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Biomedical subjects

T Liehr

Publications and source records attributed to T Liehr.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of the mantle cell lymphoma cell line GRANTA-519.

Combining fluorescence R-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization and spectral karyotyping allowed us to precisely define chromosomal breakpoints, gains, losses and a newly detected amplification in the human mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell line GRANTA-519. GRANTA-519 is characterized by the t(11;14)(q13;q32) resulting in overexpression of cyclin D1, a key player in cell cycle control. Hitherto unresolved complex rearrangements involve 1p, 1q, 3cen, 9p, 11q, 12p, 12q, 16p, 17p, and 18cen. Moreover, a 4- to 6-fold gain of sequences on 18q leads to a low-level amplification of the BCL2 gene and to an overexpression of the BCL2 protein. These results provide the basis for the identification of not only candidate oncogenes responsible for MCL in gained regions, but also for the identification of putative tumor suppressor genes in commonly deleted regions like 1p22, which would eventually enable functional studies of these genes.

Cell Culture Techniques↗

Molecular-cytogenetic characterization of the origin and the presence of pericentromeric euchromatin on minute supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs).

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs) in human can be defined as additional centric chromosome fragments smaller than chromosome 20. For most small or minute SMCs a correlation with clinical symptoms is lacking, mostly due to problems in visualizing their euchromatic content. Recently we described two new molecular cytogenetic approaches for the comprehensive characterization of small SMCs, excluding those few cases with neo-centromeres. Minute SMCs, consisting preferentially of alpha-satellite DNA, are characterizable in one step by the centromere-specific multicolor FISH (cenM-FISH) approach. For further characterization of minute SMCs and eventually present euchromatic content, the recently developed centromere-near-specific multicolor FISH (subcenM-FISH) technique can be applied. These two approaches are highly informative and easy to perform, as demonstrated in the present report on the example of a prenatal case with a minute SMC derived from chromosome 3 cytogenetically described as min(3)(:p12.1 --> q11.2:).

Centromere↗

The hierarchically organized splitting of chromosome bands into sub-bands analyzed by multicolor banding (MCB).

To clarify the nature of chromosome sub-bands in more detail, the multicolor banding (MCB) probe-set for chromosome 5 was hybridized to normal metaphase spreads of GTG band levels at approximately 850, approximately 550, approximately 400 and approximately 300. It could be observed that as the chromosomes became shorter, more of the initial 39 MCB pseudo-colors disappeared, ending with 18 MCB pseudo-colored bands at the approximately 300-band level. The hierarchically organized splitting of bands into sub-bands was analyzed by comparing the disappearance or appearance of pseudo-color bands of the four different band levels. The regions to split first are telomere-near, centromere-near and in 5q23-->q31, followed by 5p15, 5p14, and all GTG dark bands in 5q apart from 5q12 and 5q32 and finalized by sub-band building in 5p15.2, 5q21.2-->q21.3, 5q23.1 and 5q34. The direction of band splitting towards the centromere or the telomere could be assigned to each band separately. Pseudo-colors assigned to GTG-light bands were resistant to band splitting. These observations are in concordance with the recently proposed concept of chromosome region-specific protein swelling.

Chromosome Banding↗

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) in humans.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC), defined as additional centric chromosome fragments too small to be identified or characterized unambiguously by banding cytogenetics alone, are present in 0.043% of newborn children. Several attempts have been made to correlate certain sSMC with a specific clinical picture, resulting in the description of several syndromes such as the i(18p)-, der(22)-, i(12p)- (Pallister Killian syndrome) and inv dup(22)- (cat-eye) syndromes. However, most of the remaining sSMC including minute-, ring-, inverted-duplication- as well as complex-rearranged chromosomes, have not yet been correlated with clinical syndromes, mostly due to problems in their comprehensive characterization. Here we present an overview of sSMC, including the first attempt to address problems of nomenclature and their modes of formation, problems connected with mosaicism plus familial occurrence. The review also discusses the frequency of sSMC in prenatal, postnatal, and clinical cases, their chromosomal origin and their association with uniparental disomy. A short review of the up-to-date approaches available for sSMC characterization is included. Clinically relevant correlations concerning the presence of a specific sSMC and its phenotypic consequences should become available soon.

Chromosomes, Human↗

Multicolor FISH probe sets and their applications.

Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays are nowadays indispensable for a precise description of complex chromosomal rearrangements. Routine application of such techniques on human chromosomes started in 1996 with the simultaneous use of all 24 human whole chromosome painting probes in multiplex-FISH (M-FISH) and spectral karyotyping (SKY). Since then different approaches for chromosomal differentiation based on multicolor-FISH (mFISH) assays have been described. Predominantly, they have been established to characterize marker chromosomes identified in conventional banding analysis. Their characterization is of high clinical impact and is the requisite condition for further molecular investigations aimed at the identification of disease-related genes. Here we present a review on the available mFISH methods including their advantages, limitations and possible applications.

Animals↗

Autistic disorder and chromosomal mosaicism 46,XY[123]/46,XY,del(20)(pter --> p12.2)[10].

We report on a 3-year-old boy with a moderate to severe mental retardation, autistic behavior patterns, and myoclonic epilepsy of early childhood. The cytogenetic analysis of blood lymphocytes revealed a deletion of chromosome 20pter --> p12.2 occurring as mosaicism in 8% of the analyzed metaphases: 46,XY[123]/46,XY,del(20)(pter --> p12.2)[10]. The deletion was confirmed by the recently developed multicolor banding approach and additionally by region specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a patient with autistic behavior with terminal 20p deletion mosaicism reported up to present.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Putative colon cancer risk factors damage global DNA and TP53 in primary human colon cells isolated from surgical samples.

This study describes a novel in vitro method in genetic toxicology that is based on detection of chemical-induced DNA damage connected with altered migration of TP53 in primary human colonocytes. Techniques were developed to isolate high numbers of human epithelial colon cells from surgical tissues. High quantities of viable cells were obtained per donor. The primary cells were treated with the endogenous risk factors trans-2-hexenal, and hydrogen peroxide. Global DNA damage and repair were measured by single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay). We compared responses of primary colon cells to HT29clone19A, a differentiated human colon tumour cell line, for which the karyotype was analysed with 24-colour FISH. Both compounds were genotoxic in both cell types and most of the induced DNA damage was repaired after 30 min. Specific migration of TP53 was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (Comet FISH). Using primary colon cells, we quantified the migration of TP53 signals into the comet tails. In these cells TP53 was more sensitive than global DNA for genotoxicity induced by trans-2-hexenal and H(2)O(2). HT29clone19A cells cannot be used for Comet FISH because of their aberrant karyotype. The approach described allows us to obtain more knowledge of putative risk factors in colon carcinogenesis.

Aged↗

Supernumerary small marker chromosome (SMC) and uniparental disomy 22 in a child with confined placental mosaicism of trisomy 22: trisomy rescue due to marker chromosome formation.

Trisomy rescue is one of various proposed mechanisms in formation of supernumerary small marker chromosomes (SMC) and uniparental disomy (UPD). In the present report a small de novo marker chromosome derived from chromosome 14 or 22 was diagnosed at prenatal diagnosis due to maternal age. Follow up investigations at birth revealed mosaicism 47,XX,+mar/46,XX. Using FISH, the marker was positive for the probe D14/22Z1, but negative for the probes midi 54 and D22Z4. Using three informative markers both chromosomes 22 were shown to be inherited from the mother (UPDmat). The results are consistent with nondisjunction at maternal meiosis I. The girl is 18 months old now and phenotypically normal. Cardiac and abdominal malformations were excluded by sonographic examinations. Motor and mental development is according to or ahead of developmental milestones (free walking with 10 months, first words at 12 months). The case confirms that maternal UPD 22 most likely is not associated with clinical abnormalities. According to FISH results, UPD 22, and 47,XX,+22 in the placenta, we conclude that the SMC was derived from alpha satellite sequences of chromosome 22. This case for the first time gives evidence that early postzygotic reduction of a chromosome to a small marker chromosome is a real existing mechanism to rescue a conceptus with trisomy.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14↗

Loss of 9p21 is embedded in a complex but consistent pattern of genomic imbalances in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

35 oral squamous cell carcinomas examined previously by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) exhibited 5 up to 47 copy number alterations (CNAs). 13 of those cases showed a loss of parts of the short arm of chromosome 9, band p21 being affected in all of these cases. A highly complex but strikingly consistent pattern of genomic imbalances with an average 31.5 CNAs per tumor was associated with this deletion, and gains clearly dominated over losses of genomic material. Comparable patterns, however, could also be found in tumors with a high number of CNAs (24 CNAs) but without the deletion. Low numbers of imbalances were accompanied by low consistency of the CNA patterns. None of these latter cases showed the deletion 9p21. 66.7% of the dim(9p21)-positive tumors were of class pT4 (vs. 22% in dim(9p21)-negative cases), 77% of stage III or IV (vs. 47% in the group without the deletion), but only 8% of the dim(9p21)-positive tumors were classified as grade 3 (vs. 41% in the negative group). Other clinicopathologic features like prevalence of relapse, or survival time could not be as clearly associated with the deletion. For instance, short relapse-free survival was clearly associated with a high number of CNAs, rather independent of presence or absence of dim(9p21) in the affected tumor. From these findings it is concluded that previously found associations of 9p21 deletion with clinical parameters can reasonably be estimated only in the context of the pattern and complexity of the genomic imbalances accompanying this chromosomal loss in the examined tumors.

Adult↗

A complex chromosomal rearrangement with a translocation 4;10;14 in a fertile male carrier: ascertainment through an offspring with partial trisomy 14q13-->q24.1 and partial monosomy 4q27-->q28 [corrected].

Complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCRs) are usually associated with infertility or subfertility in male carriers. If fertility is maintained, there is a high risk of abnormal pregnancy outcome. Few male carriers have been identified by children presenting with mental retardation/congenital malformations (MR/CM) or by spontaneous abortions of the spouses. We report a de novo CCR with five breakpoints involving chromosomes 4, 10 and 14 in a male carrier who was ascertained through a son presenting with MR/CM due to an unbalanced karyotype with partial trisomy 14 and partial monosomy 4. The child has a healthy elder brother. In the family history no abortions were reported. No fertility treatment was necessary. Cytogenetic analysis from the affected son showed a reciprocal translocation t(4;10) with additional chromosomal material inserted between the translocation junctions in the derivative chromosome 10. The father showed the same derivative chromosome 10 but had additionally one aberrant chromosome 14. Further molecular cytogenetic analyses determined the inserted material in the aberrant chromosome 10 as derived from chromosome 14 and revealed a small translocation with material of chromosome 4 inserted into the derivative chromosome 14. Thus the phenotype of the son is supposed to be associated with a partial duplication 14q13-->q24.1 and a partial monosomy 4q27-->q28. Including our case we are aware of eleven CCR cases with fertile male carriers. In eight of these families normal offspring have been reported. We propose that exceptional CCRs in fertile male carriers might form comparatively simple pachytene configurations increasing the chance of healthy offspring.

Adult↗

De novo 9-break-event in one chromosome 21 combined with a microdeletion in 21q22.11 in a mentally retarded boy with short stature.

We report on a moderately mentally retarded 12-year-old boy of short stature showing the most complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) within a single chromosome ever described. A de novo derivative chromosome 21 was recognized in GTG-banding shortly after birth. However, the nature of the rearrangement remained obscure up to the application of the chromosome 21-specific centromere-near multicolor-FISH (subcenM-FISH) probe set and of six selected locus-specific probes along chromosome 21. An unbalanced 9-break-event was uncovered with breakpoints in 21p13, 21p13-->12, 21q11.2, 21q21.1, 21q22.11, 21q22.11, 21q22.12, 21q22.22 and 21q22.3. A deletion of 21q22.11 was detected by application of the BAC probe bk249H10. The karyotype can be described as 46,XY,der(21)(:p13-->p1213::q22.3-->q22.22:: q11.2-->p1213::q11.2-->q21.1::q22.11-->q21.1::q22.12--> q22.22::p13-->p13). The clinical signs can either be due to gene inactivation in connection with structural changes at the break and fusion regions, to the building of new fusion genes within the CCR and/or to the deletion of genes in 21q22.11.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Multitude multicolor chromosome banding (mMCB) - a comprehensive one-step multicolor FISH banding method.

Multicolor chromosome banding (MCB) using one single chromosome-specific MCB probe set per experiment was previously reported as powerful tool in molecular cytogenetics for the characterization of all kinds of human marker chromosomes. However, a quick analysis of karyotypes with highly complex chromosomal changes was hampered by the problem that up to 24 MCB experiments were necessary for a comprehensive karyotype description. To overcome that limitation the 138 available region-specific microdissection-derived libraries for all human chromosomes were combined to one single probe set, called multitude MCB (mMCB). A typical fluorescence banding pattern along the human karyotype is produced, which can be evaluated either by transforming these profiles into chromosome region-specific pseudo-colors or more reliably by studying the fluorescence profiles. The mMCB probe set has been applied on chromosomes of normal male and female probands, two primary myelodysplastic syndromes and two solid tumor cell lines. Additionally, a cell line of Gorilla gorilla (GGO) studied previously by single chromosome-specific MCB was reevaluated by the mMCB method. All results were in concordance with those obtained in parallel or by other cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic approaches indicating that mMCB is a powerful multicolor FISH banding tool for fast characterization of complex karyotypes.

Animals↗

Evidence for a new microdeletion syndrome in 15q21.

We report on the fourth known case with an interstitial deletion in 15q21. In the present case the breakpoints have been determined by GTG-banding, microdissection and the recently developed multicolor banding (MCB) technique as 15q21.1-q21.3. Common features in all four cases are mental retardation, growth retardation, a beak-like nose with hypoplastic alae nasi and a thin upper lip. Additional frequent features are small hands and feet, hypotonia, low hair implantation, low set ears, clinodactyly and obesity. The possibility that a critical region for a new microdeletion-syndrome is situated in 15q21 is discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗