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Biomedical subjects

A Bernheim

Publications and source records attributed to A Bernheim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The neurofibromatosis 1 gene transcripts expressed in peripheral nerve and neurofibromas bear the additional exon located in the GAP domain.

A second NF1 messenger differing in the GAP domain was recently described. This type II transcript contains an internal additional sequence consisting of an open reading frame, in phase with the preceding and the following sequences and predicts a 21 amino acid addition in the catalytic domain of NF1 protein. In this report we present analysis of the two forms of NF1 transcripts in several normal human tissues and in primary neurofibromatosis tumors. Our results indicate (i) that the type II NF1 messenger displaying the additional exon is very widely expressed in all the normal adult tissues tested, (ii) that it is the form of NF1 messenger expressed in peripheral nerve and neurofibromas, and (iii) that the additional sequence could encode for a peptide related to a nucleoside triphosphatase.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cytogenetic studies on 19 papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Short-term cultures from 19 papillary thyroid adenocarcinomas revealed clonal numerical and/or structural chromosomal changes in 13 tumors, nonclonal abnormalities in one tumor, and only normal karyotypes in five tumors. Clonal abnormalities of chromosome 10 were present in three tumors, two of which had the translocation t(7;10)(q35;q21). Numerical abnormalities of chromosome 17 were detected in two tumors.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary

Preparation of a rat brain histidine decarboxylase (HDC) cDNA probe by PCR and assignment of the human HDC gene to chromosome 15.

The formation of histamine from its precursor histidine is catalyzed by histidine decarboxylase (HDC), a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylase. The knowledge of sequence similarities between various rodent HDCs permitted us to prepare a rat brain HDC cDNA probe. After reverse transcription of rat brain polyA + mRNA, the HDC cDNA obtained was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using two specific primers. The resulting 1019-bp DNA was cloned in the p-MAL vector. Its sequence corresponds to the published data on rat fetal liver HDC. This 1019-bp rat probe detected two BamHI sequences in man; these were assigned to chromosome 15 by somatic hybrid cell analysis. According to the well-known homology between human chromosome 15 and mouse chromosome 2, the result obtained is in agreement with the published localization of HDC on mouse chromosome 2. The mapping of the human HDC gene on chromosome 15 is an original contribution to the chromosomal assignment of related PLP-dependent decarboxylases.

Animals

Physical mapping of human loci homologous to the chicken nov proto-oncogene.

The human locus (novH) corresponding to the nov protooncogene overexpressed in avian nephroblastoma has been identified and mapped on chromosome 8q24.1. Another locus sharing homology with novH and corresponding to the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene has also been mapped on chromosome 6q23.1. The chromosomal assignment of nov and CTGF proximal to c-myc and c-myb respectively is of interest because chromosomal abnormalities involving these regions have been associated with different human tumors including Wilms'.

Animals

Mucin 4 (MUC4) gene: regional assignment (3q29) and RFLP analysis.

The use of a probe (JER64) containing a mucin 4 (MUC4) cDNA insert of 1.83 kb allowed to assign by in situ hybridization, the MUC4 gene to 3q29. This probe detected RFLPs with all restriction enzymes used (BamHI, HindIII, PstI, EcoRI, and TaqI). Particularly numerous alleles were observed with PstI, EcoRI and TaqI, in a small sample of unrelated DNAs (25 digested with PstI, 8 with EcoRI and 8 with TaqI). The PIC values were 0.69, 0.63 and 0.70 for PstI, EcoRI and TaqI respectively. The polymorphisms observed of variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) type are in relation with the presence of tandemly repeated nucleotide sequences in MUC4 gene.

Blotting, Southern

[Neurosarcoma associated with Von Recklinghausen disease: apropos of 25 cases observed at the Gustave Roussy Institute from 1967 to 1990].

In the absence of systematic immunohistochemistry investigations, only 25 cases (out of 69) clearly diagnosed as neurosarcoma due to the association with Von Recklinghausen disease (ie, neurofibromatosis type 1) and treated at the Institut Gustave Roussy were included in the present study. Neurosarcoma consists of a neurocristopathy whose cells migrate to several parts of the body in order to constitute neuroglia, Schwann cells, pigmented and endocrinal tissues. From 1967 to 1990, 25 cases of such neurosarcomas associated with a neurofibromatosis type 1 were seen at our institute. Three different histological terms exist for this tumour: malignant schwannoma, neurosarcoma, and more recently, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST). The median age (23 years) of the patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 is lower than that of patient with isolated neurosarcoma. Their sex ratio is 2/1. Primary tumour surgical exeresis was performed in all cases, with poor results in 7. Post-operative radiation therapy was not systematically used in this series. It was administered only in cases with incomplete surgical exeresis or when a local recurrence occurred. Adjuvant CYVADIC (doxorubicin, procarbazine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine) chemotherapy was administered in 5 cases, of in cases of relapse (8). All cases but 2 (the most recent ones) relapsed within 1 to 226 months (median 7 months). In addition, 13 patients developed metastases. Overall, the 2-year and 4-year survival rates were 41% and 18%, respectively. Our observations confirm the very poor prognosis for the association of neurofibromatosis type 1 and neurosarcoma. This finding should lead to systematically associate radical surgical exeresis, post-operative irradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of these patients.

Adolescent

The human ASM (adult skeletal muscle) gene: expression and chromosomal assignment to 11p15.

A rat adult skeletal muscle probe (Asm15) originated from a rhabdomyosarcoma was used to isolate the human homologous sequence from a placenta cDNA library. Among several positive clones the longest EcoRI-EcoRI insert (ASM1) obtained was 1875 bp long with 72% homology with rat Asm15 cDNA sequence. Important variations of ASM1 RNA level were observed in different adult skeletal muscles. Expression of a 29kD ASM1 protein was demonstrated in human adult skeletal muscle lysates using an antiserum (PB1579) raised against the C terminal region of the rat Asm15 protein. The human ASM gene was assigned by somatic cell analysis with human (ASM1) and rat (Asm15) probes to chromosome 11, and by in situ hybridization with the human probe to 11p15, a chromosome region involved in human embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas. Except for the presence of a HindII restriction site, the results obtained for the restriction map and the sequence of ASM1 cDNA (data not shown) exhibited extensive homology with the human H19 DNA sequence which have been mapped with a mouse probe also in 11p15. This suggests that ASM/Asm and H19 may represent the same sequence (in this hypothesis the presence of the supplementary HindII site in our ASM1 probe is explained by polymorphic variability). However it was reported that human and mouse H19 mRNA did not encode for a protein but acted as an RNA molecule whereas in our present study ASM protein was detected in human adult skeletal muscle. This could be explained by important regulation of ASM protein expression during development and cell differentiation. However we cannot exclude for the different species studied (mouse, rat, and man) the hypothesis that H19 and ASM/Asm mRNA may represent two distinct messengers from the same gene or even from duplicated genes.

Adult

Molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of a novel human tracheo-bronchial mucin cDNA containing tandemly repeated sequences of 48 base pairs.

A lambda gt11 cDNA library constructed from human tracheo-bronchial mucosa was screened with a polyclonal antiserum raised to chemically deglycosylated pronase glycopeptides from human bronchial mucins. Out of 20 positives clones, one partial cDNA clone was isolated and allowed to map a novel human tracheo-bronchial mucin gene. It contains 48 nucleotide tandem repeats quite perfectly identical which encodes a protein containing about 50% of hydroxy amino-acids. This clone hybridized to polydisperse messages produced by human tracheo-bronchial and human colonic mucosae. The gene (proposed name MUC 4) from which cDNA is derived maps to chromosome 3.

Amino Acid Sequence

The human placental protein 14 (PP14) gene is localized on chromosome 9q34.

PP14 protein (placental protein 14) is abundantly secreted by the human endometrium under the influence of progesterone. Human PP14 is homologous to beta-lactoglobulin, the main component of equine, bovine, and ovine milk whey. A genomic PP14 probe (PP14G1) was used for the chromosome assignment of the PP14 gene. Somatic hybrid cells enabled PP14G1 to be assigned to chromosome 9. In situ hybridization further refined this assignment to 9q34. The localization of the PP14 gene in the region of the ABO locus is consistent with the linkage described in bovines between beta-lactoglobulin and the J blood group (homologous to the human ABO group).

Animals

Relative order determination of four Yp cosmids on metaphase and interphase chromosomes by two-color competitive in situ hybridization.

Two-color competitive in situ hybridization was used to cytogenetically order four Yp cosmid probes, located in the pseudo-autosomal and TDF regions. The probes were hybridized by pairs to metaphase and interphase chromosomes. On metaphase chromosomes, determination of order between sequences separated by 3 Mb from each other was possible on a statistical basis, whereas the relative position of sequences 0.6 Mb apart could not be determined. On interphase chromosomes the complete order between sequences separated by 0.6-6 Mb was obtained rapidly by measuring the distances between two cosmid spots of every cosmid pair used in 28 to 60 nuclei. Results demonstrate the potential power of fluorescent in situ hybridization at interphase for high resolution cosmid mapping.

Binding, Competitive

Preparation of a human DOPA decarboxylase cDNA probe by PCR and its assignment to chromosome 7.

The reverse transcription of mRNA of a human pheochromocytoma using an oligonucleotide complementary to rat DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) sequence as a primer, gave rise to a single strand cDNA. This resultant cDNA permitted by PCR amplification the preparation and cloning in PUC 19 of a human DDC probe of 747 base pairs. The choice of primer was dictated by the presence of tryptophan codons in the DOPA decarboxylase sequence which were conserved in different species throughout evolution. The presence of mismatches on the primers was not an obstacle to a specific amplification and the probe sequence was found identical to the human DDC cDNA sequence. This probe, labelled by nick translation detected on Southern blot of human-rodent hybrids, bands on human DNA after EcoRI, BamHI or HindIII digestion. The results with EcoRI were explicit and drove to the conclusion that DDC is located on chromosome 7. Five bands were obtained on human DNA digested with EcoRI, indicating that either numerous introns could interrupt the coding sequence of DDC gene or duplicated sequences could be present in chromosome 7.

Base Sequence

Partial trisomy 6p.

A case of trisomy 6p21 leads to 6pter resulting from a maternal balanced t(2;6)(p25;p21) translocation is reported. The main clinical abnormalities were psychomotor retardation, hypotrophy, blepharophimosis, nystagmus, high nasal bridge, small mouth, sacral dimple, and systolic murmur. Other anomalies might have been due to partial 2p monosomy. Comparison with seven other cases of trisomy 6p allowed the delineation of a clinical entity. Direct proof of the localization of HLA genes was given by the presence of three haplotypes in the index patient.

Abnormalities, Multiple

[A new variety of acute non-promyelocytic leukemia with t(15;17)].

Three cases of a new variety of acute leukemia have been reported. The main features were: hyperleukocytosis made of large-sized blasts with a double shaped nucleus, few or no granulations in the cytoplasm, and in a few cell faggots or unique Auer rods; mycloperoxydase reaction was positive. This feature was associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and t(15;17)(q22;q21) translocation in the majority of mitoses.

Acute Disease

A new translocation in Burkitt's tumor cells.

A t(8;22)(q24;q11) translocation was found in blood, bone marrow, and ascites cells from a European Burkitt's lymphoma. Cell surface markers were identified as monoclonal IgG. The relationship between these two unusual findings is questionable in this cytologically typical Burkitt's lymphoma.

Aged