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Possible association of temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism. Forty-eight patients with temporomandibular joint pain and 111 healthy control subjects were examined. The results for the patients and control subjects were not significantly different (P >.05). The analysis of genotype distribution (homozygous for STin 2.10 genotypes of the variable-number tandem-repeat polymorphism) showed significant differences between the patients and control subjects (P =.003). ST 2.10 allele was more frequent in the patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction. In the control group, however, STin 2.12/12 genotype was significantly higher (P =.017). In the patients who were homozygous or heterozygous for variable-number tandem-repeat variants of 5-HTT STin 2.12 copies, the average scores of somatization and anger were significantly higher than those who were homozygous for STin 2.10 variant (P <.05). The patients who were homozygous for STin 2.10 genotype were also homozygous for "L" genotype (P =.019). However, this was not the condition in the control subjects. This study does not provide evidence to support the involvement of 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region in temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction. Our findings indicated that only the presence of the homozygous STin 2.10 genotype of variable-number tandem-repeat is likely to play a substantial role in the genetic predisposition to temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction and that the STin 2.12/12 genotype may have a protective role against temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction.

Adult↗

Patterns of sperm-specific histone variation in sea stars and sea urchins: primary structural homologies in the N-terminal region of spermatogenic H1.

An electrophoretic characterization of histones from pyloric caeca, testes, and sperm of Asterias vulgaris revealed a sperm/testes-specific variant of histone H1 significantly larger than its somatic counterpart from pyloric caeca. Additional proteins were observed in H1 regions of acetic acid-urea polyacrylamide gels in testicular extracts. Sperm or testis-specific variants of H2B observed in sea urchins were not found in the sea star. Evidence presented suggests that sperm- or testes-specific H1 species of intermediate mobility may arise from a single, slow-migrating H1 species (SpH1). Although an increase in nonspecific DNA binding by nuclear proteins must occur during the process of spermatogenesis, different organisms exhibit various patterns of sperm-specific protein mediating differential binding during the process. Sperm-specific variants of both H1 and H2B histones are observed in sea urchins, while the only variant observed in sea stars during spermatogenesis is SpH1. Sequencing of the N-terminus of SpH1 from A. vulgaris revealed a repeating tetrapeptide in residues 3-6 and 8-11 (Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys and Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys, respectively), homologous to repeats in the N-termini of sperm-specific H1s from sea urchins. Primary structure within critical, variable regions of molecules responsible for nonspecific DNA binding appear conserved in many organisms. The occurrence of repeating tetrapeptides in SpH1 and other DNA binding proteins suggests that such domains may function similarly in various chromatins undergoing regulated or reversible condensation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Integrating germline and tumor sequencing to improve hereditary cancer diagnosis and care.

A subset of cancers arises due to inherited germline pathogenic variants in specific genes, known as hereditary cancers. These genes typically include tumor suppressors, DNA repair and replication fidelity genes, and occasionally oncogenes. In most hereditary cancer syndromes, Knudson's two-hit hypothesis applies, where a second somatic event inactivates the remaining allele of a tumor suppressor or DNA repair gene, leading to tumorigenesis. Advancements in genome-wide sequencing have significantly enhanced our understanding of the mutational processes involved in hereditary cancers. In particular, the assessment of microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), and mutational signatures has emerged as a powerful tool for the identification of hereditary tumors. Tumors with high or ultra-high TMB often reflect underlying DNA repair deficiencies, while specific mutational signatures can pinpoint the defective pathway. These tumor mutational features are especially informative in syndromes involving mismatch repair (MMR), homologous recombination (HR), base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), and polymerase proofreading. Moreover, tumor sequencing aids in the interpretation of germline variants, identifies somatic mosaicism, and helps differentiate hereditary from sporadic cancers. Additionally, tumor molecular features associated with DNA repair deficiencies offer insights into personalized therapies, such as the use of PARP inhibitors for BRCA1/2-deficient tumors and immune checkpoint inhibitors for MMR- and polymerase proofreading-deficient cancers. Tumor profiling also uncovers actionable mutations in oncogenes like RET and VHL, which can be targeted with specific therapies. This review explores the integration of tumor molecular features with germline genetic data to refine diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic strategies in hereditary cancer.

Humans↗

A maternal store of macroH2A is removed from pronuclei prior to onset of somatic macroH2A expression in preimplantation embryos.

MacroH2A histones are variants of canonical histone H2A that are conserved among vertebrates. Previous studies have implicated macroH2As in epigenetic gene-silencing events including X chromosome inactivation. Here we show that macroH2A is present in developing and mature mouse oocytes. MacroH2A is localized to chromatin of germinal vesicles (GV) in both late growth stage (lg-GV) and fully grown (fg-GV) stage oocytes. In addition, macroH2A is associated with the chromosomes of mature oocytes, and abundant macroH2A is present in the first polar body. However, maternal macroH2A is lost from zygotes generated by normal fertilization by the late 2 pronuclei (2PN) stage. Normal embryos at 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stages lack macroH2A except in residual polar bodies. MacroH2A protein expression reappears in embryos after the 8-cell stage and persists in morulae and blastocysts, where nuclear macroH2A is present in both the trophectodermal and inner cell mass cells. We followed the loss of macroH2A from pronuclei in parthenogenetic embryos generated by oocyte activation. Abundant macroH2A is present upon the metaphase II plate and persists through parthenogenetic anaphase, but macroH2A is progressively lost during pronuclear decondensation prior to synkaryogamy. Examination of embryos generated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) revealed that macroH2A is associated exclusively with female pronuclei prior to loss in late pronucleus stage embryos. These results outline a surprising finding that a maternal store of macroH2A is removed from the maternal genome prior to synkaryogamy, resulting in embryos that execute three to four mitotic divisions in the absence of macroH2A prior to the onset of embryonic macroH2A expression.

Animals↗

V(H) gene analysis of IgM-secreting myeloma indicates an origin from a memory cell undergoing isotype switch events.

IgM-secreting plasma cell tumors are rare variants of typical isotype-switched multiple myeloma with a similar disease outcome. To probe the origin and clonal history of these tumors, we have analyzed V(H) gene sequences in 6 cases. Potentially functional tumor-derived V(H) genes were all derived from V(H)3, with the V(3-7) gene segment being used by 4 of 6. All were somatically mutated, with a mean deviation from germline sequence of 5.2% (range, 3.1% to 7.1%). The distribution of replacement mutations was consistent with antigen selection in 4 of 6 cases, and no intraclonal heterogeneity was observed. Clonally related switched isotype transcripts were sought in 4 cases, and Cgamma transcripts with tumor-derived CDR3 sequence were identified in 2 of 4. These findings indicate that IgM-secreting myelomas are arrested at a postfollicular stage at which somatic mutation has been silenced. Isotype switch variants show the cell of origin to be at the IgM to IgG switch point. These features indicate that the final neoplastic event has occurred at a stage immediately before that of typical isotype-switched myeloma. One possibility is that IgM myeloma involves the previously identified precursor cell of typical myeloma.

Aged↗

Involvement of somatically acquired ecotropic viruses in the immunogenicity of nude-transplanted NIH/3T3 transformed cell lines.

Immunogenic tumor variants were previously derived after transplantation in vivo into nude mice of NIH/3T3-transformed cell lines. Nude-passaged cell lines were rejected by immunocompetent H-2q NIH mice, were recognized by specific CTL clones, and expressed new retroviral Ag. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether somatically acquired proviral sequences were present in the genome of nude-passaged cells and to test directly for a causative relationship between murine leukemia virus (MuLV) expression and immunogenicity. Southern blot analysis of PstI-digested DNA indicated that in contrast to the parental NIH/3T3 transformed cell lines (pT, T12N/5a, NS-1) all the nude-passaged immunogenic variants (pT-nude, T12N/5a-nude, NS-1-nude) contained newly acquired ecotropic-related proviruses. Immediately after in vitro establishment, these tumors displayed multiple integration sites as assessed by analysis of 3' proviral-cellular junctions. Long term in vitro culture of one of the cell lines (pT-nude) resulted in a cell line (pT-nude/vitro) that was clonal or oligo-clonal with respect to viral integration. Northern blot analysis established that the new proviruses were actively transcribed in all the immunogenic variants. To assess whether the somatically acquired ecotropic proviral sequences encode for target structures recognized by specific CTL, obtained after immunization of NIH mice with pT-nude, the parental cell line pT was transfected with plasmids containing the entire AKV MuLV genome, the cloned AKV gag or env genes. Screening of transfectants for their ability to stimulate the production of TNF by anti-pT-nude effectors indicated that cells transfected with the entire ecotropic virus or with MuLV-env gene products could be recognized by an NIH anti-pT-nude CTL line and NIH anti-pT-nude Kq-restricted CTL clones as well as the immunizing target pT-nude.

3T3 Cells↗

Regulation of macrophage function by interferon-gamma. Somatic cell genetic approaches in murine macrophage cell lines to mechanisms of growth inhibition, the oxidative burst, and expression of the chronic granulomatous disease gene.

The importance of oxidative cytocidal mechanisms of phagocytic cells in immune protection against microbial pathogens is uniquely revealed by chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a genetic deficiency disease of man. This cytocidal response in mononuclear phagocytes is principally regulated by IFN-gamma. A somatic cell genetic approach was taken to select oxidative variants from a cloned murine macrophage cell line, J774.16, which formally permitted us to dissociate three regulatory effects of IFN-gamma on these cells: the antiproliferative effect, the antiviral effect, and production of superoxide anion. Half of the variants defective in O-2 production after phorbol myristate acetate stimulation were also resistant to the antiproliferative effects of IFN-gamma. This result suggests that IFN-gamma-induced growth inhibition and production of cytocidal oxygen intermediates are mediated via a common pathway. The somatic cell genetic approach has allowed us to develop in vitro macrophage models for several forms of CGD. One variant characterized in detail, D9, was unable to produce superoxide after stimulation by phorbol esters. At the molecular level, Northern blot analysis revealed that the mRNA encoding the large subunit of the putative CGD gene product, cytochrome b558, was absent in this variant. Another class of variants constitutively unable to produce O-2 or the cytochrome b558 mRNA could be induced to do so by IFN-gamma. These somatic mutants may be useful models in clarifying the role of the CGD gene product and its regulation in the production of cytocidal oxygen intermediates.

Animals↗

Somatic but not germline mutation of the APC gene in a case of cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

We report a case of cribriform-morular variant (C-MV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in a 27-year-old woman. In addition to conventional cytologic features of typical PTC, the fine-needle aspirate showed numerous epithelial cells with abundant, eosinophilic, very elongated cytoplasm. Microscopically, the tumor was encapsulated and highly cellular and exhibited a mixture of cribriform, follicular, papillary, trabecular, solid, and spindle cell patterns of growth, with morular foci showing peculiar nuclear clearing (biotin-rich nuclei). The cells were cuboidal or tall, with frequent nuclear pseudostratification and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclei were usually hyperchromatic, with grooving, pallor, and pseudoinclusions. Angioinvasion and foci of capsular invasion were observed. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells showed reactivity for thyroglobulin, epithelial membrane antigen, low- and high-molecular-weight cytokeratins, vimentin, neuron-specific enolase, CD15, estrogen and progesterone receptors, and bcl-2 protein. Molecular genetic analysis of the APC gene revealed a mutation in exon 15 at codon 1309 in tumoral tissue but not in peripheral lymphocytes. These findings support a relationship between the morphologic pattern of the C-MV of PTC and the APC gene and the existence of this variant as a sporadic counterpart of familial adenomatous polyposis-associated thyroid carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Ovarian- and somatic-specific transcripts of the mosquito clathrin heavy chain gene generated by alternative 5'-exon splicing and polyadenylation.

Insect oocytes are extraordinarily specialized for receptor-mediated endocytosis of yolk protein precursors. The clathrin heavy chain (CHC) is the major structural protein of coated vesicles, the principal organelles of receptor-mediated endocytosis. To understand the role of clathrin in the development of the oocyte's powerful endocytotic machinery we determined the structure of the mosquito chc gene. The gene spans approximately 45 kilobases and its coding region is divided into seven exons, five of which encode the protein. Three distinct mature transcripts of this gene were identified in mosquito tissues. Two of them code isoforms of the CHC polypeptide differing in their NH2-terminal sequences, and are specifically expressed in female germ-line cells. The third transcript has a 3'-untranslated region about 1 kilobase longer than the other variants, and is found only in the somatic cells. Tissue-specific 5'-exon splicing and alternative polyadenylation of the primary transcript combine to give rise to these mRNAs. We identified two alternative promoters, distal and proximal, separated by approximately 10 kilobases involved in tissue-specific regulation of mosquito chc gene expression. Our data provide the first molecular evidence for complex structure and regulation of a chc gene, in this case occurring at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Aedes↗

Role of inherited defects of MYH in the development of sporadic colorectal cancer.

Biallelic germ-line variants of the 8-hydroxyguanine repair gene MYH have been associated with multiple colorectal adenomas that display somatic G:C-->T:A transversions in APC. However, the effect of single germ-line variants has not been widely studied. To examine the relationship between monoallelic MYH variants and susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), 92 cases of sporadic CRC, 19 cases of familial CRC not meeting the Bethesda guidelines, 17 cases with multiple adenomas, and 53 normal blood donors were screened for 8 potentially pathogenic germ-line MYH variants. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 1p adjacent to the MYH locus, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and somatic mutations in KRAS2 and APC were analyzed in sporadic cancers. Neither homozygote nor compound heterozygote MYH variants were observed in the germ-line of any subjects with sporadic CRC. There was no difference in the incidence of monoallelic variants between this group (20 of 92, 22%) and cancer-free controls (14 of 53, 26%). However, the presence of monoallelic germ-line MYH variants was negatively associated with an MSI-high (MSI-H) tumor phenotype, with an incidence of only 1 of 23 (4%) MSI-H CRCs as contrasted with 19 of 69 (28%) non-MSI-H (P=0.02). Further, 4 of 5 tumors with 1p LOH contained monoallelic MYH variants compared with 15 of 53 without 1p LOH (P=0.04) and the normal population (P=0.03). The presence of G:C-->T:A transversions in KRAS2 or APC was significantly more common in single MYH variant tumors (9 of 12) than in MYH wild-type tumors (11 of 33; P=0.02). These results suggest that single germ-line variants of MYH may influence genetic pathways in CRC.

Adenoma↗

Variant hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 expression in the mouse genital tract.

Variant Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1 (vHNF1/HNF1beta) is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor first expressed in the primitive endoderm and its derivatives, the visceral and parietal endoderm. It is subsequently expressed in epithelial cells of different organs, including the primitive gut and derivatives (liver, pancreas, lung), the kidney, and transiently, in the neural tube. We report here new data concerning vHnf1 expression in the mouse genital tract, using both RNA analyses and our vHnf1 heterozygous mutant mouse line, in which the first coding exon of the vHnf1 gene is replaced by the NLSLacZ reporter gene. Both beta-galactosidase activity and vHnf1 transcripts are detected in epididymus, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate, uterus and oviduct. RNA analysis and in situ hybridization studies demonstrate that vHnf1 transcripts are restricted to the germinal cells of the testis. Unexpectedly, no beta-galactosidase activity is detected in the testis. We further show that, in addition to the somatic transcript, two more abundant vHnf1 transcript variants, which lack exons 1-4, appear in this organ after meiosis.

Animals↗

Fibronectin splice variants are differentially incorporated into the extracellular matrix of tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic hybrids between normal fibroblasts and sarcoma cells.

Recent reports have described transformation- and tumour-specific expression of fibronectin isoforms generated by alternative splicing of the fibronectin pre-mRNA. We have investigated the expression and distribution of EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ fibronectin splice variants in tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic somatic cell hybrids made by fusing fibrosarcoma-derived cells (HT1080) and normal fibroblasts (GM00097). Alternative splicing of EDIIIA and EDIIIB was assessed quantitatively by S1 nuclease analyses. The levels of EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ fibronectin mRNAs were similar in the parental and hybrid cells. Domain-specific monoclonal antibodies were used in immunohistochemical studies to identify EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ fibronectins in fixed cells. GM00097 and the non-tumorigenic hybrid (clone G3) showed high levels of both EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ fibronectin staining. The tumorigenic hybrid (clone C1) showed reduced amounts of EDIIIA+ fibronectin, but no detectable EDIIIB+ fibronectin. No fibronectin was detected on the surface of HT1080 cells. Western blots of protein extracted from culture supernatants and extracellular matrices revealed that GM00097 and G3 cells incorporated most of the EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ fibronectin into the extracellular matrix whereas C1 cells released a large proportion of the EDIIIA+ fibronectin, and almost all of the EDIIIB+ fibronectin, into the supernatant. We conclude that there are differences in the presence of EDIIIA+ and EDIIIB+ FNs on the surface of tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cells and that these differences are due to differential incorporation of FN variants into the ECM.

Actins↗

Analysis of the MEN1 gene in sporadic pituitary adenomas from Japanese patients.

An autosomal-dominant syndrome known as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is characterized by tumors in parathyroid glands, pancreatic endocrine tissues and the anterior pituitary gland. The predisposing gene was identified at 11q13 when germline mutations in the MEN1 gene were detected in affected pedigrees. To investigate a possible role of this gene in tumorigenesis of non-familial pituitary adenomas, we examined 24 sporadic tumors from Japanese patients for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the 11q13 region and for somatic mutations in the entire coding region and exon-intron boundaries of MEN1. Although three common sequence variants were detected, none of the tumors exhibited either LOH or somatic mutations of this gene. Our results indicate that inherited and sporadic forms of pituitary adenomas are different in terms of the genetic events that contribute to their development, and that other loci associated with pituitary neoplasia must still be sought.

Adenoma↗

Evidence for an increase in presumed somatic mutation during the ageing of human cells in culture.

A method has been developed for the direct measurement of genetic variants in mammalian cells in culture which does not require cell division and is therefore suitable for ageing studies. Previous evidence suggests that these variants are mutations. The variant frequency was measured during the lifespan of populations of MRC-5 human embryo lung fibroblasts. The frequency increased substantially during the lifespan of the culture and regression analysis shows that the increase is exponential. No increase invariant frequency was found in a immortal transformed line cultured for over 100 passages. Evidence is presented that the variants are regulatory mutations. This is the first direct evidence for the involvement of presumed somatic mutations in the ageing of mammalian cells. 5-Fluorouracil but not p-fluorophenylalanine shortened the life of the cells and increase the variant frequency. The data lend support to a model in which mutations are an expected consequence of errors in protein synthesis.

Cell Division↗

Follicular lymphoma: a model of lymphoid tumor progression in man.

Human follicular lymphoma can be viewed as a malignancy in evolution. Since this disease is composed of a clonal population of B lymphocytes all expressing a given immunoglobulin light chain and heavy chain, it seems possible that the initial transforming event, the t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation, occurs in a cell already committed to the expression of a particular VH and VL gene. A panel of antibodies has been assembled which define a set of idiotypes expressed repeatedly by B-cell lymphomas. Nonetheless, VH gene usage in follicular lymphoma tumors appears to reflect the normal B-cell repertoire. Growth of follicular lymphoma appears to be partially under normal regulatory control. The expanding malignant B-cell clone grows in follicles with particular apposition to follicular dendritic cells and heavy infiltration with CD4+ T cells. Interaction with T cells can induce the proliferation of follicular lymphoma cells. This tumor eventually evolves into a diffuse large-cell lymphoma which is highly aggressive and lethal. It is now clear that the malignant progression occurs from a single cell within the expanding follicular lymphoma clone. A panel of monoclonal antibodies to cell surface molecules has been generated that inhibit proliferation of diffuse lymphoma cell lines, and some of the target molecules have been partially characterized. Therapeutic application of anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies has shown a high degree of tumor responsiveness, but ultimately escape of idiotype-negative variant cells occurs. These variants arise as a result of extensive somatic point mutation in the VH and VL genes of follicular lymphoma. Active immunization can result in an immune response by patients directed against the idiotype expressed on their own B-cell tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Communication↗

Polymorphism of human chromosomes 1, 9, 16, Y: variations, segregation and mosaicism.

A study was carried out on C-banded chromosomes 1, 9, 16, Y from an unselected population and from 30 normal families. We found: a) great variability in length and position of the C-bands; b) somatic mosaicism involving C-bands; c) variants in children that were not present in parental patterns. The possible role of crossing-over in generating the last two phenomena is discussed.

Adult↗

In silico generation of synthetic cancer genomes using generative AI.

Understanding how genomic alterations drive cancer is key to advancing precision oncology. To detect these alterations, accurate algorithms are used; however, due to privacy concerns, few deeply sequenced cancer genomes can be shared, limiting benchmarking and representing a major obstacle to the improvement of analytic tools. To address this, we developed OncoGAN, a generative AI model combining adversarial networks and variational autoencoders to create realistic synthetic cancer genomes. Trained on large-scale genomic datasets, OncoGAN accurately reproduces somatic mutations, copy number alterations, and structural variants across cancer types while preserving donors' privacy. The synthetic genomes reflect tumor-specific mutational signatures and positional mutation patterns. Using DeepTumour, we validated the synthetic data's fidelity, showing high concordance between generated and predicted tumors. Moreover, augmenting the training data with synthetic genomes improved DeepTumour's accuracy, underscoring OncoGAN's potential to generate shareable datasets with known ground truths for benchmarking and enhancement of cancer genome analysis tools.

Humans↗

Complementation studies in the cblA class of inborn error of cobalamin metabolism: evidence for interallelic complementation and for a new complementation class (cblH).

AIM: To investigate genetic heterogeneity within the cblA class of inborn error of cobalamin metabolism. CONTEXT: The cblA disorder is characterised by vitamin B12 (cobalamin) responsive methylmalonic aciduria and deficient synthesis of adenosylcobalamin, required for activity of the mitochondrial enzyme methylmalonyl CoA mutase. The cblA gene has not been identified or cloned. We have previously described a patient with the clinical and biochemical phenotype of the cblA disorder whose fibroblasts complemented cells from patients with all known types of inborn error of adenosylcobalamin synthesis, including cblA. METHODS: We have performed somatic cell complementation analysis of the cblA variant fibroblast line with a panel of 28 cblA lines. We have also performed detailed complementation analysis on a panel of 10 cblA fibroblast lines, not including the cblA variant line. RESULTS: The cblA variant line complemented all 28 cell lines of the panel. There was evidence for interallelic complementation among the 10 cblA lines used for detailed complementation analysis; no cell line in this panel complemented all other members. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that the cblA variant represents a novel complementation class, which we have designated cblH and which represents a mutation at a distinct gene. They also suggest that the cblA gene encodes a protein that functions as a multimer, allowing for extensive interallelic complementation.

Alleles↗