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Restriction fragment length polymorphism caused by a deletion within the human c-abl gene (ABL).

A restriction fragment length polymorphism at the human c-abl locus (ABL) has been detected in 67 unrelated individuals by agarose gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization using 32P-labeled v-abl probes. This polymorphism is generated by the existence of two alleles, a and b, which are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with frequencies of 94.8% and 5.2%, respectively. The minor allele, b, is due to a deletion of about 500 base pairs in an intron located downstream of the codon for the phosphate-acceptor tyrosine residue of the c-abl gene product.

Alleles

Alternative splicing of RNAs transcribed from the human abl gene and from the bcr-abl fused gene.

The primary structure of normal abl protein was determined by sequencing the coding region of its cDNA. abl contains two alternative 5' exons spliced to a common set of 3' exons to yield the two major abl RNA transcripts. These transcripts initiate in different promoter regions and give rise to proteins that vary in their N-termini. In the human cell line K562, abl is translocated from chromosome 9 to within the bcr gene on chromosome 22. Within the fused bcr-abl gene, abl exon II alternatively splices to two adjacent bcr exons. This phenomenon is seen in many patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Abelson murine leukemia virus

The human cellular abl gene product in the chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 has an associated tyrosine protein kinase activity.

Three antisera against the mouse v-abl gene product were used to identify two potential human c-abl gene products in the chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562. Two antipeptide sera were generated in rabbits using the predicted amino acid sequence of the mouse v-abl gene product. One antiserum was made against a polypeptide overlapping the in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation site of murine P120gag-abl and what is believed to be a homologous tyrosine phosphorylation site of the predicted normal human c-abl gene product (v-abl 263-280). The second antipeptide serum, abl 389-403, was generated against a predicted hydrophilic peptide of the v-abl gene product. Immunoprecipitation from K562 cells metabolically labeled with [32P]orthophosphate by a mouse tumor regressor and abl 389-403 antipeptide sera detected two proteins of 190,000 and 240,000 Da. Both proteins were labeled primarily at serine and, to a much lesser extent, at tyrosine residues. Immune complex kinase assays using conditions that allow the tyrosine phosphorylation of P120gag-abl showed that in vitro phosphorylation of P190 and P240 occurs primarily at tyrosine residues. The detection of these enzymatically active human c-abl gene products is a rare observation which may be in part attributed to the c-abl gene translocation from chromosomes 9 to 22 occurring in the vast majority of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients.

Abelson murine leukemia virus

Human bcr-abl gene has a lethal effect on embryogenesis.

The chimaeric bcr-abl oncogene is thought to have a crucial role in the development or maintenance of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. To study this oncogene in a more direct way, the bcr-abl gene encoding the P210 protein under control of the bcr gene promoter was introduced into fertilized one-cell embryos, which were then re-implanted into foster mothers. Our data, obtained after several experiments, demonstrate that no live transgenic progeny could be obtained using this bcr-abl construct. The bcr gene is expressed in the course of embryogenesis and the bcr-abl gene product appears to have a pleiotropic lethal effect during this period of development. In concordance, several gross abnormalities were observed while no evidence of neoplastic formation was found. These results suggest that the bcr-abl encoded protein severely affects the process of normal embryogenesis.

Animals

[Rearrangement and expression of bcr-abl genes in CML and ALL].

We have carried out the molecular and cell-biological analysis on Ph1-positive leukemias in this study. Five out of nine Ph1-positive ALL cases showed molecular rearrangement within the classical bcr sequence (or M-bcr), similar as those in 47 CML cases. We examined 4 cases of Ph1-positive ALL presenting no rearrangement of M-bcr and found that, in 2 of 4 cases, one showed the breakpoint in a 5 kb segment of the bcr gene first intron (bcr-2) and the other in bcr-1, 16 kb upstream of bcr-2. Ph1-positive ALL frequently showed biphenotypical or biclonal phenotypes of myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Furthermore, we demonstrated the ability of two Ph1-positive ALL cell lines to differentiate into monocytic lineage in vitro, thus suggesting the possibility that these Ph1-positive ALL cells might reside on the stage of multipotent stem cell along the hematopoietic cell differentiation. Two out of 31 CML cases showed the mutations of the ras genes by the polymerase chain reaction; one case in the crisis phase and the other in the chronic phase. However, no mutations of the fms genes was detected. Two cases in the crisis phase of 24 CML patients (11 cases in the chronic phase and 13 cases in the crisis phase) contained rearrangements of the p53 gene by Southern analysis. Furthermore, the transcriptional alteration was found in 2 CML-BC and 2 CML-BC derived cell lines' samples, suggesting a important role of the p53 gene in the transformation of CML into the crisis phase.

Chromosome Fragility

Immunocytochemical evaluation of abl-gene products in leukemic cell lines.

We raised monoclonal antibody (MAb) against a synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to a portion of the predicted v-abl protein sequence (379-390). This MAb reacted with all of the abl-gene products (p145c-abl, p150c-abl and p210bcr-abl fused protein) and was not specific for any one of them. Immunocytochemically, we investigated the expression and localization of the abl-gene products in various leukemic cell lines. Positive immunoreactions were observed in Ph1 positive leukemic cell lines (K562 and KU-812) and erythro-leukemic cell lines (HEL and K3D) and were located on the cell membrane. Electron microscopically, a different distribution pattern was observed among the cell lines: linear and almost even in Ph1 positive leukemic cell lines, whereas spotted or budding-like in erythroleukemic cell lines. Ph1 translocation produces p210bcr-abl fused protein with not only altered autophosphorylation activities but also altered subcellular distribution patterns.

Animals

bcr rearrangement and C-abl gene expression in Ph1-positive hybrid acute leukemia with simultaneous proliferation of lymphoid and myeloid blasts.

bcr gene rearrangement and c-abl gene expression were analyzed in a patient with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive hybrid acute leukemia with simultaneous proliferation of lymphoid and myeloid blasts. These data were compared with those from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in mixed crisis. The leukemic cells of both patients showed immuno-phenotypic profiles such as non-T, non-B common ALL with some MPO-positive leukemic cells and rearranged JH genes. On analysis of molecular events associated with the Ph1 chromosome, the leukemic cells of a patient with CML in mixed crisis showed bcr rearrangement and an 8.5-kb bcr-abl chimeric mRNA, but those of a patient with Ph1-positive hybrid acute leukemia showed no 8.5-kb bcr-abl mRNA, as previously reported in a number of Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. These results revealed that the molecular event found in Ph1-positive ALL is not only restricted to lymphoid lineage but may play an important role in the proliferation of the myeloid lineage.

Adult

Chromosomal breakpoints within the first intron of the ABL gene are nonrandom in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Bone marrow cells from 37 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), who had the characteristic Philadelphia chromosome in their leukemic cells, were examined for ABL gene rearrangement by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. By using several probes from the ABL gene, we found that in 33 of 37 (89%) patients studied, the translocation breakpoints in ABL fell within the 175-kilobase (kb) intron between exons 1b and 1a. Furthermore, breakpoints in this intron clustered in three regions, approximately 30 +/- 5, 100 +/- 13, and 135 +/- 8 kb downstream from exon 1b. These findings suggest that there may be specific sequences in this intron that facilitate the processes of chromosomal translocation.

Blotting, Southern

Normal c-abl gene protein--a nuclear component.

The subcellular distribution of the c-abl and bcr-abl gene products from KG1A and K562 cells has been studied by two different techniques. Firstly, physical disruption followed by subcellular fractionation was used to demonstrate that normal c-abl (p145) was recovered from the cytosol and the nuclear fractions of KG1A cells. In contrast, bcr-abl products were recovered exclusively from the cytosol fraction of K562 cells. Secondly, indirect immunofluorescence was used to localize c-abl protein to the cytoplasm, nuclear membrane and infrequently to the nucleus of KG1A cells and bcr-abl protein to only the cytoplasm of K562 cells. Thus both the approaches indicate that there is a component of normal c-abl products which appears to be nuclear and this is not reflected in the distribution of the bcr-abl 210 kDa protein, which remains cytosolic.

Animals

The bcr-abl gene in chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

The observation made over 30 years ago that the Philadelphia chromosome is present in nearly all patients with CML led to the identification of a novel fusion gene bcr-abl. In the past few years, the biochemical and biological properties of bcr-abl have been extensively explored. Bcr sequences appear to activate c-abl for transformation by binding to the SH2 domain of c-abl in an intramolecular interaction, presumably interfering with the adjacent SH3 regulatory domain. Upon introduction into bone marrow cells, bcr-abl can cause acute or chronic leukaemias in mice and can stimulate the growth of many cell types, including multipotent stem cells, in vitro. Although their growth is stimulated, these cells are not fully malignant blastic leukaemias. The molecular events that occur during the progression to blast crisis of CML remain largely undefined, but existing animal models and in vitro culture systems will be useful for identifying or testing candidate genes. The study of tyrosine kinase oncogenes in general will probably lead to the identification of relevant bcr-abl substrates. The elucidation of these molecules as well as more downstream events in the bcr-abl signalling pathway offers the hope for novel therapeutic interventions to control Philadelphia chromosome leukaemias.

Animals

Alterations in c-abl gene methylation in cells transformed by phagocyte-generated oxidants.

DNA from 10T1/2 cells transformed by activated neutrophils was analyzed for restriction length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in cellular homologues of retroviral oncogenes, and consistent RFLPs were found in MspI sites of the c-abl gene of all PMN-transformed cell lines. MspI digests probed with c-myc, v-Ki-ras, v-Ha-ras or v-mos showed no RFLPs, and none were observed in EcoRI, PstI, HindIII, BamHI, SmaI, Sau3a, MboI, HhaI, or TaqI digests probed with v-abl. Analysis of HpaII digests supports the conclusion that c-abl RFLPs result from differential methylation of the CCGG HpaII/MspI recognition sequence. MspI RFLPs in the c-abl gene may provide markers for oxidant-related genetic injury.

Animals

Molecular cloning and serological characterization of an altered c-abl gene product produced in Ph1 CML patients.

The reciprocal translocation between human chromosomes 9 and 22, termed the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1), is observed in more than 90% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. This translocation fuses sequences from a variable distance 5' to the c-abl locus on chromosome 9 to sequences in a breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on chromosome 22. The appearance of the Ph1 chromosome is correlated with the production of a novel 8.7-kb RNA transcript containing both bcr and c-abl sequences as well as with a 210-kd phosphoprotein (p210c-abl) representing non-abl polypeptide sequences fused to c-abl-derived sequences. Antibodies prepared to a number of different c-abl domains and to bcr determinants were employed to characterize the normal and altered c-abl gene products. By combining a variety of cDNA cloning techniques, we have isolated bcr/abl clones representing 8.7 kb of contiguous mRNA sequence.

Cloning, Molecular

Studies of BCR and ABL gene rearrangements in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients by conventional and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis using gel inserts.

Continual monitoring of the presence of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is important for diagnosis as well as evaluation of therapy response of these patients. Because the Ph chromosome has been characterized molecularly to involve a reciprocal translocation between the ABL and BCR genes, there is an increasing interest in the use of molecular probes to detect chromosomal rearrangements in this disease. While rearrangements involving the bcr region of the BCR gene can be detected by conventional gel electrophoresis (CGE), detection of those involving ABL generally requires pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Currently, however, CGE and PFGE require different methods of cell preparation, with isolated DNA used in CGE and gel inserts containing whole cells used in PFGE. In this study, we show that the gel-insert method of DNA preparation can be adapted for use in CGE with slight modification of the gel-running conditions. The advantages of this method are demonstrated by studying both bcr and ABL rearrangements in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples of CML patients. Furthermore, we report a novel finding that chromosomal breakpoints in the ABL gene of CML patients occur predominantly between exons 1b and 1a.

Bone Marrow

Persistence of bcr-able gene expression following bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase.

The bcr-abl RNA transcript is the molecular counterpart of the Philadelphia chromosome and is detectable by an extremely sensitive polymerase chain reaction assay in most patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. To determine the effectiveness of ablative radiochemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation in eradicating molecular evidence of the malignant clone, we assayed for bcr-abl RNA expression in specimens from 19 patients with CML in chronic phase (CP) who have survived for at least one year post-BMT. We correlated these results with the patients' remission status based on cytogenetic analysis and BM morphology, and with evidence of mixed hematopoietic chimerism by analysis of RBC antigen and DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns. Thirteen of the 19 patients had detectable bcr-abl RNA at some time following BMT. Twelve of these patients have remained in remission by morphologic and karyotypic criteria from 16.6 to 63.7 months following BMT. One of these 13 patients relapsed both by cytogenetic and clinical criteria at 28.1 months after BMT. Six of these 13 patients are still positive at the time of their most recent analysis. Only two patients have evidence for mixed chimerism of normal hematopoietic elements by either RBC antigen or DNA RFLP patterns. These results suggest that, in some patients transplanted for CML in CP, small numbers of residual leukemic cells may persist or reappear transiently without leading to clinical relapse. The definition of complete remission in CML may need to be revised in light of the enhanced ability to detect minimal residual disease by PCR technology.

Adult

Clinical significance of bcr-abl gene rearrangement detected by polymerase chain reaction after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), amplification of a segment of bcr-abl messenger RNA (mRNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to detect minimal residual disease after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Previous studies have shown that this sensitive technique can often detect small numbers of leukemia cells in patients who are otherwise in complete remission. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of PCR positivity remains unclear because the majority of patients with PCR-detectable bcr-abl mRNA can remain disease-free for prolonged periods after allogeneic BMT. In the present studies, we applied PCR to detect bcr-abl-positive cells in 100 serial blood or BM samples from 24 patients with CML who underwent CD6 T-cell-depleted allogeneic BMT. After BMT, bcr-abl mRNA could be detected in 20 patients (83.3%) during complete cytogenetic or clinical remission. Patients in whom PCR positivity was sustained over time had a higher probability of CML relapse than patients in whom PCR was intermittently negative (P = .0095, log rank test). PCR detection of bcr-abl transcript between 2 and 10 weeks post-BMT also was associated with a high probability of subsequent relapse (P = .023, log rank test). In eight selected patients, we used a titration assay of the PCR-amplified product to estimate the number of residual tumor cells in each clinical sample post-BMT. PCR results in four patients showed a continuing increase in the number of tumor cells from early posttransplant until either cytogenetic or clinical relapse could be detected by conventional methods 1 to 2 years later. In contrast, PCR detected either no leukemia cells or relatively low and stable numbers of residual tumor cells throughout the follow-up period in four patients who remained in clinical remission. These results show that detection of the bcr-abl transcript by PCR after allogeneic BMT in patients with CML has important prognostic value. Estimation of the number of tumor cells in serial analyses can also be used to detect proliferation of the residual leukemic population. Sensitive detection of minimal residual disease can be used to assess the effectiveness of the transplant preparative regimen and to direct and evaluate further therapy post-BMT, before the development of overt relapse.

Adult

Entire ABL gene is joined with 5'-BCR in some patients with Philadelphia-positive leukemia.

In four patients, the chromosome 9 breakpoint of the t(9; 22)(q34;q11) had occurred at different sites within an 8.25-kilobase (kb) region situated 5' of ABL exon 1B. Chromosome in situ hybridization and field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) studies showed that ABL exons 1A and 1B were present on the Ph chromosome. Yet this large fusion gene produced an mRNA conventional for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Splicing from BCR exon 3 to ABL exon 2 crossed more than 200 kb and deleted exons 1A and 1B. This breakpoint site may occur in about 10% of all CML patients. Three of our patients have pronounced thrombocytosis, and two had been diagnosed as having Ph-positive essential thrombocythemia. The platelet count of the other patient was not available.

Blotting, Southern

Unique fusion of bcr and c-abl genes in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, the product of t(9:22), is the cytogenetic hallmark of chronic myelogenous leukemia. The c-abl oncogene on chromosome 9 is translocated to the Ph chromosome and linked to a breakpoint cluster region (bcr), which is part of a large bcr gene. This results in the formation of a bcr-c-abl fusion gene, which is transcribed into an 8.5 kb chimeric mRNA encoding a 210 kd bcr-c-abl fusion protein. The Ph chromosome is also found in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Although the c-abl is translocated and a new 190 kd c-abl protein has been identified, no breakpoints are observed in the bcr (Ph+bcr- ALL). Here we show that in Ph+bcr- ALL, breakpoints in chromosome 22 occur within the same bcr gene, but more 5' of the bcr. Cloning of a chimeric bcr-c-abl cDNA demonstrates that the fusion gene is transcribed into a 7 kb mRNA, encoding a novel fusion protein.

Base Sequence