PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

M Cohen-Solal

Publications and source records attributed to M Cohen-Solal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PK Mondor: prenatal diagnosis of a frameshift mutation in the LR pyruvate kinase gene associated with severe hereditary non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia.

A mutant form of pyruvate kinase (PK) from the red blood cells of a consanguineous family with severe non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia has been characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing. The variant enzyme was named PK Mondor, according to the recommendations of the International Committee for Standardisation in Haematology. The propositus lacked PK activity and the low level of PK activity found resulted more likely from PK-M2 (fetal isozyme) expression in the red blood cells of the propositus. PK Mondor corresponds to a frameshift mutation with deletion of one G in a repetition of four Gs in positions 1231-1234. This family, whose first child was stillborn and whose second was homozygous for the frameshift mutation, requested prenatal diagnosis during the third pregnancy. Diagnosis was made after chorionic biopsy by a specific approach combining PCR amplification and restriction enzyme digestion.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital Nonspherocytic

The 1591C mutation in triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency. Tightly linked polymorphisms and a common haplotype in all known families.

In order to investigate the basis of the repeated occurrence of the 1591C mutation (TPI 1591C, 105 Glu-Asp) in multiple unrelated families throughout the world, we studied five microsatellite and short tandem repeat markers that lie within a 1.77 megabase region which includes the TPI gene. We also studied an intragenic polymorphic marker that lies within intron 5 of the TPI gene. This polymorphism, recently described by others, is characterized by either an A or a G at position 2262 (the A in the initiation ATG is designated as +1 for both genomic and cDNA nucleotides). With very minor exceptions, all of the known families in the world with the 1591C mutation were available for study. These included five families from the U.S., three from France, one from Greece, one (of Turkish origin) from Germany, and two from Australia. Although we did not have the opportunity to directly study five families from the U.K., key data concerning the 2262 intragenic polymorphism in these subjects were made available to us. Four of the microsatellite and short tandem repeat markers were linked, but in apparent equilibrium. In contrast, a polymorphic repeat pentamer in the CD4 gene, thought to lie telomeric to TPI, was in apparent complete linkage disequilibrium with the TPI 1591C mutation. The intragenic polymorphism was also in apparent complete linkage disequilibrium with the mutation. In unrelated persons of known phase (1591C homozygotes or normal controls), the comparative allele frequencies for the CD4 pentameric repeat were 1.0 (14/14 alleles) in homozygous TPI 1591C subjects and 0.412 (28/68 alleles) in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). Again, in persons of known phase, the comparative allele frequencies for the A form of the intragenic 2262 A or G polymorphism were 1.0 (14/14 alleles) in 1591C homozygotes and 0.130 (7/54 alleles) in normals (p < 0.0001). Haplotypes were discernible in all of the 1591C homozygotes and in several of the heterozygotes and normals. The CD4 162, TPI 2262A haplotype was found on only two of thirty-eight normal chromosomes, but was universally associated with 1591C. The data indicate that all TPI 1591C subjects are descendants of a common ancestor who probably lived in what is now England or France. The original mutation probably occurred well in excess of 1000 years ago.

Australia

Five unknown mutations in the LR pyruvate kinase gene associated with severe hereditary nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia in France.

A survey of PK-deficient patients by molecular biology techniques has been performed in France in 26 unrelated families, in which at least one mutation has been characterized. The patients, of European or North African origin, exhibited approximatively 10% of PK activity. Among the PK-R mutants described, mutation G1529-->A (Arg-509-->Gln) was the most frequent. The strategy followed for the description of PK mutants in France firstly involves determination of this mutation by PCR amplification and restriction enzyme digestion and, secondly, the sequencing of the gene for negative samples. Study of the mutation at residue 509 in 26 unrelated families indicated that 10/52 defective alleles possessed this mutation. Our study described seven different mutations; five of these have not as yet been documented. Two frameshift mutations were found: the deletion of one G base in a repetition of four Gs in position 1231-1234 (PK Mondor), del C-1527 (PK Rouen), and three missense mutations: G382-->C (Ala-114-->Pro) (PK Val-de-Marne), C398-->T (Ser-119-->Phe) (PK Beaujon), A1217-->G (Asn-392-->Ser) (PK Paris). Two mutations which were detected have been reported previously: C760-->T (Glu-240-->End) and G1529-->A (Arg-509-->Gln.

Anemia, Hemolytic

Cytokines and osteoporosis.

Bone remodeling is a complex process that involves cells from various lineages, the calcified extracellular bone matrix and a multitude of regulation factors that act at both the tissular and cellular levels. Resorption and formation of bone are regulated at various levels during the series of events that lead from stem cell proliferation to differentiation of mature cells. These events are controlled by calciotropic hormones, whose indirect cellular effects are mediated by the production of local factors. A host of cytokines and growth factors influence the proliferation and differentiation of bone cells, and their activities are modulated by a large number of hormones. Resorption by osteoclasts is regulated at various stages of the differentiation process by cytokines produced by osteoblasts or stromal cells. Experimental studies in mice suggest that these local factors play a role in postoophorectomy bone loss, although their exact mechanisms of action are not known. Evidence that these factors are involved in postmenopausal bone loss is beginning to accumulate, opening up a vast field of investigation.

Animals

Short-term local injections of transforming growth factor-beta 1 decrease ovariectomy-stimulated osteoclastic resorption in vivo in rats.

Estrogen deficiency in rats is responsible for increased osteoclastic resorption and a subsequent rapid bone loss. TGF-beta, which is known to have acute effects on bone resorption in several in vitro models, has been shown to be secreted by osteoblastic cells in vitro in response to 17 beta-estradiol, but little is known about its in vivo effects on bone resorption. We therefore decided to investigate the short-term effect of TGF-beta 1 on bone resorption in ovariectomized rats. TGF-beta 1 (0.04-20 ng/injection), or vehicle, was injected daily directly into the bone marrow space, through a thin catheter implanted in the distal end of the right femur, during 4 consecutive days, starting 14 days after the ovariectomy. Bone histomorphometry was performed in the secondary spongiosa of the metaphysis of injected femurs and compared with vehicle-injected femurs of sham ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomy was associated with a marked increase in the resorption surface, a 2-fold increase in the number of osteoclasts, and no change in the number of TRAP-positive marrow cells distant from bone surfaces. Bone resorption was significantly lower in the TGF-beta 1-injected bones of ovariectomized rats, as compared with vehicle injected bones: the osteoclast surface and the number of osteoclasts were, respectively, 11.0 +/- 5.1% versus 20.8 +/- 1.3% and 287 +/- 41 versus 505 +/- 53, in bones injected with 0.2 ng of TGF-beta 1 as compared with vehicle-injected bones (mean +/- SE, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance

Cytokine-mediated bone resorption in patients with the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome.

Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES) is a rare immunodeficiency disorder characterized by increased serum immunoglobulin E levels. Bone fragility is part of this syndrome, which has recently been reported to be also associated with an imbalance in cytokine-secreting lymphocyte subpopulation. It has recently been shown that some cytokines can play a role in the bone fragility following menopause. We therefore investigated six patients (mean age 16.5 +/- 8.5 years) affected by this rare syndrome in order to study their bone remodeling and the possible involvement of cytokines in causing the bone fragility associated with this disease. Three of six patients had suffered long bone fractures; in four of six patients the cortical bone mass measured at the distal radius was two standard deviations below that of the aged-matched controls. Urinary pyridinoline excretion, a marker of bone resorption, was markedly increased in the two youngest patients. Adherent mononuclear cells derived from these patients were cultured in vitro and the bone resorbing activity (BRA) of the culture supernatant was measured by means of a fetal rat long bone assay. The BRA was up to 28% above the basal value. We compared the BRA and the cytokine production by the mononuclear cells of these patients to that of postmenopausal women. The BRA, and the IL1 beta, IL6, and TNF alpha levels in the mononuclear cell culture supernatants were identical for both HIES and postmenopausal women. However, the levels of PGE2 were higher and the levels of interferon-gamma were lower in the HIES patients. In conclusion, increased bone resorption in young patients with the HIES is responsible for the cortical bone loss that leads to a higher incidence of fractures. The high BRA secreted by the mononuclear cells of these patients is similar to that found in mononuclear cells from postmenopausal women. These data provide evidence of potent mononuclear cell activation leading to bone loss in HIES, which could be related to IgE-dependent mechanisms.

Adolescent

Identification of new mutations in two phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) variants expressing different clinical syndromes: PGK Créteil and PGK Amiens.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency is generally associated with chronic hemolytic anemia, although it can be accompanied by either mental retardation or muscular disease. Genomic DNAs of two PGK-deficient patients previously described in France were sequenced directly after polymerase chain reaction amplification. The PGK Créteil variant arises from a G-->A nucleotide interchange at position 1022 in cDNA (exon 9), resulting in amino acid substitution 314 Asp-->Asn in the C-terminal domain, which contains the nucleotide binding site. It is associated with rhabdomyolysis crises but not with hemolysis or mental retardation. In the other case, which is associated with chronic hemolytic anemia and mental retardation (PGK Amiens), an A-->T nucleotide interchange was found at position 571 in cDNA (exon 5); this leads to amino acid substitution 163 Asp-->Val in the N-terminal domain, which contains the catalytic site for phosphoglycerate binding. These results corroborate the kinetic data observed. In the two cases, the mutations are distinct from others previously reported and no significant relationship could be observed between the location of the amino acid substitution and its clinical consequences.

Adult

Bone cytokines.

Cytokines and growth factors are important in bone tissue as mediators of cell-to-cell and matrix-to-cell communication. Cytokines also locally mediate the effects of several hormones on bone cells. Indeed, calciotropic hormones modulate the bone-cell production rate of these factors and, conversely, can change the number of receptors for these hormones on bone cells. Most cytokines are active in bone, but the existence of a bone-specific cytokine is still questioned. Recent work has searched for estradiol modulation of osteoblastic cytokine acting on osteoclast differentiation. In mice, increased interleukin-6 production by osteoblasts is responsible for increased bone resorption occurring after ovariectomy. Interleukin-6 could also be an autocrine or paracrine factor in the pathogenesis of increased resorption occurring in giant cell tumor or in Paget's disease. During osteoporosis and age-related bone changes, modifications of the production of insulin-like growth factor I or of one of its binding proteins could be responsible for low bone formation. Interrelationships between cytokines and hormones can affect the action of parathyroid hormone-related peptide on bone cells. The field of implication of cytokines in metabolic bone disease is growing.

Aging

Renal osteodystrophy and hypercalcemia.

The occurrence of aluminum-related bone disease should be completely prevented in uremic patients by restricting the use of aluminum-phosphate binders, which can be safely replaced by oral calcium carbonate. Factors other than aluminum may lead to adynamic bone disease in uremic patients. Radiolucent bone cysts are indicative of amyloid deposits, and their occurrence and progression may be influenced by the membranes used for hemodialysis. Bone disease may persist after successful renal transplantation, and the additional deleterious effect of immunosuppressive drugs should be emphasized. Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most frequent cause of hypercalcemia in the general population. Surgery should be undertaken when there is evidence of active disease, even in asymptomatic patients. The consequences of primary hyperparathyroidism on bone mass and bone fragility remain controversial, and histologic bone studies suggest that hyperparathyroidism leads to increased bone turnover without any deleterious effect on bone volume or trabecular architecture. The diagnostic value of a newly developed immunoassay for intact parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein is clearly demonstrated. New bisphosphonates are of major value for the management of hypercalcemia in malignancy.

Aluminum

Compound heterozygosity in a complete erythrocyte bisphosphoglycerate mutase deficiency.

Erythrocyte bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) deficiency is a rare disease associated with a decrease in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration. A complete BPGM deficiency was described in 1978 by Rosa et al (J Clin Invest 62:907, 1978) and was shown to be associated with 30% to 50% of an inactive enzyme detectable by specific antibodies and resulting from an 89 Arg-->Cys substitution. The propositus' three sisters exhibited the same phenotype, while his two children had an intermediate phenotype. Samples from the family were examined using polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and sequencing techniques. Amplification of erythrocyte total RNA from the propositus' sister around the 89 mutation indicated the presence of two forms of messenger RNAs, a major form with the 89 Arg-->Cys mutation and a minor form with a normal sequence. Sequence studies of the propositus' DNA samples indicated heterozygosity at locus 89 and another heterozygosity with the deletion of nucleotide C 205 or C 206. Therefore, the total BPGM deficiency results from a genetic compound with one allele coding for an inactive enzyme (mutation BPGM Créteil I) and the other bearing a frameshift mutation (mutation BPGM Créteil II). Examination of the propositus' two children indicated that they both inherited the BPGM Créteil I mutation.

Arginine

[Bone demineralization and cytokines].

Cytokines are secreted by several cell types in the bone microenvironment. These peptides act on bone cells by a paracrine or autocrine mechanism and play an important role, although not completely clarified, in the regulation of bone remodeling. Postmenopausal osteoporosis could be due to a local overproduction of some osteoclast-stimulating cytokines in response to estrogen deficiency. During chronic inflammatory joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, synovial cells produce large amounts of cytokines leading to increased local bone resorption and juxta-articular bone destructions. The local action of cytokines is also involved for interactions between tumoral cells and bone cells. These are secreted by the tumoral (metastatic or hemopoietic) cells, bone marrow cells, bone cells, or even could be released from the bone matrix during bone resorption. Recent progress in our knowledge in the field of cytokines have improved the understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases and let hope future promising developments for more specific treatments.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Relationship between the number of resorbing cells and the amount resorbed in metabolic bone disorders.

The relationship between bone-resorbing cells, assessed by the presence of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatases (TRAP) and morphologic indices of bone resorption, was determined in 29 osteoporotic patients (14 postmenopausal females and 15 males) and 15 dialyzed patients. The number of TRAP-positive cells per unit of cancellous bone area (N.Oc/B.Ar) was higher in dialyzed patients than in those with osteoporosis (16.8 +/- 15.3 versus 4.95 +/- 2.86, p less than 0.05). The amount of bone resorbed at the basic multicellular unit level was estimated by calculating eroded area containing TRAP cells per bone area (E.Ar+/BA). This novel parameter was similar in dialyzed and in osteoporotic patients (41,700 +/- 28,400 versus 32,300 +/- 24,600). In contrast, trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) was identical in both metabolic bone diseases. Trabecular width (169 +/- 38 versus 127 +/- 32 microns, p less than 0.05) and bone area were higher in dialyzed than in osteoporotic patients. N.Oc/B.Ar was significantly related to E.Ar+/BA in dialyzed (r = 0.76, p less than 0.05) but not in osteoporotic patients. Tb.Sp was significantly correlated to N.Oc/B.Ar and to the number of TRAP-positive cell nuclei per B.Ar (r = 0.44, p less than 0.05) in osteoporotic but not in dialyzed patients. This last result shows that in overt osteoporosis with thin trabeculae, trabecular spacing is related to the number of resorbing cells. In contrast, the spacing of thick trabeculae in dialysis osteodystrophy is not dependent on the number of osteoclasts.

Acid Phosphatase

Isolation and characterization of the gene encoding the muscle-specific isozyme of human phosphoglycerate mutase.

The human muscle-specific phosphoglycerate mutase encoding gene (PGAM-M) has been cloned from a genomic cosmid library and sequenced. The sequence corresponding to the coding region was evaluated and revised by sequencing of the protein itself, fully confirming our results. The amino acid sequence of the M isozyme presented a 80.6% homology with the B isozyme (non-muscle-specific isozyme), a value higher than previously reported. The PGAM-M gene is composed of three exons, which consist of 454, 180 and 202 bp, respectively, and are separated by two introns of 103 bp and approx. 5.6 kb, respectively. Comparison of the structure of the human PGAM-M gene with that coding for human bisphosphoglycerate mutase, an erythroid-specific enzyme belonging to the same multifunctional enzyme family, revealed that the location of the second intron is similar in each gene and corresponds to a tertiary subdomain in the spatial structure of the protein. The transcription start point (tsp) in the PGAM-M gene was identified by both primer extension and S1 nuclease-protection experiments. A TATA-box-like element was observed 29 bp upstream from the tsp; the sequence ATTGG, inverse/complementary to CCAAT-box, was found 40 bp upstream from the supposed TATA box. No muscle-specific consensus sequences could be detected in the 5'-untranslated region. Only one polyadenylation AATAAA signal was observed in the short 3'-untranslated region (43 bp long). Finally, only one copy of this gene is present in the human genome instead of the several copies found for the PGAM-B gene, suggesting the possible evolutionary origin of the muscle subunit in a modified copy of the PGAM-B gene.

Amino Acid Sequence

In situ mapping of the muscle-specific form of phosphoglycerate mutase gene to human chromosome 7p12-7p13.

A 2.3-kb-long probe derived from the 5' flanking region, the first exon and part of the first intron of the human muscle-specific phosphoglycerate mutase gene (PGAM-M) (EC 5.4.2.1) was used to map the gene by "in situ" chromosomal hybridization. The structural gene for PGAM-M was assigned to chromosome 7p12-7p13; a single hybridization peak indicated that there is a single gene for this isozyme of PGAM, and confirmed results obtained by Southern blot hybridization.

Bisphosphoglycerate Mutase

Human bisphosphoglycerate mutase expressed in E coli: purification, characterization and structure studies.

Bisphosphoglycerate mutase (EC 5.4.2.4.) is an erythrocyte-specific enzyme whose main function is to synthesize 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (glycerate-2,3-P2) an effector of the delivery of O2 in the tissues. In addition to its main synthase activity the enzyme displays phosphatase and mutase activities both involving 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in their reaction. Using a prokaryotic expression system, we have developed a recombinant system producing human bisphosphoglycerate mutase in E coli. The expressed enzyme has been extracted and purified to homogeneity by 2 chromatographic steps. Purity of this enzyme was checked with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel and Cellogel electrophoresis and structural studies. The bisphosphoglycerate mutase expressed in E coli was found to be very similar to that of human erythrocytes and showed identical trifunctionality, thermostability, immunological and kinetics' properties. However, the absence of a blocking agent on the N-terminus results in a slight difference of the electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme expressed in E coli compared to that of the erythrocyte.

Amino Acid Sequence

Natural and artificial mutants of the human 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate as a tool for the evaluation of structure-function relationships.

2,3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase is a multifunctional enzyme which catalyses in red blood cells the synthesis and the degradation of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, the allosteric effector of hemoglobin. In order to study the structure-function relationships in BPGM, an expression vector was constructed which yielded an active protein, but with a modified electrophoretic mobility, due to a non-blocked N-terminal residue. Using site directed mutagenesis, mutants were produced with shortened chains. Results indicated the importance of residues 252-256 for the function. A natural deficient mutant with the substitution 89 Arg----Cys was described. Artificial mutant with the same substitution reproduced the same defect, as well as mutants Arg----Gly and Arg----Ser, indicating the key role of Arg 89 in the enzymatic mechanism.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate