PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S C Jhanwar

Publications and source records attributed to S C Jhanwar.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Localization of c-ras oncogene family on human germ-line chromosomes.

The c-ras family is a set of c-onc genes that are highly conserved in vertebrates. The genes in this family are homologous to the transforming genes of Harvey and Kirsten murine sarcoma viruses (v-Ha-ras and v-Ki-ras, respectively). Using an in situ molecular hybridization method, we detected three sites on the human pachytene chromosomes that exhibited significant hybridization to v-Ki-ras and v-Ha-ras probes. These were chromomere positions that corresponded to bands 11p14.1, 12p12.1, and 12q24.2 of somatic chromosomes. The relationship between these chromosomal sites and previously defined members of the human c-ras gene family is discussed. These chromosomal sites are known to be involved in specific chromosome changes in a variety of tumors and in several congenital disorders that predispose to neoplastic disease.

Autoradiography↗

Heterochromatin variation and sex chromosome polymorphism in Nesokia indica: a population study.

Nesokia indica, the Indian mole rat, exhibits extensive variability (polymorphism) for the constitutive heterochromatin of the X and Y chromosomes. These polymorphic X and Y types range from a large metacentric chromosome to a small acrocentric one and occur in different frequencies in the population. On the assumption that there is random mating among individuals carrying these various X and Y chromosomes, the population shows Hardy-Weinberg proportions for the genotypes. However, notwithstanding the partial or total loss of constitutive heterochromatin of the X and Y chromosomes in a few individuals, its retention in most of the animals seems obligatory to the population at large. Hence, we suggest that the C-heterochromatin plays a "regulatory" role in the population dynamics of this species.

Animals↗

Marrow cytogenetic and cell-culture analyses of the myelodysplastic syndromes: insights to pathophysiology and prognosis.

Marrow cytogenetic and granulocyte-macrophage colony formation (CFU-GM) studies were performed on 34 previously untreated patients with documented myelodysplastic syndromes seen between January 1978 and June 1982. All patients were managed without chemotherapy until progression to acute leukemia was observed. All 10 patients with exclusively abnormal marrow metaphases developed acute leukemia (100%) while only one (7%) of 14 patients with solely normal marrow metaphases subsequently developed leukemia (p less than 0.001). Three (42%) of the seven patients with both normal and abnormal marrow metaphases developed acute leukemia. Fifteen (86%) of the 19 patients with either large cluster or no growth patterns developed acute leukemia while only two (13%) of 15 patients with either small cluster or colony forming growth patterns developed acute leukemia (p less than 0.001). Abnormal marrow cytogenetic status correlated with abnormal marrow CFU-GM growth pattern (p less than 0.05). Analysis of CFU-GM sensitivity to inhibition by prostaglandin E was performed in 12 patients. Nine patients showed CFU-GM refractoriness to inhibition by prostaglandin E. Seven of these patients eventually developed leukemia. Three patients had CFU-GMs which were initially sensitive to prostaglandin E inhibition. In these three patients, a loss of CFU-GM sensitivity to prostaglandin E was observed prior to their progression to morphologically identifiable acute leukemia.

Acute Disease↗

Specific translocations characterize Burkitt's-like lymphoma of homosexual men with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A Burkitt's-like B-cell lymphoma (BLL) has recently been shown to be associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which affects homosexual men. We report cytogenetic studies of two BLL tumors in homosexual men. Both tumors had chromosome translocations characteristic of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), one the t(8;14) and the other the t(8;22). The pathway of lymphomagenesis in this disorder is discussed in the light of recent data on chromosome change and localization of immunoglobulin genes and oncogenes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in the monosomic cell line of a fertile Turner syndrome mosaic (45,X/46,XX).

Malignancy in patients with constitutional chromosome abnormality is of interest not only because it permits insights into the relationship between the chromosome abnormality and cancer, but also because it provides opportunities to address such questions as the clonality and evolution of tumors. We report Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in a 50-year-old mosaic (45,X/46,XX) Turner syndrome patient whose leukemia was restricted to the monosomic cell line. Our extensive cytogenetic studies of this patient demonstrated that non-leukemic normal cells persisted in the marrow and were able to proliferate during a period of temporary suppression of the leukemic clone following aggressive treatment.

Blood Cells↗

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in an XYY male.

Neoplasia has rarely been reported in the XYY syndrome. We report a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), which comprises the third instance of malignancy reported in this disorder.

Adult↗

Two human c-onc genes are located on the long arm of chromosome 8.

We have used in situ chromosome hybridization techniques to map the human cellular counterparts (c-onc genes) of the transforming genes of two RNA tumor viruses on human meiotic pachytene and somatic metaphase chromosomes. We find that the human c-mos gene is located on chromosome 8 at a position corresponding to band 8q22 on the somatic map. The human c-myc gene is found on chromosome 8 at position 8q24. These regions on the long arm of chromosome 8 have been previously reported to be involved in specific translocations found in the M-2 subset of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemias. Burkitt lymphoma, and other forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and a familial abnormality that predisposes to renal cell carcinoma. These results suggest that translocations of the human c-mos or c-myc genes may be causally related to neoplastic transformation.

Chromosome Banding↗

Mid-pachytene chromomere maps of human autosomes.

Using a method of chromosome preparation which yielded pachytene spermatocytes with exceptionally well spread bivalents, we undertook detailed chromomere analysis of each of the 22 autosomal bivalents stained with orcein or quinacrine. A maximum of 442 chromomeres were recognized and mapped at mid-pachytene. The chromomere maps of pachytene chromosomes presented here corresponded well with the high resolution banding maps of somatic chromosomes at the 850 band stage described in the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN, 1981). Our observations of other features of the pachytene chromosomes, such as the parameters, also agree well with previous reports.

Aged↗

Characteristics of bone marrow fibroblast colony-forming cells (CFU-F) and their progeny in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.

Chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are clonal diseases of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell frequently associated with myelofibrosis (MF). There is only indirect evidence indicating that the increased deposition of collagen in bone marrow matrix is a secondary phenomenon. A liquid culture system for cloning and growing bone marrow fibroblasts has permitted us to approach more directly the understanding of the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis by comparing the biophysical, growth, and functional characteristics of fibroblasts from normals, MPD patients without MF, and those with MF. In patients with MF, marrow fibroblast colony (CFU-F) formation could not be studied; fibroblasts were grown from marrow explants. CFU-E from normals and MPD patients exhibited similar cell density distribution and similar cell sedimentation rates. These similarities contrasted sharply with the differences seen when the erythroid and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors were studied by the same methods. There was a marked light density shift and a rapidly sedimenting shift of MPD hematopoietic colony-forming cells. Marrow fibroblasts from MPD patients with and without MF displayed the same in vitro growth characteristics as fibroblasts from normals. Both types of fibroblasts exhibited anchorage and serum dependence, and contact inhibition of growth. Marrow fibroblasts were also characterized for the presence and distribution of fibronectin and collagen types by immunofluorescent staining using monospecific antibodies. Extracellular matrix, membrane-, and cytoplasm-associated fibronectin, type I, type III, and type V collagen showed a similar staining pattern in both normal and myelofibrotic marrow fibroblasts. Plasminogen-dependent fibrinolytic activity elicited from normal and myelofibrotic marrow fibroblasts were equivalent. Chromosomal analysis of hematopoietic cells and marrow fibroblasts from Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelocytic leukemia patients with and without MF showed that the Philadelphia chromosome was present only in hematopoietic cells. The results of these studies taken together demonstrate that bone marrow collagen-producing cells from MPD patients with and without MF behave in vitro as do those from normals. These findings support the hypothesis that that the marrow fibrosis observed in patients with MPD results from a reactive process rather than from a primary disorder affecting the marrow collagen-producing cells.

Adult↗

Pachytene chromomere maps of Chinese hamster autosomes.

A standard chromomere map of the Chinese hamster autosomes at pachytene has been prepared and presented. Comparison of bands on somatic chromosomes and chromomeres on meiotic chromosomes revealed a close correspondence between the two. Chromosome contraction from prophase to metaphase at mitosis and early to late pachytene at meiosis lead, due to coalescence, to the recognition of decreasing numbers of bands and chromomeres. As expected, a greater number of chromomeres could be recognized at pachytene than could Giemsa- and Quinacrine-positive bands at somatic metaphase.

Animals↗

Human hematopoietic tumors in nude mice.

Despite the difficulty in establishing human hematopoietic tumors in nude mice, four human lymphomas were successfully heterotransplanted and passaged serially in our laboratory. Additional immunosuppression with chemotherapy, whole-body radiation or splenectomy was not required for establishment of these tumors. All four of these tumors were of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma type. In each case the tumors in the nude mice were histologically identical to the biopsy specimens from the patient in whom they were derived. Attempts to transplant tumor from 17 patients with Hodgkin's disease or 4 patients with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy were unsuccessful. Tumors from 2 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and 1 with hairy cell leukemia could be grown in nude mice conditioned with whole-body radiation or cytosine arabinoside, but these tumors could not be passaged to other nude mice. Cell surface markers were determined on the four serially passaged lymphomas. These surface markers were similar to the markers on the original tumors, even after long periods of mouse-to-mouse passage. In 1 patient with fevers, night sweats and mediastinal mass in whom a diagnosis had not been made after several biopsies, examination of tumor tissue that had been transplanted from the patient to the nude mouse clearly established the diagnosis of lymphoma.

Animals↗

Silver-stained synaptonemal complexes of human pachytene bivalents studied by light microscopy.

The synaptonemal complex (SC), a part of the ultrastructure of the pachytene bivalent of eukaryotic organisms, is intimately connected with the pairing of homologous chromosomes. Its development, structure, and function have been studied extensively with the electron microscope during the past 20 years. A simple method of staining with silver nitrate has made it possible for us to visualize human SCs with the light microscope.

Cell Cycle↗

Genetically determined asynapsis, spermatogenic degeneration, and infertility in men.

We report a family in which azoospermia and infertility affected two sibs whose parents were first cousins once removed. Meiotic cells of the proband, who had the chromosomal complement of a normal male (46,XY), exhibited asynapsis, defective synaptonemal complex (SC) formation, chiasma failure, and degeneration of prophase spermatocytes with asynapsis. Based on these observations, we suggest that the meiotic abnormalities and infertility in this family comprise a trait with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Review of published cases of infertile men with normal chromosomal complements and disturbed meiosis suggests that genetically determined asynapsis and desynapsis similar to that established in plant and insect species also occur in humans. In humans, asynapsis appears to be inherited as an autosomal recessive. The mode of inheritance of desynapsis is not clear; X-linked recessive or autosomal dominant has been suggested in one family. Studies by us and by others reported in the literature suggest that the mode of action of genes that affect synapsis and cause a reduction in the numbers of visible chiasmata at diakinesis is dissimilar to that of the action of genes that cause defective meiotic recombination, defective repair of induced damage to DNA in somatic cells, and chromosome instability.

Adult↗

Is late replication of the inactive X chromosome irreversible in all cells of mammals?

The X chromosomes of the female bandicoot rat (Nesokia indica) were 3H-thymidine labeled during two consecutive cell divisions to determine if all of the same segments of the "triplicate-type" X chromosome of these animals always replicated late. In 87% of metaphases examined the findings were as expected. One entire X chromosome (X1) and the long arm of the other X (X2) synthesized DNA late in the S phase in both divisions. However, in the other 13% of the metaphases, the late-replicating and presumably genetically inactive short-arm segments of the X1 chromosome had completed DNA synthesis by the time it entered the late-S phase of the second cycle. Thus, in this species, some cells appear to have an X chromosome of which the facultative heteropycnotic segment condenses in one cell cycle but becomes euchromatic in the subsequent cell cycle. Although this appears at first to be inconsistent with the generally accepted pattern of X-chromosome condensation and genetic inactivation, it may represent an instance of evolutionary specialization for an as yet unexplained reason. It is also possible that closer analysis of other mammalian species with composite sex chromosomes or methods equally suitable for this type of analysis will reveal other instances where a minority of the somatic cells of females do not follow the predictions of the Lyons hypothesis completely.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of structural chromosome changes affecting chromosome band 11q23.

Involvement of the ets-1 proto-oncogene located at chromosome band 11q23 was studied in six tumors and in a congenital chromosome abnormality affecting the 11q23 region, in order to determine whether the breakpoint of these rearrangements was identical at the molecular level. In multiple restriction digestions a 5.4 kb EcoRI genomic probe of the c-ets-1 gene did not detect rearrangements in any of these samples. Thus, in these tumors the break in DNA was not within the domain of c-ets-1 recognized by this probe. However, after digestion with XbaI enzyme the probe detected a 2.4 kb polymorphic allele in placental DNA. One tumor DNA sample showed homozygosity for this polymorphic allele. In order to determine the frequency of this polymorphic allele, DNA from 50 additional tumors and from the blood of nine healthy donors was analyzed. DNA from one tumor showed homozygosity for the polymorphic allele. In the 67 DNA samples studied, 17.9 per cent were heterozygous for the polymorphic site and 3 per cent were homozygous for the polymorphic site. Thus, the overall frequency of the polymorphic allele in these samples was 0.111.

Adolescent↗