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Biomedical subjects

C N Arnold

Publications and source records attributed to C N Arnold.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Germline characterization of early-aged onset of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is characterized by the early onset of colorectal cancer (approximately 40 years). Adolescent colorectal cancer is unusual in HNPCC families. We speculated that some DNA mismatch repair germline mutations might be associated with early onset of disease. STUDY DESIGN: Genomic DNA was extracted from members of a kindred with virulent HNPCC fitting the Amsterdam Criteria for HNPCC and sequenced for 2 DNA mismatch repair genes, hMSH2 and hMLH1. A sigmoid adenocarcinoma from the 14-year-old proband was analyzed for highfrequency microsatellite instability and immunostained for DNA mismatch repair gene expression. RESULTS: A germline mutation was identified at nucleotide 676 (codon 226) of the hMLH1 gene. The C to T transition created a nonsense mutation, truncating the hMLH1 protein. This mutation also alters the splice donor sequence, because nucleotide 676 is 2 base pairs from the 3' end of the exon 8. The proband's tumor demonstrated high-frequency microsatellite instability and displayed loss of hMLH1 expression, indicating bi-allelic inactivation of hMLH1. CONCLUSIONS: A complex mutation of hMLH1 at codon 226 is associated with adolescent onset of colorectal cancer in an HNPCC family. Genetic screening of other suspected HNPCC families with unusually young members with cancer might reveal certain genotypes with particularly virulent forms of this disease.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2001

Global analysis of Escherichia coli gene expression during the acetate-induced acid tolerance response.

The ability of Escherichia coli to survive at low pH is strongly affected by environmental factors, such as composition of the growth medium and growth phase. Exposure to short-chain fatty acids, such as acetate, proprionate, and butyrate, at neutral or nearly neutral pH has also been shown to increase acid survival of E. coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. To investigate the basis for acetate-induced acid tolerance in E. coli O157:H7, genes whose expression was altered by exposure to acetate were identified using gene arrays. The expression of 60 genes was reduced by at least twofold; of these, 48 encode components of the transcription-translation machinery. Expression of 26 genes increased twofold or greater following treatment with acetate. This included six genes whose products are known to be important for survival at low pH. Five of these genes, as well as six other acetate-induced genes, are members of the E. coli RpoS regulon. RpoS, the stress sigma factor, is known to be required for acid tolerance induced by growth at nonlethal low pH or by entry into stationary phase. Disruption of the rpoS gene by a transposon insertion mutation also prevented acetate-induced acid tolerance. However, induction of RpoS expression did not appear to be sufficient to activate the acid tolerance response. Treatment with either NaCl or sodium acetate (pH 7.0) increased expression of an rpoS::lacZ fusion protein, but only treatment with acetate increased acid survival.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Helicobacter pylori strain-specific differences in genetic content, identified by microarray, influence host inflammatory responses.

Helicobacter pylori enhances the risk for ulcer disease and gastric cancer, yet only a minority of H. pylori-colonized individuals develop disease. We examined the ability of two H. pylori isolates to induce differential host responses in vivo or in vitro, and then used an H. pylori whole genome microarray to identify bacterial determinants related to pathogenesis. Gastric ulcer strain B128 induced more severe gastritis, proliferation, and apoptosis in gerbil mucosa than did duodenal ulcer strain G1.1, and gastric ulceration and atrophy occurred only in B128+ gerbils. In vitro, gerbil-passaged B128 derivatives significantly increased IL-8 secretion and apoptosis compared with G1.1 strains. DNA hybridization to the microarray identified several strain-specific differences in gene composition including a large deletion of the cag pathogenicity island in strain G1.1. Partial and complete disruption of the cag island in strain B128 attenuated induction of IL-8 in vitro and significantly decreased gastric inflammation in vivo. These results indicate that the ability of H. pylori to regulate epithelial cell responses related to inflammation depends on the presence of an intact cag pathogenicity island. Use of an H pylori whole genome microarray is an effective method to identify differences in gene content between H. pylori strains that induce distinct pathological outcomes in a rodent model of H. pylori infection.

Animals↗