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Identification of a novel cancer-specific immunodominant glycopeptide epitope in the MUC1 tandem repeat.

The cell membrane mucin MUC1 is over-expressed and aberrantly glycosylated in many cancers, and cancer-associated MUC1 glycoforms represent potential targets for immunodiagnostic and therapeutic measures. We have recently shown that MUC1 with GalNAcalpha1-O-Ser/Thr (Tn) and NeuAcalpha2-6GalNAcalpha1-O-Ser/Thr (STn) O-glycosylation is a cancer-specific glycoform, and that Tn/STn-MUC1 glycopeptide-based vaccines can override tolerance in human MUC1 transgenic mice and induce humoral immunity with high specificity for MUC1 cancer-specific glycoforms (Sorensen AL, Reis CA, Tarp MA, Mandel U, Ramachandran K, Sankaranarayanan V, Schwientek T, Graham R, Taylor-Papadimitriou J, Hollingsworth MA, et al. 2006. Chemoenzymatically synthesized multimeric Tn/STn MUC1 glycopeptides elicit cancer-specific anti-MUC1 antibody responses and override tolerance. Glycobiology. 16:96-107). In order to further characterize the immune response to Tn/STn-MUC1 glycoforms, we generated monoclonal antibodies with specificity similar to the polyclonal antibody response found in transgenic mice. In the present study, we define the immunodominant epitope on Tn/STn-MUC1 glycopeptides to the region including the amino acids GSTA of the MUC1 20-amino acid tandem repeat (HGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPA). Most other MUC1 antibodies are directed to the PDTR region, although patients with antibodies to the GSTA region have been identified. A panel of other MUC1 glycoform-specific monoclonal antibodies was included for comparison. The study demonstrates that the GSTA region of the MUC1 tandem repeat contains a highly immunodominant epitope when presented with immature short O-glycans. The cancer-specific expression of this glycopeptide epitope makes it a prime candidate for immunodiagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope and its agonist epitope from the nonvariable number of tandem repeat sequence of MUC-1.

PURPOSE: MUC-1/DF-3 remains an attractive target for vaccine therapy. It is overexpressed in the majority of human carcinomas and multiple myeloma. Clinical trials using MUC-1-based vaccines have demonstrated safety, clinical responses, and the induction of T-cell responses directed against MUC-1. Previous studies in experimental models and in clinical trials have demonstrated that altering the amino acid sequence of a "self" epitope can lead to the generation of an enhancer agonist epitope capable of eliciting stronger T-cell responses than the native epitope can. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND RESULTS: We describe here the identification of six novel class I HLA-A2 epitopes of MUC-1 that reside outside of the variable number of tandem repeat region. Each is shown to have the ability to activate human T cells as measured by IFN-gamma production. One epitope (ATWGQDVTSV, at amino acid position 92-101 and designated P-92), which demonstrated the highest level of binding to HLA-A2 and which induced the highest level of IFN-gamma in human T cells, was further studied for the generation of potential enhancer agonist epitopes. Of four potential agonists identified, one epitope (ALWGQDVTSV, designated P-93L) was identified as an enhancer agonist. Compared with the native P-92 peptide, the P-93L agonist (a). bound HLA-A2 at lower peptide concentrations, (b). demonstrated a higher avidity for HLA-A2 in dissociation assays, (c). when used with antigen-presenting cells, induced the production of more IFN-gamma by T cells than with the use of the native peptide, and (d). was capable of more efficiently generating MUC-1-specific human T-cell lines from normal volunteers and pancreatic cancer patients. Most importantly, the T-cell lines generated using the agonist epitope were more efficient than those generated with the native epitope in the lysis of targets pulsed with the native epitope and in the lysis of HLA-A2 human tumor cells expressing MUC-1. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the identification of novel MUC-1 epitopes outside the variable number of tandem repeat region, the studies reported here describe the first agonist epitope of MUC-1. The employment of this agonist epitope in peptide-, protein-, and vector-based vaccines may well aid in the development of effective vaccines for a range of human cancers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nine short tandem repeat loci analysis in aged semen stains using the AmpFLSTR Profiler Kit and description of a new vWA variant allele.

Nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci, D3S1358, D5S818, vWA, TH01, D13S317, TPOX, FGA, D7S820 and CSF1PO, were investigated in semen stains of various ages using the AmpFLSTR Profiler Kit. The nine STR loci were typed from semen stains stored for up to 25 years with the application of 1-10 ng DNA. This system provides a useful tool in medicolegal individualization of aged semen stains. During this investigation we found a new variant allele 18.1 at the vWA locus.

Gene Frequency↗

Short tandem repeat polymorphism linkage to the androgen receptor gene in prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Due to high polymorphism, common sequences, and ubiquitous presence, short tandem repeats (STRs) may enhance genomic typing to determine prostate carcinoma (CaP) predisposition. The human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK1) gene is located within Xq11-Xq13, a region implicated in familial prostate carcinoma, androgen insensitivity, perineal hypospadias, and other genitourinary abnormalities. The PGK1 STR is the most polymorphic site described in the Xq11-Xq13 interval and was investigated for its ability to detect differences comparing a heterogeneous CaP population versus controls. METHODS: We compared PGK1 STR allele sizes in 103 localized CaP patients with 299 control subjects to evaluate the STR's ability to detect potential CaP predisposing genetic factors. Allele sizes were measured with an automated DNA sequencer after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based copying of the PGK1 STR region. Allele sizes were compared using chi square and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Among 402 subjects, there were 10 distinct allele sizes consisting of five common and five relatively rare alleles. The PGK1 STR, 12 allele (12 tetrameric repeats) was more common among patients with CaP (p=0.03). Allele 13 was more common in CaP patients > 60 years old than among younger patients (p< 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that STRs in the Xq11-Xq13 region and other regions may provide a means to rapidly scan genetic loci in large populations of CaP patients and controls. Within limitations, STRs offer the advantage of relatively uniform protocols that could potentially provide a means to comprehensively scan genomes at known predisposing loci.

Aged↗

Analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms by the powerplex 16 system and capillary electrophoresis: application to forensic practice.

Allele and genotype frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms--D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA--in a Japanese population were estimated. No deviations of the observed allele frequency from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations were found for any of the systems studied. Between 2 new pentanucleotide STR loci, Penta E and Penta D, for which there is only limited data regarding the allelic distribution in Japanese, the Penta E locus was found to be highly polymorphic and exhibited a tri- or tetra-modal distribution pattern having allelic peaks with 5, 11, 15 and 20 repeats. The distribution was significantly different from that of the other ethnic groups. Statistical parameters of forensic importance, the power of discrimination (PD), observed and expected heterozygosity values (H), polymorphism information content (PIC), power of discrimination (PD), matching probability (pM), power of exclusion (PE), and typical paternity index (PI), were calculated for the loci. These parameters indicated the usefulness of the loci in forensic personal identification and paternity testing among Japanese. The systems Penta E, FGA, D18S51 and D8S1179 were the most informative. This method was successfully applied to forensic personal identification and paternity testing among Japanese, thereby confirming its efficacy for forensic practice.

Adult↗

The effective mutation rate at Y chromosome short tandem repeats, with application to human population-divergence time.

We estimate an effective mutation rate at an average Y chromosome short-tandem repeat locus as 6.9x10-4 per 25 years, with a standard deviation across loci of 5.7x10-4, using data on microsatellite variation within Y chromosome haplogroups defined by unique-event polymorphisms in populations with documented short-term histories, as well as comparative data on worldwide populations at both the Y chromosome and various autosomal loci. This value is used to estimate the times of the African Bantu expansion, the divergence of Polynesian populations (the Maoris, Cook Islanders, and Samoans), and the origin of Gypsy populations from Bulgaria.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Use of substituted and tandem-repeated peptides to probe the relevance of the highly conserved RGD tripeptide in the immune response against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Antigenic site A of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an exposed, mobile loop which includes a central, highly conserved Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide (RGD, VP1 residues 141-143 in serotype C) thought to be part of the cell attachment site. We have analyzed the contribution of RGD to the interaction of site A with antibodies by incorporating selected amino acid replacements at RGD into synthetic peptides representing site A, and analyzing the reactivity of substituted peptides with site A-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Replacement of Arg-141, Gly-142 or Asp-143 by alanine resulted in the loss of one, three and five epitopes, respectively, out of seven epitopes probed. Other replacements resulted in the loss of even larger numbers of epitopes, suggesting that the amino acids of the RGD region are either directly involved in interaction with antibodies or that they exert an important influence on the interaction of surrounding residues with antibodies. Thus, we explored the ability of tandem repeats of the RGDL sequence (corresponding to FMDV C-S8c1) to evoke neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and guinea pigs. Neutralizing activity was generally low but with a broad specificity for different FMDV serotypes and variants. Significant decreases in neutralizing titers were observed with boosting, suggesting a possible suppression of those anti-peptide antibodies which may also be directed to cellular RGD sequences. The results point to an involvement of RGD in the antigenic structure of site A, and open the possibility that broadly neutralizing antibodies might be induced by tandem repeats of the critical, conserved domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Genetic polymorphisms of short tandem repeat loci D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818 from Nongqu Mongolia].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the allele structure and genetic polymorphism at D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818 short tandem repeats (STRs) loci in Nongqu Mongolian of China, and to construct a preliminary database. METHODS: The allele frequencies of the three STRs loci in 291 unrelated individuals from Nongqu Mongolian were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Six, ten, and eight alleles were observed at D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, respectively, and all 3 loci met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The statistical analysis of 3 STR loci showed the heterozygosity >or=0.7332, the polymorphic information content >or=0.6884; the combined discrimination power and the probabilities of paternity exclusion were 0.9991 and 0.9806 respectively. CONCLUSION: All three of the loci in this study were found to have high heterozygosity and polymorphic information content, so they could provide useful markers for genetic purposes. These results could serve as valuable data to enrich the Mongolian genetic database and play an important role in Chinese population genetic application.

Chromosome Mapping↗

[Allele frequencies and species specificity of six short tandem repeat loci in Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a set of new markers for forensic application, the authors have chosen 6 short tandem repeat(STR) loci to study the allele frequencies and species specificity in Chinese Han population in Chengdu. METHODS: One hundred and ten EDTA-blood samples were collected from the unrelated individuals in Chengdu city, Sichuan province. DNA was extracted by Chelex-100 and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and silver staining were used to analyze the PCR products. RESULTS: The polymorphisms of all 6 STR loci have been obtained in Chinese Han population in Chengdu, the alleles of D4S2366, D4S2367, D6S474, D6S1281, D2S1396 and D20S601 being 7, 7, 6, 7, 5, 7, the observed heterozygosity of them being 0.802, 0.708, 0.770, 0.627, 0.542, 0.672, the discrimination power of them being 0.887, 0.828, 0.849, 0.848, 0.794, 0.865; and the power of exclusion of them being 0.602, 0.441, 0.544, 0.325, 0.227, 0.386. Evaluated by comparison with the data from 14 different animals as controls, the 6 STR loci contain good specificity of human beings. CONCLUSION: The 6 STR loci are highly polymorphic and can play a key role in species identification. They are new candidate markers for forensic personal identification and paternity testing.

Animals↗

A new allele of the short tandem repeat (STR) locus, CSF1PO.

CSF1PO is one of the thirteen core loci used for the CODIS database, and alleles reported for this short tandem repeat (STR) locus contain from 6 to 15 repeats of the tetranucleotide AGAT. Screening of DNA from 76 individuals by gel electrophoresis and silver stain detection yielded one sample that contained a rare, off-ladder CSF1PO allele; an allele larger than CSF1PO15 was detected in a heterozygote that also contained a CSF1PO10 allele. Capillary electrophoresis analysis using GeneScan software demonstrated that the variant allele contained four bases more than CSF1PO15. Following agarose gel electrophoresis to separate the two alleles of the heterozygote and cycle sequencing using dye terminators, sequence analysis showed that the variant, which was otherwise identical to the CSF1PO GenBank sequence, contained exactly 16 AGAT repeats. These results demonstrate the existence of an additional CSF1PO allele, a previously unreported size variant, CSF1PO16.

Alleles↗

The homozygote 10-copy genotype of variable number tandem repeat dopamine transporter gene may confer protection against Parkinson's disease for male, but not to female patients.

We investigated the role of variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Taiwanese. A case-control study was carried out to examine the association of the VNTR polymorphism within the DAT between 193 sporadic PD patients and 254 controls, matched by age and sex. Six alleles of VNTR polymorphism in the DAT, consisting of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 copies of the 40-base-pair (bp) repeat sequence, were detected in the study. There were no differences of allele frequency (chi(2)=5.239, p=0.387) and genotype polymorphism of the DAT VNTR (chi(2)=11.873, p=0.157) in PD patients from the controls. Further analysis stratified by sex and age at onset did not show associations. However, PD patients carrying homozygote 10-copy genotype of the DAT VNTR polymorphism were 0.67 times fewer than controls (chi(2)=4.569, odds radio (OR)=0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.45-0.97, p=0.033). The reduced risk of the homozygosity with PD genotype was only in male PD patients (chi(2)=2.923, OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.25-0.93, p=0.026), but not in female PD patients (chi(2)=0.002, OR=1.02, 95% CI=0.49-2.11, p=0.966). In conclusion, the results of our study show that homozygote 10-copy genotype of the VNTR polymorphism within the DAT may confer a protective factor for male PD patients, but not for female PD patients.

3' Flanking Region↗

A novel 56-bp variable tandem repeat polymorphism in the human deoxyribonuclease I gene and its population data.

This study confirms the presence of a novel variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism, designated as HumDN1, in intron 4 of the human deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) gene. Genotyping was performed without difficulty by PCR-amplification and separation by agarose gel electrophoresis in 423 Japanese, originating from four geographically diverse areas in Japan, and 89 Germans. The HumDN1 allele variability was due to different numbers of 56-bp repeat sequences, and five different alleles were distinguished with apparent size between 364 and 588 bp. Although there was a general uniformity for the polymorphism in the Japanese population, significant differences in genotype distribution were found between the Japanese and German populations. Furthermore, linkage disequilibrium between the HumDN1 and DNase I protein polymorphisms was revealed.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Automated short tandem repeat (STR) analysis in forensic casework--a strategy for the future.

Short tandem repeat (STR) loci are routinely analysed for forensic purposes in the UK. Because small regions of DNa are amplified, successful results are more likely to be obtained from highly degraded material where the DNA fragment length may be < 500 bp. The method is superceeding conventional analysis with single locus probes (SLPs). Dimeric STR loci display stutter artefacts, hence STRs used in casework are restricted to tri or tetrameric loci. Some STRs are complex repeats and have more alleles than simple repeats - for example the locus D21S11 has 21 alleles which differ in size by 2 bp because of the presence/absence of a hexanucleotide within the block of tetrameric repeats. These loci are of great potential interest because they combine increased discriminating power with reduced potential to stutter. Multiplexing 4 different loci with different dye labelled primers (i.e. carrying out polymerase chain reaction of 4 loci simultaneously) using the ABD 373A automated sequencer enables a large numbers of samples to be processed. In addition data aquisition and manipulation is automated so that minimum postelectrophoresis operator input is required. It is our aim to develop a system equivalent in power to that of 4 single locus probes. To achieve this we have developed an octoplex system consisting of 7 loci and a sex test (amelogenin locus) which has a probability of chance of association of 10(-9); the power of this system is equivalent to that achieved by 4 conventional SLPs.

Alleles↗

Forensic applications of a rapid, sensitive, and precise multiplex off lysis of the four short tandem repeat loci HUMVWF31/A, HUMTH01, HUMF13A1, and HUMFES/FPS.

A system of four short tandem repeat loci (HUMVWF31A, HUMTH01, HUMF13A1, and HUMFES/FPS) has been tested in co-amplification with forensic (post-mortem and post-coital) DNA samples. Semiautomated DNA typing was employed to analyze polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products formed by extension of primers labeled with a fluorescent dye at the 5'-terminus. Most DNA extracts could be typed, although a few required the addition of bovine serum albumin or a pretreatment by ultrafiltration in order to obtain sufficient signal for typing. Balanced signals for the alleles were obtained frequently across the loci, although preferential amplifications of HUMTH01 was observed often with the forensic samples. Band splitting due to nontemplate nucleotide addition to the blunt ends of the amplimers was frequently detected for the DNA extracted from the forensic samples. A data-base was constructed for the African-American population and compared with a Caucasian database. Few differences were observed across the two populations, except at the locus HUMTH01. The fluorescence-based system facilitates large-scale databasing, because the PCR products run off the gel, allowing more than one set of samples to be analyzed per run. Polyacrylamide gel reuse did not diminish genotyping accuracy.

Automation↗

Analysis of multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) systems using capillary array electrophoresis.

The profiling of polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers is being applied to human identification, parentage testing and genetic mapping. Reliable genotyping of these markers is facilitated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and high-resolution electrophoretic separation. Capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) offers very rapid, high-resolution separation of the amplified DNA and potential for automated sample processing not realized employing conventional slab-gel electrophoresis. The use of CAE to type DNA samples amplified at 11 genetic loci in multiplex profiles is presented. Two sets totaling 208 samples were amplified in a multiplex fashion using AmpFlSTR-Blue or AmpFlSTR-Green I and analyzed in a blind study using CAE. With the exception of one sample, the CAE genotyping results were in complete agreement with results obtained using a single-capillary system or two slab-gel electrophoresis systems. The sample, genotype TH01 7/10, migrated similar to TH01 6.3/9.3 allele sizes, which suggested a potential band migration shift. The recommended approach to such an observation is to analyze the sample again. The sample was rerun and correct genotype verified. Allelic ladder samples were analyzed multiple times by CAE to determine sizing accuracy and precision. The sizing of over 240 allelic ladder samples yielded an average within-run precision of +/- 0.13 bp and between-run precision of +/- 0.21 bp for fragments up to 350 bp. The CAE protocols permit processing of up to 96 multiplex STR samples in under 70 min.

Alleles↗

Population analysis of the collagen type IIalpha1 3' variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism by heteroduplex genotyping.

The AT-rich variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) marker at the 3' end of the collagen type IIalpha1 (COL2A1) gene has been shown to have a complex structure with extensive sequence variations among repeat units. We analyzed this VNTR polymorphism in a large population of 972 Caucasian individuals with a genotyping procedure involving heteroduplex analysis of PCR products using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seven size alleles were identified, combining to 19 different homoduplex genotypes (heterozygosity = 0.64). These could be further dissected by analysis of heteroduplexes into 85 different heteroduplex genotypes (heterozygosity = 0.84). By systematically heteroduplexing homozygous and heterozygous individuals in vitro, characteristic heteroduplex doublet bands were generated of known allelic composition. A comparison of these doublets with heteroduplex patterns observed in the population allowed us to identify 29 alleles. The degree of correspondence with a different COL2A1 VNTR genotyping system, based on size separation of single-strand VNTR alleles [1], was investigated by the analysis of samples typed with both methods, including samples from reference CEPH pedigrees. This revealed improved genetic resolution by the heteroduplex method including discrimination of frequent alleles considered identical by the single-strand analysis. Our findings demonstrate heteroduplex analysis of the COL2A1 VNTR to be a robust and highly informative genetic marker system. The documented increased genetic variability has important implications in forensic and paternity testing, as well as in linkage and association studies relating genetic variation at this locus to disease endpoints.

Aged↗

HRAS1 variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer.

The HRAS1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism, 1 kb downstream from the HRAS1 gene, has been reported to be associated with risk of various cancers. To examine whether individuals with rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles are at increased risk of bladder cancer we carried out a case control study with 230 bladder cancer cases and 203 hospital-based controls frequency-matched on ethnicity, gender and age. For genotyping we used a PCR-based long-gel electrophoretic assay that provides precise allele size discrimination. We did not find evidence of a strong overall effect of the HRAS1 VNTR on bladder cancer risk. Genotype data for whites and blacks were analyzed separately, but the number of black subjects was too small to estimate meaningful odds ratios. Compared to white subjects with 2 common alleles, the odds ratio (OR) for white subjects with 1 rare allele was 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-1.4) and for those with 2 rare alleles OR = 1.7 (95% CI = 0.6-5.4). HRAS1 genotype may be related to the prognosis of bladder cancer, however, because incident cases, i.e., newly diagnosed cases had a higher frequency of rare alleles than did prevalent cases, i.e., cases already existing at the time of recruitment. Repeating the analyses with incident cases only (n = 53), the OR for subjects with 1 rare allele was 1.2 (95% CI = 0.6-2.4) and for those with 2 rare alleles 3.2 (95% CI = 0.8-13.7). The number of incident cases was too small to draw firm conclusions on a possible association with a subgroup of tumors with a poor prognosis. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Aged↗