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H Fan

Publications and source records attributed to H Fan.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Correlation of C-myc and HER-2/neu amplification and expression with histopathologic variables in uterine corpus cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Initial studies of protooncogenes in uterine corpus cancer have focused on a single aspect of the gene in question (deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, protein) or have studied a small number of patients. Therefore we evaluated c-myc and HER-2/neu gene amplification and ribonucleic acid overexpression in such malignancies and correlated these molecular changes with known pathologic risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Quantitative Southern blot analysis for oncogene deoxyribonucleic acid was used to examine 37 tumors from patients with primary untreated uterine corpus cancer referred to the City of Hope National Medical Center. Six normal endometrial specimens were controls. Seventeen tumors were also examined by Northern blotting to assess increased ribonucleic expression. RESULTS: Histologic types included adenocarcinoma (n = 30), papillary serous adenocarcinoma (n = 2), adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 2), mixed mullerian sarcoma (n = 2), and leiomyosarcoma (n = 1). Carcinomas were stage I (n = 10), II (n = 18), or III (n = 6). Twenty-three had myometrial invasion of less than one third, six one third to two thirds, and eight deeper invasion (greater than two thirds). According to the criteria of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage was as follows: I (n = 22), II (n = 3), III (n = 7), and IV (n = 5). Ten (27%) and four (11%) tumors showed gene amplification of c-myc and HER-2/neu, respectively. Six demonstrated overexpression of either the c-myc or HER-2/neu gene. HER-2/neu gene amplification was associated more closely with overexpression. Stepwise logistic analysis demonstrated c-myc amplification to be associated with higher grade (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this referral population, c-myc activation is more common than HER-2/neu activation in uterine corpus cancer and is associated with tumors of higher grade.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The leukemogenic potential of an enhancer variant of Moloney murine leukemia virus varies with the route of inoculation.

We previously showed that the Mo+PyF101 variant of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) is poorly leukemogenic when inoculated subcutaneously (s.c.) into neonatal mice. We recently found that intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of neonatal mice with the same virus significantly enhanced its leukemogenicity. In this study, infections of neonatal mice by the two different routes of inoculation were compared. We studied replication of the virus in vivo to identify critical preleukemic events. These would be observed in mice inoculated i.p. by Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV but not when inoculation was s.c. Infectious center assays indicated that regardless of the route of inoculation, Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV showed delayed infection of the thymus compared with wild-type M-MuLV. On the other hand, i.p.-inoculated mice showed more rapid appearance of infectious centers in the bone marrow than did s.c.-inoculated animals. Thus, the enhanced leukemogenicity of i.p. inoculation correlated with efficient early infection of the bone marrow and not with early infection of the thymus. These results suggest a role for bone marrow infection for efficient leukemogenesis in Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV-infected mice. Consistent with this notion, if bone marrow infection was decreased by injecting 10- to 12-day-old animals i.p., leukemogenicity resembled that of s.c. inoculation. Thus, two cell types that are critical for the induction of efficient leukemia were implicated. One cell delivers virus from the site of s.c. inoculation (the skin) to the bone marrow and is apparently restricted for Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV replication. The second cell is in the bone marrow, and its early infection is required for efficient leukemogenesis.

3T3 Cells↗

Lymphomagenesis in AKR.Fv-1b congenic mice.

In the AKR.Fv-1b congenic strain the Fv-1n allele of the AKR/J mice was substituted with the Fv-1b allele, thereby limiting viral replication and spread of the endogenous N-tropic murine leukemia virus. As a result of this genetic change AKR.Fv-1b mice develop a low spontaneous incidence (7%) of T-cell lymphomas and about 28% of Ly-1+ B-cell lymphomas are observed in old mice. Characteristic changes in thymus subpopulations of AKR/J mice (related to the formation of the dual tropic mink cell focus inducing (MCF) type virus in the thymus) were not observed in the thymus of AKR.Fv-1b mice. In contrast to the low susceptibility to spontaneous T-cell lymphoma development, these mice were highly sensitive to fractionated irradiation or to radiation leukemia virus (a mixture of N- and B-tropic viruses) induced T-cell lymphoma. Potential lymphoma cells (that would ultimately develop into Ly-1+ B-cell lymphomas) were demonstrated in bone marrow and spleens of 16-24-month-old mice. Analysis of the Ly-1+ IgM+ B-cell population in spleens of 18-month-old mice revealed a significant increase in this population (35% versus 2% in young spleens). The spontaneous Ly-1+ B-cell lymphoma incidence could be enhanced (up to 77%) by in vivo administration of anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody or IL-4 to 18-month-old mice. Virological analysis of T/B-cell lymphomas for class I MCF viruses indicated that Class I MCF development was tightly correlated with T-lymphoma development (except radiation induced tumors that showed no MCF provirus involvement). In contrast, Ly-1+ B-cell lymphoma development was independent of Class I MCF pathogenic virus involvement.

AKR murine leukemia virus↗

Diversity in nucleotide acquisition by antigenically similar Chlamydia psittaci of avian origin.

Two different nucleic acid precursor utilization patterns were obtained for five avian isolates of Chlamydia psittaci. Three of the isolates behaved in a manner similar to that previously described, showing total dependency on the host cell for ribonucleoside triphosphates and being unable to utilize medium-supplied thymidine. In contrast, the other two isolates were incapable of taking pyrimidine ribonucleotides from the host cell and they could efficiently utilize medium-supplied thymidine. These unusual isolates were resistant to 5-fluorouridine while the other three isolates were sensitive. Of the five isolates only 6BC was sensitive to sulfonamides. The five isolates were divided into two groups by comparing the AluI restriction endonuclease patterns obtained following digestion of the major outer membrane protein (OMP1) gene, amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. The OMP1 genotyping results were confirmed by serotyping.

Animals↗

Specificity of disease induced by M-MuLV chimeric retroviruses containing v-myc or v-src is not determined by the LTR.

The long terminal repeats (LTRs) of defective Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (M-MuLV) containing the avian v-myc and v-src oncogenes were exchanged for LTRs from murine retroviruses inducing myeloid and erythroid disease, in an attempt to retarget disease specificity. Chimeric MuLVs containing either the Myeloproliferative sarcoma virus or the Rauscher mink cell focus-inducing virus LTRs induced the same disease as the parental viruses, suggesting that for these viruses the v-myc and v-src oncogenes are the major determinants in the disease specificity. However, substitution of the LTRs did affect the efficiency of tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Purine metabolism by intracellular Chlamydia psittaci.

Purine metabolism was studied in the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia psittaci AA Mp in the wild type and a variety of mutant host cell lines with well-defined deficiencies in purine metabolism. C. psittaci AA Mp cannot synthesize purines de novo, as assessed by its inability to incorporate exogenous glycine into nucleic acid purines. C. psittaci AA Mp can take ATP and GTP, but not dATP or dGTP, directly from the host cell. Exogenous hypoxanthine and inosine were not utilized by the parasite. In contrast, exogenous adenine, adenosine, and guanine were directly salvaged by C. psittaci AA Mp. Crude extract prepared from highly purified C. psittaci AA Mp reticulate bodies contained adenine and guanine but no hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. Adenosine kinase activity was detected, but guanosine kinase activity was not. There was no competition for incorporation into nucleic acid between adenine and guanine, and high-performance liquid chromatography profiles of radiolabelled nucleic acid nucleobases indicated that adenine, adenosine, and deoxyadenosine were incorporated only into adenine and that guanine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine were incorporated only into guanine. Thus, there is no interconversion of nucleotides. Deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine were cleaved to adenine and guanine before being utilized, and purine (deoxy)nucleoside phosphorylase activity was present in reticulate body extract.

Adenine↗

In vitro and in vivo binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat protein and Sp1 transcription factor.

Recent genetic experiments have suggested that tat transactivation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat requires functional upstream enhancer sequences--Sp1 sites, in particular. In these experiments, HeLa cell nuclear extracts were passed over affinity matrices containing chemically synthesized or bacterially expressed HIV-1 Tat. Assay of material that bound to and eluted from the Tat matrices revealed the presence of the Sp1 transcription factor. Other transcription factors (Oct and NF-kappa B) also bound to Tat matrices but with less efficiency--in parallel with the lower capacities of these binding motifs to confer Tat responsiveness on a basal HIV-1 promoter compared with Sp1 sites. Passage of nuclear extracts over matrices containing other neutral proteins, including bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, and lysozyme, revealed no or reduced binding. Cross-linking experiments indicated that the purified Sp1 and Tat proteins can form multimeric complexes in the absence of other proteins. The region of Tat responsible for Sp1 binding was localized to a region encompassing residues 30 to 62. Immunoprecipitation experiments with HIV-1-infected T lymphocytes indicated coimmunoprecipitation of Tat and Sp1. These experiments extend previous genetic experiments and suggest a direct interaction between Tat and Sp1 during transactivation.

Base Sequence↗

Escape from in vivo restriction of Moloney mink cell focus-inducing viruses driven by the Mo+PyF101 long terminal repeat (LTR) by LTR alterations.

Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV is a variant Moloney murine leukemia virus containing polyomavirus F101 enhancers inserted just downstream from the M-MuLV enhancers in the long terminal repeat (LTR). The protein coding sequences for this virus are identical to those of M-MuLV. Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV induces T-cell disease with a much lower incidence and longer latency than wild-type M-MuLV. We have previously shown that Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV is defective in preleukemic events induced by wild-type M-MuLV, including splenic hematopoietic hyperplasia, bone marrow depletion, and generation of recombinant mink cell focus-inducing viruses (MCFs). We also showed that an M-MCF virus driven by the Mo+PyF101 LTR is infectious in vitro but does not propagate in mice. However, in these experiments, when a pseudotypic mixture of Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV and Mo+PyF101 MCF was inoculated into newborn NIH Swiss mice, they died of T-cell leukemia at times almost equivalent to those induced by wild-type M-MuLV. Tumor DNAs from Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV-Mo+PyF101 MCF-inoculated mice were examined by Southern blot analysis. The predominant forms of Mo+PyF101 MCF proviruses in these tumors contained added sequences in the U3 region of the LTR. The U3 regions of representative tumor-derived variant Mo+PyF101 MCFs were cloned by polymerase chain reaction amplification, and sequencing indicated that they had acquired an additional copy of the M-MuLV 75-bp tandem repeat in the enhancer region. NIH 3T3 cell lines infected with altered viruses were obtained from representative Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV-Mo+PyF101 MCF-induced tumors, and mice were inoculated with the recovered viruses. Leukemogenicity was approximately equivalent to that in the original Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV-Mo+PyF101 MCF viral stock. Southern blot analysis on the resulting tumors now predominantly revealed loss of the polyomavirus sequences. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of the PyF101 sequences on M-MuLV-induced disease and potentially on MCF propagation were overcome in two ways: by triplication of the M-MuLV direct repeats and by loss of the polyomavirus sequences.

3T3 Cells↗

The CD4 surface antigen is induced and maintained on a T-lymphoid cell line by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

We have used the L4E murine thymoma-derived T-lymphoid cell line to study mechanisms involved in CD4 expression. When L4E cells are cocultured with the St3 stromal cell line, surface CD4 expression is maintained, even across a membrane. However, when transferred to medium alone, these cells rapidly lose CD4. We have tested whether CD4 can be maintained on CD4+ L4E cells when they are transferred to medium containing known cytokines. In these results, rmTNF-alpha maintained surface CD4 expression at significant levels on L4E cells. In addition, rmTNF-alpha could induce CD4 on CD4- L4E cells (obtained by growth in medium alone). Despite these results CD4 induction and maintenance in L4E cells by coculture with St3 stroma did not appear to result from secretion of TNF-alpha, since St3 cells did not express TNF-alpha mRNA, secreted TNF-alpha was not detected by ELISA assay in supernatant from St3 cells nor L4E-St3 cocultures, and incubation with neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha antibody did not inhibit CD4 maintenance. The ability of TNF-alpha to affect CD4 expression on L4E cells supports a role in thymocyte differentiation for this cytokine.

Animals↗

Termination of the B cell lymphoma dormant state in thymectomized AKR mice.

AKR mice are highly susceptible to spontaneous T cell lymphomagenesis and thymus removal at the age of 1 to 3 mo greatly reduces its development. Twelve-mo-old AKR mice thymectomized at young age were shown previously to carry potential lymphoma cells that could be triggered to develop into B cell lymphomas (80 to 100%) after removal from their host "restrictive" environment into young histocompatible hosts. Additional attempts were made to terminate the potential lymphoma cell dormant state in 12-mo-old thymectomized AKR mice. Replenishment of some deficiencies caused by thymectomy at a young age, including a s.c. syngeneic thymus graft or a single injection of the dual tropic recombinant virus isolates DTV-71 or MCF-247 into 12-mo-old thymectomized AKR mice resulted in Ly-1+ pre-B or B cell lymphoma development in 80 to 98% of these treated mice. In vivo elimination of T cell subsets by administration of cyclosporin A or by mAb expressed on Th cells (anti-CD4) or cytotoxic T cells (anti-CD8) stimulated the progression of dormant potential lymphoma cells towards B cell lymphoma development. The most striking results were observed after administration of anti-CD8 mAb: 90 to 100% of these treated mice developed Ly-1+ B cell lymphomas within 80 days. The effect of rIL-2 on dormant PLC was also tested. Administration of rIL-2 to 12-mo-old thymectomized mice terminated tumor dormancy in 94% of the treated mice within 66 days. Tests of the resulting B lymphomas for dual tropic recombinant virus/mink cell focus-inducing virus infection indicated that the breakdown of tumor dormancy did not result from development of pathogenic class I mink cell focus-inducing viruses. These results suggest that T cell subsets and/or their products are involved in the proliferation arrest of potential lymphoma cells present in thymectomized AKR mice.

Animals↗

Acquisition of responsiveness to chemical carcinogens by rodent embryo fibroblasts expressing high levels of the c-myc proto-oncogene.

We investigated the ability of overexpression of the c-myc proto-oncogene to potentiate in vitro transformation by model chemical carcinogens. A mouse c-myc gene was introduced to C3H 10T1/2 and Rat 6 embryo fibroblast cell lines via a retroviral vector containing the gene for neomycin resistance. Our present work extends previous findings by showing that individual vectored C3H 10T1/2 clones have enhanced (two-fold to sevenfold) sensitivity to benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and N-methyl-N-nitro-N'-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Rat 6 clones acquiring the c-myc gene display various degrees of altered morphology. They form orderly but densely packed cells, grow to higher saturation density, and yield microcolonies in soft agar. The degree of altered growth properties is directly correlated with the level of c-myc expression. Transient exposure of c-myc-expressing clones to BP and MNNG induced the formation of distinct, large colonies in soft agar, whereas the untreated cells formed microcolonies and the parental Rat 6 cells remained single cells in soft agar. We also demonstrated that the degree of responsiveness to chemical carcinogens of the clones correlates with their ability to form microcolonies in soft agar. These cells overexpressing c-myc may be used as a model system to study the interaction between oncogenes and chemical carcinogens in the process of multistage carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Clinical trial on termination of early pregnancy with RU486 in combination with prostaglandin.

Termination of early pregnancy was performed in 1572 healthy women with RU486 (mifepristone, 600mg orally once), followed 36-60 hours later by administration of methyl ester of dl-15-methyl-PGF2 alpha (PG05, 1mg vaginal suppository). Complete abortion was accomplished in 91.2% (1433/1571), incomplete abortion in 4.8% (76/1571), and continued pregnancy in 3.9% (62/1571). The time elapsed between RU486 intake and complete expulsion was 2.4 +/- 1.3 days. Expulsion took place on the third day in 935 women (72%), and on the 4th day in 273 women (21.0%). Uterine bleeding occurred on the second or third day after RU486 intake in 1256 women (88.8%), and lasted 11.7 +/- 6.4 (SD) days, range 2-55 days. One subject had blood transfusion due to excessive bleeding. The main side effects were nausea/vomiting (22.3%), abdominal pain (10.2%), headache/dizziness (4.1%) and diarrhea (2.8%). Fatal side effects have not been reported in this study. About 73% of subjects with complete abortion assessed the treatment as good to excellent. Even in the failed cases, 25-42% of subjects considered the treatment as good. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of the RU486 regimen. It should be emphasized that the treatment must be used under close medical supervision in order to monitor the uterine bleeding.

Abortion, Incomplete↗

Functional analyses of lpr gene in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice. Role of lymph node stromal cells in lpr-lymphadenopathy.

To clarify the mechanism by which the lpr gene causes lymphadenopathy, we established an experimental system to induce lymph node (LN) swelling in unaffected mice. In MRL-(+)/+ mice that had been 5 Gy-irradiated and grafted with bone marrow cells (BMCs) plus LN from MRL-lpr/lpr mice, a remarkable enlargement of the LN grafts was seen. The enlarged grafts lacked normal LN structure and were indistinguishable from LNs of MRL-lpr/lpr mice. The induction of LN swelling by this method was achieved not only in [MRL-lpr/lpr-->MRL-(+)/+] but also in [MRL-lpr/lpr-->BALB/c], [MRL-lpr/lpr-->C3H], [B6-lpr/lpr-->B10.Thy1.1], and [B6-lpr/lpr-->BALB/c] combinations. Furthermore, the lpr/lpr LN grafts developed lymph node swelling even without the transplantation of BMCs. Most cells in the grafted LNs disappeared within a few days, and large clear fibroblast-like cells then became dominant for 1 to 4 weeks. Thereafter, lymphoid cells increased and had filled the graft by the 8th week. The LN grafts obtained from MRL-lpr/lpr (but not MRL-(+)/+) mice showed the ability to transfer LN node swelling into the secondary MRL-(+)/+ hosts two weeks after the primary transplantation. These results strongly suggest that the fibroblast-like LN stromal cells play a crucial role in lpr-associated lymphadenopathy.

Animals↗

Acquisition and synthesis of folates by obligate intracellular bacteria of the genus Chlamydia.

We undertook studies focused on folate acquisition by Chlamydia trachomatis L2, Chlamydia psittaci 6BC, and C. psittaci francis. Results from in situ studies, using wild-type host cells, confirmed that C. trachomatis L2 and C. psittaci 6BC are sensitive to sulfonamides whereas C. psittaci francis is resistant. In addition C. trachomatis L2 and C. psittaci francis were inhibited by methotrexate in situ whereas C. psittaci 6BC was not. In contrast to C. trachomatis, neither C. psittaci strain was affected by trimethoprim. Surprisingly our results indicate that all three strains are capable of efficient growth in folate-depleted host cells. When growing in folate-depleted cells C. psittaci francis becomes sensitive to sulfonamide. The ability of all three strains to carry out de novo folate synthesis was demonstrated by following the incorporation of exogenous [3H]pABA into intracellular folates and by detecting dihydropteroate synthase activity in reticulate body crude extract. Dihydrofolate reductase activity was also detected in reticulate body extract. In aggregate the results indicate that C. trachomatis L2, C. psittaci francis, and C. psittaci 6BC can all synthesize folates de novo, however, strains differ in their ability to transport preformed folates directly from the host cell.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

Induction of thymus-reestablishing lymphoid tumors by a murine leukemia virus carrying the avian v-myc oncogene.

Primary lymphoid tumor cells induced by wild type or recombinant Moloney murine leukemia viruses were inoculated intravenously into sublethally irradiated, syngeneic mice and compared for their ability to reestablish in the recipient thymus and spleen. Lymphoid tumors induced by one recombinant, M-MuLV(myc), containing the v-myc oncogene from the avian MC29 retrovirus consistently reestablished in the thymus and spleen of recipient mice. Since tumors in the recipient thymus and spleen could have arisen by infection of host cells, or could reflect an expansion of a minor subpopulation from the donor tumor, we verified the donor and clonal origin of these tumors by Southern blot analysis using a virus-specific probe. As few as 500 of these tumor cells could migrate to the thymus via the blood and flourish in that microenvironment. In contrast, the majority of tumors induced by wild type M-MuLV or two other M-MuLV recombinants not containing v-myc sequences, inefficiently reestablished in the thymus of recipient mice following i.v. inoculation, although splenic tumors developed. These tumors could, however, multiply within the recipient thymus when inoculated intrathymically. Thus, the inability of tumors induced by wild type M-MuLV or M-MuLV recombinants lacking v-myc to reestablish in the thymus following i.v. inoculation appears to reflect inefficient 'thymic homing' rather than the ability to grow in the thymic microenvironment. Collectively, our data suggest that the thymic homing ability of M-MuLV(myc)-induced tumor cells is related to the presence of v-myc sequences or to the cell type transformed by M-MuLV(myc). Thus, we suggest that these cells may provide a useful model for studying how blood-borne metastatic cells, and possibly normal lymphocytes, enter the thymus by way of the microvasculature.

Animals↗

A toxicological and epidemiological study on reproductive functions of male workers exposed to lead.

The reproductive ability of 24 men exposed to lead was observed and the same number of no-exposed men were taken as controls. The influential factors, such as age, smoking and drinking were controlled. The finding shows higher prevalence of congenital epilepsy and heart disease in the filial generation of workers exposed to lead and high rate of teratospermia in the exposed workers. Meanwhile hypospermia, as well as decreased lactate dehydrogenase-x(LDH-x) and succinodehydrogenase (SDH) in sperm were found in exposed group.

Adult↗

Differential disease restriction of Moloney and Friend murine leukemia viruses by the mouse Rmcf gene is governed by the viral long terminal repeat.

Neonatal CxD2 (Rmcfr) and Balb/c (Rmcfs) mice inoculated with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) exhibited approximately equivalent time course and pathology for disease. CxD2 mice showed only slightly reduced presence of Moloney mink cell focus-forming virus (M-MCF) provirus as seen by Southern blot analysis compared to Balb/c mice. This lack of restriction for disease and spread of MCF was in sharp contrast to that seen for CxD2 mice inoculated with Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV), where incidence of disease and propagation of MCFs were severely restricted, as previously reported. Inoculation of CxD2 mice with FM-MuLV, a recombinant F-MuLV virus containing M-MuLV LTR sequences (U3 and R), resulted in T cell disease of time course equal to that seen in Balb/c mice; there also was little restriction for propagation of MCFs. This indicated that presence of the M-MuLV long terminal repeat (LTR) was sufficient for propagation of MCFs in CxD2 mice. Differing restriction for F-MuLV vs. M-MuLV in CxD2 mice was explained on the basis of different "MCF propagator cells" for the two viruses. It was suggested that cells propagating F-MCF (e.g., erythroid progenitors) are blocked by endogenous MCF-like gp70env protein, whereas cells propagating M-MCF (e.g., lymphoid) do not express this protein on their surface. F-MuLV disease in CxD2 mice was greatly accelerated when neonates were inoculated with a F-MuLV/F-MCF pseudotypic mixture. However, F-MCF provirus was not detectable or only barely detectable in F-MuLV/F-MCF-induced tumors, suggesting that F-MCF acted indirectly in induction of these tumors.

Alleles↗