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Biomedical subjects

S K Bohlander

Publications and source records attributed to S K Bohlander.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Correlation between the ETV6/CBFA2 (TEL/AML1) fusion gene and karyotypic abnormalities in children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The recently identified ETV6/CBFA2 (formerly known as TEL/AML1) fusion gene occurs as a result of the t(12;21)(p12;q22). Initial reports have indicated that the fusion transcript occurs in up to 30% of children diagnosed with B-cell precursor (CD10+, CD19+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In order to characterize the incidence of the t(12;21) at both the chromosomal level as well as the RNA transcript level, we have used a combination of classical cytogenetics, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to examine the bone marrow of 34 children diagnosed with B-cell precursor ALL. Nine of the 34 patient samples expressed the ETV6/CBFA2 transcript. When the results of RT-PCR were compared with the conventional karyotype, the fusion was present in 3 of 10 (33%) with chromosome 12 abnormalities, none of whom had an obvious t(12;21). The transcript was also detected in 5 of the 12 (41%) bone marrow samples with other abnormalities and in 1 of 12 (8%) samples with a normal karyotype. Seven of the 9 RT-PCR positive patient samples were studied with FISH. Of the 7, FISH confirmed the ETV6/CBFA2 fusion in 6. One other patient with a 12p abnormality had evidence for the fusion using FISH which was not detected by RT-PCR. Our results not only confirm that the frequency of the t(12;21) is unusually high in childhood B-cell precursor ALL, but also that none of the translocations in our series was detected with conventional cytogenetic techniques.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Oligomerization of the ABL tyrosine kinase by the Ets protein TEL in human leukemia.

TEL is a member of the Ets family of transcription factors which are frequently rearranged in human leukemia. The mechanism of TEL-mediated transformation, however, is unknown. We report the cloning and characterization of a chromosomal translocation associated with acute myeloid leukemia which fuses TEL to the ABL tyrosine kinase. The TEL-ABL fusion confers growth factor-independent growth to the marine hematopoietic cell line Ba/F3 and transforms Rat-1 fibroblasts and primary murine bone marrow cells. TEL-ABL is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated and localizes to the cytoskeleton. A TEL-ABL mutant containing an ABL kinase-inactivating mutation is not constitutively phosphorylated and is nontransforming but retains cytoskeletal localization. However, constitutive phosphorylation, cytoskeletal localization, and transformation are all dependent upon a highly conserved region of TEL termed the helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain. TEL-ABL formed HLH-dependent homo-oligomers in vitro, a process critical for tyrosine kinase activation. These experiments suggest that oligomerization of TEL-ABL mediated by the TEL HLH domain is required for tyrosine kinase activation, cytoskeletal localization, and transformation. These data also suggest that oligomerization of Ets proteins through the highly conserved HLH domain may represent a previously unrecognized phenomenon.

Aged↗

Refined mapping of genomic rearrangements involving the short arm of chromosome 9 in acute lymphoblastic leukemias and other hematologic malignancies.

Deletions of chromosomal band 9p21 have been detected in various tumor types as well as in more than 20% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). These deletions frequently include the entire interferon (IFN) gene cluster as well as the methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene. Recently, the CDKN2 gene (p16INK4A, MTS I, CDK41) was proposed as a candidate tumor-suppressor gene on 9p21 because it is frequently deleted in cell lines derived from multiple tumor types. To determine if CDKN2 or another closely related gene on 9p is the target of 9p deletions in ALL and other hematologic malignancies, we analyzed 20 primary patient samples (13 ALL, 2 acute myeloid leukemias [AML], and 5 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas [NHL]) with 9p rearrangements using Southern blot analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for alterations of CDKN2. Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2/CDKN2B (p15) region were detected in 10 cases (50%; 6 ALL, 2 AML, and 2 NHL). In 1 additional case, the intensity of the Southern blot band was significantly reduced, suggesting a CDKN2 deletion in a subpopulation of the malignant cells. No CDKN2 or CDKN2B rearrangements were seen. The IFN gene cluster was homozygously deleted in 2 of 15 (13%) analyzed cases, whereas the MTAP gene was deleted in 6 of 15 cases (40%). In addition, hemizygous deletions of the CDKN2 region were identified in 6 ALL cases using interphase FISH. No point mutation of the coding region of CDKN2 was detected by SSCP in these cases. We conclude that CDKN2 is the most frequently homozygously deleted marker on 9p. The absence of point mutations in the coding region of CDKN2 in cases with hemizygous 9p deletions and the frequent codeletion of MTAP, CDKN2B, and other yet unidentified neighboring genes suggest that the simultaneous deletion of these genes may be necessary for the selective growth advantage of malignant cells.

Adolescent↗

Construction of a 2.8-megabase yeast artificial chromosome contig and cloning of the human methylthioadenosine phosphorylase gene from the tumor suppressor region on 9p21.

Many human malignant cells lack methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) enzyme activity. The gene (MTAP) encoding this enzyme was previously mapped to the short arm of chromosome 9, band p21-22, a region that is frequently deleted in multiple tumor types. To clone candidate tumor suppressor genes from the deleted region on 9p21-22, we have constructed a long-range physical map of 2.8 megabases for 9p21 by using overlapping yeast artificial chromosome and cosmid clones. This map includes the type IIFN gene cluster, the recently identified candidate tumor suppressor genes CDKN2 (p16INK4A) and CDKN2B (p15INK4B), and several CpG islands. In addition, we have identified other transcription units within the yeast artificial chromosome contig. Sequence analysis of a 2.5-kb cDNA clone isolated from a CpG island that maps between the IFN genes and CDKN2 reveals a predicted open reading frame of 283 amino acids followed by 1302 nucleotides of 3' untranslated sequence. This gene is evolutionarily conserved and shows significant amino acid homologies to mouse and human purine nucleoside phosphorylases and to a hypothetical 25.8-kDa protein in the pet gene (coding for cytochrome bc1 complex) region of Rhodospirillum rubrum. The location, expression pattern, and nucleotide sequence of this gene suggest that it codes for the MTAP enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Consistent chromosome abnormalities in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Little is known about the somatic genetic changes which characterize pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The identification of acquired genomic alterations would further our understanding of the biology of this neoplasm. We have studied 62 primary pancreatic adenocarcinomas obtained from surgical resections using classical cytogenetics and fluorescent in situ hybridization methods. Clonally abnormal karyotypes were observed in 44 neoplasms. Karyotypes were generally complex (greater than three abnormalities) and included both numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities. Many tumors contained at least one marker chromosome. The most frequent whole chromosomal gains were chromosomes 20 (eight tumors) and 7 (seven tumors). Losses were much more frequent: chromosome 18 was lost in 22 tumors followed in frequency by chromosomes 13 (16 tumors), 12 (13 tumors), 17 (13 tumors), and 6 (12 tumors). Structural abnormalities were frequent. Two hundred nine chromosome breakpoints were identified. Excluding Robertsonian translocations, the chromosomal arms most frequently involved were 1p (12); 6q (11); 7q and 17p (9 each); and 1q, 3p, 11p, and 19q (8 each). Portions of the long arm of chromosome 6 appeared to be lost in nine tumors. To determine whether the apparent losses of portions of 6q are real, four tumors with 6q deletions were hybridized with a biotin-labeled microdissection probe from 6q24-ter. Loss of one copy of this region was verified in three of four tumors. In addition, double minute chromosomes were identified in eight cases. To our knowledge, these represent the first primary specimens of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with cytogenetic evidence of gene amplification.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Fusion of the TEL gene on 12p13 to the AML1 gene on 21q22 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Chromosomal rearrangements involving band 12p13 are found in a wide variety of human leukemias but are particularly common in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genes involved in these rearrangements, however, have not been identified. We now report the cloning of a t(12;21) translocation breakpoint involving 12p13 and 21q22 in two cases of childhood pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in which t(12;21) rearrangements were not initially apparent. The consequence of the translocation is fusion of the helix-loop-helix domain of TEL, an ETS-like putative transcription factor, to the DNA-binding and transactivation domains of the transcription factor AML1. These data show that TEL, previously shown to be fused to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, can be implicated in the pathogenesis of leukemia through its fusion to either a receptor tyrosine kinase or a transcription factor. The TEL-AML1 fusion also indicates that translocations affecting the AML1 gene can be associated with lymphoid, as well as myeloid, malignancy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assignment of the human p27Kip1 gene to 12p13 and its analysis in leukemias.

The p27Kip1 (p27) gene encodes an inducible inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase activity. Using a murine p27 cDNA as probe, we obtained a human cDNA clone and subsequently used it to isolate a genomic clone of this gene. The coding region of the human p27 gene was contained in two exons. Both the amino acid sequence and intron-exon organization of p27 were similar to those previously found for the related cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1 (p21). The p27 gene was localized to chromosome band 12p13 by a combination of somatic cell hybrid and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses. The p27 gene product is thought to control the leukocyte cell cycle and the 12p13 chromosomal band is known to be deleted in leukemias, suggesting that the p27 gene may act as a tumor suppressor gene in leukemias. Although p27 was found to reside in the minimal region of chromosomal loss in hematological malignancies, no mutations of p27 were observed in leukemia samples. Haploinsufficiency of p27 may confer a growth advantage to leukemia cells.

Base Sequence↗

Detection of CDKN2 deletions in tumor cell lines and primary glioma by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Deletions of chromosomal band 9p21 have been detected in various tumor types including melanoma, glioma, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer. Recently, the CDKN2 gene (p16INK4A, MTS I, CDK41) has been proposed as a candidate tumor suppressor gene because it is frequently deleted in cell lines derived from multiple tumor types. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with interphase cells using yeast artificial chromosome clones and a cosmid contig of the CDKN2 region. In 10 cell lines (4 glioma, 2 melanoma, 2 non-small cell lung cancer, 2 bladder cancer) with 9p alterations detected by molecular or cytogenetic analysis, interphase FISH with the CDKN2 cosmid contig detected all 9p deletions previously identified by molecular analysis. Using this probe, FISH analysis of primary glioblastoma tumors revealed homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 region in 6 of 9 tumors (67%) whereas a yeast artificial chromosome probe containing the interferon type I (IFN) gene cluster was deleted in only 4 cases (44%). Thus, it is likely that the CDKN2 region is the target of 9p deletions in gliomas. Interphase FISH will play an important role in defining the clinical significance of 9p deletions in primary tumors because it is especially applicable to clinical samples which may be contaminated by normal cells.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Mapping the diabetes polygene Idd3 on mouse chromosome 3 by use of novel congenic strains.

Development of novel congenic mouse strains has allowed us to better define the location of the diabetogenic locus, Idd3, on Chromosome (Chr) 3. Congenic strains were identified by use of published and newly developed microsatellite markers, their genomes fingerprinted by a rapid, fluorescence-based approach, and their susceptibility to type 1 diabetes evaluated. The maximum interval containing Idd3 is now approximately 4 cM.

Animals↗

Microdissection of the Y chromosome and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of the sex chromosomes of lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush.

Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, is one of the few salmonids with morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes. Genetic analysis suggested that the sex-determining region of this species lies on the short arm of the Y chromosome. The differential arm of the Y chromosome was microdissected and the resulting DNA amplified in a sequence-independent manner. Amplified DNA was biotin labeled as a probe for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Strong hybridization signals were seen covering defined regions of both the Y and X chromosomes. Homeologous chromosomes of the ancestrally tetraploid genome were not identified by FISH with the Y probe, indicating diploidization of this region of the genome.

Animals↗

Detection of 9p deletions in leukemia cell lines by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization with YAC-derived probes.

Hemizygous and homozygous deletions of the type I interferon gene cluster (IFN) have been detected in about 20% of acute lymphoblastic leukemias. A putative tumor suppressor gene (TSG) is thought to be located centromeric to the IFN cluster on chromosomal bands 9p21-22. We studied the accuracy of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting deletions in interphase cells using yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones containing all or part of the IFN cluster. FISH probes were generated from YACs (320-1300 kb in size) by a sequence-independent amplification technique (SIA). Fifteen cell lines (nine T-ALL, three B-cell precursor ALL, one B-ALL, one AML, one CML-BC) that had been well characterized by conventional cytogenetic analysis and molecular techniques were analyzed. We were able to detect all numerical changes of the IFN cluster including homozygous and hemizygous deletions accurately and to define subclones of the cell lines. Moreover, in six cell lines we were able to identify subclones. In dilution experiments the detection thresholds for subpopulations with homozygous and hemizygous deletions were determined to be 5% and 7.5%, respectively.

Base Sequence↗

CDKN2 gene deletion is not found in chronic lymphoid leukaemias of B- and T-cell origin but is frequent in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Homozygous deletions of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor gene CDKN2 (p16, MTS1) have been demonstrated to occur frequently in human cancer cell lines of different origin. However, in most primary tumours the frequencies of CDKN2 deletions are not well defined. We studied primary samples of 100 patients with lymphoid leukaemias [B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), n = 23; T-ALL, n = 7; B-cell chronic lymphocytic (B-CLL) or prolymphocytic (B-PLL) leukaemia, n = 50; T-CLL/T-PLL, n = 20] using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with eight overlapping cosmid clones covering the region on chromosome band 9p21 containing CDKN2. We did not observe any CDKN2 deletions in the 70 patients with chronic lymphoid leukaemias of B- or T-cell origin. Of the 23 patients with B-lineage ALL, one (4%) exhibited a CDKN2 deletion: in this patient, two clones were detected, one exhibiting a hemizygous and the other a homozygous deletion. On chromosome banding analysis, four patients with B-lineage ALL had a 9p aberration, whereas all CDKN2 copies were retained. In contrast, six of the seven (86%) patients with T-ALL exhibited CDKN2 deletions (homozygous, n = 4; hemizygous, n = 2). We conclude that hemizygous or homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 gene occur at high frequency in T-ALL and at low frequency in B-lineage ALL, supporting the role of this gene as a tumour suppressor, especially in T-ALL. However, from our data there is no evidence that CDKN2 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphoid leukaemias of B- or T-cell origin.

Adolescent↗

A microdissection library of the rat renal carcinoma gene region.

Predisposition to hereditary renal carcinoma in the Eker rat involves a mutation of a putative tumor suppressor gene within chromosome band 10q12. We describe the identification of three unique polymorphic sequences in the vicinity of this locus following the microdissection, construction and characterization of a region-specific DNA library for rat chromosome band 10q12.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of small ring formation suggested by the molecular characterization of two small accessory ring chromosomes derived from chromosome 4.

Molecular cloning of a microdissected small accessary ring chromosome 4 from a moderately retarded and dysmorphic patient has been performed to identify the origin of the ring chromosome. FISH was performed with cosmids identified with the cloned, microdissected products and with other markers from chromosome 4. The present study clearly demonstrates that the small ring in this patient originates from three discontinuous regions of chromosome 4: 4p13 or 14, the centromere, and 4q31. It is suggested that the origin of the ring chromosome is a ring involving the entire chromosome 4, which has then been involved in breakage and fusion events, as a consequence of DNA replication generating interlocked rings. A second severely retarded and dysmorphic patient also had a small accessary ring derived from chromosome 4. FISH studies of this ring are consistent with an origin from a contiguous region including the centromere to band 4q12. It is apparent that there are at least two mechanisms for the formation of small ring chromosomes. This adds a further complication in any attempt to ascertain common phenotypes between patients known to have morphologically similar markers derived from the same chromosome.

Adult↗

Mapping a putative tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 9 bands p21-p22 with microdissection probes.

Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 9 have been observed in a number of malignant cell lines and primary tumor samples using cytogenetic and molecular techniques. These tumors include acute lymphoblastic leukemias, lymphomas, gliomas, melanomas, mesotheliomas, bladder cancer, and lung cancer. The smallest region of overlap (SRO) of these deletions is thought to contain a tumor suppressor gene. A microdissection library was constructed from bands 9p21-p23 to obtain DNA probes that would be useful in further defining the limits of the deletions. Eight single-copy probes were found to be homozygously deleted in at least 1 of the 10 cell lines examined. The mapping of these 8 clones using a panel of cell lines with deletions revealed that 3 probes mapped telomeric to the SRO and 5 clones mapped centromeric to the SRO.

Base Sequence↗

Fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of translocations and deletions involving the short arm of human chromosome 12 in malignant hematologic diseases.

Translocations and deletions of the short arm of chromosome 12 [t(12p) and del(12p)] are common recurring abnormalities in a broad spectrum of hematologic malignant diseases. We studied 20 patients and one cell line whose cells contained 12p13 translocations and/or 12p deletions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with phage, plasmid, and cosmid probes that we previously mapped and ordered on 12p12-13. FISH analysis showed that the 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered between two cosmids, D12S133 and D12S142, in 11 of 12 patients and in one cell line. FISH analysis of 11 patients with deletions demonstrated that the deletions were interstitial rather than terminal and that the distal part of 12p12, including the GDI-D4 gene and D12S54 marker, was deleted in all 11 patients. Moreover, FISH analysis showed that cells from 3 of these patients contained both a del(12p) and a 12p13 translocation and that the affected regions of these rearrangements appeared to overlap. We identified three yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones that span all the 12p13 translocation breakpoints mapped between D12S133 and D12S142. They have inserts of human DNA between 1.39 and 1.67 Mb. Because the region between D12S133 and D12S142 also represents the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region of 12p, we also studied patients with a del(12p) using these YACs. The smallest YAC, 964c10, was deleted in 8 of 9 patients studied. In the other patient, the YAC labeled the del(12p) chromosome more weakly than the normal chromosome 12, suggesting that a part of the YAC was deleted. Thus, most 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered within the sequences contained in the 1.39 Mb YAC and this YAC appears to include the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region. Whether the same gene is involved in both the translocations and deletions is presently unknown.

Adult↗

Homozygous deletions within chromosomal bands 9p21-22 in bladder cancer.

The loss of DNA sequences on chromosomal bands 9p21-22 has been documented in a variety of malignancies including leukemias, gliomas, lung cancers, and melanomas. Because of the high incidence of monosomy 9 detected by both cytogenetics and loss of heterozygosity studies in bladder cancer, we examined seven bladder cancer cell lines for deletions in this region. Using seven DNA probes that span the region of 9p21-22 as well as a functional assay for methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), which maps to 9p21, we found four cell lines that had small homozygous deletions. These deletions map centromeric to the interferon (IFN) gene cluster and telomeric to D9S171. Only one of the cell lines with deletions had a cytogenetically evident lesion in this chromosomal region. Preliminary loss of heterozygosity studies with 10 primary bladder cancer specimens using 10 markers spanning chromosome 9 revealed loss of heterozygosity at the IFN locus with retention of heterozygosity with more centromeric 9p markers and all informative 9q markers in the tumor of one patient. These data suggest that loss of a tumor suppressor gene on 9p21-22, which may represent a general pathway of oncogenesis, is important in bladder cancer development.

Blotting, Southern↗