Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ploidy reduction”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The genetic basis of resistance to 5-fluorocytosine in Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans.

In terms of genetically determined susceptibility to the clinical antifungal agent 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), Candida albicans may be homozygous sensitive (FCY/FCY), homozygous resistant (fcy/fcy), or heterozygous (fcy/FCY). Although heterozygotes are only slightly resistant, they occur at significant frequency among clinical strains and carry preexisting resistance determinants which may be responsible, following homozygosis, for treatment failures. There are two resistance genes (FCY1 and FCY2) known. Resistance in fcy1/fcy1 strains was associated with decreased UMP pyrophosphorylase activity, whereas resistance in fcy2/fcy2 strains was associated with decreased cytosine deaminase activity. These results were confirmed and extended in a 19F nuclear magnetic resonance study of 5-FC uptake and metabolism in genetically defined strains. By means of hybridization via spheroplast fusion, a complementation test was devised to test allelism of resistance determinants. Resistance to 5-FC was employed as a useful genetic marker in basic studies. In tetraploid hybrids which bore appropriate fcy markers, it was possible to select for reduction in ploidy by selecting for increased resistance to 5-FC; a novel parasexual system was thus generated (2n x 2n----4n----2n). In linkage studies, the gene FCY1 was shown to be linked to the gene HIS. Reciprocal mitotic recombination was demonstrated repeatedly with fcy1 and his alleles in cis and in trans configurations and evidence for nonreciprocal recombination (mitotic gene conversion) was also obtained. In Cryptococcus neoformans, mutation in either of two genes (FCY1, FCY2) is sufficient to confer resistance. These genes behave as simple Mendelian determinants which recombine freely. Diploid C. neoformans heterozygous for resistance (FCY/fcy) provided useful strains in which to develop genetic mapping methodology based on mitotic recombination.

Candida↗

Measurement of S-phase fraction and ploidy in sequential fine-needle aspirates from primary human breast tumours treated with tamoxifen.

Sequential fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) for cytodiagnosis and flow cytometry were taken from 21 patients with primary breast carcinoma at intervals ranging from 1 to 3 months after the commencement of first-line tamoxifen therapy. Nine patients achieved a sustained complete or near complete response over a 3-9 month period. The tumour cells from seven out of nine of these patients were initially aneuploid, while the remaining two patients had diploid tumours. An analysis of sequential FNAs showed that, in three out of the seven aneuploid tumours, only benign epithelial cells could be detected by cytology in the post-tamoxifen sample. In the remaining six cases, including the two diploid tumours, there was no change in ploidy but a reduction in S-phase fraction (SPF) to approximately 50% of the pretreatment level. In all cases, these changes in ploidy or SPF were seen with a mean lead time of 4 months before the tumour had reached clinical complete remission. None of these patients have relapsed after a mean follow-up period of 18 months. The tumours of 12 patients achieved no more than a temporary partial response to primary tamoxifen therapy. In seven out of eight of these cases, which were all initially aneuploid, sequential FNAs during tamoxifen therapy revealed either an increase or no change in the SPF with the tumour remaining aneuploid. In the remaining four cases the tumours were all recorded as being diploid in the pretreatment sample. However, although three of these cases had a temporary partial response to tamoxifen, an aneuploid component was picked up in repeat sequential FNAs with a mean lead time of 5 months before clinical confirmation of eventual disease progression. We conclude that changes in ploidy and SPF detected by flow cytometry may predict initial response and the likelihood of relapse of breast tumours to tamoxifen before clinical changes become evident. These data justify a larger study.

Biomarkers↗

P-selectin, and not E-selectin, negatively regulates murine megakaryocytopoiesis.

To assess the role of P-selectin and E-selectin in megakaryocytopoiesis, in vitro assays were performed in animal models deficient in both adhesion receptors. There was a significantly greater number of IL-3-responsive megakaryocyte progenitors CFU (CFU-MK) and an increase in immature megakaryoblasts in response to IL-6 in the P-selectin-null mice compared with the wild-type controls. Furthermore, P-selectin-null mice showed a greater number of CFU-MK colonies derived from CD34(+) cells in response to IL-3 or IL-3 plus stem cell factor. A significant shift in baseline ploidy with a reduction in 8N cells and an increase in 32N cells was also observed in the P-selectin-null mice. Secretion of the inhibitory growth factor TGF-beta1 and not TGF-beta2 was significantly lower in the supernatants of cultures containing bone marrow cells from P-selectin-deficient mice as compared with those from the wild-type control bone marrow cells. No differences in the responsiveness of murine CFU-MK, immature megakaryocytes, or 5-fluorouracil-selected stem cells to cytokines were observed in E-selectin-null mice as compared with the control mice. These studies indicate that the absence of P-selectin, and not E-selectin, resulted in an altered adhesion environment with subsequent expansion of megakaryocyte progenitors and immature megakaryoblasts, enhanced secretion of TGF-beta1, and apparent increased responsiveness to inflammatory cytokines.

Animals↗

Inheritance of immunogenicity and metastatic potential in murine cell hybrids from the T-lymphoma ESb08 and normal spleen lymphocytes.

T-lymphoma cells were fused with normal lymphoid cells to examine the segregation of tumorigenicity and metastatic capacity in the hybrids. In independent fusions the immunogenic ESb08 T-lymphoma line fused successfully with normal syngeneic spleen cells (from DBA/2 and CD1 mice) enriched either with T-cells or B-cells. Ten times fewer hybrids were obtained with B-cells compared to the number obtained with T-cells, and marker assays showed that both types of fusions preferentially generated T-T hybridomas. Some of the hybrids resembled their tumor parent in their ability to form primary and secondary tumors only in irradiated DBA/2 mice, whereas other hybrids lost the high ESb08 immunogenicity, were equally tumorigenic, and in some cases metastatic, in nonirradiated mice. DNA distributions of the original hybrid lines ranged from a hexaploid DNA content (expected for complete hybrids derived from a tetraploid line and normal diploid cells) to a tetraploid DNA content, confirming the reported chromosome instability of T-T hybrids. No correlation was noted between the initial DNA content and tumorigenicity, but in the case of complete hybrids, reduction in the ploidy levels always was observed in the cells of primary and metastatic lesions. One chromosomally stable and highly malignant hybrid (C2), which was analyzed for segregation of chromosomes and for drug-resistance markers, showed preferential loss of chromosomes from the normal T-cell fusion partner. The decreased immunogenicity of this hybrid could not be related to any detectable loss of chromosomes from the ESb08 tumor parent.

Animals↗

Alteration of DNA ploidy and cell nuclearity in human hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HBV infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma usually arises in cirrhotic livers as a complication of chronic liver disease, and may show a variable trend towards increasing ploidy. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between different etiological factors, particularly hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection, and alteration of DNA-ploidy and nuclearity of neoplastic hepatocytes. METHODS: DNA-ploidy, the percentage of binucleated cells in the total cell population and the fraction of mononucleated hepatocytes in the polyploid compartment were assessed by image cytometry on cellular suspensions obtained by fine-needle biopsy from 60 hepatocellular carcinomas in patients whose viral status had previously been assessed. RESULTS: Significantly higher DNA-ploidy values (p = 0.005), with a reduction in the percentage of binucleated hepatocytes (p = 0.003) and an increase in the fraction of mononucleated hepatocytes in the polyploid compartment (p < 0.0001), were found in hepatocellular carcinoma with actual or previous hepatitis B virus infection (including also HCV+ve patients) in comparison to those not associated with hepatitis B virus infection, but not when HCV+ve hepatocellular carcinomas were compared to HCV-ve ones. Statistically significant differences for ploidy values (p < 0.05), percentage of binucleated hepatocytes (p < 0.05) and fraction of mononucleated hepatocytes in the polyploid compartment (p = 0.003) were also found between hepatocellular carcinoma associated only to hepatitis B virus infection ("pure" hepatitis B virus cases) and those associated only to hepatitis C virus infection ("pure" hepatitis C virus cases). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with a previous or actual hepatitis B virus infection shows a peculiar phenotypical appearance, characterized by a trend towards increasing ploidy and reduction of binuclearity.

Adult↗

Ploidy dependence of induced mutation frequency in transformed Syrian hamster cells.

The ploidy dependence of the induced frequency of a phenotype can be used to determine the dominant or recessive nature of a somatic mutation to a given trait. To demonstrate this we induced mutations in diploid and spontaneously occurring tetraploid clones of Syrian hamster embryo cells by treatment with EMS (1.2 mg/ml, 4 h). Mutagenized cells were assayed for the recessive mutation to 6-thioguanine resistance (5 micrograms/ml) and the dominant mutation to ouabain resistance (1.2 mM). The frequency of induction of the dominant mutation was equal in the diploid and tetraploid clones (2.3 x 10(-4)). The frequency of induction of the recessive mutation was greatly reduced in the tetraploid clone relative to the diploid clone (1.8 x 10(-4) vs. 1.2 x 10(-3)). 6TGr mutant subclones from the tetraploid clone remain nearly tetraploid, or even increase in ploidy, but show a reduction in the number of X chromosomes from two to one, or in some cases none (based on chromosome morphology). The principle of ploidy dependence is now being used to study the induction of phenotypes related to neoplastic transformation.

Aneuploidy↗

Megakaryocyte ploidy and platelet changes in human diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Altered platelet morphology and function have been reported in patients with diabetes. They are likely to be associated with the pathological processes and increased risk of vascular disease seen in these patients. Mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count, and megakaryocyte (MK) ploidy (DNA content) were measured in (1) nondiabetics with normal coronary arteries, (2) nondiabetics with coronary artery atherosclerosis, (3) diabetics without evidence of vascular complications, and (4) diabetics with vascular disease. The platelet count (+/- SD) was increased in all groups but only significantly in the diabetics with vascular disease (236 +/- 65 versus 250 +/- 54 versus 257 +/- 64 versus 295 +/- 90 [P < or = .05] x 10(9)/L, for groups, I, II, II, and IV, respectively). The MPV was significantly increased in patients with atherosclerosis (7.0 +/- 0.4 versus 8.0 +/- 1.2 [P < or = .05] versus 7.2 +/- 0.9 versus 8.1 +/- 0.9 [P < or = .05] IL). Geometric mean MK ploidy was significantly increased in all groups compared with controls (16 +/- 1.5 versus 18.7 +/- 1.8 [P < or = .05] versus 19.8 +/- 1.6 [P < or = .05] versus 20.1 +/- 2.7 [P < or = .05]). Furthermore, some patients with vascular disease and/or diabetes had a modal ploidy shift from 16 (the normal mammalian modal ploidy) to 32, with a concomitant reduction of MKs in the 8 and 16 ploidy classes. This shift was seen particularly in the diabetics with vascular disease (P = .007). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured and were elevated in patients with atherosclerosis; the highest levels were found in the diabetic patients (0.7 +/- 0.9 versus 5.3 +/- 5.5 [P < or = .05] versus 2.5 +/- 2.8 versus 6.7 +/- 5.5 [P < or = .05] ng/L). In the diabetic patients with atherosclerosis, fibrinogen levels were also increased (2.85 +/- 0.76 versus 3.34 +/- 1.32 versus 2.43 +/- 1.50 versus 5.59 +/- 1.72 [P < or = .05] g/L). Furthermore, IL-6 levels correlated with MK ploidy (r = .45, P = .009) and fibrinogen levels (r = .5, P = .0001). This study demonstrates that patients with vascular disease, particularly diabetics, have an altered MK ploidy distribution, showing a shift toward higher ploidy in association with an increased platelet mass (count x volume). Changes in platelets in diabetes probably reflect MK changes, which themselves are a response to systemic change.

Aged↗

Diagnostic significance of fluorocytophotometric DNA ploidy analysis of gastric cancer with special reference to its comparison with clinical and histopathological diagnosis.

Mithramycin binds stoichiometrically with G-C pairs of nucleotides, thus it is useful for nuclear DNA fluorocytophotometry. In the present study, relationships between clinical features and nuclear DNA ploidy values were explored in 80 gastric cancer cases. For the first time, nuclear DNA ploidy values of tumor tissues even in the same gastric cancer were found to be not always identical, when those were determined at two different sites in the same layer or at two different depths of cancer invasion. The highest DNA ploidy values greater than 9C of the original tumors were significantly more frequently observed in advanced cancer than in early cancer. The highest DNA ploidy values greater than 12 degrees C of the original tumors were significantly more frequently observed in gastric cancer cases with lymph node metastases than in those without lymph node metastases. The highest DNA ploidy values of metastatic tumors in lymph nodes were significantly greater than those of the original tumors. The cell lines with very high nuclear DNA ploidy values, however, usually do not establish new stem lines in metastatic lymph nodes. Borrmann 2 gastric cancer which was clinically diagnosed as the localized type often showed much greater nuclear DNA ploidy values and higher incidence of metastases than Borrmann 3. Therefore, it is not true that Borrmann 2 gastric cancer is less malignant than Borrmann 3. When cancer cells invaded onto the peritoneal surface, through the serosal layer, the highest nuclear DNA ploidy values are significantly reduced for unknown reasons. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that the reduction of highest nuclear DNA ploidy values in these invasive types of gastric cancer patients does not necessarily mean a good clinical sign. Nuclear DNA ploidy analysis is the effective means of cell biological diagnosis for gastric cancer.

Adult↗

Neuraminidase-induced thrombocytopenia in mice: effects on thrombopoiesis.

Previous studies to examine the effects of thrombocytopenia on thrombopoiesis have generally utilized immune-mediated platelet depletion. We have developed a nonimmune model to exclude the possibility that adverse immune-mediated effects have been misinterpreted as the physiological response to stimulation of thrombopoiesis. Thrombopoiesis was examined in mice after induction of thrombocytopenia with a single injection of the nonimmunologic agent neuraminidase (Ndase). Utilizing electron microscopy, we examined platelets and megakaryocytes (MK) obtained 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hr after administration of Ndase. Eight to 48 hr after induction of acute, severe thrombocytopenia (mean platelet count less than 50,000/microliters), the medians of the platelet sectional area distributions, as measured morphometrically, were significantly greater than the median platelet sectional area of pooled controls. The maximum median value for platelet sectional area was observed at 24 hr. The largest platelets in these samples contained more profiles of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae, and a lower concentration of surface-connected canalicular system, as compared with normal platelets. By 72 hr post-injection of Ndase, virtually all platelets exhibited normal size and organelle complement. Mean platelet volumes, determined by electrical impedance analysis, paralleled the serial changes in platelet sectional areas. MK frequency and ploidy, measured by two-color fluorescence activated flow cytometry, were unchanged 12 and 24 hr following Ndase. At 48 hr, total MK frequency increased significantly (P less than 0.01) from 0.11% to 0.17%, and MK ploidy distribution shifted with a reduction in 16N MK (P less than 0.005) and an increase in 32N MK (P less than 0.01). MK ploidy was maximally altered from normal at 72 hr with increased 32N MK frequency (32.0%, P less than 0.001) and increased 64N MK frequency (2.4%, P less than 0.005). Morphologic and morphometric examination of MK at all time points did not reveal detectable changes from normal in cytoplasmic appearance or size, respectively. Therefore, we have demonstrated marked alterations of morphology and size of platelets, and of MK ploidy, using this nonimmunologic model. These studies further support our previous observations that megakaryocyte ploidy and platelet volume are independently regulated in response to depletion of the circulating platelet mass, and they show that these changes are not dependent upon the mechanism of thrombocytopenia.

Animals↗

[Cytophotometric investigations of the nuclear DNA content in ependymomas and plexuspapillomas (author's transl)].

Report on Feulgen-cytophotometric DNA investigations in 10 ependymomas and 2 plexuspapillomas. All ependymomas represent in their karyograms aneuploidic stem lines. In most of them one observes duplication peaks (G2 cells) as expression of proliferation behaviour. The histological benign ependymomas exhibit stem lines between the hyperdiploid and hypotetraploid values. With increasing malignancy the stem lines are elevated in higher ploidy levels and a reduction of a predominant stem line is recognizable. One of the ependymomas represents a distribution of DNA values like in a "mosaic" tumour. The measurements in the plexuspapillomas in good conformity with the histologic picture reflect the DNA distribution of a benign euploid neoplasm.

Adult↗

Megakaryopoiesis disturbances in atherosclerotic rabbits.

Rabbits given a hypercholesterolemic diet (500 mg/day) for 6 months and then maintained for another 6 months on a normal diet were found to have developed fibrous lipidic lesions in the aorta. Although circulating platelet levels in these animals were normal there was a reduction in mean megakaryocyte ploidy. The high concentrations of megakaryoblasts in all the sedimentation fractions collected by the 'STAPUT' system suggested an increase in megakaryocyte turnover with activation of committed stem cells. In addition, other defects in maturation of megakaryocytes were observed, such as abnormalities in the demarcation membrane system and granule number. These data reveal that defects in megakaryocyte maturation and turnover may occur during the process of reparative fibrosis of the arterial tree following a period of moderate hypercholesterolemic diet in the rabbit.

Animals↗

Cyclins E1 and E2 are required for endoreplication in placental trophoblast giant cells.

In mammalian cells, cyclin E-CDK2 complexes are activated in the late G1 phase of the cell cycle and are believed to have an essential role in promoting S-phase entry. We have targeted the murine genes CCNE1 and CCNE2, encoding cyclins E1 and E2. Whereas single knockout mice were viable, double knockout embryos died around midgestation. Strikingly, however, these embryos showed no overt defects in cell proliferation. Instead, we observed developmental phenotypes consistent with placental dysfunction. Mutant placentas had an overall normal structure, but the nuclei of trophoblast giant cells, which normally undergo endoreplication and reach elevated ploidies, showed a marked reduction in DNA content. We derived trophoblast stem cells from double knockout E3.5 blastocysts. These cells retained the ability to differentiate into giant cells in vitro, but were unable to undergo multiple rounds of DNA synthesis, demonstrating that the lack of endoreplication was a cell-autonomous defect. Thus, during embryonic development, the needs for E-type cyclins can be overcome in mitotic cycles but not in endoreplicating cells.

Animals↗

Human spermatogenesis in vitro: respective effects of follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone on meiosis, spermiogenesis, and Sertoli cell apoptosis.

In spite of the availability of abundant data about in vitro spermatogenesis in laboratory animals, studies on human in vitro spermatogenesis are scarce. This study employed a relatively simple culture system, involving all cell types of seminiferous tubules, to analyze the effects of FSH and testosterone (T) on different characteristics of human germ and Sertoli cells in culture. By using fluorescence in-situ hybridization, we show that in vitro reduction of germ cell ploidy can be stimulated by FSH but not by T. FSH, but not T, also induced unexpectedly rapid (24-48 h) morphological changes resembling spermiogenesis, although individual changes (spermatid nucleus condensation and protrusion, cell body elongation, and flagellar growth) proceeded in an uncoordinated way and mostly resulted in the development of abnormal forms of elongated spermatids. Though ineffective alone, T potentiated the effects of FSH on meiosis and spermiogenesis. These effects of T were probably caused by the prevention of Sertoli cell apoptosis, an effect that could not be mimicked by FSH. These data show that, in the presence of high concentrations of FSH and T, human spermatogenesis can proceed in vitro with an unusual speed, but the resulting gametes are morphologically abnormal. The potential practical relevance of these findings to assisted reproduction remains to be assessed.

Adult↗

[Impulse cytofluorometry of the redox activity of single cells using fluorescent formazan].

The first application of a newly developed fluorescent formazan in flow cytometry is described. The cell surface redox activity of isolated mouse hepatocytes after incubation with the tetrazolium salt forming the new fluorescent formazan and the DNA content after Hoechst staining have been measured simultaneously. 2 parametric distribution patterns have been obtained. This new and sensitive fluorometric technique can be used for automatic measurements of single cells correlating redox activity with other cell parameters.

Animals↗

[Cytophotometric analysis of the protein and nucleic acid content of the nucleus and cytoplasm of resting and proliferation-activated hepatocytes in the mouse].

Mouse hepatocytes, quiescent and activated to proliferation after hepatectomy, were investigated using cytophotometry in the ultraviolet region of selective absorbtion of nucleic acids, and then were examined in the visible region of spectrum after cytochemical reaction for total protein. Some features of RNA and protein accumulation were revealed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of activated cells of different ploidy. The activation resulted in the reduction of histone content and in the increase in the nucleus: cytoplasm ratio in cells of all the ploidy classes.

Animals↗

A method for investigating hepatocyte polyploidization kinetics during postnatal development in mammals.

A method for investigating weakly-proliferating cell populations of liver parenchyma on the basis of a quantitative analysis of hepatocyte polyploidization during postnatal development is described. The method uses a mathematical model which characterizes the hepatocyte polyploidization process, and incorporates data concerning the time course for relative frequencies of hepatocytes in different ploidy classes. As a result of these measurements and calculations for rat liver, transition rates of hepatocytes (the relative number of cells during a given time unit) from one ploidy class to another, and a coefficient for the reduction of hepatocyte mitotic activity with an increase in its ploidy class were obtained. Calculated curves show a good correspondence with the real process of hepatocyte frequency changes as they relate to changes in the age of the animals. To check this method, experiments investigating time changes of autoradiographic label content in the different ploidy classes of hepatocytes were carried out. By mathematically modeling the label diluting process resulting from cell proliferation and polyploidization, transition rates of hepatocytes were calculated, and they reflect values calculated from the model according to changes in occurrence frequencies.

Animals↗

Polyploidization and exit from cell cycle as mechanisms of cultured melanoma cell resistance to methotrexate.

Numerous malignant neoplasias are found to contain varying proportions of high-ploidy cells. Although the role they play in the tumor is poorly understood, several lines of evidence suggest that these cells could be especially resistant to various aggressions, a possibility of great interest in cancer treatment. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis through the analysis of the presence of high-ploidy cells following the administration of the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate. We also determined the expression of two proliferation markers, PCNA and CDK1, after methotrexate-treatment. Cultured cells from the murine melanoma B16F10 were treated with high doses of methotrexate for seven days prior to determination of DNA content and proliferation markers. Our results showed an obvious increase in the mean ploidy of this population. Specifically, there was a dramatic reduction in the proportion of tetraploid cells (predominant in the original population), and an increase in the proportion of cells with higher ploidies, particularly those whose DNA content was greater than 8c, including some cells with ploidies greater than 16c. Furthermore, there was a reduction in the number of PCNA-expressing cells and the reduction was much more marked in the case of CDK1 that was almost absent in the modal-ploidy treated cells. These alterations concerning ploidy and expression of proliferation markers had completely reverted two weeks after withdrawal of the drug. Our results indicate that methotrexate at a high dosage selects a cell population heterogeneous concerning its ploidy level, composed of one subpopulation of high-ploidy cells and another of modal-ploidy cells that, considering its lack of CDK1 expression, would remain in a latent state to evade the effects of the drug.

Animals↗