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Biomedical subjects

E Roche

Publications and source records attributed to E Roche.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fine-scale mapping of a locus for severe bipolar mood disorder on chromosome 18p11.3 in the Costa Rican population.

We have searched for genes predisposing to bipolar disorder (BP) by studying individuals with the most extreme form of the affected phenotype, BP-I, ascertained from the genetically isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica (CVCR). The results of a previous linkage analysis on two extended CVCR BP-I pedigrees, CR001 and CR004, and of linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses of a CVCR population sample of BP-I patients implicated a candidate region on 18p11.3. We further investigated this region by creating a physical map and developing 4 new microsatellite and 26 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for typing in the pedigree and population samples. We report the results of fine-scale association analyses in the population sample, as well as evaluation of haplotypes in pedigree CR001. Our results suggest a candidate region containing six genes but also highlight the complexities of LD mapping of common disorders.

Alleles↗

Genome screening for linkage disequilibrium in a Costa Rican sample of patients with bipolar-I disorder: a follow-up study on chromosome 18.

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) methods offer great promise for mapping complex traits, but have thus far been applied sparingly. In this paper we describe an LD mapping study of severe bipolar disorder (BP-I) in the genetically isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. This study provides the first complete screen of a chromosome for a complex trait using LD mapping and presents the first application of a new LD mapping statistic (ancestral haplotype reconstruction (AHR)) that evaluates haplotype sharing among affected individuals. The results of this chromosome-wide analysis are instructive for genome-wide LD mapping in isolated populations. Furthermore, the analysis continues to support a possible BP-I locus on 18pter, suggested by previous analyses in this population. Evidence for a possible BP-I locus on 18q12.2 is also described.

Bipolar Disorder↗

Glucose down-regulates the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha gene in the pancreatic beta -cell.

To better understand the action of glucose on fatty acid metabolism in the beta-cell and the link between chronically elevated glucose or fatty acids and beta-cell decompensation in adipogenic diabetes, we investigated whether glucose regulates peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gene expression in the beta-cell. Islets or INS(832/13) beta-cells exposed to high glucose show a 60-80% reduction in PPARalpha mRNA expression. Oleate, either in the absence or presence of glucose, has no effect. The action of glucose is dose-dependent in the 6-20 mm range and maximal after 6 h. Glucose also causes quantitatively similar reductions in PPARalpha protein and DNA binding activity of this transcription factor. The effect of glucose is blocked by the glucokinase inhibitor mannoheptulose, is partially mimicked by 2-deoxyglucose, and is not blocked by the 3-O-methyl or the 6-deoxy analogues of the sugar that are not phosphorylated. Chronic elevated glucose reduces the expression levels of the PPAR target genes, uncoupling protein 2 and acyl-CoA oxidase, which are involved in fat oxidation and lipid detoxification. A 3-day exposure of INS-1 cells to elevated glucose results in a permanent rise in malonyl-CoA, the inhibition of fat oxidation, and the promotion of fatty acid esterification processes and causes elevated insulin secretion at low glucose. The results suggest that a reduction in PPARalpha gene expression together with a rise in malonyl-CoA plays a role in the coordinated adaptation of beta-cell glucose and lipid metabolism to hyperglycemia and may be implicated in the mechanism of beta-cell "glucolipotoxicity."

Animals↗

Mapping of the locus for cholestasis-lymphedema syndrome (Aagenaes syndrome) to a 6.6-cM interval on chromosome 15q.

Patients with cholestasis-lymphedema syndrome (CLS) suffer severe neonatal cholestasis that usually lessens during early childhood and becomes episodic; they also develop chronic severe lymphedema. The genetic cause of CLS is unknown. We performed a genome screen, using DNA from eight Norwegian patients with CLS and from seven unaffected relatives, all from an extended pedigree. Regions potentially shared identical by descent in patients were further characterized in a larger set of Norwegian patients. The patients manifest extensive allele and haplotype sharing over the 6.6-cM D15S979-D15S652 region: 30 (83.3%) of 36 chromosomes of affected individuals carry a six-marker haplotype not found on any of the 32 nontransmitted parental chromosomes. All Norwegian patients with CLS are likely homozygous for the same disease mutation, inherited from a shared ancestor.

Alleles↗

Lipopolysaccharide inhibits long term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus by activating caspase-1.

Lipopolysaccharide, a component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, may be responsible for at least some of the pathophysiological sequelae of bacterial infections, probably by inducing an increase in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) concentration. We report that intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide increased hippocampal caspase-1 activity and IL-1beta concentration; these changes were associated with increased activity of the stress-activated kinase c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, decreased glutamate release, and impaired long term potentiation. The degenerative changes in hippocampus and entorhinal cortical neurones were consistent with apoptosis because translocation of cytochrome c and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage were increased. Inhibition of caspase-1 blocked these changes, suggesting that IL-1beta mediated the lipopolysaccharide-induced changes.

Animals↗

A minimalist approach to gene mapping: locating the gene for acheiropodia, by homozygosity analysis.

Acheiropodia is an autosomal recessive disease that results in hemimelia (lack of formation of the distal extremities). We performed a complete genome screen of seven members of an extended pedigree that included three siblings with acheiropodia. Homozygosity mapping was used to identify regions most likely to harbor the gene for acheiropodia in this pedigree. In these two key regions (14p and 7q), further genotyping of one additional affected member of this pedigree plus seven additional unaffected siblings provided evidence, through linkage analysis, that the 7q36 region contains the acheiropodia gene. In this region, a maximum two-point LOD score of 3.81 (4.2 with multipoint analysis) was achieved, and a homozygous haplotype spanning a region of 11.7 cM was seen in all affected in this pedigree. Finally, genotypic analysis of two additional cases of acheiropodia with no known relation to the other samples revealed homozygous sharing of a portion of the same haplotype on 7q36, which reduces the chromosomal location of the acheiropodia gene to an 8.6-cM region. Localization of this gene, at the screening level, by use of data from only three affected subjects, provides an example of how certain genes may be mapped by use of a minimal number of affected cases.

Brazil↗

Nutrient toxicity in pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction.

Nutrients, such as glucose and fatty acids, have a dual effect on pancreatic beta-cell function. Acute administration of high glucose concentrations to pancreatic beta-cells stimulates insulin secretion. In addition, short term exposure of this cell type to dietary fatty acids potentiates glucose-induced insulin release. On the other hand, long-term exposure to these nutrients causes impaired insulin secretion, characterized by elevated exocytosis at low concentrations of glucose and no response when glucose increases in the extracellular medium. In addition, other phenotypic changes are observed in these conditions. One major step in linking these phenotypic changes to the diabetic pathology has been the recognition of both glucose and fatty acids as key modulators of beta-cell gene expression. This could explain the adaptative response of the cell to sustained nutrient concentration. Once this phase is exhausted, the beta-cell becomes progressively unresponsive to glucose and this alteration is accompanied by the irreversible induction of apoptotic programs. The aim of this review is to present actual data concerning the development of the toxicity to the main nutrients glucose and fatty acids in the pancreatic beta-cell and to find a possible link to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Animals↗

Engineering pancreatic islets.

Pancreatic islets are neuroendocrine organs that control blood glucose homeostasis. The precise interplay of a heterogeneous group of cell populations (beta, alpha, delta and PP cells) results in the fine-tuned release of counterbalanced hormones (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide respectively). Under the premises of detailed knowledge of the physiological basis underlying this behaviour, two lines of investigation might be inferred: generating computational and operational models to explain and predict this behaviour and engineering islet cells to reconstruct pancreatic endocrine function. Whilst the former is being fuelled by new computational strategies, giving biophysicists the possibility of modelling a system in which new "emergent" properties appear, the latter is benefiting from the useful tools and strategic knowledge achieved by molecular, cell and developmental biologists. This includes using tumour cell lines, engineering islet cell precursors, knowledge of the mechanisms of differentiation, regeneration and growth and, finally, therapeutic cloning of human tissues. Gaining deep physiological understanding of the basis governing these processes is instrumental for engineering new pancreatic islets.

Animals↗

Insulin-secreting cells derived from embryonic stem cells normalize glycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells display the ability to differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell lineages. Using a cell-trapping system, we have obtained an insulin-secreting cell clone from undifferentiated ES cells. The construction used allows the expression of a neomycin selection system under the control of the regulatory regions of the human insulin gene. The chimeric gene also contained a hygromycin resistance gene (pGK-hygro) to select transfected cells. A resulting clone (IB/3x-99) containing 16.5 ng/microg protein of total insulin displays regulated hormone secretion in vitro in the presence of various secretagogues. Clusters obtained from this clone were implanted (1 x 10(6) cells) in the spleen of streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals. Transplanted animals correct hyperglycemia within 1 week and restore body weight in 4 weeks. Whereas an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test showed a slower recovery in transplanted versus control mice, blood glucose normalization after a challenge meal was similar. This approach opens new possibilities for tissue transplantation in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and offers an alternative to gene therapy.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical analyses of focal adhesion kinase expression in benign and malignant human breast and colon tissues: correlation with preinvasive and invasive phenotypes.

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a protein tyrosine kinase linked to signaling events between cells and the extracellular matrix. Studies at the Western blot level have demonstrated up-regulation of FAK expression in invasive breast and colon cancers. To assess p125FAK expression at the cellular level, we developed monoclonal antibodies that specifically detected FAK in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and analyzed the levels of FAK expression in human breast and colon tissues. Monoclonal antibody 4.47 demonstrated FAK-specific focal adhesion staining by immunofluorescence assays on BT-474 breast cancer cells and detected a Mr 125,000 protein by both Western blotting and immunoprecipitation analyses. Using immunohistochemical techniques, the expression of p125FAK was analyzed in 36 normal and 43 preinvasive or invasive human breast and colon tissues from individual patients. FAK was weakly expressed in most benign breast epithelium but was up-regulated at moderate or strong levels in 14 of 18 invasive breast carcinomas. In seven samples of ductal carcinoma-in situ, FAK was overexpressed. Borderline-to-weak expression of FAK was detected in the normal colonic epithelium. In the invasive colon cancers, FAK was overexpressed at moderate or strong levels in 13 of 15 tumors. Furthermore, FAK expression was up-regulated in areas of dysplastic, premalignant colon epithelium. These results provide the first evidence at the cellular level that FAK expression is variably overexpressed in breast and colon cancer and suggest that up-regulation occurs at an early stage of tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Lipid rather than glucose metabolism is implicated in altered insulin secretion caused by oleate in INS-1 cells.

A comprehensive metabolic study was carried out to understand how chronic exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to fatty acids causes high basal secretion and impairs glucose-induced insulin release. INS-1 beta-cells were exposed to 0.4 mM oleate for 3 days and subsequently incubated at 5 or 25 mM glucose, after which various parameters were measured. Chronic oleate promoted triglyceride deposition, increased fatty acid oxidation and esterification, and reduced malonyl-CoA at low glucose in association with elevated basal O(2) consumption and redox state. Oleate caused a modest (25%) reduction in glucose oxidation but did not affect glucose usage, the glucose 6-phosphate and citrate contents, and the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase of INS-1 cells. Thus changes in glucose metabolism and a Randle-glucose/fatty acid cycle do not explain the altered secretory properties of beta-cells exposed to fatty acids. The main response of INS-1 cells to chronic oleate, which is to increase the oxidation and esterification of fatty acids, may contribute to cause high basal insulin secretion via increased production of reducing equivalents and/or the generation of complex lipid messenger molecule(s).

Cell Line↗

Palmitate and oleate induce the immediate-early response genes c-fos and nur-77 in the pancreatic beta-cell line INS-1.

To better understand the link between fatty acid signaling and the pleiotropic effects of fatty acids in the pancreatic beta-cell, we investigated whether fatty acids regulate immediate-early response genes (IEGs) coding for transcription factors implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Palmitate and oleate, but not long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, caused a pronounced accumulation of c-fos and nur-77 mRNAs in beta-cells (INS cells) to an extent similar to that produced by the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The effect was dose dependent and occurred at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/l in the presence of 0.5% albumin. The action of the fatty acid occurred at the transcriptional level, and the mRNA accumulation displayed a bell-shaped kinetics with a maximal effect at 1 h. 2-Bromopalmitate was ineffective, indicating that fatty acids must be metabolized to cause their effect. Neither fatty acid was able to induce c-fos and nur-77 in PKC-downregulated cells or cells incubated in the presence of the Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine or the Ca2+ chelator EGTA, suggesting involvement of the PKC and Ca2+ signaling pathways. Palmitate and oleate also increased c-fos protein expression and DNA binding activity of the transcription factor AP-1. Oleate, but not palmitate, increased [3H]thymidine incorporation in INS cells. Finally, both palmitate and oleate caused c-fos and nur-77 mRNA accumulation in isolated rat islets. It is suggested that IEG induction by the most abundant circulating fatty acids plays a role in the adaptive process of the beta-cell to hyperlipidemia. These results have implications for our understanding of obesity-associated diabetes and the link between fatty acids and tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

The ClpXP and ClpAP proteases degrade proteins with carboxy-terminal peptide tails added by the SsrA-tagging system.

Interruption of translation in Escherichia coli can lead to the addition of an 11-residue carboxy-terminal peptide tail to the nascent chain. This modification is mediated by SsrA RNA (also called 10Sa RNA and tmRNA) and marks the tagged polypeptide for proteolysis. Degradation in vivo of lambda repressor amino-terminal domain variants bearing this carboxy-terminal SsrA peptide tag is shown here to depend on the cytoplasmic proteases ClpXP and ClpAP. Degradation in vitro of SsrA-tagged substrates was reproduced with purified components and required a substrate with a wild-type SsrA tail, the presence of both ClpP and either ClpA or ClpX, and ATP. Clp-dependent proteolysis accounts for most degradation of SsrA-tagged amino-domain substrates at 32 degrees C, but additional proteases contribute to the degradation of some of these SsrA-tagged substrates at 39 degrees C. The existence of multiple cytoplasmic proteases that function in SsrA quality-control surveillance suggests that the SsrA tag is designed to serve as a relatively promiscuous signal for proteolysis. Having diverse degradation systems able to recognize this tag may increase degradation capacity, permit degradation of a wide variety of different tagged proteins, or allow SsrA-tagged proteins to be degraded under different growth conditions.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The keys of oxidative stress in acquired immune deficiency syndrome apoptosis.

Apoptosis is the main cause of CD4+ T-lymphocyte depletion in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Various agents appear to be able to trigger apoptosis in CD4+ T cells, including viral proteins (i.e. gp120, Tat), inappropriate secretion of inflammatory cytokines by activated macrophages (i.e. tumor necrosis factor alpha) and toxins produced by opportunistic micro-organisms. Since oxidative stress can also induce apoptosis, it can be hypothesized that such a mechanism could participate in CD4+ T-cell apoptosis observed in AIDS. This correlates strongly with the observation that AIDS patients present low levels of antioxidants (i.e. superoxide dismutase-Mn, vitamin E, selenium and glutathion) most likely due to inappropriate nutrition (i.e. diets poor in antioxidants), alcohol and drug consumption, and digestive problems associated with the disease. Furthermore, the coadministration of the antiviral drug zidovudine with antioxidants increases its therapeutic potential. Finally, the following additional observations support the hypothesis that oxidative stress is involved in cell apoptosis in AIDS: (1) The depletion of the anti-apoptotic/antioxidant protein Bcl-2 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected CD4+ cells; (2) a decrease of apoptosis in HIV-infected cells treated with antioxidants and; (3) the presence of the pro-apoptotic/pro-oxidant cytokines secreted by activated macrophages in AIDS patients. Therefore, anti-apoptotic/antioxidant strategies should be considered, alongside antiviral strategies, in order to design a more efficient therapy for AIDS in the near future.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Long-term exposure of beta-INS cells to high glucose concentrations increases anaplerosis, lipogenesis, and lipogenic gene expression.

Chronic exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to high glucose has pleiotropic action on beta-cell function. In particular, it induces key glycolytic genes, promotes glycogen deposition, and causes beta-cell proliferation and altered insulin secretion characterized by sensitization to low glucose. Postglycolytic events, in particular, anaplerosis and lipid signaling, are thought to be implicated in beta-cell activation by glucose. To understand the biochemical nature of the beta-cell adaptive process to hyperglycemia, we studied the regulation by glucose of lipogenic genes in the beta-cell line INS-1. A 3-day exposure of cells to elevated glucose (5-25 mmol/l) increased the enzymatic activities of fatty acid synthase 3-fold, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 30-fold, and malic enzyme 1.3-fold. Pyruvate carboxylase and citrate lyase expression remained constant. Similar observations were made at the protein and mRNA levels except for malic enzyme mRNA, which did not vary. Metabolic gene expression changes were associated with chronically elevated levels of citrate, malate, malonyl-CoA, and conversion of glucose carbon into lipids, even in cells that were subsequently exposed to low glucose. Similarly, fatty acid oxidation was suppressed and phospholipid and triglyceride synthesis was enhanced independently of the external glucose concentration in cells preexposed to high glucose. The results suggest that a coordinated induction of glycolytic and lipogenic genes in conjunction with glycogen and triglyceride deposition, as well as increased anaplerosis and altered lipid partitioning, contribute to the adaptive process to hyperglycemia and glucose sensitization of the beta-cell.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Glucose and glucoincretin peptides synergize to induce c-fos, c-jun, junB, zif-268, and nur-77 gene expression in pancreatic beta(INS-1) cells.

To link glucose signaling to its long-term pleiotropic effects in the pancreatic beta-cell, we have investigated whether glucose regulates immediate-early response genes (IEGs) coding for transcription factors implicated in cell proliferation and differentiation. Glucose causes a coordinated transcriptional activation of the IEGs c-fos, c-jun, JunB, zif-268, and nur-77 in the pancreatic beta-cell line INS-1. This activation is entirely dependent on the presence of the cell-permeant cAMP analog chlorophenylthio-cAMP, which has only a modest effect by itself. The accumulation of c-fos, JunB, and nur-77 mRNA occurs at physiological concentrations of glucose (3 to 11 mM), requires a 1-2 h period, and is mimicked by other nutrient stimuli including mannose, leucine plus glutamine, and pyruvate. Glucose is synergistic with the glucoincretin peptides GLP-1 and PACAP-38, whereas these neurohormonal agents have no effect at low (3 mM) glucose. Mechanistically, the synergy between glucose and the glucoincretins is not based on cAMP alone as glucose does not further increase intracellular cAMP in response to GLP-1 and PACAP-38. A role for Ca2+ signaling is inferred, since the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine markedly reduces the induction of c-fos and nur-77 by glucose and GLP-1. The induction of IEGs by glucose and chlorophenylthio-cAMP or GLP-1 and the inhibitory effect of nifedipine are also observed in the betaHC9 cell line. The results indicate that GLP-1 and PACAP-38 act as competence factors for the action of glucose on c-fos, JunB, and nur-77. It is suggested that the synergistic effect of glucose and glucoincretins on IEG expression plays an important role in the adaptive processes of the beta-cell to hyperglycemia.

Animals↗