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M Heino

Publications and source records attributed to M Heino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Isolation and initial characterization of a novel zinc finger gene, DNMT3L, on 21q22.3, related to the cytosine-5-methyltransferase 3 gene family.

We have isolated the DNMT3L gene that is related to the cytosine-5-methyltransferase 3 (DNMT3) family. The gene is located on chromosome 21q22.3 between the AIRE and the KIAA0653 genes and spans approximately 16 kb of genomic sequence. The encoded protein of 387 amino acids has a cysteine-rich region containing a novel-type zinc finger domain that is conserved in DNMT3A and DNMT3B but also in ATRX, a member of the SNF2 protein family. The novel domain, called an ADD (ATRX, DNMT3, DNMT3L)-type zinc finger, contains two subparts: a C2C2 and an imperfect PHD zinc finger. Expression of the DNMT3L mRNA was not detectable by Northern blotting; however, RT-PCR amplification revealed that it is expressed at low levels in several tissues including testis, ovary, and thymus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

RNA and protein expression of the murine autoimmune regulator gene (Aire) in normal, RelB-deficient and in NOD mouse.

Mutations in the putative transcription factor autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene are responsible for autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiosis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED; OMIM#240300), a monogenic recessively inherited disease characterized by destructive autoimmune diseases of the endocrine organs, chronic candidiosis of mucous membranes and ectodermal dystrophies. In this study the expression of murine homolog for AIRE protein, Aire, was detected in a fraction of thymic medullary epithelial cells. Subcellularly, in thymus the protein appears as concentrated into nuclear dot-like structures, whereas in transfected cells the protein is also bound along a cytosolic fibrillar network. By RT-PCR Aire mRNA was detected in thymus, lymph node, spleen and testis although the second round PCR amplified Aire specific band from most mouse tissues analyzed. Furthermore, the Aire mRNA was detected in dendritic cell (DC) populations isolated from thymus and spleen, representing both myeloid- and lymphoid-related lineages of DC. We also demonstrate that the Aire protein is absent in the thymus of RelB-deficient mouse and in NOD thymus most of the Aire positive cells showed an abnormal morphology. These results suggest that the Aire protein is associated with the normal development and/or action of a subset of thymic medullary stromal cells involved in tolerance induction.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1999

Autoimmune regulator is expressed in the cells regulating immune tolerance in thymus medulla.

The AIRE gene (autoimmune regulator), coding for a putative transcriptional regulatory factor, is mutated in autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). We have investigated the expression of the AIRE gene by mRNA in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in various human tissues. Here we show that AIRE is expressed in distinct cells in thymus medulla, and also in rare cells in lymph node paracortex and medulla, and in spleen and fetal liver, but not in the target organs of autoimmune destruction. Double immunofluorescence studies revealed that in thymus medulla both epithelial (cytokeratin positive) and non-epithelial cells expressed AIRE. Subcellularly, AIRE was localised in nuclear dots in thymus and lymph node and also in transfected cells. The cellular localisation of AIRE and its nuclear localisation, compatible with its predicted protein domains, suggest that AIRE may regulate the mechanisms involved in the induction and maintenance of immune tolerance.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

Dynamic complexities in host-parasitoid interaction

In the 1970s ecological research detected chaos and other forms of complex dynamics in simple population dynamics models, initiating a new research tradition in ecology. However, the investigations of complex population dynamics have mainly concentrated on single populations and not on higher dimensional ecological systems. Here we report a detailed study of the complicated dynamics occurring in a basic discrete-time model of host-parasitoid interaction. The complexities include (a) non-unique dynamics, meaning that several attractors coexist, (b) basins of attraction (defined as the set of the initial conditions leading to a certain type of an attractor) with fractal properties (pattern of self-similarity and fractal basin boundaries), (c) intermittency, (d) supertransients, (e) chaotic attractors, and (f) "transient chaos". Because of these complexities minor changes in parameter or initial values may strikingly change the dynamic behavior of the system. All the phenomena presented in this paper should be kept in mind when examining and interpreting the dynamics of ecological systems. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Isolation and characterization of the mouse Aire gene.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by Addison's disease and/or hypoparathyroidism and/or chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Patients may also have other clinical symptoms both within and outside the endocrine system, mainly as a result of autoimmunity against organ-specific autoantigens. The gene for APECED has recently been identified and termed AIRE (for AutoImmune REgulator). APECED is a model of organ-specific autoimmunity and isolation and characterization of the homologous mouse gene, Aire, will provide tools for dissection of the mechanisms underlying this human disorder and defining molecular pathways involved in organ-specific autoimmunity. We have isolated and completely sequenced the mouse Aire gene which is split into 14 exons over 13 kb and encodes a predicted protein of 552 amino acids. The predicted mouse and human AIRE proteins are 71% identical and contain motifs suggestive of a transcriptional regulator. Additional conserved motifs are emerging in the AIRE/Aire proteins including a nuclear localization signal, an "ASS" domain, and a "SAND" domain. The human and mouse AIRE promoters have conserved sites for several thymus-specific transcription factors and others important in hematopoesis, consistent with its expression in rare cells of the thymus medulla, lymph nodes, and fetal liver. We have mapped mouse Aire to mouse chromosome 10 by FISH, to the same region as Pwp2 and Pfkl, confirming synteny to the corresponding region of human chromosome 21.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed1999

Mutation analyses of North American APS-1 patients.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1; MIM# 240300) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disease characterised by destructive autoimmune diseases of endocrine glands. The gene responsible for APS-1, known as AIRE (for autoimmune regulator), was recently identified and contains motifs suggestive of a transcription regulator. To date, nine APS-1-associated mutations have been identified in the AIRE gene, including two common mutations R257X and 1094-1106del. In addition to these two mutations, we report seven novel mutations in 16 APS-1 patients from North America. We found that 1094-1106del and R257X were the most common mutations in this population of mixed geoethnic origin, accounting for 17/32 and 4/32 alleles, respectively. Haplotype analyses suggest that both are recurrent mutations, occurring on several different haplotypes with closely linked markers. All the novel mutations appear to be rare, occurring in only single APS-1 families. After examining all coding sequences and exon/intron boundaries of the AIRE gene, the other APS-1 allele remained unidentified in three patients. Genotype-phenotype correlations for APS-1 remain difficult, suggesting that other genetic or environmental factors, or both, influence the clinical presentation and disease progression in individual APS-1 patients.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of a novel gene, C21orf2, on human chromosome 21q22.3 and its exclusion as the APECED gene by mutation analysis.

Exon trapping was performed from a partial cosmid, PAC, and P1 clone contig from human chromosome 21 between MX1 and 21qter to identify genes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of Down syndrome or several of the genetic diseases that map to chromosome 21q22.3. One 19-bp exon showed identity to three ESTs. The complete sequence of the EST clones, RT-PCR, and cDNA library screening were used to determine the full-length cDNA sequence of 2.2 kb with an open reading frame of 256-amino-acids. The putative 256-amino-acid peptide has homology with a hypothetical Caehorhabditis elegans protein of unknown function. Northern blot analysis of this gene, termed C21orf2 (chromosome 21 open reading frame 2), revealed two ubiquitously expressed mRNAs of 2.2 and 1.2 kb produced by use of alternative polyadenylation sites. Hybridization of the EST clones to a cosmid contig in chromosome 21q22.3 mapped C21orf2 just distal to PFKL, a critical mapping region for several genetic diseases. Comparison to publicly available genomic sequence, and additional data, revealed that the gene is split into seven exons over 10.5 kb, further refining the mapping position to only 1.2 kb distal to PFKL with the direction of transcription toward the centromere. The 5'UTR is contiguous with D21S400, and intron 2 contains a 52-bp VNTR polymorphism. Given its mapping position, C21orf2 is a candidate for involvement in disorders including autoimmune polyglandular disease type I (also called autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy or APECED) and the autosomal nonsyndromic deafness loci, DFNB8 and DFNB10. Mutation analysis using sequencing of RT-PCR and genomic DNA-derived PCR products, SSCP, and Southern and Northern blot analyses in APECED patients excluded C21orf2 as the gene for APECED.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

A common mutation in Sardinian autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy patients.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasisectodermal dystrophy (APECED; also called APS-1,) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is more frequent in certain isolated populations. It is characterized by two of the three major clinical symptoms that may be present: Addison's disease, and/or hypoparathyroidism and/or chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. We have recently identified the gene for APECED, which we termed AIRE (for autoimmune regulator). AIRE is expressed in thymus, lymph nodes and fetal liver, and encodes a protein with two putative zinc fingers and other motifs suggestive of a transcriptional regulator. Seven mutations have been described to date, including R257X, the predominant Finnish and northern Italian APECED allele, which has also been observed in other patients of diverse origin on different haplotypes. A 13-bp deletion (1094-1106del) has also been observed in several patients of different geo-ethnic origin. The other described mutations appear to be rare. We present mutational analyses of the AIRE gene in ten Sardinian APECED families and show that there is a mutation, R139X, associated with one predominant haplotype unique to the Sardinian patients (18/20 independent alleles). The carrier frequency of R139X in Sardinia is 1.7%, giving an estimated population frequency of APECED of 1/14,400. Using linkage disequilibrium data, the estimated age of the R139X mutation is between 20 and 25 generations. A previously described 13-bp deletion was also observed on an allele of one patient. The identification of a single common Sardinian APECED mutation will facilitate its genetic diagnosis. Given the carrier frequency of R139X in the Sardinian population, AIRE may be implicated in the pathogenesis of other autoimmune diseases in the Sardinian population, particularly those affecting the endocrine system.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Common mutations in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy patients of different origins.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED; OMIM *240300, also called APS 1,) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is more frequent in certain isolated populations. It is generally characterized by two of the three major clinical symptoms that may be present, Addison's disease and/or hypoparathyroidism and/or chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Patients may also have a number of other clinical symptoms including chronic gastritis, gonadal failure, and rarely, autoimmune thyroid disease and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We and others have recently identified the gene for APECED, which we termed AIRE (for autoimmune regulator). AIRE is expressed in thymus, lymph nodes, and fetal liver and encodes a protein containing motifs suggestive of a transcriptional regulator, including two zinc finger motifs (PHD finger), a proline-rich region, and three LXXLL motifs. Six mutations, in cluding R257X, the predominant Finnish APECED allele, have been defined. R257X was also observed in non-Finnish APECED patients occurring on different chromosomal haplotypes suggesting different mutational origins. Here we present mutation analyses in an extended series of patients, mainly of Northern Italian origin. We have detected 12 polymorphisms, including one amino acid substitution, and two additional mutations, R203X and X546C, in addition to the previously described mutations, R257X, 1096-1097insCCTG, and a 13-bp deletion (1094-1106del). R257X was also the common mutation in the Northern Italian patients (10 of 18 alleles), and 1094-1106del accounted for 5 of 18 Northern Italian alleles. Both R257X and 1094-1106del were both observed in patients of four different geo-ethnic origins, and both were associated with multiple different haplotypes using closely flanking polymorphic markers showing likely multiple mutation events (six and four, respectively). The identification of common AIRE mutations in different APECED patient groups will facilitate its genetic diagnosis. In addition, the polymorphisms presented provide the tools for investigation of the involvement of AIRE in other autoimmune diseases, particularly those affecting the endocrine system.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Immunochemical characterization of a novel mitochondrially located protein encoded by a nuclear gene within the DFNB8/10 critical region on 21q22.3.

A novel protein encoded by the C210RF2 gene in chromosomal locus 21q22.3 was characterized by immunochemistry. This chromosomal region is known to contain genes for human diseases such as non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness (DFNB8/10) and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). Polyclonal murine antisera were produced against the multivalent peptides deduced from the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide. Immunological reactivity of the obtained antisera was tested with primary cells or established cell lines. On western blotting, the polyclonal sera recognized a single protein product of 25 Kd expressed in cell lines of epithelial and lymphoid origin. Subsequent immunochemistry of several human tissues indicated the ubiquitous expression of the protein. Immunofluorescence studies and co-staining with a mitochondrial-specific dye suggest the subcellular localization of the protein to mitochondria. Mitochondrial localization is also predicted by computer analysis of the polypeptide sequence. As deafness is known to be caused in some instances by defects in mitochondrial function, C210RF2 is a plausible candidate gene for DFNB8/10.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Host-parasite dynamics and the evolution of host immunity and parasite fecundity strategies.

We explore evolutionarily stable co-evolution of host-macroparasite++ interactions in a discrete-time two-species population dynamics model, in which the dynamics may be stable, cyclic or chaotic. The macroparasites are assumed to harm host individuals through decreased reproductive output. Hosts may develop costly immune responses to defend themselves against parasites. Parasites compete with conspecifics by adjusting their fecundities. Overall, the presence of both parasites and the immune response in hosts produces more stable dynamics and lower host population sizes than that observed in the absence of the parasites. In our evolutionary analyses, we show that maximum parasite fecundity is always an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), irrespective of the type of population interaction, and that maximum parasite fecundity generally induces a minimum parasite population size through over-exploitation of the host. Phenotypic polymorphisms with respect to immunity in the host species are common and expected in ESS host strategies: the benefits of immunication depend on the frequency of the immune hosts in the population. In particular, the steady-state proportions of immune hosts depend, in addition to all the parameters of the parasite dynamics only on the cost of immunity and on the virulence of parasites in susceptible hosts. The implicit ecological dynamics of the host-parasite interaction affect the proportion of immune host individuals in the population. Furthermore, when changes in certain population parameters cause the dynamics of the host-parasite interaction to move from stability to cyclicity and then to chaos, the proportion of immune hosts tend to decrease; however, we also detected counter-examples to this result. As a whole, incorporating immunological and genetic aspects, as well as life-history trade-offs, into host-macroparasite dynamics produces a rich extension to the patterns observed in the models of ecological interactions and epidemics, and deserves more attention than is currently the case.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Positional cloning of the APECED gene.

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type I (APS 1, also called APECED) is an autosomal-recessive disorder that maps to human chromosome 21q22.3 between markers D21S49 and D21S171 by linkage studies. We have isolated a novel gene from this region, AIRE (autoimmune regulator), which encodes a protein containing motifs suggestive of a transcription factor including two zinc-finger (PHD-finger) motifs, a proline-rich region and three LXXLL motifs. Two mutations, a C-->T substitution that changes the Arg 257 (CGA) to a stop codon (TGA) and an A-->G substitution that changes the Lys 83 (AAG) to a Glu codon (GAG), were found in this novel gene in Swiss and Finnish APECED patients. The Arg257stop (R257X) is the predominant mutation in Finnish APECED patients, accounting for 10/12 alleles studied. These results indicate that this gene is responsible for the pathogenesis of APECED. The identification of the gene defective in APECED should facilitate the genetic diagnosis and potential treatment of the disease and further enhance our general understanding of the mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Interleukin-10 gene expression induced by HIV-1 Tat and Rev in the cells of HIV-1 infected individuals.

The role of cytokines in the regulation and function of the immune system is of great importance. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with progressive deterioration of cell-mediated immune response, cytokines are dysregulated. We have therefore investigated cytokine mRNA expression in type-1 and type-2 helper T cells of HIV-seropositive (HIV+) individuals, stimulated with mitogen (leukoagglutinin) and HIV-1 Tat and Rev peptides, previously found to induce proliferative T-cell responses in these individuals. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-4, and IL-10 mRNAs. There was no difference in the mRNA expression of these cytokines when the cells of HIV-infected or noninfected individuals were polyclonally stimulated with the mitogen, as all cytokine mRNAs were detected in both groups. Baseline cytokine expression of unstimulated cells was, however, different in these two groups: the cells of HIV+ persons did not show comparable expression of mRNAs to HIV-seronegative (HIV+) individuals. When the cells of HIV+ individuals were stimulated with the peptides, 70% of the cases showed IL-10 mRNA expression, 20% IFN-gamma, and 10% IL-2, with no detection of IL-4 mRNA in any of the cases. Our results thus show that HIV-specific T-cell antigens induce production of IL-10 in HIV-infected individuals. The increase in IL-10 demonstrated here may have a role in hyperactivation of B cells, as well as in immunosuppression of T cells often seen in HIV-infected individuals.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Regularly inhaled beta-agonists with steroids are not harmful in stable asthma.

Regular use of inhaled beta-agonists with steroids was not harmful in stable asthma. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were recorded daily for 1 week (week 1) before regular inhalation of beta-agonists and steroids. Then beta-agonists were withdrawn and used as needed for a 2-week washout period. The PEF values of the first week (week 1) were compared with the PEF values before treatment during a further 1-week period (week 4) of as-needed use of beta-agonists. The mean evening PEF values were significantly higher (difference = 9.55 L/min; p = 0.017; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80 to 17.30 L/min), and the mean morning PEF values were nearly significantly higher (difference = 6.49 L/min; p = 0.088, 95% CI, -0.99 to 14.00 L/min) during regular beta-agonist use. There were significantly more patients with more symptom days, including nights with awakening, during as-needed treatment (difference in ratio of patients = 40.74%; p = 0.0001; 95% CI, 20.21% to 61.27%). When nocturnal symptoms are considered separately, there were more patients with more nights with awakening during as-needed treatment with a nearly significant difference (difference in ratio of patients = 12.96%; p = 0.0654; 95% CI, 0.92 to 25.00%). PEF monitoring should be used to distinguish the majority of patients with asthma who have higher PEF values during regular treatment from those who do better with administration of beta-agonists as needed. To deny patients with asthma regular use of small doses of beta-agonists in general is to deny individual differences among patients with asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Eosinophilic airway inflammation during exacerbation of asthma and its treatment with inhaled corticosteroid.

We have compared the inflammatory changes in the bronchial mucosa and the increase in the airway hyperresponsiveness in an asthmatic patient during the deterioration of symptoms. A striking increase in the number of bronchial epithelial eosinophils was associated with an increase in both airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma symptoms. During 16 wk of treatment with the inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, the patient's clinical status and airway hyperresponsiveness improved. This was accompanied by an improvement in the ultrastructure of bronchial mucosa and a decrease in the number of epithelial eosinophils.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗