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Effects of glucocorticoids and cyclosporine on IL-2 and I kappa B alpha mRNA expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

To evaluate molecular mechanisms that might account for the heterogeneity in the in vitro responsiveness of individual subjects' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to immunosuppressive drugs, the authors quantitated in normal human cells the suppressive effects of the glucocorticoids prednisolone and methylprednisolone and of cyclosporine on interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA expression and IL-2 production, as well as the stimulatory effect of these drugs on IkappaBalpha mRNA expression. As expected, cyclosporine was significantly more suppressive than either glucocorticoid of IL-2 mRNA expression and IL-2 production by mitogen-stimulated PBMC, with variable degrees of inhibition in cells from individual subjects. The authors confirmed in human PBMC the stimulation of IkappaBalphamRNA expression by the glucocorticoid reported by others in HeLa and transfected Jurkat cell lines. In addition, the authors observed a stimulatory effect on IkappaBalpha mRNA expression by cyclosporine as well in 8 of 10 PBMC preparations studied, suggesting a possible role of calcineurin in the regulation of IkappaBalpha production. Interindividual variability in the intracellular mechanisms of action, possibly based on molecular polymorphisms, might be one factor contributing to differences among patients in their clinical responses to treatment with such drugs.

Cells, Cultured↗

Restriction isotyping of apolipoprotein E among populations of Punjab, northwestern India.

The molecular polymorphism displayed by apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) has been listed as a risk factor for susceptibility to various disorders, such as those associated with lipid metabolism and arteriosclerosis. Data from many population groups are available. The present study endeavors to add to the world population database for alleles encountered at this locus. One hundred sixty-five individuals representing four castes and a mixed group from Punjab, a state in northwestern India, were analyzed for APOE isotyping. Intercaste group comparisons of allele frequencies revealed statistically insignificant differences, pointing to homogeneity at this locus among Punjabi caste groups, which can be considered as one Punjabi population. A further comparison of this Punjabi sample with other populations of the world revealed the Punjabi population to be closer to some European populations than to either African or Asian populations, a pointer to the ethnic origins of the Punjabi population.

Adolescent↗

Modification of the isoinhibitors of human serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin) by pancreatic proteases.

Due to the action of a serum protease, the two most cathodal isoinhibitors of the alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) are cleaved at the Gly5-Asp6 bond and lack two negative charges. In spite of this, these can bind trypsin and chymotrypsin, showing that the N-terminal pentapeptide is not indispensable for inhibition function. Pancreatic proteases also cleave a bond near the N-terminus in alpha 1-PI, resulting in a loss of two negative charges and a corresponding cathodal shift in the electrofocusing behavior of the isoinhibitors. Trypsin cleaves isoinhibitors near the N-terminus at a large inhibitor excess and unless an additional cleavage takes place, at least two of the new isoinhibitors remain active. An additional cleavage(s), most likely at a distance of 30-40 residues from the C-terminus results in a corresponding decrease of the molecular mass and a loss of inhibition function. Although the C-terminal cleavage peptide does separate from the protein by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it remains associated with it under conditions of polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. Chymotrypsin also cleaved alpha 1-PI near the N-terminus but this could be observed only at protease excess and the modified isoinhibitors did not form complexes with chymotrypsin. The molecular polymorphism of alpha 1-PI is partly explained by the absence of the N-terminal pentapeptide from some of the isoinhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Triglyceride pools, flight and activity variation at the Gpdh locus in Drosophila melanogaster.

We have created a set of P-element excision-derived Gpdh alleles that generate a range of GPDH activity phenotypes ranging from zero to full activity. By placing these synthetic alleles in isogenic backgrounds, we characterize the effects of minor and major activity variation on two different aspects of Gpdh function: the standing triglyceride pool and glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle-assisted flight. We observe small but statistically significant reductions in triglyceride content for adult Gpdh genotypes possessing 33-80% reductions from normal activity. These small differences scale to a notable proportion of the observed genetic variation in triglyceride content in natural populations. Using a tethered fly assay to assess flight metabolism, we observed that genotypes with 100 and 66% activity exhibited no significant difference in wing-beat frequency (WBF), while activity reductions from 60 to 10% showed statistically significant reductions of approximately 7% in WBF. These studies show that the molecular polymorphism associated with GPDH activity could be maintained in natural populations by selection in the triglyceride pool.

Animals↗

Isoenzimatic analysis of four Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii (Diptera: Culicidae) populations of Brazil.

Anopheles cruzii is a small sylvatic mosquito and primary human Plasmodium vector in Southern Brazil. The distribution of this bromeliad-breeding mosquito follows the Atlantic forest coastal distribution, where bromeliads are abundant. Morphological, genetic, and molecular polymorphisms among different populations have been reported and it has recently been suggested that An. cruzii is a complex of cryptic species. The aim of this work is to analyze the gene flow between different populations of An. cruzii collected in four localities within the geographic distribution range of the species, and to examine if An. cruzii is a complex of cryptic species. The genetic distances show that populations of the states of Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro are genetically closer (0.032 to 0.083) than populations of Bahia (0.364 to 0.853) based on profiles from 10 distinct isoenzyme loci. The Fst was lower (0.077) when the Bahia population was excluded than when it was included (0.300) in the analyses. The inferred number of migrants per generation was 2.99 individuals among populations from the states of Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro and 0.58 migrants per generation among all populations. Results suggest that An. cruzii is a complex of species and that the specimens of state of Bahia can be considered as belonging to a species that is distinct from other three closely-related populations studied.

Animals↗

Passatempo virus, a vaccinia virus strain, Brazil.

Passatempo virus was isolated during a zoonotic outbreak. Biologic features and molecular characterization of hemagglutinin, thymidine kinase, and vaccinia growth factor genes suggested a vaccinia virus infection, which strengthens the idea of the reemergence and circulation of vaccinia virus in Brazil. Molecular polymorphisms indicated that Passatempo virus is a different isolate.

Animals↗

Increased TNFA*2, but not TNFB*1, allele frequency in Spanish atopic patients.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine involved in asthma and atopy. Increased TNF-alpha levels have been found in airway biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from asthmatic patients. Constitutional variations in the TNF-alpha secretion levels in vitro are associated with molecular polymorphisms located within and around the TNF loci. Our study objective was to investigate the association between atopy and two described di-allelic polymorphisms in the TNF locus: a G to A transition at position -308 in the 5'-promoter region of the TNFA gene (TNFA*1 and TNFA*2 alleles) and an Ncol restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the first intron of the TNFB gene (TNFB*1 and TNFB*2 alleles). The genetic study was performed in 65 unrelated atopic patients and 60 healthy controls. The regions of interest were amplified from genomic DNA using specific primers and polymerase chain reaction. SSP-PCR analysis for TNFA -308 polymorphism genotyping and endonuclease digestion analysis for the TNFB Ncol RFLP were used. The frequency of the TNFA*2 allele was significantly higher in atopic subjects compared to the control group (38.5% vs. 10.5%; chi2 = 32.06; p <0.0001). The TNFA*2 allele is associated with a higher risk for the development of atopy (risk ratio = 9.44; EF = 0.65; chi2 = 30.06 p <0.0005). On the other hand, no significant association between the TNFB alleles and atopy was found. In conclusion, the TNFA*2 allele could be also a genetic risk marker for the predisposition to atopy in our population, as has been reported in other studies. Either the TNFA gene itself or a linked gene on chromosome region 6p21, which has yet to be identified, is a candidate gene for susceptibility to atopy.

Adolescent↗

Collagen of umbilical cord vein and its alterations in pre-eclampsia.

The state of the vascular system of the mother and of placenta is known to exert a great influence on intrauterinal development of the fetus. Pre-eclampsia is the most common pathological syndrome connected with pregnancy. Since collagen is one of the main constituents of the vessel wall a comparison was made with collagen content and its molecular polymorphism in umbilical cord veins of newborns from healthy and pre-eclamptic mothers. It was found that umbilical cord veins of newborns from mothers with pre-eclampsia contained 18% less collagen than those of the newborns from normal pregnancies. This decrease was accompanied by a slight decrease of collagen solubility, but all its types (I, II, IV, V and VI) were present. However, the umbilical vein wall of newborns from mothers with pre-eclampsia contained relatively less of type I and more of type III collagen than the normal umbilical cord. These differences may be connected with a disturbance of blood flow in fetus of a woman with pre-eclampsia.

Adolescent↗

[What is it behind Alzheimer's disease? A pathophysiology review].

The commonest cause of dementia is the Alzheimer's disease, a progressive degenerative brain disease, that it has become a major public health problem. Neurochemical and neurobiological research has led to advances in understanding causes of this type of dementia but the pathological basis remains unclear. Suggested mechanisme for the disorder include gene polymorphisms, molecular lesions, angiogenesis and, even glutamatergic overstimulation. The progress in our knowledge of Alzheimer's disease, a genetically complex disorder, has set the stage for clinically meaningful advances in diagnosis and treatment, until now in focus only in the enhancement of neurotransmitter function. This review is aimed to physiopathological aspects in this common disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗

[Studies on population difference of Dendrobium officinale II establishment and optimization of the method of ISSR fingerprinting marker].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and optimize ISSR-PCR system of Dendrobiwn officinale according to the ISSR-PCR characters of D. officinale. METHOD: The effects of ISSR-PCRs was examined by selecting primers and designing different concentrations of the factors in the ISSR-PCRs, the reliable ISSR-PCR systems for D. officinale populations researching was established by analyzing the reasons for occurrence of differential bands and optimizing reaction conditions. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The optimal ISSR-PCR system in D. officinale was reported for the first time, and 25 15327012 microL ISSR-PCR system contained 10 x Taq buffer, 1.5 U Taq DNA polymerase, 1.2-1.8 mmol x L(-1) MgCl2, 80 micromol x L(-1) dNTP, 0.2 micro mol x L(-1) primer and 20 ng template DNA. The appropriate annealing temperature was among 52-60 degrees C. ISSR PCRs were significantly influenced by Taq DNA polymerase, template DNA quantity and annealing temperature, etc. The ISSR-PCR systems, which were established in this paper for studying D. officinale, could provide clear reliable abundant polymorphisms molecular markers and were proved suitable for studying population authentication and population molecular ecology of D. officinale.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Molecular characterization by high resolution isoelectric focusing of the products encoded by the class II region loci of the MHC in humans. II. DP alpha and DP beta gene variants.

To characterize the molecular polymorphism of the DP alpha and DP beta gene products, the HLA-DP molecules expressed by more than 200 cell lines were individually immunoprecipitated by using the mAb B7/21 and their neuraminidase-treated DP alpha and DP beta chains analyzed in IEF gels. These cell lines, most of them from members of 32 families, allowed the definition, by segregation analysis, of the IEF patterns of the DP polypeptide chains encoded by 129 distinct haplotypes. Both DP alpha and DP beta chains display polymorphic IEF-banding patterns. Two DP alpha (A and B) and seven DP beta (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) IEF variants were characterized. The DP alpha B variant was found in linkage disequilibrium with both DP beta B and DP beta D. Linkage disequilibrium was also encountered with alleles at the DR and DQ loci. Finally, the correlations between the IEF DP alpha and DP beta variants and the primed lymphocyte test-defined HLA-DP specificities were determined by using a panel of 24 primed lymphocyte test-typed cell lines.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Structural analysis of the Alu-containing DNA fragment with disperse distribution in human chromosomes].

Nucleotide sequencing of two terminal subfragments of a cloned human DNA fragment has been done. The fragment cloned hybridized dispersively along all chromosomes except for Y chromosome and C heterochromatic chromosome regions. Both subfragments sequenced contain Alu repeats, whose structures differ partially from those of accurately determined sequences of human Alu repeats. The results obtained are discussed in respect of possible usage of Alu repeats containing sequences for construction of special polymorphic molecular markers of human chromosomes.

Base Sequence↗

[Prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders by linkage analysis (author's transl)].

Most of the well-known monogenic disorders to date cannot be diagnosed prenatally. In principle, this problem can be overcome indirectly if the gene in question is linked to a cytogenetic, biochemical, or molecular polymorphism. In this respect, the last-mentioned will gain increasing importance in prenatal diagnosis in the near future. The problems of such linkage studies in X-linked, autosomal dominant, and recessive disorders are discussed. Prenatal diagnosis, monogenic disorders, linkage group analysis, chromosomal polymorphisms, DNA-sequence polymorphisms.

Adult↗

Brachydactyly and mental retardation: an Albright hereditary osteodystrophy-like syndrome localized to 2q37.

We report five patients with a combination of brachymetaphalangia and mental retardation, similar to that observed in Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Four patients had cytogenetically visible de novo deletions of chromosome 2q37. The fifth patient was cytogenetically normal and had normal bioactivity of the alpha subunit of Gs (Gs alpha), the protein that is defective in AHO. In this patient, we have used a combination of highly polymorphic molecular markers and FISH to demonstrate a microdeletion at 2q37. The common region of deletion overlap involves the most telomeric 2q marker, D2S125, and extends proximally for a maximum distance of 17.6 cM. We suggest this represents a consistent phenotype associated with some deletions at 2q37 and that genes important for skeletal and neurodevelopment lie within this region. Screening for deletions at this locus should be considered in individuals with brachymetaphalangia and mental retardation. Furthermore, 2q37 represents a candidate region for type E brachydactyly.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Family studies in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Clinical, cytogenetic and molecular studies have been undertaken in the families of 52 probands with Prader-Willi syndrome. The maternal age at the birth of a proband with a deletion in 15p11q13 was on average 8 years less than that of the mothers of probands with uniparental disomy (UPD), the paternal age was on average 7 years less. Seven probands with UPD were all female, as were 7 patients who had neither a detectable chromosomal abnormality nor UPD. Cytogenetic and molecular polymorphisms in proximal chromosome 15 indicated that for probands with a 15q11q13 deletion, inheritance of both the maternal and the intact paternal homologue is random in their unaffected sublings. Pigmentation studies suggest that probands who have a deletion in 15q11q13 have lighter colouring than other family members implying that D15S12 may not be imprinted.

Adult↗

An evolutionary perspective on single-nucleotide polymorphism screening in molecular cancer epidemiology.

Given that there are millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the entire human genome, a major difficulty faced by scientists in planning costly population-based genotyping is to choose target SNPs that are most likely to affect phenotypic functions and ultimately contribute to disease development. Although it is widely accepted that sequences with important functionality tend to be less variable across species because of selective pressure, to what extent evolutionary conservation is mirrored by epidemiological outcome has never been demonstrated. In this study, we surveyed odds ratios detected for 46 SNPs in 39 different cancer-related genes from 166 molecular epidemiological studies. The conservation levels of amino acid that these SNPs affected were calculated as a tolerance index by comparing sequences from different species. Our results provide evidence of a significant relationship between the detected odds ratios associated with cancer risk and the conservation levels of the SNP-affected amino acids (P = 0.002; R(2) = 0.06). Tolerance indices were further calculated for 355 nonsynonymous SNPs identified in 90 human DNA repair genes, of which 103 caused amino acid changes in very conserved positions. Our findings support the concept that SNPs altering the conserved amino acids are more likely to be associated with cancer susceptibility. Using such a molecular evolutionary approach may hold great promise for prioritizing SNPs to be genotyped in future molecular epidemiological studies.

Alleles↗

Amplified-fragment length polymorphism as a complement to IS6110-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was applied to clusters of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates obtained by using IS6110-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Ten of the RFLP clusters showed identical AFLP patterns also, but the other 13 could be resolved into subclusters by AFLP. Our results suggest that some RFLP clusters may not be due to recent transmission and that AFLP may be a useful complementary technique.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Genetic analyses of restriction fragment length polymorphisms using high molecular weight DNA from sperm or lymphocytes embedded in agarose.

A simple and efficient method for determining restriction fragment length polymorphism types on large numbers of individuals using small samples of peripheral blood or sperm cells is described. Whole cells embedded in low gelling/melting temperature agarose were treated with a series of enzyme, detergent, and washing steps to release high molecular weight DNA that was then digested with standard restriction enzymes such as EcoRI and PstI, electrophoresed, blotted, and probed as in normal Southern analyses. The technique should be readily adaptable to any application requiring DNA from small numbers of cells for Southern analyses or pulsed field gel electrophoresis.

Animals↗