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Biomedical subjects

S Lesage

Publications and source records attributed to S Lesage.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Etiology of the inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are complex disorders. While the exact etiology of these diseases remains unknown, recent progress in the epidemiology and genetics of IBD has clearly demonstrated both environmental and genetic factors to play a role in the development of the disease, and it is expected that some risk factors are common for both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The environmental factor(s) are associated with the Western way of life in the second half of the twentieth century. Cigarette smoking is presently the best known environmental factor. However, the effect of tobacco is opposite in CD and UC. A familial history of IBD is the most important risk factor for developing the disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition to IBD. This hypothesis has recently been confirmed by the localization of at least two susceptibility loci on chromosomes 12 and 16. These genes seem to play a role in both CD and UC. They must now to be identified.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12↗

Importance of marrow dose on posttransplant outcome in acute leukemia: models derived from patients autografted with mafosfamide-purged marrow at a single institution.

Several prospective randomized trials in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) documented a lower relapse rate with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) than with conventional chemotherapy. However, they also identified some transplant difficulties, such as failure to collect sufficient numbers of stem cells, slow kinetics of engraftment, and a high transplant-related mortality that diminished or negated positive impact on overall survival. Data for ABMT are inconclusive in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in adults. We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute leukemia autografted with marrow purged with mafosfamide after January 1983 in our institution. The population comprised 229 consecutive patients; 165 with AML [123 in first remission (CR1), 32 in second remission (CR2)]; 61 with ALL (46 in CR1, 4 in CR2); and 3 with undifferentiated acute leukemia. All patients were autografted with marrow purged with mafosfamide. Mafosfamide was given at a constant dose of 50 microg/mL in 103 and adjusted individually to produce a CFU-GM LD 95 (5% residual CFU-GM post purging) in 126. The outcome was analyzed for correlation with patient characteristics, the disease including cytogenetics, and the graft itself. Prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis were used to derive a prognostic classification. Patients receiving higher doses of marrow submitted to purging (>5.46 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg) experienced a lower treatment-related mortality (RR = 0.11, p = 0.005) and a higher leukemia-free (RR = 0.5, p = 0.005) and overall survival (RR = 0.4, p = 0.001). Patients receiving <0.004% CFU-GM of marrow actually infused post purging had a lower relapse rate (RR = 0.51, p = 0.003). Modeling of prognostic groups identified good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk categories. Patients receiving a stem cell dose evaluated before purging of >5.46 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg and doses actually infused post purging of < or =0.02 x 10(4)/kg had a treatment-related mortality of only 2+/-2%, a leukemia-free survival of 70%, and an overall survival of 77+/-7% at 10 years. In this study of autotransplantation for acute leukemia using mafosfamide-purged marrow, the stem cell dose used for purging and the intensity of purging were the most important factors predicting outcome.

Adolescent↗

Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy with peripheral demyelinating neuropathy after autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloblastic leukemia (FAB5).

Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy is an opportunistic JC virus-related pathology occurring in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of severe cellular immunodeficiency in a patient who underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloblastic leukemia, and who subsequently developed progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy, an unusual pathology in this context. Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy was preceded by a peripheral demyelinating neuropathy. We discuss the possible link between these two neuropathies, the possible aggravation or activation from CMV infection, as well as the possible contribution of bone marrow purging in the resultant cellular immunodeficiency.

Adult↗

Autologous stem-cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: the role of graft purging and radiotherapy posttransplantation--results of a retrospective analysis on 120 patients autografted in a single institution.

PURPOSE: To analyze retrospectively survival and prognostic factors of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) autografted from 1979 to 1995 in a single institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients, 64 with aggressive and 56 with low-grade NHL, were autografted. The carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) regimen was used in 104. The autograft was marrow in 101 patients. Marrow was purged in vitro by mafosfamide for 63 patients (adjusted dose [AD] in 32; unique dose [UD] in 31); 27 patients received a CD34+-selected graft. Following intensification, 45 patients received additional radiotherapy on previous sites of involvement. RESULTS: Outcome at 5 years for patients transplanted with low-grade NHL in first complete remission (CR1), in first partial remission (PR1), and in second complete remission (CR2) or beyond showed an event-free survival (EFS) of 75% +/- 12%, 46% +/- 18%, and 57% +/- 24%, a relapse incidence (RI) of 21% +/- 12%, 49% +/- 19%, and 43% +/- 25%, and a transplant-related mortality (TRM) of 5% +/- 5%, 10% +/- 7%, and 0%, respectively. For patients with aggressive NHL transplanted in CR1, in PR1, in CR2 or beyond, and in resistant relapse or in primary refractory disease, the EFS was of 73% +/- 9%, 58% +/- 19%, 29% +/- 16%, and 10% +/- 9%, the RI 22% +/- 9%, 14% +/- 9%, 77% +/- 18%, and 66% +/- 20%, and the TRM 6% +/- 6%, 32% +/- 21%, 11% +/- 10%, and 71% +/- 22%, respectively. In patients autografted upfront in first remission, additional radiotherapy was associated with a higher EFS, in univariate (P = .03) and multivariate analysis (P = .02, relative risk [RR] = .021). The role of graft purging with mafosfamide on the outcome reflected by the dose of colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) per kilogram infused postpurging was assessed by univariate analysis: patients in first remission who received lower doses of CFU-GM had a lower RI and a higher EFS. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis suggests that marrow purging and posttransplant radiotherapy improve the outcome of patients with NHL autografted in first remission.

Adult↗

Unrelated mismatched cord blood transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies: a single institution experience.

We report on six cases of unrelated UCB transplant in adult patients with hematological malignancies: three chronic myelocytic leukemias and three acute leukemias. Their median age and body weight were respectively: 28 years (range 15.5-40) and 55.5 kg (range 46-90). The cord blood units were from the New York Blood Center. The median number of nuclear cells provided, evaluated before thawing, was 2.1 x 10(7)/kg (range 1 x 10(7)/kg-4.7 x 10(7)/kg). The degree of HLA disparity was 1/6: two patients, 2/6: three patients, 3/6: one patient. The patients received a pretransplant regimen including total body irradiation. They were given graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis which consisted of cyclosporin A and corticosteroids. They were all given a combination of G-CSF and erythropoietin. The median time of white blood cell and platelet reconstitution were respectively 24 days (range 12-43) and 60 days (range 23-90). All the patients had a full chimerism. A grade I acute GVHD was observed in four patients and two patients do not have any GVHD. No chronic GVHD has been observed yet. Three patients died from toxicity. Three patients are alive and well in complete remission at 2 years, 1 year and 11 months post-graft.

Adolescent↗

CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes are preferentially induced to die following CD45 cross-linking, through a novel apoptotic pathway.

Ligation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 on both mature and immature T cells modulates the amplitude of TCR-mediated signals. In this work, we have evaluated the consequences of CD45 ligation on immature T cells, in the absence of TCR engagement. Cross-linking of CD45 on thymocytes by mAbs led to the induction of cellular death, characterized by a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)), production of reactive oxygen species, loss in membrane asymmetry, exposure of phosphatidylserine residues, and incorporation of vital dyes. In sharp contrast to most stimuli causing thymocyte death, CD45 cross-linking did not lead to DNA degradation. Cell death was not blocked by Bcl-2 overexpression or treatment with caspase inhibitor. However, death was inhibited by the addition of scavengers of reactive oxygen species. We also established that susceptibility to CD45-mediated death is acquired during the transition of early CD4- CD8- TCR- T cell precursors into CD4+ CD8+ TCR- thymocytes and is increased with further acquisition of surface TCR on these cells. Moreover, mature thymocytes were much less sensitive to CD45 cross-linking than CD4+ CD8+ cells. We propose that during T cell development, CD45 ligation could induce the death of those immature thymocytes that do not fulfill the requirements for positive selection.

Animals↗

Specific activation of the cysteine protease CPP32 during the negative selection of T cells in the thymus.

Cysteine proteases of the CED-3 and ICE family have been recently proposed as the ultimate executioners in several mammalian cell death pathways. Among them, the cysteine protease CPP32 has been shown to participate in programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, affecting lymphoid cells in vitro. In the thymus, negative selection is a mechanism through which developing thymocytes expressing a TcR with high affinity for self peptide-MHC complexes are eliminated by PCD. In order to investigate the role of CPP32 in thymic apoptosis, isolated thymocytes were submitted to cell surface CD3 crosslinking by immobilized anti-CD3 mAb or to dexamethasone treatment. Although apoptosis occurred in the absence or after crosslinking with anti-CD3 mAb, specific activation of CPP32, as assessed by the extent of proteolytic cleavage of the p32 zymogen, was only detected in thymocytes cultured in the presence of the immobilized antibody or dexamethasone. This activation was a very early event during apoptosis as it occurred before the exposure of phosphatidyl serine to the upper side of the cell membrane. This was observed both in anti-CD3- and dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. Moreover, using mice transgenic for pigeon cytochrome C (PCC)-specific TcR, we were able to show that, after injection of PCC, the activation of CPP32 and cleavage of its substrate occurred in thymocytes obtained from mice expressing a permissive MHC haplotype for PCC presentation (H-2k). Moreover, PCC induced apoptosis was blocked by the caspase inhibitor zVAD. While spontaneous apoptosis was not accompanied by detectable levels of CPP32 processing, it was characterized by the proteolysis of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and was blocked by the cysteine protease inhibitor, zVAD-CH2F. Taken together, these results support the concept that CPP32 is among the earliest effectors of the pathway leading to negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes. Our results also suggest the involvement of a distinct CPP32-like cysteine protease in spontaneous apoptosis of thymocytes.

Animals↗

Bone marrow versus peripheral blood progenitor cells CD34 selection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: different levels of tumor cell reduction. Implications for autografting.

Human CD34+ selected cells are able to reconstitute hematopoiesis in patients receiving a myeloablative treatment. Although the role of reinfused tumor cells contaminating the grafts on the determination of postautograft relapses remains unclear, the major interest of CD34+ cell selection is to reduce the tumor contamination of the graft. This can be achieved if tumor cells do not express the CD34 antigen. We previously showed that this approach was effective with bone marrow (BM) collections in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Because peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) allow faster hematologic recovery than BM and are expected to contain less tumor contamination, we have compared the results of CD34+ cell selection in 35 BM and 16 PBPC from 48 patients with NHL. The PBPC were collected after a course of chemotherapy followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration. The data showed that the final CD34+ cell purity achieved with PBPC was higher than with BM (medians, 70% v 50%; P = .02). The CD34+ cell recovery was also better for PBPC (medians, 42% v 24%; P = .001). Tumor contamination was assessed by detection of BCL2/JH rearrangement using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 38 of 48 patients (22 BM, 16 PBPC). In addition, immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) rearrangements were investigated using PCR with consensus IgH primers. At harvesting, 10 of 22 BM and two of 16 PBPC contained BCL2/JH+ cells, one of 22 BM and 14 of 16 PBPC contained abnormal IgH+ cells (one PBPC contained both BCL2/JH+ and abnormal IgH+ cells) at harvesting. However, because lymphoma tissue specimens from patients at diagnosis were not available, the malignant character of IgH rearrangements could not be confirmed by sequencing and probing with allele-specific nucleotides. After CD34+ cell selection, a reduction to below the level of detection of BCL2/JH+ cells of BM and PBPC was effective in seven of 12 informative selections. In contrast, a reduction to below the level of detection of abnormal IgH+ cells was effective in only three of 15 informative selections. However, the detection of cells with an abnormal IgH pattern in the context of chemotherapy plus G-CSF progenitor mobilization in patients with NHL and its correlation with actual tumor contamination needs further investigation.

Adult↗

Induction of thymocyte deletion by purified single peptide/major histocompatibility complex ligands.

We report a novel in vitro approach that allows study of the consequences of TCR ligation on thymocytes in the absence of thymic stromal cells. Hence, thymocytes were incubated either in the presence of recombinant antigenic peptide/MHC complexes, which represent ligands of physiologic affinities, or with anti-TCR mAb, a ligand of supraphysiologic affinity. Whereas TCR cross-linking with mAb led to thymocyte deletion, incubation with peptide/MHC ligands did not trigger cellular apoptosis. However, the addition of a costimulatory signal (provided by anti-CD28 mAb) allowed the induction of apoptosis following TCR binding to peptide/MHC ligands, and it increased the levels of cell death obtained through mAb-mediated TCR cross-linking. Requirement for accessory signals seen with TCR stimulation by peptide/MHC complexes argues in favor of qualitative differences between TCR engagement by ligands of either physiologic or supraphysiologic affinity.

Animals↗

Search for DNA sequence variations using a MutS-based technology.

The search for DNA sequence variations (DSV) is emphasized with genetic studies of a large number of multifactorial diseases. Saturation of regions of interest with diallelic polymorphisms will be an essential step to pinpoint, through association studies, predisposing genes. We have developed a solid-phase method based on the ability of mismatch binding protein MutS to recognize single nucleotide mismatches. This approach was applied to the study of 83 sequence-tagged sites (STSs) extracted from an eight centimorgans (cM) chromosome 21 region. One-third of tested STSs were found to be polymorphic leading to a frequency of one DSV every 822 base pairs (bp). Sequencing of analyzed STSs showed the high reliability of the MutS-based technology for mismatches up to 2 bp in DNA fragments ranging in size from 200 bp to 1 kilobase (kb). The entire assay which is performed in a solid-phase format without the need of electrophoresis or sequencing, will provide an efficient tool for new polymorphism detection.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Genetic studies of the renin-angiotensin system in arterial hypertension associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor genes contribute to the development of arterial hypertension in members of French Caucasian families and in subjects with hypertension associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). METHODS: Sibpair linkage analyses were performed with microsatellites near the AGT and AT1 receptor genes in 179 hypertensive sibpairs from 69 NIDDM kindreds. In addition, population/association studies were performed with the M235T and T174M polymorphisms of the AGT gene, and the A1166C polymorphism of the AT1 receptor gene. RESULTS: No evidence for linkage between the AGT and AT1 receptor loci and hypertension was observed. In addition, the distributions of genotypes of AGT and AT1 receptor gene polymorphisms did not differ significantly among a group of unrelated individuals with both hypertension and NIDDM (n = 188) and three groups of unrelated control subjects with NIDDM (n = 117), hypertension (n = 75) or none of these conditions (n = 125). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the AGT and AT1 receptor genes are not major genetic determinants of hypertension associated with NIDDM in this population, although we can not exclude the possibility that these loci make a minor contribution in a polygenic context.

Aged↗

Novel dimeric Nur77 signaling mechanism in endocrine and lymphoid cells.

Within the nuclear receptor family, Nur77 (also known as NGFI-B) distinguishes itself by its ability to bind a target sequence (the NBRE) as a monomer and by its role in T-cell receptor (TCR)-induced apoptosis in T cells. We now report on a novel mechanism of Nur77 action that is mediated by homodimers. These dimers bind a Nur77 response element (NurRE), which has been identified as a target of CRH-induced Nur77 in the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene promoter. Both halves of the palindromic NurRE are required for responsiveness to physiological signals, like CRH in pituitary-derived AtT-20 cells. Similarly, in T-cell hybridomas, TCR activation induced NurRE but not NBRE reporters. The in vivo signaling function of Nur77 thus appears to be mediated by dimers acting on a palindromic response element of unusual spacing between its half-sites. This mechanism may represent the biologically relevant paradigm of action for this subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors.

Animals↗

Antagonism between Nur77 and glucocorticoid receptor for control of transcription.

Two important functions of glucocorticoids (Gc), namely, suppression of immune system function and feedback repression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are mediated through repression of gene transcription. Previous studies have indicated that this repression is exerted in part through antagonism between the glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and the AP-1 family of transcription factors. However, this mechanism could not account for repression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene, an important regulator of the HPA axis. Our recent identification of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 as a mediator of CRH induction of POMC transcription led us, in the present work, to show that Gc antagonize this positive signal at two levels. First, Gc partly blunt the CRH induction of Nur77 mRNA, and second, they antagonize Nur77-dependent transcription. GR repression is exerted by antagonism of Nur77 action on the NurRE element of the POMC gene. Gc antagonism of NurRE activity was observed in response to physiological stimuli in both endocrine (CRH induction of POMC) and lymphoid (T-cell receptor activation) cells. In transfection experiments, transcriptional activation by Nur77 and the repressor activity of liganded GR titrated each other on their cognate DNA target. In vitro binding experiments as well as mutation analysis of GR suggest that the mechanism of GR antagonism of Nur77 is very similar to that of the antagonism between GR and AP-1. The convergence of positive signals mediated by Nur77 (and also probably by related family members) and negative signals exerted by GR appears to be a general mechanism for control of transcription, since it is active in both endocrine and lymphoid cells.

Animals↗

Genetics of NIDDM in France: studies with 19 candidate genes in affected sib pairs.

As part of an ongoing search for susceptibility loci for NIDDM, we tested 19 genes whose products are implicated in insulin secretion or action for linkage with NIDDM. Loci included the G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels expressed in beta-cells (KCNJ3 and KCNJ7), glucagon (GCG), glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR), glucagon-like peptide I receptor (GLP1R), LIM/homeodomain islet-1 (ISL1), caudal-type homeodomain 3 (CDX3), proprotein convertase 2 (PCSK2), cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR), hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), mitochondrial FAD-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD2), liver and muscle forms of pyruvate kinase (PKL, PKM), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), hepatic phosphofructokinase (PFKL), protein serine/threonine phosphatase 1 beta (PPP1CB), and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Additionally, we tested the histidine-rich calcium locus (HRC) on chromosome 19q. All regions were tested for linkage with microsatellite markers in 751 individuals from 172 families with at least two patients with overt NIDDM (according to World Health Organization criteria) in the sibship, using nonparametric methods. These 172 families comprise 352 possible affected sib pairs with overt NIDDM or 621 possible affected sib pairs defined as having a fasting plasma glucose value of >6.1 mmol/l or a glucose value of >7.8 mmol/l 2 h after oral glucose load. No evidence for linkage was found with any of the 19 candidate genes and NIDDM in our population by nonparametric methods, suggesting that those genes are not major contributors to the pathogenesis of NIDDM. However, some evidence for suggestive linkage was found between a more severe form of NIDDM, defined as overt NIDDM diagnosed before 45 years of age, and the CCKBR locus (11p15.4; P = 0.004). Analyses of six additional markers spanning 27 cM on chromosome 11p confirmed the suggestive linkage in this region. Whether an NIDDM susceptibility gene lies on chromosome 11p in our population must be determined by further analyses.

Age Factors↗

Genetic analyses of glucose transporter genes in French non-insulin-dependent diabetic families.

Impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and impaired insulin-mediated glucose uptake are both prominent phenotypic features of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Membrane proteins GLUT1 (HepG2), GLUT2 (liver/islet), and GLUT4 (muscle/adipose tissue) facilitate glucose uptake into cells, and their genes are candidates for NIDDM. To assess their role in primary defects of diabetes, we performed linkage analyses between NIDDM and 10 polymorphic markers near GLUT1, GLUT2 and GLUT4 genes in 79 multiplex French NIDDM families. Linkage analyses were performed using both parametric (lodscore) and non-parametric (allele sharing among affected sib pairs) methods. No evidence was found for linkage between NIDDM and GLUT1, GLUT2 and GLUT4 regions, regardless of the methods or models used for analyses. Thus, these familial linkage studies demonstrate that GLUT1, GLUT2 and GLUT4 loci did not contribute significantly to NIDDM in this cohort. The decreased expression of glucose transporters observed in some NIDDM patients may be secondary to other genetic or environmental defects.

Adult↗

Monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection and disease in bone marrow recipients by reverse transcription-PCR and comparison with PCR and blood and urine cultures.

Preemptive therapy is a promising strategy for the prevention of serious cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after bone marrow (BM) transplantation but requires relevant diagnostic tests. We compared the clinical value of a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR method, which detected a late viral mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), with a PCR method that detected the viral DNA in PBL and with viral culture from leukocytes and urine for the diagnosis of symptomatic CMV infection after BM transplantation. Forty-five consecutive BM recipients were prospectively tested at weekly intervals by the four methods. CMV infection, demonstrated either by the culture of CMV or by repeated detection of viral DNA, was observed in 28 patients, but only 14 developed CMV-related clinical symptoms. The clinical sensitivity and specificity of each technique for detection of symptomatic infection were, respectively, 36 and 74% for urine culture, 43 and 84% for leukocyte culture, 100 and 65% for PCR, and 71 and 94% for RT-PCR. Although PCR detection of DNA in PBL was the earliest and most sensitive technique for the diagnosis of CMV infection, RT-PCR was more predictive of the onset of CMV-related clinical symptoms. These data suggest that both molecular methods should be used for identifying BM recipients at highest risk of CMV disease.

Adolescent↗