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Biomedical subjects

A Morley

Publications and source records attributed to A Morley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Myeloma stem cells in autografting in multiple myeloma.

Autologous transplantation has been used increasingly over the last 10 years for the treatment of multiple myeloma. As is the case in other cancers treated by high-dose therapy and stem cell rescue, the contribution of occult tumor cells in the graft to relapse posttransplant remains to be resolved. In this report, we review the biology and differentiation of plasma cells in the context of their significance as an origin of relapse in multiple myeloma.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Use of in situ detection of histone mRNA in the assessment of epidermal proliferation: comparison with the Ki67 antigen and BrdU incorporation.

The labelling index is commonly used as a measure of proliferation. However, the use of tritiated thymidine or BrdU labelling of S-phase cells is limited to prospective samples. We have employed an oligonucleotide cocktail complementary to the mRNA species encoding the replication-dependent histones H2B, H3 and H4 for non-isotopic in situ hybridization (NISH), and have compared the resultant proliferation indices in normal skin with those obtained by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and by Ki67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the monoclonal antibody MIB1. In addition, we compared the staining characteristics of histone NISH and Ki67 IHC in a further 25 samples from a variety of inflammatory dermatoses and neoplastic conditions, as well as from normal skin. In normal skin, S-phase (histone NISH and BrdU) and cycling (Ki67) cells were confined to the basal and low suprabasal layers. The labelling indices determined by histone NISH and BrdU incorporation were similar, whereas that of Ki67 IHC was four times greater. In biopsies from hyperproliferative dermatoses and dysplastic or malignant lesions, the number of histone NISH- and Ki67 IHC-positive cells was generally elevated; in accordance with the differential expression of these two markers during the cell cycle, MIB1 consistently gave higher results. The advantage of histone NISH over Ki67 IHC is that it is a marker of the same part of the cell cycle as BrdU incorporation. However, the combined use of both histone NISH and Ki67 IHC to measure two cell cycle parameters, namely S-phase and the number of cycling cells, allows more detailed retrospective study of epidermal proliferation than has been possible previously.

Bowen's Disease

Idiotypic oligonucleotide probes to detect myeloma cells by mRNA in situ hybridization.

An mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) method which used non-radioactive idiotypic oligonucleotide probes has been used to detect malignant cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma. For each of two patients with multiple myeloma a pair of biotinylated antisense oligonucleotide probes (18-22mer) was prepared from non-germline sequences of the rear-ranged immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene. These oligonucleotide sequences were not homologous with any previously published sequence. The probes from each patient were specific as shown by a failure to hybridize to any cells from six other myeloma patients and four normal individuals. Specific staining of IgH gene mRNA occurred only when the myeloma cells and the sequence of the probe used were from the same patient. Using simultaneous fluorescent immunocytochemistry it was shown that more than 95% of the ISH-positive cells expressed the malignant light chain in their cytoplasm. ISH positive cells were found in 1-4% of the peripheral blood mononuclear fraction of these two patients. These studies show that idiotypic oligonucleotide IgH gene probes can be used to identify individual cells belonging to the malignant clone and offer the possibility of developing innovative tumour-specific therapeutic procedures using antisense technology for patients with myeloma.

Base Sequence

A comparison of Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction as techniques to identify loss of DNA heterozygosity in colorectal cancer.

Alterations in the tumour suppressor gene p53 have been found in a wide variety of tumours. The variable number tandem repeat present at the YNZ22 locus is a highly polymorphic marker closely linked to the p53 gene. Examination for loss of heterozygosity at the YNZ22 locus has been carried out by Southern blot or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A comparison of these techniques shows a 100% concordance rate in normal tissue but a 90.9% rate in tumour tissue. Both false positive and false negative results were obtained. This must be considered in the interpretation of studies using PCR for this purpose.

Alleles

The influence of age of template DNA derived from archival tissue on the outcome of the polymerase chain reaction.

The analysis of DNA from archival tumour tissue for molecular alterations has been facilitated by the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Degradation of tissue prior to fixation and the nature of the fixative used influence successful amplification from archival tissue. Age of the archival tissue may also be a factor. To determine if this was so, DNA was extracted from 30 archival specimens of spleen spanning a 15 year period. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on all specimens using primers for exon 2 (307 bp) and exon 9 (1278 bp) of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene. It was not possible to show that the age of archival tissue had an influence on the capacity to amplify exon 2 of the HPRT gene. It was not possible to amplify exon 9 of the HPRT gene from archival tissue.

DNA, Neoplasm

Classification of mutations at the HLA-A locus by use of the polymerase chain reaction.

We investigated whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could be used to determine the mechanism of mutation in lymphocyte clones mutated at the HLA-A locus. Three polymorphisms, at Factor XIIIA, D6S109, and intron 3 of the HLA-A gene, were used to study a series of clones previously characterised by Southern blotting (SB) at multiple loci on chromosome 6. For detection of loss of heterozygosity, the results of PCR and SB were concordant in 140 of 141 clones when polymorphism in the Factor XIIIA region was studied and in 144 of 145 clones when polymorphism in the HLA-A gene was studied. For classification of the mechanism of mutation, PCR and SB gave the same result in 88 of 92 clones (96%) when a combination of the HLA-A and Factor XIIIA polymorphisms was used and in 46 of 47 clones (98%) when a combination of the HLA-A and D6S109 polymorphisms was used. The results indicate that PCR provides a simple and reliable method for categorising mutations at the HLA-A locus as arising from mitotic recombination, deletion, or from presumptive minor changes within the gene. Rare events such as gene conversion, nondisjunction, or large deletions extending to the telomere will be misclassified. However, such events are rare for mutations at this locus.

Base Sequence

Using mitotic recombinant mutant clonal lymphocytes for physical mapping of polymorphic loci on the short arm of human chromosome 6.

Immunoselection has been used to identify human lymphocytes that have undergone spontaneous mutation resulting in the loss of expression of one of the codominant HLA-A alleles. Approximately 35% of such mutations are the consequence of mitotic recombination events. Mitotic recombination is the result of nonsister chromatid exchange that leaves the mutated cell homozygous for all loci distal to the crossover point. The location of the crossover has been regionalized for 99 independently derived mutant lymphocyte clones by identification of their loss or retention of heterozygosity at seven reference polymorphic loci on chromosome 6. If a polymorphic locus of unknown map position is studied in clones from this ordered set of mitotic recombinants, and clones that display loss of heterozygosity and retention of heterozygosity of the locus are observed, then the map position of the locus is between the appropriate reference loci of the ordered set. The newly mapped locus becomes a reference locus in turn. In this way the mitotic recombinant mutant clones can be used to generate an ordered set of crossover points with a theoretical resolution limited only by the number of mutants generated. In this paper such a set of mutants is used to refine or confirm the map position of eight polymorphic loci on chromosome 6.

Chromosome Mapping

Improved PCR method for detecting monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement in B cell neoplasms.

AIMS: To develop a simple, optimised, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for detecting the rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH). METHODS: Using as primers oligonucleotides (Fr2A, Fr2B) homologous to the conserved sequences to the framework II region and the joining (JH) region, 25 patients with B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, previously characterised by Southern blotting, and three patients with light chain myeloma were studied. RESULTS: The PCR product from a polyclonal B cell population showed a broad band when analysed on a 3% agarose gel; DNA from B cell lines and B lymphoproliferative disorders showed a discrete band. Specificity of the amplification was confirmed by cloning and sequencing the amplified product as well as by Southern blotting with an internal probe homologous to the framework 3 region. Primers Fr2A and Fr2B detected monoclonality in three patients with light chain myeloma, while primers directed against the FrIII region showed a polyclonal response. CONCLUSIONS: Deletions and extensive somatic mutations within the FrIII region may give false negative results with primers homologous to the region. A PCR using the method described, with a repertoire of primers homologous to the FrII and FrIII regions, will therefore increase the frequency of detection of monoclonality.

Aged

Micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes of cancer patients following fractionated partial-body radiotherapy.

We applied the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay to measure chromosome damage in lymphocytes of 11 cancer patients undergoing fractionated partial-body irradiation. Measurements performed before, during and after cessation of radiotherapy showed a dose-related increase in micronucleus frequency in each of the patients studied. When the results for micronucleus frequency (Y) were plotted against the estimated equivalent whole-body dose (X) the dose-response relationship obtained was Y = 75.8X + 49.5 (r = 0.783, P less than 0.0001). A general decline in MN frequency was observed during the post-treatment period down to 57 per cent (+/- 10) after 12 months but there was considerable variation between individuals. The advantages and disadvantages of the application of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay as a biological dosimeter for lymphocytes irradiated in vivo are discussed.

Adult

RCH-ACV: a lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with chromosome translocation 1;19 and trisomy 8.

A cell line (RCH-ACV) was established from a bone marrow sample of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The cell line lacked Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen and exhibited a recently described nonrandom chromosome translocation, 1;19, thought to be associated with pre-B-ALL and poor prognosis. Banding studies confirm that the breakpoint of chromosome #19 occurs at p13.3. Cell surface marker analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies revealed markers consistent with common ALL phenotype. Although the cells did not show cytoplasmic immunoglobulin, studies of the immunoglobulin gene rearrangement confirmed the pre-B phenotype. This cell line could be of great value to studies of the role of the specific translocation 1;19 in the etiology of pre-B-ALL.

Cell Line

Preservation of islet function and morphology after transplantation into high dose streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Rats made diabetic with 0.15 g/kg streptozotocin showed a complete absence of islet B cells in their pancreases, even after 3-6 months of normoglycaemia. Glucagon- and somatostatin-containing cells were preserved. In these animals transplantation of 5,000 cultured fetal islets was required to restore normal blood glucose and intermediary metabolite profiles after a meal challenge, while 2,000 islets resulted in a marked metabolic disturbance. The larger number of islets produced comparable effects whether transplanted under the kidney capsule or into the splenic pulp. In either site, however, considerable proliferation of adipose tissue was found by 3-6 months. Transplanted islets were then demonstrated to retain the normal morphology with a central mass of insulin-containing cells surrounded by a ring of A cells in which a few D cells were embedded.

Animals

The human leucocyte P30 antigen: properties and assessment of value as a clonal marker.

FMC3 and FMC29 are monoclonal antibodies which react with a 30,000 Dalton molecule expressed on the lymphocyte surface membrane. The molecule is a protein which does not appear to be N-glycosylated. The antigen, which is also expressed intracellularly, does not appear to be a marker of differentiation or maturation. Polyclonal cell populations, such as peripheral blood lymphocytes, show a bimodal distribution of surface antigen density, whilst monoclonal cell populations analysed quantitatively showed unimodal antigen density distributions. This suggests the antigen may be a clonal marker.

Antibodies, Monoclonal