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Biomedical subjects

Y D He

Publications and source records attributed to Y D He.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

No common denominator for breast cancer lymph node metastasis.

The axillary lymph node status is the most powerful prognostic factor for breast cancer patients to date. The molecular mechanisms that control lymph node metastasis, however, remain poorly understood. To define patterns of genes or gene regulatory pathways that drive breast cancer lymph node metastasis, we compared the gene expression profiles of 15 primary breast carcinomas and their matching lymph node metastases using microarrays. In general, primary breast carcinomas and lymph node metastases do not differ at the transcriptional level by a common subset of genes. No classifier or single gene discriminating the group of primary tumours from those of the lymph node metastases could be identified. Also, in a series of 295 breast tumours, no classifier predicting lymph node metastasis could be developed. However, subtle differences in the expression of genes involved in extracellular-matrix organisation and growth factor signalling are detected in individual pairs of matching primary and metastatic tumours. Surprisingly, however, different sets of these genes are either up- or downregulated in lymph node metastases. Our data suggest that breast carcinomas do not use a shared gene set to accomplish lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

Observation of high-energy neutrinos using Cerenkov detectors embedded deep in Antarctic ice.

Neutrinos are elementary particles that carry no electric charge and have little mass. As they interact only weakly with other particles, they can penetrate enormous amounts of matter, and therefore have the potential to directly convey astrophysical information from the edge of the Universe and from deep inside the most cataclysmic high-energy regions. The neutrino's great penetrating power, however, also makes this particle difficult to detect. Underground detectors have observed low-energy neutrinos from the Sun and a nearby supernova, as well as neutrinos generated in the Earth's atmosphere. But the very low fluxes of high-energy neutrinos from cosmic sources can be observed only by much larger, expandable detectors in, for example, deep water or ice. Here we report the detection of upwardly propagating atmospheric neutrinos by the ice-based Antarctic muon and neutrino detector array (AMANDA). These results establish a technology with which to build a kilometre-scale neutrino observatory necessary for astrophysical observations.

Journal Article↗

Experimental annotation of the human genome using microarray technology.

The most important product of the sequencing of a genome is a complete, accurate catalogue of genes and their products, primarily messenger RNA transcripts and their cognate proteins. Such a catalogue cannot be constructed by computational annotation alone; it requires experimental validation on a genome scale. Using 'exon' and 'tiling' arrays fabricated by ink-jet oligonucleotide synthesis, we devised an experimental approach to validate and refine computational gene predictions and define full-length transcripts on the basis of co-regulated expression of their exons. These methods can provide more accurate gene numbers and allow the detection of mRNA splice variants and identification of the tissue- and disease-specific conditions under which genes are expressed. We apply our technique to chromosome 22q under 69 experimental condition pairs, and to the entire human genome under two experimental conditions. We discuss implications for more comprehensive, consistent and reliable genome annotation, more efficient, full-length complementary DNA cloning strategies and application to complex diseases.

Algorithms↗

Expression profiling using microarrays fabricated by an ink-jet oligonucleotide synthesizer.

We describe a flexible system for gene expression profiling using arrays of tens of thousands of oligonucleotides synthesized in situ by an ink-jet printing method employing standard phosphoramidite chemistry. We have characterized the dependence of hybridization specificity and sensitivity on parameters including oligonucleotide length, hybridization stringency, sequence identity, sample abundance, and sample preparation method. We find that 60-mer oligonucleotides reliably detect transcript ratios at one copy per cell in complex biological samples, and that ink-jet arrays are compatible with several different sample amplification and labeling techniques. Furthermore, results using only a single carefully selected oligonucleotide per gene correlate closely with those obtained using complementary DNA (cDNA) arrays. Most of the genes for which measurements differ are members of gene families that can only be distinguished by oligonucleotides. Because different oligonucleotide sequences can be specified for each array, we anticipate that ink-jet oligonucleotide array technology will be useful in a wide variety of DNA microarray applications.

Cells, Cultured↗

Functional discovery via a compendium of expression profiles.

Ascertaining the impact of uncharacterized perturbations on the cell is a fundamental problem in biology. Here, we describe how a single assay can be used to monitor hundreds of different cellular functions simultaneously. We constructed a reference database or "compendium" of expression profiles corresponding to 300 diverse mutations and chemical treatments in S. cerevisiae, and we show that the cellular pathways affected can be determined by pattern matching, even among very subtle profiles. The utility of this approach is validated by examining profiles caused by deletions of uncharacterized genes: we identify and experimentally confirm that eight uncharacterized open reading frames encode proteins required for sterol metabolism, cell wall function, mitochondrial respiration, or protein synthesis. We also show that the compendium can be used to characterize pharmacological perturbations by identifying a novel target of the commonly used drug dyclonine.

Cell Wall↗

Signaling and circuitry of multiple MAPK pathways revealed by a matrix of global gene expression profiles.

Genome-wide transcript profiling was used to monitor signal transduction during yeast pheromone response. Genetic manipulations allowed analysis of changes in gene expression underlying pheromone signaling, cell cycle control, and polarized morphogenesis. A two-dimensional hierarchical clustered matrix, covering 383 of the most highly regulated genes, was constructed from 46 diverse experimental conditions. Diagnostic subsets of coexpressed genes reflected signaling activity, cross talk, and overlap of multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Analysis of the profiles specified by two different MAPKs-Fus3p and Kss1p-revealed functional overlap of the filamentous growth and mating responses. Global transcript analysis reflects biological responses associated with the activation and perturbation of signal transduction pathways.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Weight loss prior to clinical AIDS as a predictor of survival. Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study Investigators.

In this analysis the aim was to determine the independent effect of moderate to severe weight loss prior to an AIDS diagnosis on survival after AIDS. The study was conducted as part of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a longitudinal study of HIV-1-seropositive gay or bisexual men. Measured weight and self-reported weight loss data were collected semiannually from 1984 through 1993. The study population included 962 HIV-1-seropositive men who developed clinical AIDS during the follow-up period. Median survival after AIDS was significantly lower for men with measured weight loss of > or = 4.5 kg 3-9 months and 3-15 months prior to AIDS, or who had lost > 10% of their baseline body weight compared with men with less weight loss or weight gain. Men with self-reported unintentional weight loss of > or = 4.5 kg 3-9 months prior to AIDS had significantly poorer survival (median = 1.05 years vs. 1.48 years; p = 0.0001) compared with men not reporting weight loss. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, men in the high measured weight loss group 3-9 months prior to AIDS still had significantly poorer survival [relative hazard (RH) = 1.36; p = 0.02]. Similar trends were seen for the two longer intervals prior to AIDS (RH = 1.38, p = 0.01; and RH = 1.50, p = 0.02, respectively). Men who self-reported weight loss > or = 4.5 kg 3-9 months prior to AIDS also had significantly poorer survival after AIDS (RH = 1.43; p = 0.002) in multivariate analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Long-term survivors with HIV-1 infection: incubation period and longitudinal patterns of CD4+ lymphocytes.

To characterize long-term survival with HIV-1, we need to estimate the proportion of seroconverters remaining free from clinical AIDS for long periods. We predict that approximately 13% of homosexual/bisexual men infected at a young age may remain so for > 20 years. Since studies have not followed individuals for such periods, long-term survivors must be characterized using stability of immunologic markers. In a cohort of 1,809 seropositive men followed since 1984-85, 15% (187/1,214) of those with at least two consecutive visits early in the study showed no decline in CD4+ cell count. From these, 67 men with long follow-up and no use of zidovudine were identified as cases to investigate correlates of protection against HIV-1-induced immunodepletion. Two matched control subgroups, one with moderate and one with rapid CD4+ lymphocyte decline, produced 56 triplets of individuals to be contrasted. Analysis of data from early in the study on demographics, sexual behavior, and sexually transmitted diseases revealed no significant differences among the three groups. Men showing no decline in CD4+ lymphocytes persistently showed a healthier profile with respect to onset of clinical AIDS, survival, and concomitant hematologic variables. Moderate decliners had rates of clinical AIDS and death significantly higher than those in the stable group but lower than the fast decliners.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗