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Biomedical subjects

M J Atkinson

Publications and source records attributed to M J Atkinson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

The differential effects of mood on patients' ratings of life quality and satisfaction with their care.

The recent directives to improve both the quality and the efficiency of mental health service delivery systems have emphasized the need for evidence based treatment efficacy data, yet recent evidence suggests that quality of life data may be confounded with psychiatric symptomatology. The objective of the current inquiry was to determine whether responses to patient satisfaction measures are equally effected by mood-congruent response bias. Thirty-seven patients from a mood disorders clinic in an urban acute care hospital were asked to rate their current mood, satisfaction with their care, and quality of life. While patient rating of mood were highly correlated with specific quality of life scales and predicted 21% of the variance in global quality ratings, the more objective satisfaction indicators were not. For the clinician, these data suggest that clinically depressed patients may view their support system and care givers in negative or biased perspective.

Female↗
PubMed1996

A defective Vkappa A2 allele in Navajos which may play a role in increased susceptibility to haemophilus influenzae type b disease.

The antibody response to H. influenzae type b (Hib) is pauciclonal, and is dominated by antibodies using the VkappaA2 gene. Navajos have a 5-10-fold increased incidence of Hib disease compared with control populations. We hypothesized that a polymorphism in one of the genes in this oligoclonal response may lead to increased disease susceptibility. Since the predominant A2+ anti-Hib antibodies have high avidity for Hib and can be unmutated, the A2 Vkappa gene was analyzed. Over half of the Navajos studied, but only one control individual, had a new allele of A2, termed A2b, with three changes from the published A2 germline sequence. One of the changes was in the recombination signal sequence, suggesting that the A2b allele might not undergo V-J rearrangement very frequently. This possibility was confirmed by analyzing the relative frequency of non-productive A2 rearrangements in A2a/b heterozygous Navajos. Many fewer A2b rearrangements were observed, showing that the A2b allele is defective in its ability to undergo rearrangement. The prevalence of this allele in Navajos may play a role in their increased susceptibility to invasive Hib disease. If so, it would underscore the importance of the germline Ig repertoire for protective antibody responses to pathogenic bacteria in unimmunized children.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor in human renal cell carcinoma.

In experimental models, plasminogen activator-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix is inhibited by type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). PAI-1 has also been shown to protect tumour stromal tissue from autoproteolytic activities and may thus substantially promote tumour growth and metastasis formation. Human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells express significant amounts of plasminogen activator activity. In the present study, the expression of its specific inhibitor PAI-1 has been investigated in 32 cases of RCC and compared with adjacent non-tumour renal tissues. RCC tissue exhibited higher levels of PAI-1, determined at both the antigen and the mRNA level by ELISA and Northern blot analysis respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PAI-1 antigen was primarily confined to tumour cells and vascular endothelium, a distribution similar to that previously reported for plasminogen activator activity in RCC. The close co-localization with endogenous plasminogen activator activity may be important in the regulation of RCC-associated proteolysis. The increased expression of PAI-1 and its predominant localization within the tumour may help to conserve tumour tissue integrity and may thus promote RCC progression and metastasis formation.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1996

The diagnostic potential of the chromosome translocation t(2;13) in rhabdomyosarcoma: a Pcr study of fresh-frozen and paraffin-embedded tumour samples.

The chromosomal translocation t(2;13)(q35;q14) has been reported in alveolar paediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. The rearrangement leads to the juxtaposition of the PAX-3 and FORKHEAD genes and the production of a fusion protein with putative transcriptional regulatory activity. The diagnostic potential of this translocation has been examined using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to detect translocations in both fresh-frozen and archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded rhabdomyosarcoma. A total of 25 tumours and one cell line were examined. PAX-3-FORKHEAD chimeric mRNAs were amplified by PCR in 8 of 15 cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Translocations were detectable in both fresh-frozen tissues (4 of 7) and paraffin-embedded tumours (3 of 7) and in the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell line. Our study confirms that the t(2;13) translocation is not present in embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, but can be detected in nearly half of alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, whether fresh-frozen or paraffin-embedded. The PCR-based t(2;13) translocation assay can aid in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, but cannot replace a careful histopathological evaluation. It may contribute in further characterizing an otherwise undifferentiated small cell tumour, where it may be indicative of clinical behaviour.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1996

Sites of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression and distribution of its receptor in the normal human kidney.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is secreted into the urine at high concentrations and both the uPA protein and mRNA are present in human renal tissue. Normal kidney tissue also expresses the receptor for uPA. Neither the precise sites of uPA mRNA expression, nor the distribution of the uPA-receptor antigen, have been elucidated in the human kidney. In the present study, the sites of uPA mRNA expression were identified by in situ hybridization, and the cellular localization of both uPA and uPA-receptor was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. High-level uPA mRNA expression was restricted to epithelial cells of the convoluted proximal tubules and the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (the straight part of the distal tubule). However, uPA immunoreactivity was not confined to sites of uPA mRNA expression, but was present in all segments of the tubular epithelium. Tubular epithelial cells also exhibited a consistent immunoreactivity with uPA-receptor antibody, indicative of a co-localization of the uPA antigen and its receptor in the uriniferous epithelium. We propose that the uPA antigen expression in nephron segments lacking demonstrable endogenous uPA synthesis may be the result of a uPA-receptor-mediated uptake of uPA.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

New alleles of IGKV genes A2 and A18 suggest significant human IGKV locus polymorphism.

The human kappa light chain consists of approximately 35 potentially functional IGKV genes. However, an estimation of the diversity in the IGKV repertoire of an individual will be affected by the extent of polymorphisms for the different IGKV genes and their patterns of inheritance. To date, little information is available to indicate the extent of allelic variation of the IGKV genes. We examined the extent of allelism for one IGKV gene pair, the distal region A2 gene and its closely related proximal region duplicate A18. We found two new alleles for A2 and one new allele for A18, and sequenced approximately 1 kilobase flanking each gene. The new A18 allele, unlike the originally described allele, appears to be functional. All these alleles were found at relatively high frequencies in the four ethnic populations studied, with the exception of the defective A2b allele which was highly represented only in Navajos. The originally described A2a allele encodes for the predominant protective antibody against Haemophilus influenzae. Therefore, the patterns of allelic inheritance described for this IGKV gene pair indicate that allelism in the IGKV locus is likely to have a significant impact on immune responses.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Inactivation of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent by rendering procedures.

Bovine brain infected with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent was used to spike material processed in pilot scale facsimiles of 12 rendering processes which are used within the European Union, and three which are not. The raw materials for experimental rendering represented those used in practice, and consisted of appropriate proportions of BSE-infected brain tissue, bovine or porcine intestine, and bovine bone. Meat and bone meal, and tallow were produced from the rendered tissues. Suspensions of all the meat and bone meal samples were assayed in inbred mice for BSE infectivity, and two of the tallow fractions were tested similarly. Four of the 15 processes produced meat and bone meal with detectable BSE infectivity. Neither of the tallow samples had detectable infectivity.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

The iron-binding protein ferritin is expressed in cells of the osteoblastic lineage in vitro and in vivo.

Ferritin, a metal-binding protein responsible for maintaining the bioavailability of iron, has been demonstrated in cells of the osteoblastic lineage. Messenger RNAs encoding the light and heavy chain subunits of ferritin were detected in ROS 17/2.8, ROS 25/1, and UMR106 rat osteosarcoma cell lines, in fetal rat calvaria, and in primary cultures of rat calvarial osteoblast-like cells. In vivo, the expression of ferritin light-chain mRNA was observed in both active osteoblasts and in osteocytes. A 450-kD iron-binding protein was immunoprecipitated from ROS 17/2.8 cells by an antiferritin antiserum. This protein comigrated with native ferritin, and could be dissociated into subunits comigrating with ferritin light and heavy chains. Addition of extracellular Fe59-transferrin to cultures of ROS 17/2.8 cells resulted in the sequestration of the iron in intracellular ferritin. These observations demonstrate that cells of the osteoblastic lineage possess a functional ferritin-based iron uptake and storage system capable of regulating metal homeostasis in bone.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of the Pasteurella multocida toxin on osteoblastic cells in vitro.

Pasteurella multocida toxin induces localized osteolysis in the turbinate bones of swine. Osteolysis appears to be due to an increased level of osteoclastic bone resorption, although osteoblast activity may also be impaired. We studied the effects of purified toxin on the osteoblastic phenotype of the ROS 17/2.8 rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line. Treatment of both embryonic bovine lung cells and a nonosteoblastic rat osteosarcoma cell line (ROS 25/1) with nanomolar doses of toxin produced marked cytotoxic actions. In the osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells, this level of toxin reduced expression of an osteoblastic marker (alkaline phosphatase), was associated with matrix mineralization, but had no cytopathologic action. The osteoblastic cell population may be resistant to a direct cytotoxic effect but is nevertheless a target for toxin action.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1995

Modulation of urokinase and urokinase receptor gene expression in human renal cell carcinoma.

In vivo and in vitro experimental models have suggested a major role for the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The uPA proteolytic activity of tumor cells has been shown to be largely determined by the extent of the expression and saturation of the uPA receptor. We have analyzed the expression and cellular localization of both uPA and uPA receptor at the protein and mRNA levels in 33 paired samples of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and non-tumorous kidney tissue. In comparison with adjacent normal non-tumorous kidney tissues RCC tumor cells modestly overexpressed uPA-receptor mRNA and showed significantly decreased uPA mRNA expression. However, the immunoreactive uPA content of tumor cells was comparable to that of the surrounding normal non-tumorous kidney tissue. Assuming constancy of the uPA-receptor affinity for uPA this indicates that a proportion of the RCC-associated uPA may be derived from an exogenous source and subsequently concentrated at the tumor cell surface via uPA receptor expression. The modest increase in uPA receptor expression may lead to a normalization of uPA antigen content in RCC; however, it is not sufficient to substantially increase tumor tissue-uPA content over the level of normal non-tumorous kidney tissue.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1995

Expression cloning of the cDNA encoding a melanoma-associated Ag recognized by mAb HMB-45. Identification as melanocyte-specific Pmel 17 cDNA.

BACKGROUND: mAb HMB-45 recognizes a melanocyte lineage-associated Ag present in "activated melanocytes" and malignant melanoma cells. Despite its important practical significance in diagnostic pathology and its potential role as an "activation marker" of melanocytic cells, the HMB-45-reactive Ag remained undefined. Molecular characterization of the HMB-45-reactive Ag may help in analyzing underlying mechanisms of melanocyte activation and melanoma tumor progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A cDNA library constructed from the HMB-45-immunoreactive human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 was screened for expression of the cDNA encoding the HMB-45-reactive protein. Screening was performed by expression in COS-7 cells and subsequent immunocytochemical screening. Correlation between HMB-45 immunoreactivity and mRNA expression of the cloned cDNA was analyzed by antisense mRNA expression in HMB-45-immunoreactive SK-Mel-28 cells, by Northern blot hybridization, and by comparative immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A cDNA clone encoding the HMB-45-reactive Ag was isolated and shown to be homologous to the Pmel 17 cDNA. Expression of either HMB-45 or Pmel 17 cDNA in COS-7 cells induced cytoplasmic HMB-45 immunoreactivity as described for melanoma cells. Conversely, constitutional HMB-45 immunoreaction in SK-MEL-28 cells could be markedly reduced by expression of antisense Pmel 17 RNA. In several tissues, Pmel 17 mRNA content conformed to the known expression pattern of HMB-45-reactive Ag. Comparative in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated a consistent co-localization of Pmel 17 transcripts and HMB-45-reactive Ag at the cellular level, with strong expression in "activated" melanocytes and melanoma cells and significantly less expression in normal adult melanocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Pmel 17 cDNA encodes the HMB-45-reactive Ag. Pmel 17 has been postulated to be involved in melanin synthesis and expression of melanoma-peptide epitopes recognized by CTLs. Differential expression of Pmel 17/HMB-45 may have considerable effects in the stepwise process of melanoma progression by aberrant pigment formation and expression of CTL-reactive epitopes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1994

E-cadherin gene mutations provide clues to diffuse type gastric carcinomas.

The calcium-dependent homophilic cell adhesion molecule and candidate suppressor gene, E (epithelial)-cadherin, plays a major role in the organization and integrity of most epithelial tissues. Diffusely growing gastric carcinomas show markedly reduced homophilic cell-to-cell interactions. We speculated that mutations in the E-cadherin gene may be responsible for the scattered phenotype of this type of carcinoma. For that reason we have examined E-cadherin in 26 diffuse type, 20 intestinal type and 7 mixed gastric carcinomas (Laurén's classification) at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of amplified E-cadherin complementary DNA fragments revealed inframe skipping of either exon 8 or exon 9 in 10 patients with diffuse tumors and an exon 9 deletion in one patient with a mixed carcinoma; both exons encode putative calcium binding domains. These alterations were not seen in nontumorous gastric tissues. Splice site mutations responsible for the exon deletions were identified in six of these patients, eliminating the possibility of alternative splicing mechanisms. Five of these splice site alterations were confirmed as somatic mutations. Non-splice site mutations were observed in three diffuse type tumors, namely a 69-base pair deletion of exon 10 and two point mutations, one of which destroys a putative calcium binding region. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed E-cadherin immunoreactivity in tumors and lymph node metastases of patients expressing abnormal mRNA. The allelic status of the E-cadherin gene was analyzed in one patient, revealing loss of heterozygosity with retention of a mutated E-cadherin allele. Overall, E-cadherin mutations were identified in 50% (13 of 26) of the diffuse type and in 14% (1 of 7) of the mixed carcinomas. In contrast, two silent E-cadherin mutations (not changing the amino acid sequence) were detected in two tumors of the intestinal type. Our study provides strong in vivo evidence that E-cadherin gene mutations may contribute to the development of diffusely growing gastric carcinomas and support a tumor/metastasis suppressor gene hypothesis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Disruption of the murine p53 gene by insertion of an endogenous retrovirus-like element (ETn) in a cell line from radiation-induced osteosarcoma.

The mammalian genome harbors a large number of endogenous retroviruses and retrovirus-like elements. Increasing evidence is found that such elements can be activated and act as insertional mutagens. The activation of endogenous retroviral elements can be induced by a variety of environmental factors including irradiation. We have observed the insertion of a murine endogenous retrovirus-like ETn element into intro 4 of the p53 gene in an osteosarcoma cell line derived from a radiation-induced osteosarcoma. The insertion resulted in a p53-ETn-p53 fusion mRNA, a novel form of p53 mutation. This is the first report on insertion of an endogenous retroviral element into the p53 tumor suppressor gene. The data suggest that activated endogenous retroviruses and retrovirus-like elements might pose an enhanced risk for individuals exposed to noxae, which activate endogenous retroviral elements.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Overusage of mouse DH gene segment, DFL16.1, is strain-dependent and determined by cis-acting elements.

The DJH structure is of particular importance for diversity in the immunoglobulin heavy chain because it encodes most of CDR3. Here, we investigate mechanisms responsible for generating the DJH structure. We found DFL16.1 was used at a high frequency in normal and transformed pre-B cells (fetal liver > 50%, A-MuLV lines approximately equal to 25%). One DFL16.1JH1 structure was found repeatedly and was also present in DJH and VDJH databases, suggesting this structure may be conserved in the primary repertoire. Genetic analysis demonstrated that C57BL/6 mice use DFL16.1 in DJH structures more frequently than BALB/c. Examination of individual alleles in (C57BL/6 x BALB/c)F1 A-MuLV cell lines revealed that the C57BL/6-derived allele used DFL16.1 twice as often as the BALB/c. This result indicates that part of the mechanism ensuring overusage of DFL16.1 gene segments is cis-acting.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

[Quantification of messenger RNA expression in tumors: which standard should be used for best RNA normalization?].

Alterations in gene expression are frequently encountered in malignant tissues. Quantification of the often quite subtle changes in mRNA content is routinely performed by northern blot hybridization. Practical experience shows that the methodology is subject to considerable error, necessitating the use of an internal mRNA standard for quantification. Many different control mRNAs have been employed over the years, but no systematic study has proven their applicability to comparisons made between tumor cells and normal tissues. The validity of these control RNAs, usually housekeeping genes, must be established to exclude the possibility that they themselves are expressed at different levels in tumor and non-tumor cells. Our experience has revealed that serious discrepancies may arise when incorrect standard genes are used to compare tumor and normal tissues.

Actins↗
PubMed1993

Map position and usage of 3' VH family members: usage is not position dependent.

The primary repertoire in mice, in large part, is determined by the Ig gene segments joined to form the variable region genes-VDJ for the heavy chain genes and VJ for the light chain genes. However, the mechanisms that determine which VH gene, of several hundred available, is joined to a DJH structure remain unexplained. One theory proposes that the VH gene segments closest to the 3' end of the VH locus are chosen because of their location, i.e. that proximity to a DJH structure is a prime determinant for VH selection. Alternatively, the content of the DNA may be the determining factor regardless of chromosomal position. According to this hypothesis 3' preference is due to the coincidence of preferred content and proximity to DJH structures. Since the 3' VH families span more than a centimorgan of DNA we were able to distinguish between these concepts by determining VH usage of gene segments within this region. The BALB/c strain is ideal for this study since it uses 3' VH families at a very high frequency. We therefore mapped the positions of the 3' VH gene families and used this map to investigate the usage of these gene segments in BALB/c fetal liver derived A-MuLV transformed cell lines. We found that while VH gene segments throughout the Ig locus, both 3' and 5' were used, there was a clear preference for 3' VH families. However, within the 3' VH segments the most proximal were not preferred, indicating that proximity to DJH structure was not a strict determinant of VH utilization.

Animals↗