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I Ceccherini

Publications and source records attributed to I Ceccherini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Gender-dependent disease severity in autosomal polycystic kidney disease of rats.

The impact of gender on the course of chronic renal failure in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) has been under discussion for years. Recently an animal model of autosomal dominant PKD in the rat became available allowing this topic to be studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate disease severity according to gender, and the occurrence of anticipation and/or genetic imprinting. Male and female affected PKD rats were crossed with respective Wistar-Ottawa-Karlsburg (WOK) rats. From this P generation 26 affected F1 hybrids were obtained, which were then backcrossed with WOK rats, resulting in 275 backcrosses (BC generation). In BC rats the affected males had a significantly higher kidney weight, worse histology and poorer renal function than the females. In the male, but not the female rats of the BC generation, transmission from an affected F1 mother resulted in significantly higher kidney weight, worse histology and poorer renal function than when the gene was inherited through an affected father. Since at the same time body and kidney weight were higher in the respective unaffected males, the previous effect in the affected rats might be due to a growth factor transferred by the mother's milk. The sex of the P generation had no such impact on these parameters. Thus our data provide no evidence for disease anticipation and genetic imprinting (in the classical sense) in the PKD rats, and the assumption of a gender-dependent disease expressivity is favored.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Interstitial deletion of the endothelin-B receptor gene in the spotting lethal (sl) rat.

The autosomal recessive spotting lethal (sl) rat phenotype is characterized by absence of intramural ganglion cells in the entire colon and distal small bowel, thus resembling the human Hirschsprung (HSCR) disease. A strategy for identifying the gene responsible for this rat defect was initiated by backcrossing DA x sl rats. After excluding linkage with two candidate genes, RET and Endothelin-3 (EDN3), a highly significant lod score (Z = 47.05 at theta = 0) was found between the Endothelin-B Receptor (EDNRB) gene and the sl phenotype. The exon-intron structure of this rat gene was reconstructed and each exon of the sl rat was screened for possible mutations. A 301 bp interstitial deletion, encompassing the distal half of the first coding exon (exon 2) and the proximal part of the adjacent intron, was demonstrated. This deletion results in two transcriptional products, 270 and 238 bp shorter than wild type cDNA. The discovery of the molecular defect underlying the sl rat phenotype should contribute to the understanding of the genetic heterogeneity of HSCR in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A mutation in the RET proto-oncogene associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) comprises three clinically distinct, dominantly inherited cancer syndromes. MEN 2A patients develop medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and phaeochromocytoma. MEN 2B patients show in addition ganglioneuromas of the gastrointestinal tract and skeletal abnormalities. In familial MTC, only the thyroid is affected. Germ-line mutations of the RET proto-oncogene have recently been reported in association with MEN 2A and familial MTC. All mutations occurred within codons specifying cysteine residues in the transition point between the RET protein extracellular and transmembrane domains. We now show that MEN 2B is also associated with mutation of the RET proto-oncogene. A mutation in codon 664, causing the substitution of a threonine for a methionine in the tyrosine kinase domain of the protein, was found in all nine unrelated MEN 2B patients studied. The same mutation was found in six out of 18 sporadic tumours.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Point mutations affecting the tyrosine kinase domain of the RET proto-oncogene in Hirschsprung's disease.

Hirschsprung's disease is a genetic disorder of neural crest development affecting 1 in 5,000 births. It is characterized by the absence of intramural ganglion cells in the hindgut, which often results in partial to complete intestinal obstruction during the first years of life. An autosomal dominant gene causing this disease was recently mapped to chromosome 10q11.2 (refs 1,2), using an interstitial deletion of this region isolated in a cell hybrid. It was subsequently localized to a 250-kilobase interval which contains the RET proto-oncogene. Using flanking intronic sequences as primers to amplify 12 of the 20 exons of RET from genomic DNA of 27 Hirschsprung's disease patients, we have now identified four mutations (one frameshift and three missense) that totally disrupt or partially change the structure of the tyrosine kinase domain of the RET protein (Ret). Mutations in the extracellular cysteine-rich domain of Ret have been identified previously in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A, and a targeted mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the same gene produces intestinal aganglionosis and kidney agenesis in homozygous transgenic mice. Our results support the hypothesis that RET, in addition to its potential role in tumorigenesis, plays a critical role in the embryogenesis of the mammalian enteric nervous system.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Identification of the Cys634-->Tyr mutation of the RET proto-oncogene in a pedigree with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and localized cutaneous lichen amyloidosis.

Following the recent identification of specific germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) patients, we looked for mutations of this gene in a pedigree showing recurrence of MEN2A and localized Cutaneous Lichen Amyloidosis (CLA). Basal calcitonin and/or pentagastrin test performed in all the 10 available members of this pedigree confirmed the clinical diagnosis and allowed the presymptomatic identification of an additional carrier. A cys634-->tyr missense mutation, already reported as causative in MEN2A patients, was identified after SSCP analysis and direct sequencing of exon 11 of the RET protooncogene in one individual affected with both MEN2A and CLA, thus suggesting a common etiology for the two disorders. Taking advantage of the observation of an RsaI restriction site in the sequence surrounding the mutated codon, we could demonstrate that the same mutation is present in three other affected members, in the presymptomatic carrier and in one additional 25 years old healthy member who shows a mildly positive pentagastrin test.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1994

Germ line mutations of the ret proto-oncogene in Japanese patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and type 2B.

We investigated mutations of the ret proto-oncogene in Japanese patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and type 2B. DNAs from pheochromocytomas and/or medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) of five MEN 2A and three MEN 2B patients were amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed. Tumors of four MEN 2A patients had missense mutations in Cys 634 in the extracellular domain of the ret proto-oncogene. The same mutations were detected in normal tissues of the patients, indicating that the mutations had arisen in the germ line. Using a reverse transcriptase(RT)-PCR, both normal and mutant transcripts of the ret proto-oncogene were detected in a tumor of one patient with MEN 2A mutation. In addition, three MEN 2B patients examined had the same point mutation (ATG-->ACG) at codon 918 in the tyrosine kinase domain of the ret proto-oncogene. Since all mutations identified in this study generated new restriction enzyme sites or eliminated a restriction site, the mutant alleles of affected family members could be readily detected without sequencing.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Heterogeneity and low detection rate of RET mutations in Hirschsprung disease.

Mutations in some exons of the RET proto-oncogene were recently observed in Hirschsprung patients. Using DNA polymorphisms and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis for the whole coding sequence of the RET proto-oncogene, 82 unrelated Hirschsprung patients were screened systematically. A total of 4 complete deletions of RET and 12 point mutations were identified, each present in no more than one patient and distributed along the whole gene. De novo mutations could be documented in 4 patients. Southern blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis carried out in a restricted number of patients did not reveal any deletion of RET. The low efficiency in detecting mutations of RET in Hirschsprung patients (20%) may originate mainly from genetic heterogeneity.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1994

DNA polymorphisms and conditions for SSCP analysis of the 20 exons of the ret proto-oncogene.

Recently identified mutations affecting different domains of the RET proto-oncogene are associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) and type 2B (MEN 2B), familial and sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinomas (MTC) and Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). In order to facilitate the screening for RET mutations, and to study possible genotype-phenotype correlations, we established exon-intron junctions and extended the intronic sequences flanking the 20 exons of this gene. This made it possible to design primers and to develop PCR conditions useful for SSCP analysis of the whole RET coding sequence. Nine conformational variants were observed which after sequencing turned out to be 8 silent mutations and a conservative amino acid substitution. Restriction analysis performed on DNA samples from unrelated controls confirmed the polymorphic nature of six of these nucleotide changes and made it possible to estimate the frequency of the corresponding alleles.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Exon structure and flanking intronic sequences of the human RET proto-oncogene.

Using a PCR strategy based on an initial set of 15 couples of primers designed from the known cDNA sequence, we identified 18 introns in the human RET proto-oncogene and sequenced the corresponding 5' and 3' exon-intron junctions. This approach was successful in locating all the introns contained in fragments short enough to be amplified by PCR. Thus 19 exons were identified which, together with the previously reported exon subjected to alternative splicing, brings the total number of RET exons to 20. This information is relevant for the screening of recently reported missense mutations of RET which cause Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) and for the search of additional point mutations of the same gene which might cause two other neural crest disorders, MEN2B and Hirschsprung disease, mapping in the same region as MEN2A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Molecular analysis of mutations in the hprt gene in circulating lymphocytes from normal and DNA-repair-deficient donors.

Circulating lymphocytes from patients with the DNA-repair-deficient disorders, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) have elevated frequencies of mutants at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) locus. We have analysed the DNA sequence of the hprt gene in mutants from normal donors, and compared them with mutants from XP and A-T individuals. In normal donors we found a range of mutations including principally transitions (40%), transversions (32%) and small deletions (20%). In an excision-deficient XP donor from complementation group C the mutation spectrum was similar to that from normal donors, whereas in an XP variant there was a significantly higher frequency (44%) of small deletions. In the two A-T donors, there was a high frequency of large deletions (22 and 75%) compared with only 4% in normal donors.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Close linkage with the RET protooncogene and boundaries of deletion mutations in autosomal dominant Hirschsprung disease.

Tight linkage with the RET proto-oncogene (Zmax = 3.41 at theta = 0.00), analysis of recombinants and detection of a familial microdeletion in a large pedigree restrict the mapping of the Hirschsprung (HSCR) gene previously localized on proximal 10q. The molecular characterization of the familial microdeletion and of 3 additional cytogenetically visible de novo deletions, isolated in somatic cell hybrids, identify a smallest region of overlap of 250 Kb. This contains the RET proto-oncogene where missense mutations causing multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) phenotype were recently found. The pentagastrin test (which detects preclinical forms of MEN 2A or B) is negative in adult HSCR patients with deletions of the RET gene. This represents a good candidate for the search of mutations causing HSCR.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1992

Construction of a map of chromosome 16 by using radiation hybrids.

A human-hamster cell hybrid carrying a single copy of chromosome 16 as the only human genetic material was irradiated with a single dose of gamma-rays (7000 rads; 1 rad = 0.01 Gy) and then fused with a thymidine kinase-deficient hamster cell line (RJKM) to generate radiation hybrids retaining unselected fragments of this human chromosome. In two experiments, 223 hybrids were isolated in hypoxanthine/aminopterine/thymidine (HAT) medium and screened with 38 DNA probes, corresponding to anonymous DNA or gene sequences localized on chromosome 16. The most likely order and location of the 38 DNA sequences were established by multiple pairwise analysis and scaled to estimate physical distance in megabases. The order and the distances thus obtained are mostly consistent with available data on genetic and physical mapping of these markers, illustrating the usefulness of radiation hybrids for mapping.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1992

Radiation hybrids for mapping and cloning DNA sequences of distal 16p.

Three hundred fifteen radiation hybrids (RH) were isolated using a monochromosomal cell hybrid containing chromosome 16 only. A panel of 18 RH, which showed breakpoints among four markers (3.15, 26.6, 3'HVR, and 5'HVR) mapping in the distal portion of 16p, were selected and characterized for the retention of nine additional DNA sequences already localized in this region, and for one centromeric sequence. One or more breakpoints were identified in nine of the 12 intervals defined by the 13 single-copy sequences used. This panel of RH represents a tool for the construction of a detailed physical map of the distal part of 16p and for cloning sequences located in the proximity of disease genes. Three inter-Alu DNA sequences, amplified from one of these RH containing the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) gene, were cloned and mapped in the panel. Sequencing of the ends of one of three clones showed a (CAAA)n repeat, which revealed a two-allele polymorphism.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of radiation hybrids specific for human chromosome 16.

Two hundred and twenty-three radiation hybrids retaining random fragments of human chromosome 16 were isolated during two successive experiments in HAT medium and screened with a total of 38 DNA probes, corresponding to anonymous DNA or gene sequences localized on chromosome 16. The presence of single or multiple human chromosomal fragments in a small subset of these hybrids was determined using in situ hybridization with total human DNA. The results confirm that individual radiation hybrids are often heterogeneous with respect to the retention and distribution of human fragments, as already suggested by their characterization with DNA probes. A number of these 223 radiation hybrids, whose detailed characterization has not been previously reported, represent a resource for the rapid isolation of new DNA markers or coding sequences from specific regions of chromosome 16 where human disease genes are already known to map.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16↗
PubMed1991

Stable length polymorphism of up to 260 kb at the tip of the short arm of human chromosome 16.

We have completed a long-range restriction map of the terminal region of the short arm of human chromosome 16 (16p13.3) by physically linking a distal genetic locus (alpha-globin) with two recently isolated probes to telomere-associated repeats (TelBam3.4 and TelBam-11). Comparison of 47 chromosomes has revealed major polymorphic length variation in this region: we have identified three alleles in which the alpha-globin genes lie 170 kb, 350 kb, or 430 kb from the telemere. The two most common alleles contain different terminal segments, starting 145 kb distal to the alpha-globin genes. Beyond this boundary these alleles are nonhomologous, yet each contains sequences related to other (different) chromosome termini. This chromosome size polymorphism has probably arisen by occasional exchanges between the subtelomeric regions of nonhomologous chromosomes; analogous length variation is likely to be present at other human telomeres.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Saturating the region of the polycystic kidney disease gene with NotI linking clones.

A NotI-linking library was constructed from a radiation hybrid containing fragments of human chromosome 16. The clones were mapped on a panel of somatic cell hybrids, and 10 different NotI site-containing clones were localized close to and between genetic markers flanking the PKD1 locus. With pulsed-field gel analysis the clones were shown to be distributed over four adjacent ClaI fragments covering 1,200 kb.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: prenatal diagnosis by DNA analysis and sonography at 14 weeks.

A pregnant woman affected with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) had a history of an affected fetus, diagnosed by sonography at 29 weeks of pregnancy. The proband's father was also affected. DNA analysis performed on chorionic villi at 11 weeks during a second pregnancy predicted an affected fetus, and sonographic examination at 14 weeks confirmed the diagnosis.

Adult↗