulmonary carcinoma.

We have adapted an enzyme-linked immunoblot assay (ELIBA) for the detection of a c-ras proto-oncogene and oncogene protein products in human cell lines and tumors of 21,000 daltons molecular weight (p21ras) to studies of tissues derived from sheep. In the ELIBA, a double antibody system is used in which p21ras proteins are initially immunoprecipitated from protein extracts with monoclonal antibodies, and subsequently identified using additional anti-ras antibodies. Binding is identified with a non-radioactive enzyme-linked colorimetric detection system. In the present study, the ELIBA system was used to study twenty-seven ovine lung specimens, representing normal lung, inflammatory, and neoplastic lesions. We detected p21ras protein expression in every tissue examined, but the nature and amount of the protein product varied significantly among the tissues examined. Some tissues expressed multiple ras species. Broncho-alveolar carcinoma specimens were most likely to express c-Ki-ras proteins. Mutant proteins of c-N-ras and c-Ki-ras were detected in several bronchoalveolar carcinoma specimens, based on migrational differences between mutant and normal proteins in 15% polyacrylamide gels. The results of this study demonstrate the utility of the ELIBA system for detection of c-ras expression in ovine lung tissues, and demonstrate the ability of the system to discriminate specific ras protein species. The prognostic significance of ras expression in sheep pulmonary carcinoma has yet to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Canine 563 cells: an established canine salivary gland cell line.

Canine mandibular salivary glandular epithelial cells were established in culture and passaged more than 250 times. The cultivated cells show epithelial morphology, and ultrastructurally, show desmosomes, desmosome-like specializations (punctae adhaerens), cytoplasmic tonofilaments, and neoluminae suggestive of glandular epithelium. The cells showed modest PAS reactivity and were negative for alcian blue. Using immunohistochemistry, the 563 cells were shown to express cytokeratins, vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen. Chromosome analysis of the cells revealed a modal number of 76 plus 2 sex chromosomes, and the DNA histogram showed major peaks at 2 C (diploid) and 4 C (tetraploid). Attempts to demonstrate a retrovirus by particle labelling with 3H-uridine or by isolation of 70S RNA gave negative results. A nucleic acid hybridization test for mycoplasma contamination gave negative results. It is anticipated that this established cell line derived from normal canine glandular epithelium will prove useful for canine virologic studies, or as a substrate for the growth of type C retroviruses from heterospecies.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Activated c-N-ras in radiation-induced acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: twelfth codon aspartic acid.

We describe the detection and characterization of an activated c-N-ras allele from a gamma-radiation-induced canine acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). The activated allele was detected by use of the NIH3T3 transfection/transformation assay. The leukemia DNA had a transforming activity of 0.0125 foci/microgram. By the use of a double anti-ras antibody enzyme-linked immunoblot assay, we have dissected the lesion within the activated c-N-ras allele. Aspartic acid has been substituted for the normal glycine at position 12 in the activated p21c-N-ras. The expression of the mutant p21ras has also been detected in an in vivo passage of the radiation-induced canine ANLL from which the activated c-N-ras allele was isolated. We have demonstrated sufficient homology between canine c-N-ras genes and the human cDNA c-N-ras clone, p6a1, that allows this probe to be used in Southern blotting of canine tissues. In addition, anti-ras antibodies generated against both murine and human ras antigens are capable of detecting canine p21ras species.

Alleles↗
PubMed1988

c-H-ras-1 expression in 7,12-dimethyl benzanthracene-induced Balb/c mouse mammary hyperplasias and their tumors.

Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse mammary tumors characteristically contain an activated c-H-ras-1 gene with an A----T transversion in the 61st codon which is expressed as a rapidly migrating p21 c-H-ras. The role of the activated c-H-ras-1 locus in the initiation of mammary neoplasia was analysed by studying seven transplantable, DMBA-induced Balb/c premalignant mammary hyperplasias. The DNAs from these hyperplasias had no evidence of activation of the c-H-ras-1 gene. One of the fifteen tumors arising from untreated hyperplastic outgrowths had a 61st codon mutation. In contrast, 67% of the tumors developing in DMBA-treated hyperplasias had the characteristic 61 codon mutation. All of the tumors with the characteristic mutation expressed the corresponding rapid p21 c-H-ras. These data suggest that although c-H-ras-1 activation may play an important role in neoplastic progression, it had no definable role in the initiation or the maintenance of the mammary hyperplasias studied here.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1985

Myxoid chondrosarcoma with a translocation involving chromosomes 9 and 22.

Myxoid chondrosarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm thought to be derived from mesenchymal chondrocytic cells. Although cytogenetic abnormalities have been reported in sarcomas, too few cases have been studied to determine the frequency of nonrandom chromosomal changes in mesenchymal tumors. In this article, we describe a chondrosarcoma with a nonrandom reciprocal translocation t(9;22)(q22;q11). The cellular homologue to the retrovirus transforming gene of simian sarcoma virus is located on chromosome #22, and its possible significance in this case is discussed.

Chondrosarcoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for the specific and direct detection of Clostridium difficile in human feces.

The polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of Clostridium difficile, the etiologic agent of antibiotic-associated colitis. An upstream primer identical to a coding region (segment I) of the C. difficile 16S rRNA gene and a downstream primer complementary to a highly conserved region of eubacterial 16S rRNA served to amplify a targeted 270-base-pair fragment of genomic DNA. This technique allowed the detection of as few as 10 C. difficile organisms among 10(6) Escherichia coli bacteria. This level of sensitivity represents a 100-fold increase over that of conventional anaerobic culture. C. difficile was detected in DNA extracted directly from the stools of 23 patients with antibiotic-associated colitis and from those of four patients with diarrhea whose stools had been negative for C. difficile when assessed in a cytotoxicity assay. No amplification products were found in the stools of asymptomatic patients. When detected in stools of symptomatic patients, amplification products of C. difficile were confirmed by Southern blotting with a nonradioactive, horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed, chemiluminescent probing system in which biotin-labeled oligonucleotides were used. This system discriminates between C. difficile and similar organisms, such as Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium bifermentans. The combination of the polymerase chain reaction with enzyme-linked probing results in a faster and more sensitive assay for C. difficile than standard culture.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Canine and bovine ras family expression detected and discriminated by use of polymerase chain reaction.

Cellular proto-oncogenes are highly conserved genes thought to be critical in cell growth and differentiation. In this study, we used human sequence designed oligonucleotide primers to detect and discriminate c-Ha-ras-1, c-Ki-ras-2 and c-N-ras genes of dogs and cows by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA (DNA/PCR). Further, we have applied PCR for analysis of expressed mRNA transcribed from the RAS genes (RNA/PCR).

Animals↗