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M Negrini

Publications and source records attributed to M Negrini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

A new chromosomal breakpoint in Ph positive, bcr negative chronic myelogenous leukemia. Report of a case.

We report a new case of Ph positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) without the classical rearrangement in Mbcr. By Southern blot analysis the molecular breakpoint was mapped 3 to 8 kb upstream of Mbcr. This region has not been shown to be rearranged in any other described case of CML. We did not detect any specific abnormal BCR-ABL transcript even with the use of the very sensitive RNA-PCR technique.

Base Sequence↗

Suppression of tumorigenicity and anchorage-independent growth of BK virus-transformed mouse cells by human chromosome 11.

Viral transformation models may be useful for detecting and mapping human tumor suppressor genes. BK virus (BKV), a human papovavirus, readily transforms rodent cells but is unable to transform human cells, suggesting that oncosuppressive functions expressed in human cells control BKV oncogenic activity. We have transferred human chromosome 11 to BKV-transformed mouse cells. All of the cell clones were suppressed in the tumorigenic phenotype and anchorage-independent growth, except one clone which was nontumorigenic but maintained the ability to grow in soft agar. Cytogenetic analysis and DNA hybridization with chromosome 11-specific probes showed that all the reverted hybrids had an intact human chromosome 11, except the clone growing in semisolid medium which had lost the short arm. The results suggest that a gene located on 11p controls anchorage independence, whereas a gene on 11q controls the tumorigenicity of BKV-transformed cells. BKV T-antigen was expressed in all the hybrid clones at the same level as in the parental cell line, indicating that the putative human tumor suppressor gene(s) do not inhibit expression of the viral oncogene and must operate by another mechanism in inducing reversion of the oncogenic phenotype. Since BKV-transformed mouse cells are highly susceptible to retrovirus infection, this model can be used for searching and cloning tumor suppressor gene(s) by retrovirus-mediated "insertional mutagenesis".

Animals↗

Correlation of cytogenetic patterns and clinicobiological features in adult acute myeloid leukemia expressing lymphoid markers.

Cytogenetic, biomolecular, and clinicopathologic features were retrospectively studied in 34 adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia expressing one or more of the following lymphoid-associated markers (LMs): CD7, CD2, CD10, CD19, CD22, TdT. Six patients showed 11q23 rearrangements (group I); three patients had the classic Ph chromosome (group II); 15 patients had aberrations of the myeloid type (group III), including four patients with structural aberrations of 13q or trisomy 13, three patients with 7q and 1q anomalies, and two patients with trisomy 11q. Ten patients had a normal karyotype (group IV). Anomalies exclusively associated with lymphoid malignancies were not seen. Ig H and/or T-cell receptor genes were found to be rearranged in 50% and 66% of patients in cytogenetic groups I and II, respectively, versus 8% in group III and 12% in group IV. Likewise, more than one LM was more frequently detected in groups I and II. In group III, two of four patients with aberrations of chromosome 13 expressed two or more lymphoid features. Clinically, patients belonging to cytogenetic groups I and II were generally young, presented with a high white blood cell (WBC) count, and had a low complete remission rate. Survival in Ph chromosome-positive cases was uniformly short. We conclude that although there is no cytogenetic anomaly specifically associated with acute myelogenous leukemia expressing LM, a Morphologic, Immunologic, and Cytogenetic classification may constitute a working basis for further studies aimed at a better definition of clinicopathologic features and optimal treatment strategies for these leukemias.

Antigens, CD↗

Suppression of tumorigenesis by the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 following transfer of a normal human chromosome 11.

Breast cancer development is associated with several genetic abnormalities. Loss of heterozygosity in the short arm of chromosome 11 has been observed in 30% of tumors. We found homozygosity at five chromosome 11 polymorphic loci in genomic DNA of the MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line, suggesting a possible loss of one chromosome 11. We have studied the transformed and tumorigenic phenotypes of MCF-7 cells following introduction of a normal human chromosome 11 via microcell fusion. MCF-7/H11 cell hybrids, containing chromosome 11, showed in vitro characteristics similar to the parental cell line. However, tumorigenicity in athymic mice was completely suppressed. Since tumor formation by MCF-7 cells is estrogen dependent, we have analysed the expression of the estrogen receptor and of the estrogen-activated gene pS2. No difference was detected between the parental MCF-7 cells and the derived chromosome 11 cell hybrids, indicating that the mechanism of MCF-7 tumor suppression by chromosome 11-associated functions does not directly involve the estrogen/estrogen receptor molecular pathway.

Animals↗

Prevalence of the archetypal regulatory region and sequence polymorphisms in nonpassaged BK virus variants.

Since the first isolation and characterization of BK virus (BKV), a number of BKV variants which differ in genomic structure or antigenic determinants have been described. The regulatory region, in particular, the enhancer elements, show the most divergent sequences among different isolates. The structural organization of a putative ancestral prototype or archetype, from which all of the variants are probably derived, has been proposed. By sequencing the regulatory regions of 13 different isolates from the urine of bone marrow transplant recipients, we determined the structures and sequences of BKV variants diffused in the human population. The enhancer region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction to avoid passage in culture, and the product was directly sequenced. The structure most frequently observed is in agreement with the postulated archetype, containing a single enhancer element with no repeats. By sequence analysis we identified four hot spots of nucleotide variation. These variations are consistent with the existence of two consensus sequences. One sequence motif, observed in about 85% of the isolates, is referred to as the archetypal BKV, while a second motif, observed in the remaining 15% of the variants, is highly reminiscent of the AS strain.

BK Virus↗

High expression of exogenous cDNAs directed by HIV-1 long terminal repeat in human cells constitutively producing HIV-1 tat and adenovirus E1A/E1B.

A eukaryotic vector-host cell system is described where the additive transactivating effects of HIV-1 tat and adenovirus E1A on HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) are exploited to increase expression of exogenous cDNAs. Human 143B and 293 cells, the latter constitutively producing E1A, were used as host cell lines. The bacterial gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs-Ag) gene were employed as reporter genes inserted in pRPneoU3R, an episomal vector containing BK virus replication origin and early region, where cDNAs are expressed under control of HIV-1 LTR. The 293 cells were transformed by tat expression vectors to constitutively express tat. Stable cell clones of 293tat cells, constitutively expressing CAT after transformation with pRPneoU3R-CAT, show a CAT activity 600-fold higher than normal 293 transformed cells. CAT expression obtained in normal 293 cells can be transiently increased 10-fold by transfection by vectors expressing tat. The 293tat cells transformed by pRPneoU3R-HBs, an episomal vector expressing HBs-Ag from HIV LTR, yielded stable cell clones secreting HBs-Ag in the culture medium at a concentration up to 744 ng/ml or 44 ng/10(6) cells/24 h, 48-fold more than normal 293 cells. The use of this system for constitutive or inducible expression of sequences under control of HIV-1 LTR is discussed in view of possible applications for diagnostic, vaccinal and therapeutic purposes.

Adenovirus Early Proteins↗

Characterization of BK virus variants rescued from human tumours and tumour cell lines.

Episomal BK virus (BKV) DNA was detected in primary human brain tumours, in Kaposi's sarcoma and in cell lines from brain tumours. Ewing sarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma. Infectious BKV was rescued from several tumours and tumour cell lines by transfection of total cellular DNA into human embryonic fibroblasts. Restriction endonuclease and nucleotide sequence analysis showed that all the rescued viruses are similar to BKV-IR, a BK variant previously isolated from a human tumour of pancreatic islets, indicating that a specific BKV strain may be associated with certain types of human tumours. All the variants contain a putative transposable elements in the regulatory region of the viral genome. This region has mutagenic properties and enhancing activity in transformation, suggesting a possible role of these variants in tumour induction or progression.

Animals↗

[Comparison of amiodarone and quinidine in the conversion to sinusal rhythm of atrial fibrillation of recent onset].

The effectiveness of amiodarone and quinidine in converting atrial fibrillation of recent onset (less than three weeks) to sinus rhythm was compared in a randomized, open-label study. Patients with signs of heart failure determining a NYHA class 3 or 4, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, sick sinus syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, conduction disturbances, dysthyroidism, or undergoing concomitant therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs, were excluded from the study. Sixty-eight consecutive patients were randomized to receive amiodarone (group A) or quinidine (group B). Group A was treated with amiodarone intravenously as a bolus of 5 mg/Kg over a 20 min period followed by a 15 mg/Kg infusion during the first 24 hours and then orally at a dose of 0.4 g every 6 hours. Group B was treated with quinidine sulphate orally at a dose of 0.2 g every 6 hours during the first day; 0.4 g every 6 hours the second day and 0.6 g every 6 hours during the third day of therapy. Quinidine was preceded by rapid intravenous digitalization depending on the patient's clinical status so as to obtain a ventricular rate of about 100 beats/min, with subsequent oral digitalis administration in maintenance doses. Both treatments were continued until conversion or for a maximum of three days. If the sinus rhythm was not restored, patients underwent electrical cardioversion. Drug efficacy was assessed on the basis of conversion to sinus rhythm. Six patients converted to sinus rhythm with intravenous digitalization alone and were excluded from the comparison between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Chronic effects of transdermal nitroglycerin in stable angina pectoris: a within-patient, placebo-controlled study.

The efficacy of transdermal nitroglycerin patches, releasing 20 mg of active substance over a period of 24 h (TDN 20), was investigated in 10 patients with stable exercise-induced angina pectoris. The study was divided into 3 periods: the first part was an acute, within-patient, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which patients performed a cycloergometric exercise test 4 and 24 h after the application of the patches (TDN 20 or placebo). During the 2nd period, patients were given TDN 20, in single blind conditions, for 4 weeks and another exercise test was performed, on the last day, 4 and 24 h after patch application. Finally, after a one-day placebo wash-out, a second acute study similar to the first was performed. Four h after dosing, exercise duration to 1 mm ST segment depression was 441 s and 314 s (p less than 0.01) for TDN 20 and placebo, respectively (first acute study), 394 s for TDN 20 after chronic treatment (p less than 0.001 vs acute placebo) and 472 and 354 s (p less than 0.001) for TDN 20 and placebo, respectively (second acute study). No difference in exercise duration to 1 mm ST segment depression was found between TDN 20 and placebo, 24 h after administration, in any of the periods. Blood pressure significantly decreased and heart rate significantly increased 4 h after TDN dosing (in comparison with placebo) in both the acute studies, but no difference was observed after chronic TDN treatment. In conclusion, TDN 20 increases exercise tolerance 4 h after the application of both acute and chronic treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Constitutive expression in human cells of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B gene cloned in an episomal eukaryotic vector.

Expression of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B (gB-1) was obtained in human cells from the gB-1 gene cloned in the episomal replicating vector pBK-1, which contains the origin of replication and early region of the human papovavirus BK. Selective systems for the TK+ phenotype in TK-143B cells and for resistance to G418 in adenovirus 5-transformed 293 cells were used to obtain stable transformants that produced gB-1. While gB-1 expression in 143B cells required induction by HSV-1 early proteins, constitutive gB1 production was observed in 293 cells, where endogenous trans-acting factors probably replace the need for early viral products in the activation of the cloned gB-1 gene. The amount of recombinant gB-1 was comparable to that produced during HSV-1 lytic infection in human cells, due to amplification of the inserted gene in the replicating episomal vector. Expression of gB-1 was induced by cadmium and zinc when the promoter of the mouse metallothionein-I gene was placed upstream of gB1 structural sequences. The inducible system where the gB-1 gene is under the control of its own promoter could be employed to clarify the role of early viral products in induction of gB-1 synthesis. Constitutive expression of gB-1 in human cells could provide useful material for diagnostic purposes and for the preparation of a subunit vaccine against HSV infections.

Blotting, Southern↗

Cooperation in oncogenesis between BK virus early region gene and the activated human c-Harvey ras oncogene.

Rapidly growing, undifferentiated brain tumours were induced in newborn Syrian hamsters by intracerebral inoculation of a recombinant DNA (pBK/c-rasA) carrying the BK virus (BKV) early region gene and the activated human c-Harvey-ras (c-Ha-ras) oncogene. Neither of the two genes inoculated alone nor recombinant DNA of the BKV early region gene and the normal human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene were tumourigenic. Tumour-derived cell lines propagated in culture were immortalized and had growth characteristics consistent with a fully transformed phenotype. Tumours and tumour cell lines contained pBK/c-rasA sequences integrated into cellular DNA and expressed BKV- and c-Ha-ras-specific transcripts as well as BKV T antigen and c-Ha-ras p21. These findings are discussed in relation to a possible cooperation or synergism between BKV and cellular oncogenes in human neoplasia.

Animals↗

Fusion of the bcr and the c-abl genes in Ph'-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia with no rearrangement in the breakpoint cluster region.

Two types of Philadelphia (Ph') chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) have been described. One shows rearrangements within the 5.8 kb breakpoint cluster region (bcr), which forms the mid-portion of the bcr gene, on chromosome 22, while the other carries rearrangements involving a more proximal region on chromosome 22. To understand the nature of the breakpoints on chromosome 22 in bcr rearrangement negative, Ph'-positive ALLs, we have cloned and sequenced the cDNA of the c-abl oncogene in such ALL cells. The 5' ends of the cDNA clones correspond to the normal sequences of the bcr gene first exon with two of the clones extending beyond the GCCATGG consensus sequence for the initiation of translation. The bcr sequence stops at nucleotide 1813 of the coding sequence of the bcr gene, while the c-abl sequence starts at the beginning of the second c-abl exon (nucleotide 227). Thus the joining point between bcr and c-abl is at the boundary between two exons, suggesting intronic fusion and the occurrence of a splicing event. Our current observations indicate that the Ph' translocation in bcr negative ALL involves bcr gene sequences, albeit only a proximal portion of those involved in CML. These genomic differences may be important factors in the pathogenesis of the distinct phenotypes of ALL and CML.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of mbcl-2: structure and expression of the murine gene homologous to the human gene involved in follicular lymphoma.

We have cloned the mouse bcl-2 (mbcl-2) genomic locus and analyzed it in detail. The gene is comprised of two exons separated by more than 15 kb. Two species of mRNAs are produced, and DNA sequencing analysis shows that they code for two proteins differing at their C terminus: a 7.5 kb transcript codes for a polypeptide of 236 amino acids, mbcl-2 alpha, and a 2.4 kb transcript, which derives from the 5' exon only, codes for a protein of 199 amino acids, mbcl-2 beta. The gene is characterized by very long (5' about 1.4 kb, and 3' about 5.1 kb) untranslated regions surrounding the relatively short coding region. We have mapped the 5' end of the mbcl-2 mRNAs by S1 protection analysis, and we have analyzed the promoter region. The expression of the mbcl-2 gene was analyzed in different cell lines and in mouse tissues. Expression is tissue-specific in adult tissues: spleen and thymus express the highest level of mbcl-2 transcripts. The mbcl-2 gene maps to mouse chromosome 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular and biological properties of BK virus-IR, a BK virus variant isolated from a human tumor.

We describe the molecular and biological properties of BK virus (BKV)-IR, a new BKV variant isolated from a human tumor of pancreatic islets. BKV-IR bears a 253-base-pair (bp) deletion and an 80-bp insertion in the early region of the genome. The deletion abolishes the expression of small-t antigen. The inserted sequences, grouped in four clusters, produce rearrangements in the first and second enhancer elements. They are bound by 12-bp direct repeats and could form a 217-base stem-loop structure suggestive of an insertion sequence. As compared with wild-type BKV, BKV-IR transformed hamster cells with a reduced efficiency and induced ependymomas in hamsters at a lower frequency and with a longer latency period. Tumors induced by BKV-IR, however, showed features of higher malignancy. The possible role of the insertion sequence-like element in transformation by BKV-IR is discussed.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Effects of a transdermal patch system containing nitroglycerin on exercise tolerance in patients with angina pectoris. Double-blind, placebo controlled, comparison with slow-release nifedipine and verapamil.

The antianginal efficacy of nitroglycerin (NTG), given in a new transdermal therapeutic system (TTS), was compared with that of nifedipine and verapamil, both in slow-release (SR) formulation, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, carried out in 8 patients with stable exercise-induced angina pectoris. TTS NTG 40 cm2 (releasing 20 mg of NTG over 24 hours), nifedipine 20 mg SR, verapamil 120 mg SR and placebo were given once on 4 consecutive days according to a 4 X 4 latin-square design, twice replicated. A cycloergometric symptom-limited exercise test was performed 4 and 8 hours after the administration of each drug. Four hours post-dosing, mean exercise duration was 407 sec. after placebo and 523 (+28%) and 485 (+ 19%) sec. after TTS NTG and nifedipine SR respectively, while at the 8th hour it was 375 sec. after placebo, and 515 (+ 37%) and 457 (+ 21%) sec. after TTS NTG and nifedipine SR. Exercise duration after verapamil was similar to that after placebo. In comparison with placebo maximal workload and total work performed were significantly higher on TTS NTG and on nifedipine at both times of observation, but no significant differences were seen after verapamil. Peak exercise systolic blood pressure was nearly identical after all the treatments tested. Peak exercise heart rate and pressure rate product were both significantly higher on TTS NTG, as well as on nifedipine, in comparison with placebo, while values after verapamil did not differ from those after placebo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Cutaneous↗

BK virus-plasmid expression vector that persists episomally in human cells and shuttles into Escherichia coli.

We describe a novel expression vector, pBK TK-1, that persists episomally in human cells that can be shuttled into bacteria. This vector includes sequences from BK virus (BKV), the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of herpes simplex virus type 1, and plasmid pML-1. TK+-transformed HeLa and 143 B cells contained predominantly full-length episomes. There were typically 20 to 40 (HeLa) and 75 to 120 143 B vector copies per cell, although some 143 B transformants contained hundreds. Low-molecular-weight DNA from TK+-transformed cells introduced into Escherichia coli were recovered as plasmids that were indistinguishable from the input vector. Removal of selective pressure had no apparent effect upon the episomal status of pBK TK-1 molecules in TK+-transformed cells. BKV T antigen may play a role in episomal replication of pBK TK-1 since this viral protein was expressed in TK+ transformants and since a plasmid that contained only the BKV origin of replication was highly amplified in BKV-transformed human cells that synthesize BKV T antigen.

BK Virus↗