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Chromosomal localization, structure, and expression of the human alpha-fetoprotein gene.

By in situ hybridization of cloned human alpha-fetoprotein cDNA to human mitotic chromosome preparations, the alpha-fetoprotein gene was localized within the q11-22 region on the long arm of human chromosome 4. In addition, the human alpha-fetoprotein gene was isolated from a genomic phage library. The gene is split into 15 exons and 14 introns, and the entire structure is contained within two large (9.5 and 9.0) and two small (0.3 and 0.25 kb) EcoRI fragments of contiguous chromosomal DNA. The structure of alpha-fetoprotein and its gene is very similar to the corresponding structures of serum albumin, indicating a common evolutionary origin of these two serum proteins. However, the two genes are differentially expressed during normal development and under certain pathological conditions such as hepatomas, germ-cell tumors, or ataxia-telangiectasia. The molecular basis of this differential gene expression remains to be understood.

Chromosome Mapping↗

How much difference does chromosome banding make? Adjustments in prevalence and mutation rates of human structural cytogenetic abnormalities.

A collaborative analysis was undertaken of 226 karyotypes with structural chromosome abnormalities diagnosed primarily with low level banding resolution, about 300 to 400 bands per karyotype. We estimate that in this series, use of low level banding was required to detect about 78% of pericentric inversions, about 51% of reciprocal translocations, about 47% of all balanced translocations, about 35% of unbalanced rearrangements other than rings, Robertsonian translocations and extra structurally abnormal chromosomes, about 11% of all unbalanced rearrangements, and about 35% of all structural abnormalities. Adjustment factors derived from these figures were applied to prevalence and mutation rates of structural mutation rates derived from published large scale studies of livebirths. Had low level banding been used in these earlier studies we estimate that the rate of all structural abnormalities would have been about 60% higher than those reported (3.8 per 1000 vs. 2.3 per 1000 in the original studies). The increase is much higher for balanced abnormalities, 75% (3.4 per 1000 vs. 1.9 per 1000), than for unbalanced abnormalities, 5% (0.42 per 1000 vs. 0.405 per 1000). The increase in mutation rates for de novo cytogenetic abnormalities was similarly, considerably higher after such adjustment: the rates per 100,000 gametes increased from 18.0 to 35.0 for balanced rearrangements, from 8.2 to 10.1 for unbalanced abnormalities and from 26.2 to 45.1 for all abnormalities. These estimates illustrate the difference even low level banding makes to detection of structural cytogenetic abnormalities and why contemporary studies using such methods cannot be compared with earlier large scale population studies or livebirths without some type of adjustment such as those suggested here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Birth Rate↗

Single umbilical artery is associated with an increased incidence of structural and chromosomal anomalies and growth restriction.

The objective to characterize neonatal outcome associated with ultrasonographic identification of a single umbilical artery. Pregnancies diagnosed with single umbilical artery antenatally were identified. All prenatal/antenatal and pediatric records were reviewed for maternal demographics, associated anomalies, karyotypic analysis, pregnancy complications, and neonatal outcome. Twenty-seven pregnancies complicated by fetal single umbilical artery were identified. Of the 27 pregnancies, 5 (18.5%) underwent pregnancy termination and 1 (3.7%) experienced fetal demise. Of the 21 liveborn infants, 4 (19%) died within the first year of life. Sixty-seven percent of fetuses had an associated structural anomaly. Sixteen of the 27 pregnancies underwent amniocentesis and 7 of these were chromosomally abnormal. All of the karyotypically abnormal fetuses had a structural defect in addition to the single umbilical artery. Of the six fetuses without any associated structural or chromosomal anomalies, three (50%) demonstrated growth restriction. Single umbilical artery is relatively rare finding. When a single umbilical artery is identified, a vigilant search for associated anomalies should be undertaken. Pregnancies identified as having fetuses with associated structural anomalies should be offered amniocentesis. Pregnancies with isolated single umbilical artery should be carefully monitored for evidence of fetal growth restriction.

Adult↗

Computer graphics as a tool in cytogenetic research and education.

Scanning microscope photometry has been extensively used for image analysis of nuclei and chromosomes and for automated karyotyping. Color graphics terminals, software development and appropriate data manipulation have expanded the scope of scanning microphotometry so that it is now particularly useful for the quantitative analysis of cell components. We have developed application software for displaying nuclear and chromosome densities on a computer terminal of in the form of pixeled images and pseudo-three-dimensional graphic diagrams, as well as for image transformation, object illumination and rotation to enhance chromatin features. The system allowed the microphotometrical scanning of human G-, R-, C-, T-banded chromosomes and sister chromatid exchanges, the measurement of nuclear heterochromatic segments, the detection of minute chromosome structures and the distribution of high staining densities in chromosomes which are difficult to observe with simple light microscopy. The new quantitative visual information given by our interactive graphic method contributes to a better understanding of the nuclear and chromosome structure for the students engaged in cytogenetic research and teaching. The analytical perspective of computer graphics in cytogenetic research and education is briefly discussed.

Animals↗

Double-positive maternal serum screening results for down syndrome and open neural tube defects: An indicator for fetal structural or chromosomal abnormalities and adverse obstetric outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to evaluate whether double positive maternal serum screening results for Down syndrome and open neural tube defects indicate an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study was conducted. In a cohort of 170,394 women who underwent maternal serum triple screening in Ontario, Canada, between October 1995 and September 1998, 189 women received positive screening results for both Down syndrome and neural tube defects. Each case was matched to 5 control subjects who had negative screening results for test center, maternal age, and specimen date. The risks for adverse perinatal outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Women with double-positive screening results had significantly higher risks of having fetuses with structural abnormalities (odds ratio, 14.5) and chromosomal anomalies (odds ratio, 36.3). They also had higher risks of having preeclampsia (odds ratio, 6.7), small-for-gestational age (odds ratio, 9.7), preterm delivery (odds ratio, 5.9), miscarriage, and intrauterine fetal death (odds ratio, 11.8). CONCLUSION: Double-positive maternal serum screening results are associated with fetal structural and chromosomal abnormalities and/or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Close fetal and maternal surveillance are indicated when such pregnancies are identified.

Case-Control Studies↗

Genotoxicity of motorcycle exhaust particles in vivo and in vitro.

We studied the genotoxic potency of motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP) by using a bacterial reversion assay and chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests. In the bacterial reversion assay (Ames test), MEP concentration-dependently increased TA98, TA100, and TA102 revertants in the presence of metabolic-activating enzymes. In the chromosome aberration test, MEP concentration-dependently increased abnormal structural chromosomes in CHO-K1 cells both with and without S9. Pretreatment with antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, catalase, and NAC) showed varying degrees of inhibitory effect on the MEP-induced mutagenic effect and chromosome structural abnormalities. In the in vivo micronucleus test, MEP dose-dependently induced micronucleus formation in peripheral red blood cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment. The increase of micronucleated reticulocytes induced by MEP was inhibited by pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate. The fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA-loaded CHO-K1 cells was increased upon the addition of MEP. Our data suggest that MEP can induce genotoxicity through a reactive oxygen species-(ROS-) dependent pathway, which can be augmented by metabolic activation. Alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, catalase, and NAC can inhibit MEP-induced genotoxicity, indicating that ROS might be involved in this effect.

Animals↗

Establishment and characterization of two cell lines derived from human diffuse gastric carcinomas xenografted in nude mice.

Two human diffuse gastric carcinoma cell lines were established in vitro from xenografted tumours serially passaged in nude mice. Of 12 primary diffuse gastric carcinomas, 7 were successfully xenografted in nude mice (58.3%). Short-term primary cultures were achieved in all the xenografted lines. However, only 2 of the 7 short-term primary cultures were established as long-term cultures (GP202 and GP220). GP202 cells are larger than GP220 cells, show less abundant intercellular junctions at the ultrastructural level and grow in culture as a compact thin monolayer. The GP220 cells grow preferentially in small clusters attached to the monolayer, with a subpopulation of floating cells. Both lines have cells containing small mucin vacuoles in the cytoplasm and cells displaying a typical signet-ring shape. GP202 cells grow as solid tumours in nude mice but GP220 cells do not give rise to tumours. The flow cytometry and karyotype analysis showed aneuploidy in GP202 cells, with many numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities, and diploidy in GP220 cells, with several structural chromosomal abnormalities. The CDw75 and Tn antigens are more prominently expressed in GP202 cells than in GP220 cells. T antigen is only expressed in GP202 cells, whereas only GP220 cells express EGFR. Sialosyl-Tn is not expressed in either of the cell lines. The gastric cancer cell lines described in this paper represent a valuable addition to the small number of diffuse gastric cancer cell lines currently available and also provide a good model for further in vitro and in vivo studies of gastric carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Hyperploidy induced by drugs that inhibit formation of microtubule promotes chromosome instability.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrotubule drugs (AMDs), such as taxol and vincristine, are the most important addition to the chemotherapeutic armamentarium against human cancers. It has been shown that prolonged AMD treatment induces hyperploidy in G1-checkpoint-defective cancer cells and that these hyperploid cells subsequently undergo apoptosis. However, a fraction of these hyperploid cells are able to survive the prolonged mitotic stress and resume cell-cycle progression. RESULTS: We established hyperploid clones that escaped from cell death after AMD treatment from two glioma cell lines, U251MG and U87MG. Subtractive comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis revealed that clones derived from U87MG mainly had chromosome number changes, but that those from U251MG showed both numerical and structural chromosomal changes. Furthermore, numerous aberrations identified in U251MG clones were remarkably chromosome-specific, which may have been due to clonal selection for cells that have an advantage in growth and/or survival. All clones derived from both cell lines had abnormalities in chromosome segregation, and karyotypes of clones were more heterogeneous than those of parental cells, suggesting that cells having a higher chromosome number are subject to asymmetric chromosome segregation, resulting in a heterogeneous karyotype. All clones derived from U87MG and U251MG increased both centric and acentromeric micronuclei, suggesting the presence of chromosome structural abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: AMD treatment induces hyperploid formation and chromosome instability in checkpoint-deficient cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Nucleolar structures in chromosome and SC preparations from human oocytes at first meiotic prophase.

We describe a comparative study of the behavior of nucleolar structures and their relationship with nucleolar chromosomes and synaptonemal complexes at first meiotic prophase of human oocytes in an attempt to elucidate the nature of this cellular organization and to learn more about maternal nondisjunction. The number of main nucleoli varies along the different stages of prophase I and is usually low. It shows an increase from leptotene to pachytene and a decrease from pachytene to diplotene related to a decrease and an increase of main nucleoli volume, respectively. The methodology employed has enabled us to analyze in detail dark bodies, round bodies, dense bodies, and main nucleoli in chromosome or synaptonemal complex spreads. The relationship between nucleolar chromosomes or synaptonemal complexes and the nucleoli implies the existence, in a very reduced space, of chromosomal regions that contain homologous sequences and that are often unpaired. This situation may facilitate the production of heterologous pairing and chromosomal exchanges between nonhomologous chromosomes and finally result in aneuploidy. Thus, the situation explained above together with the differences between the oocyte and spermatocyte NOR cycles could be one of the reasons for the higher incidence of aneuploidies of maternal origin at meiosis I.

Cell Nucleolus↗

Coding sequence, exon-intron structure and chromosomal localization of murine TNF-stimulated gene 6 that is specifically expressed by expanding cumulus cell-oocyte complexes.

Tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) has been previously shown to be induced in vitro in several cell types by proinflammatory cytokines, and in vivo in pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we report the complete coding sequence for the mouse TSG-6 protein, and the exon intron structure and the chromosomal localization of the gene. We have identified a 1605 nt cDNA sequence from mouse cumulus cell oocyte complexes (COCs) induced to expand in vivo. The sequence contains an open reading frame of 825 nt that codes for the 275 amino acid TSG-6 protein. The gene contains six exons separated by 1.1-5.8 kb introns and has been localized to the murine chromosome 2 by linkage analysis. Comparative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction studies have revealed that TSG-6 mRNA is specifically expressed after COC expansion induced in vivo, identifying the first non-pathological process in which TSG-6 may play an important role. Since TSG-6 binds to hyaluronan and interacts with inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IalphaI), molecules that are essential for matrix formation by COCs, this protein may have a structural role in the matrix or may enhance the antiproteolytic effect of IalphaI to protect the matrix from degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prognostic significance of karyotype at diagnosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia [corrected].

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent childhood cancer. The disease is heterogeneous. The leukemic cells in childhood ALL patients show various karyotypic abnormalities, express diverse phenotypes, and respond variably to treatment. Identification of prognostic factors will make it possible to predict treatment outcome and to identify the patients that require different therapeutic approaches. The important prognostic implications of chromosome number and of the presence of several well defined structural chromosomal aberrations have been established by several groups. We analyzed 145 children with ALL at diagnosis for cytogenetic features. In 135 cases cytogenetic analysis was successful. Of these, 101 showed abnormal karyotype (70%). Structural chromosomal rearrangements were detected in 71 out of 135 cases investigated (53%), i.e. 71% of the cytogenetically abnormal cases. These cytogenetic findings were correlated with clinical outcome. In our series the ploidy of the karyotype appeared to be of prognostic importance. Our findings concerning karyotype, phenotype, and treatment outcome of this subgroup were in most cases in agreement with earlier reports from other investigators. We observed an increased risk for central nervous system relapse in childhood ALL patients with abnormalities involving the short arm of chromosome 12 in combination with pre-B or common ALL phenotype.

Adolescent↗

Fluorescent in situ hybridization: use of whole chromosome paint probes to identify unbalanced chromosome translocations.

By identifying structural chromosome anomalies, the clinical cytogenetics laboratory can play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with birth defects. Although many new staining techniques have been developed throughout the years to aid in the detection of anomalous chromosomes, some abnormalities still pose a special challenge to cytogeneticists. This difficulty is especially evident in patients with an abnormal chromosome that does not produce a recognizable banding pattern by conventional staining techniques. We describe a recently discovered method of identifying chromosomes by using whole chromosome-specific DNA probes and fluorescent in situ hybridization and provide examples of how this new procedure facilitated the identification of chromosome abnormalities in two patients with multiple birth defects.

Adult↗

Inter- and intra-individual chromosome variability in Thamnomys (Grammomys) gazellae (Rodentia, Muridae) B-chromosomes and structural heteromorphisms.

The present paper reports intra- and inter-individual variability related to the occurrence of numerous B-chromosomes in Thamnomys (Grammomys) gazellae, a species of African Climber rat belonging to the 'dolichurus' group. The frequency of B-chromosomes in somatic and spermatogonial metaphases is investigated, together with their behaviour during meiosis. Moreover, G-banding makes it possible to identify a structural polymorphism resulting from a pericentric inversion in a large chromosome (no. 6). The distribution of the constitutive heterochromatin has been assessed by C-banding. The nucleolus organizer regions (NOR's) were located by means of silver staining in four chromosomal pairs (nos. 1, 2, 4, and 6). The karyotype of T. (G.) gazellae is compared with that of other taxa of the dolichurus group, particularly the Somaliland population which also exhibits the occurrence of B-chromosomes. The origin and significance of B-chromosomes is discussed.

Animals↗

Induction of aneuploidy by the antineoplastic drug estramustine in human lymphocytes.

Estramustine (EM) is an antineoplastic drug used in the therapy of human prostatic carcinoma. The aim of our work was to evaluate the potential aneuploidogenic activity of estramustine, by analysing its cytogenetic effects induced in human lymphocytes. To estimate the ability of EM to induce mitotic spindle disturbances, two parameters were used: the presence of c-mitoses (according to the degree of chromatid spreading and contraction) and mitotic index evaluation (increase after exposure indicating the accumulation of mitoses). EM induced c-mitoses and mitotic index increases starting from the 4 microM dose: statistically significant increases were observed up to the highest dose (40 microM). A strong correlation between c-mitoses and mitotic index increase was found. The micronucleus (MN) assay combined with the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique with a pancentromeric DNA probe was also carried out. Compared to the control, EM induced significant MN increases in binucleated lymphocytes at two doses (8-16 microM). Moreover, we found that estramustine induced significant percentages of MN with positive hybridization signal at the same doses, confirming the presence of entire chromosomes in micronuclei. Additional experiments included induction of numerical and structural chromosome aberrations, and evaluation of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and satellited (D- and G-group chromosomes) chromosome associations. The results of numerical chromosome aberration analysis indicated that EM was positive in inducing a statistically significant increase in aneuploid cells and/or polyploid cells at all doses tested. On the basis of these observations, EM may be defined as a typical aneuploidy inducer, whereas it was not found to increase the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations and SCE frequency.

Adult↗

Structure and chromosomal localization of the human and murine genes for the macrophage MARCO receptor.

The structures of the human and mouse genes for the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure were determined. Both genes have 17 exons, of which exons 4-15 encode the collagenous domain. The transcription initiation sites in the mouse gene were identified using primer extension, SI nuclease mapping, and 5' capturing rapid amplification of cDNA ends assays. All three methods revealed two major initiation sites, one starting 27 bp downstream of a TATA box and another at positions -63 and -66 downstream of an AT-rich region. Several potential binding sites for transcription factors were identified in the promoter region, neither gene has a CAAT box or GC boxes. The human and mouse genes were localized to syntenic regions on chromosomes 2 and 1, respectively, using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Intrachromosomal exchange aberrations predicted on the basis of the globular interphase chromosome model.

One of the key questions in understanding mechanisms of chromosome aberration production is how does interphase chromosome structure affect aberration formation. To explore this a modelling approach is presented which combines Monte Carlo simulation of both alpha particle track and interphase chromosome structure. The structural state of interphase chromosome influences a dose-effect relationship for intrachromosomal exchange aberrations (intrachanges). It is shown that intrachanges are induced frequently by both X rays and alpha particles if the chromosome is in the condensed globular but not in the decondensed coiled state. Truly simple intra-arm intrachanges induced by X rays are dose squared in coiled chromosomes, but exhibit linear dose dependence in globular chromosomes. Experimental data on interarm intrachanges obtained by dual arm chromosome painting are analysed by means of the technique presented. Results of analysis support the conclusion about the arms proximity of chromosome 1 in human lymphocytes.

Chromatids↗