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Activation of human T cell clones and Jurkat cells by cross-linking class I MHC molecules.

Cross-linking class I MHC molecules on human T cell clones by reacting them with various mAb directed at either monomorphic or polymorphic determinants on class I MHC molecules followed by cross-linking with GaMIg stimulated a rise in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and induced proliferation and IL-2 production. T cell clones varied in the mean density of class I MHC molecules and the capacity to respond to mAb to class I MHC molecules. However, the functional responses of the clones did not correlate with class I MHC density or the CD4/CD8 phenotype. mAb to polymorphic class I MHC determinants were less able to induce an increase in [Ca2+]i and a functional response in the T cell clones. Additive stimulatory effects were noted when mAb against both HLA-A and HLA-B determinants were employed. Cross-linking class I MHC molecules on Jurkat cells induced a rise by [Ca2+]i and induced IL-2 production upon co-stimulation with PMA. Cross-linking class I MHC molecules on mutant Jurkat cells that expressed diminished levels of CD3 and were unable to produce IL-2 in response to anti-CD3 stimulation triggered both a rise in [Ca2+]i and IL-2 production with PMA co-stimulation. In contrast, cross-linking class I MHC molecules on mutant Jurkat cells that were CD3- stimulated neither a rise in [Ca2+]i nor IL-2 production. The combination of mAb to CD28 or ionomycin and PMA, however, was able to induce IL-2 production by CD3- Jurkat cells. The data demonstrate that cross-linking class I MHC molecules delivers a functionally important signal to T cell clones and Jurkat cells and indicate that class I MHC molecules may function to transduce activation signals to T cells. In addition, the data demonstrate that transmission of an activation signal via class I MHC molecules requires CD3 expression. The data, therefore, support a central role for CD3 in the transduction of activation signals to T cells via class I MHC molecules.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

HIV-1 envelope protein is expressed on the surface of infected cells before its processing and presentation to class II-restricted T lymphocytes.

T lymphocytes are activated upon binding of their Ag receptors to a complex of Ag-derived peptides and MHC class I or class II molecules expressed on the surface of APC. It is now well established that APC degrade exogenous Ag in acidic endosomal compartments, and that Ag fragments bind to class II molecules moving through these compartments on their way to the surface of the APC. Although peptides derived from some endogenous Ag can also bind to class II molecules and subsequently be recognized by class II-restricted T cells, the intracellular trafficking pathways that enable endogenous proteins to be processed for association with class II molecules remain controversial. We have analyzed the mechanism by which the envelope (env) protein of the HIV-1 is processed in infected cells for recognition by class II-restricted T cells. A large number of env-specific class II-restricted human CTL clones were shown to lyse B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing the env. A novel dilutional assay proved that A novel dilutional assay proved that recognition of endogenous env protein was not a consequence of release and re-uptake of the env protein and subsequent processing by the standard class II-restricted pathway. Processing of endogenous env protein required that the protein be co-translationally translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then exit the ER, since the class II-restricted CTL did not recognize env protein localized to the cytosol or retained in the ER of target cells. Under these conditions, however, class I-restricted recognition was readily demonstrated. Finally, class II-restricted recognition was strikingly dependent upon the steady state level of surface env protein, since extracellular reagents that removed intact env protein from the surface of target cells inhibited recognition. This inhibition operated at the Ag-processing level rather than at the level of subsequent Ag recognition. These results provide the first direct evidence that endogenously synthesized membrane proteins enter the class II-restricted Ag-processing pathway after expression on the cell surface in an intact form.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

MHC class I expression on tumor targets inhibits natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity without interfering with target recognition.

NK cell-mediated killing is inversely proportional to the amount of MHC class I expression on certain tumor targets. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain why class I-bearing targets are more resistant to NK cell-mediated lysis: 1) the presence of class I prevents NK cell recognition of a triggering molecule on the target cell surface, or 2) class I recognition transmits a separate inhibitory signal to the NK cell. To differentiate between these potential mechanisms, we have used cloned human CD16+/CD3- NK cells, the class I-deficient cell line C1R, and C1R cells expressing high levels of transfected HLA class I gene products. If class I expression blocks NK cell recognition of the targets, then proximal cell signaling events such as phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositides should be decreased in the NK cells interacting with the class I transfectants. However, we found that increases in the level of target cell class I expressions did not decrease phosphoinositide turnover or calcium signaling in NK cells. We also examined the effect of treating HLA-transfected C1R cells with mAb specific for the transfected MHC class I gene product. If class I expression has a negative regulatory influence on NK cell activation, then treating the targets with anti-HLA mAb should block the transmission of this negative signal. Consistent with this notion, addition of anti-HLA mAb (either whole Ig or F(ab')2 fragments) led to increased lysis of the class I-transfected targets. In contrast, addition of isotype-matched mAb specific for other cell surface markers did not alter sensitivity to lysis. All of these results suggest that MHC class I expression on target cells can initiate inhibitory signals in NK cells without blocking access to target structures.

Calcium↗

Activation of CD8-dependent cytotoxic T lymphocyte adhesion and degranulation by peptide class I antigen complexes.

Activation of CTL requires engagement of both the TCR and the CD8 coreceptor. Immobilized class I proteins and in vitro-formed peptide class I Ag complexes have been used to examine the relative contributions of TCR and CD8 to the adhesion and response of cloned, class I-restricted CTL. The extent of degranulation was found to be directly proportional to the concentration of peptide used to pulse class I, suggesting that activation is a direct function of TCR occupancy level. In contrast, activation of degranulation as a function of the amount of class I on the surface displayed a marked threshold density dependence. Essentially the same density dependence was found for the response of CTL to fluid phase anti-TCR mAb and non-Ag class I, indicating that CD8-class I interaction must exceed a threshold before effective cosignaling can occur. Adhesion and degranulation of CTL was minimal in response to in vitro peptide-class I complexes prepared at a class I density below the threshold. However, the same density of peptide class I initiated both adhesion and response if additional non-Ag class I was coimmobilized on the same surface at levels above threshold. Thus, when surface levels of peptide class I complex are low, as is likely to be the case under physiologic conditions, the level of TCR occupancy achieved is, by itself, insufficient to mediate cell adhesion or activate degranulation. The results demonstrate, however, that low TCR occupancy is sufficient to provide the signal to prime CD8. Provided that the surface density of class I is sufficiently high, CD8 then mediates strong adhesion and provides the costimulatory signal(s) to activate response.

Animals↗

Lip shape and position in Class II division 2 malocclusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences exist in the shape and position of the lips between Class II division 2 and Class I malocclusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of subjects with Class II division 2 (n = 30) and Class I (n = 30) incisor relationships were scanned at 300 dpi to produce digital images. These were subsequently digitized in random order. Twenty-one landmarks characterizing the upper and lower lips and the maxillary and mandibular central incisors were digitized. Procrustes algorithms optimally superimposed the landmark configurations to standardize size, location, and orientation. Discriminant analysis of the principal components of shape determined the differences between the Class II division 2 and Class I groups. RESULTS: The shape and position of the upper and lower lips differed significantly between the Class II division 2 group and the Class I group (P < .001). Principal component (PC) 1 (46% of the variance) involved an increase in the thickness of the upper and lower lips in the Class II division 2 group. PC2 (11% of the variance) was characterized by a relatively higher lip line in the Class II division 2 group. CONCLUSIONS: The shape and position of the lips differ between Class II division 2 and Class I malocclusions.

Cephalometry↗

Prediction of secondary structural content of proteins from their amino acid composition alone. II. The paradox with secondary structural class.

The success rates reported for secondary structural class prediction with different methods are contradictory. On one side, the problem of recognizing the secondary structural class of a protein knowing only its amino acid composition appears completely solved by simply applying jury decision with an elliptically scaled distance function. Chou and coworkers repeatedly (see Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 30:275-349, 1995) published prediction accuracies near 100%. On the other hand, traditional secondary structure prediction techniques achieve success rates of about 70% for the secondary structural state per residue and about 75% for structural class only with extensive input information (full sequence of the query protein, its amino acid composition and length, multiple alignments with homologous sequences). In this article, we resolve the paradox and consider (1) the question of the secondary structural class definition, (2) the role of the representativity of the test set of protein tertiary structure for the current state of the Protein Data Bank (PDB); and (3) we estimate the real impact of amino acid composition on secondary structural class. We formulate three objective criteria for a reasonable definition of secondary structural classes and show that only the criterion of Nakashima et al. (J. Biochem. 99:153-162, 1986) complies with all of them. Only this definition matches the distribution of secondary structural content in representative PDB subsets, whereas other criteria leave many proteins (up to 65% of all PDB entries) simply unassigned. We review critically specialized secondary-structural class prediction methods, especially those of Chou and coworkers, which claim almost 100% accuracy using only amino acid composition, and resolve the paradox that these prediction accuracies are better than those from secondary structure predictions from multiple alignments. We show (i) that these techniques rely on a preselection of test sets which removes irregular proteins and other proteins without any class assignment (about 35% of all PDB entries); and (ii) that even for preselected representative test sets, the success rate drops to 60% and lower for a 4-type classification (alpha, beta, alpha + beta, alpha/beta). The prediction accuracies fall to about 50% if the secondary structural class definition of Nakashima et al. is applied and only few irregular proteins are preselected and removed from automatically generated, representative subsets of the PDB. We have applied two new vector decomposition methods for secondary structural content prediction from amino acid composition alone, with and without consideration of amino acid compositional coupling in the learning set of tertiary structures respectively, to the problem of class prediction and achieve about 60% correct assignment among four classes (alpha, beta, mixed, irregular) as well as single sequence-based secondary structure prediction methods like GORIII and COMBI. Our results demonstrate that 60% correctness is the upper limit for a 4-type class prediction from amino acid composition alone for an unknown query protein and that consideration of compositional coupling does not improve the prediction success. The prediction program SSCP offering secondary structural class assignment for query compositions and sequences has been made available as a World Wide Web and E-mail service.

Amino Acids↗

Purification and characterization of class mu glutathione S-transferase isozymes from rabbit hepatic tissue.

Class mu glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are important in the detoxication of epoxides generated by oxidative metabolism. Phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, and pyridine have failed to enhance the expression of class mu GST isozymes in rabbit hepatic tissue (T. Primiano, S. G. Kim, and R. F. Novak, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 113, 64-73, 1992). Two class mu GST isozymes have been isolated from rabbit hepatic cytosol and purified to homogeneity using S-hexylglutathione-agarose, CM-Sepharose, and PBE94 chromatofocusing chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analyses showed that both isozymes possessed M(r) values of approximately 25,500 and cross-reacted with class mu-specific GST IgG. Gel filtration analysis revealed that these isozymes were dimers with molecular weights of approximately 45 kDa. The class mu GST isozymes had pIs of 7.8 and 7.2 as determined by nonequilibrium pH gel electrophoresis. The class mu GST 7.8 and 7.2 isozymes exhibited different metabolic activities toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, bromosulfophthalein, 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane, trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, p-nitrobenzyl chloride, and 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene. Metabolic activity of the two GSTs toward the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was inhibited by Cibacron blue, triethyltin bromide, S-hexylglutathione, bromosulfophthalein, and indomethacin. The amino acid composition of GST mu 7.8 and 7.2 was determined and found to be very similar to those of purified rat class mu GST isozymes. N-terminal analysis of the first 21 residues of the pI 7.8 class mu GST isozyme revealed that it had 71 and 81% sequence identity with the Yb1 and Yb2 subunits, respectively. Similarly, N-terminal analysis of the first 21 residues of the pI 7.2 class mu GST isozyme revealed a 75% sequence identity with either the rat Yb1 or Yb2 subunit. Examination of class mu GST expression in rabbit hepatic cytosol following treatment with a series of known inducers including phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, isosafrole, pyrazine, trans-stilbene oxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, and tert-butylhydroquinone was accomplished. The data show that these agents not only failed to enhance class mu GST expression, but that 3-methylcholanthrene and isosafrole caused suppression of class mu GSTs. These results provide evidence for the existence of two closely related class mu GST isozymes in rabbit hepatic tissue and suggest that the molecular mechanisms regulating GST expression differ between rat and rabbit in response to these xenobiotics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physiological substrates for rat alcohol dehydrogenase classes: aldehydes of lipid peroxidation, omega-hydroxyfatty acids, and retinoids.

Alcohol dehydrogenase classes exhibit important differences in both substrate specificity and tissue distribution which suggest distinct physiological functions. We have studied the kinetic constants at pH 7.5 of the rat alcohol dehydrogenase classes, purified from liver (classes I and III) and from stomach (class IV), with three groups of relevant physiological compounds: cytotoxic aldehydes generated in lipid peroxidation, omega-hydroxyfatty acids, and retinoids. Classes I and IV actively reduce 4-hydroxynonenal, 2-hexenal, and hexanal, which are toxic compounds known to be produced in significant amounts during lipid peroxidation. Class III shows poor activity with these aldehydes. Class IV exhibits the best kcat/Km values (2150 mM-1 x min-1 for 4-hydroxynonenal), which suggest a role for this enzyme in the elimination of the cytotoxic aldehydes in tissues that are susceptible to lipid peroxidation, such as skin, cornea, and mucosa of the respiratory and digestive tracts, where class IV is localized. The three classes are very active with omega-hydroxyfatty acids, suggesting that all of them are involved in the physiological oxidation of these compounds in the rat tissues. The kinetic constants support that oxidation of omega-hydroxyfatty acids is a physiological function for class III, in addition to its role as formaldehyde dehydrogenase. Finally, classes I and IV are active in retinol oxidation and retinal reduction. Class IV may play a crucial role in the generation of retinoic acid in epithelia, where this compound is involved in development and cell differentiation. In conclusion, alcohol dehydrogenase is an enzyme with multiple metabolic roles, and the different substrate specificity and tissue localization for each class provide organs and tissues with distinct physiological functions.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isozymes in the AdhN/AdhN strain of Peromyscus maniculatus (ADH-deermouse) and a possible role of class III ADH in alcohol metabolism.

Although the AdhN/AdhN strain of Peromyscus maniculatus (so-called ADH- deermouse) has been previously considered to be deficient in ADH, we found ADH isozymes of Classes II and III but not Class I in the liver of this strain. On the other hand, the AdhF/AdhF strain (so-called ADH+ deermouse), which has liver ADH activity, had Class I and III but not Class II ADH in the liver. In the stomach, Class III and IV ADHs were detected in both deermouse strains, as well as in the ddY mouse, which has the normal mammalian ADH system with four classes of ADH. These ADH isozymes were identified as electrophoretic phenotypes on the basis of their substrate specificity, pyrazole sensitivity, and immunoreactivity. Liver ADH activity of the ADH- strain was barely detectable in a conventional ADH assay using 15 mM ethanol as substrate; however, it increased markedly with high concentrations of ethanol (up to 3 M) or hexenol (7 mM). Furthermore, in a hydrophobic reaction medium containing 1.0 M t-butanol, liver ADH activity of this strain at low concentrations of ethanol (< 100 mM) greatly increased (about sevenfold), to more than 50% that of ADH+ deermouse. These results were attributable to the presence of Class III ADH and the absence of Class I ADH in the liver of ADH- deermouse. It was also found that even the ADH+ strain has low liver ADH activity (< 40% that of the ddY mouse) with 15 mM ethanol as substrate, probably due to low activity in Class I ADH. Consequently, liver ADH activity of this strain was lower than its stomach ADH activity, in contrast with the ddY mouse, whose ADH activity was much higher in the liver than in the stomach, as well as other mammals. Thus, the ADH systems in both ADH- and ADH+ deermouse were different not only from each other but also from that in the ddY mouse; the ADH- strain was deficient in only Class I ADH, and the ADH+ strain was deficient in Class II ADH and down-regulated in Class I ADH activity. Therefore, Class III ADH, which was found in both strains and activated allosterically, may participate in alcohol metabolism in deermouse, especially in the ADH- strain.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Glutathione S-transferases of human lung: characterization and evaluation of the protective role of the alpha-class isozymes against lipid peroxidation.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes of human lung have been purified, characterized, quantitated, and, based on their structural and immunological profiles, identified with their respective classes. The tau-, mu-, and alpha-class GSTs represented 94, 3, and 3% activities of total human lung GSTs toward CDNB, respectively, and 60, 10, and 30% of total GST protein, respectively. Both the mu- and the alpha-class GSTs of human lung exhibited heterogeneity. The two mu-class GSTs of human lung had pI values of 6.5 and 6.25 and were differentially expressed in humans. Significant differences were seen between the kinetic properties of these two isozymes and also between the lung and liver mu-class GSTs. The alpha-class GST isozymes of lung resolved into three peaks during isoelectric focusing corresponding to pI values of 9.2, 8.95, and 8.8. All three alpha-class GSTs isozymes had blocked N-termini and were immunologically similar to human liver alpha-class GSTs. Peptide fingerprints generated by SV-8 protease digestion and CNBr cleavage indicated minor structural differences between the liver and the lung alpha-class GSTs. The three alpha-class GSTs of lung expressed glutathione peroxidase activities toward the hydroperoxides of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol, with Km values in the range of 22 to 87 microM and Vmax values in the range of 67-120 mol/mol/min, indicating the involvement of the alpha-class GSTs in the protection mechanisms against peroxidation. All three classes of lung GSTs expressed activities toward leukotriene A4 methyl ester and epoxy stearic acid but the mu-class GSTs had relatively higher activities toward these substrates.

Blotting, Western↗

Rejection of established mouse pancreatic islet allografts by active immunization requires class I (H-2 K, D) antigen disparities.

In certain donor-recipient mouse strain combinations with class I (H-2 K, D, and K + D) or with classes I and II (H-2 D + I) disparities the incidence of islet allograft rejection is low. Furthermore pancreatic islet allografts transplanted between strains with class II (H-2 Ia) differences alone are rarely acutely rejected. In this experiment the ability of donor strain or third-party allogeneic splenocytes (active immunization) to induce rejection of established (greater than 100 days) islet allografts when the donor and recipient differed only for class I or class II antigens was tested. Class I disparate islet allografts are rejected if challenged with donor or third-party allogeneic splenocytes. The frequency of rejection is similar (80-89%) if the third-party splenocytes share the class I allele with the islet donor strain. In contrast, class II disparate islet allografts are not rejected after challenge with donor splenocytes or third-party splenocytes even when the third-party strain shares the class II disparity with the islet donor strain as well as class I antigens common to the donor and recipient. Furthermore, rejection of class II disparate islets did not occur following passive transfer of recipient strain splenocytes sensitized in vitro to donor strain lymphocytes. These results show that rejection of established islet allografts can only be induced if (1) the islet graft expresses H-2 K or H-2 D gene products that are different than the recipient strain, i.e., only class I antigens can serve as targets; and (2) challenging splenocytes also have class I disparities with the recipient.

Animals↗

Distinct kinetic mechanisms of the two classes of Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are divided into two classes based on both functional and structural criteria. Distinctions between the classes have heretofore been based on general features, such as the position of aminoacylation on the 3'-terminal tRNA ribose, and the topology and tRNA-binding orientation of the active-site protein fold. Here we show instead that transient burst kinetics provides a distinct mechanistic signature dividing the two classes of tRNA synthetases, and that this distinction has significant downstream effects on protein synthesis. Steady-state and transient kinetic analyses of class I CysRS and ValRS, and class II AlaRS and ProRS, reveal that class I tRNA synthetases are rate-limited by release of aminoacyl-tRNA, while class II synthetases are limited by a step prior to aminoacyl transfer. The tight aminoacyl-tRNA product binding by class I enzymes correlates with the ability of EF-Tu to form a ternary complex with class I but not class II synthetases, and the further capacity of this protein to enhance the rate of aminoacylation by class I synthetases. These results emphasize that the distinct mechanistic signatures of class I versus class II tRNA synthetases ensure rapid turnover of aminoacyl-tRNAs during protein synthesis.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Functional class in patients with heart failure is associated with the development of diabetes.

PURPOSE: Recent reports suggest that decreased functional capacity in patients with heart failure may be associated with abnormalities in glucose metabolism. We followed patients with coronary artery disease who participated in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention study to determine the incidence of diabetes by baseline functional status during a 7.7-year follow-up. METHODS: The sample comprised 2616 nondiabetic patients aged 45 to 74 years with a fasting blood glucose level <7 mmol/L (126 mg/dL). They were divided into three groups by New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria: class I (n = 1986 patients), class II (n = 518), and class III (n = 112). The detection of a fasting blood glucose level > or =7 mmol/L during follow-up was defined as the criterion for the development of diabetes. RESULTS: The study groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics, except that patients with symptomatic heart failure (NYHA class II or III) were more likely to have angina. During follow-up, diabetes developed in 259 patients (13%) in NYHA class I, 76 (15%) in class II, and 22 (20%) in class III (P for trend = 0.05). At the last visit, patients in NYHA class III were twice as likely (17% [n = 19]) to have fasting blood glucose levels > or =7 mmol/L as those in NYHA class I (7.8% [n = 154]) or class II (8.7% [n = 45]) (P = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis, NYHA class III was associated with a 1.7-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 2.6) increase in the rate of development of diabetes, but NYHA class II was not (hazard ratio = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.8 to 1.3). CONCLUSION: Among patients with coronary artery disease, advanced heart failure (NYHA class III) is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes during a 6- to 9-year follow-up.

Age Distribution↗

Semantic processing of open- and closed-class words: an event-related potentials study.

Previous research on open- and closed-class words has revealed the existence of several differences in the processing of these types of vocabulary. In this paper the processing of open- and closed-class words was compared by means of an early electrical brain response, recognition potential (RP), which indexes semantic processing and originates from basal extrastriate areas. The effects of word frequency on closed-class words were also investigated. For these purposes, open- and closed-class words, among other stimuli, were presented by means of the rapid stream stimulation procedure. Results showed that there were no significant differences when comparing the RP evoked by open- and closed-class words in the left hemisphere. However, in the right hemisphere this situation changed: the RP evoked by open- and closed-class words did differ. Moreover, there were no differences between the RP evoked by closed-class words and pseudowords. These patterns of results suggest that the semantic processing of closed-class words shares some aspects with the processing of open-class words, despite the existence of some differences. Thus, whereas the semantic processing of open-class words recruits brain areas of both hemispheres, the semantic processing of closed-class words is left-lateralized. A second purpose of this work is to study word-frequency effects on closed-class words. Our results show the insensitivity of closed-class words to word-frequency effects.

Adult↗

Characteristics of haemopoietic progenitor cells related to CD34 epitope class expression.

Haemopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) express the CD34 molecule, a heavily glycosylated transmembrane protein displaying three main classes of epitopes. The CD34 epitope class expression may vary between different subsets of HPCs. The aim of this study was to characterise the subsets of HPCs expressing CD34 class II and III epitopes. The cells were studied for coexpression of activation-, lineage- and adhesion-associated molecules, and their clonogenic ability and morphological features were examined. CD34+ HPCs expressing class III epitopes outnumbered those expressing class II. Class III expressing HPCs were enriched for CFU-GM and BFU-E and cells coexpressing CD13, CD33, c-kit and CD71 compared to class II expressing HPCs. CD34+ cells exclusively expressing class III epitopes uniformly displayed CD13 and CD33; they had a high clonogenic capacity and morphological characteristics of promyelocytes and myelocytes. The data show that class III epitopes are distributed more broadly on CD34+ HPCs than are class II epitopes, and that lack of class II epitopes is confined to CD34+ HPCs at a late stage of myeloid differentiation. The higher number of class III expressing HPCs coexpressing c-kit and CD71 suggests that these cells exhibit a higher proliferative or differential potential than do HPCs expressing class II epitopes.

Antigens, CD34↗

A latent class analysis of antisocial personality disorder symptom data from a multi-centre family study of alcoholism.

AIMS: To determine if there are subtypes of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), as manifested by distinctive symptom profiles or by associations with alcohol, other drug dependence or other psychiatric disorders. METHODS: Data on 38 symptoms of ASPD (including childhood conduct disorder) obtained from probands, their relatives and controls (2834 females and 3488 males) recruited for the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) were analyzed using latent class analysis. Associations of the resulting latent classes with alcohol dependence (AD) and other psychiatric disorders were examined. FINDINGS: Among women, a 4-class solution was obtained in which conduct disorder and ASPD were found almost exclusively in the most severely affected class with two additional classes with mild and moderate behavior problems also identified. A strong linear trend (p < 0.001) for AD was observed, with each successive class manifesting a higher prevalence than the previous class. Milestones of drinking careers and dependence on other drugs also showed a strong association with class severity. Among men, a 5-class solution was obtained and, like women, the highest prevalence of ASPD (74.6%) was found in the most severely affected class. Somewhat unexpected was the observation that prevalence of AD was equivalent in the two most severe classes. The data for men indicated a class with a milder spectrum of childhood misbehaviors but with an adult ASPD profile--as well as other psychiatric co-morbidity--that was comparable to the most severe class. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, findings from both men and women did not support the existence of subtypes of ASPD, but rather indicated a disorder distributed on a severity spectrum.

Adult↗

Cloning of the mouse class IV alcohol dehydrogenase (retinol dehydrogenase) cDNA and tissue-specific expression patterns of the murine ADH gene family.

Humans possess five classes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), including forms able to oxidize ethanol or formaldehyde as part of a defense mechanism, as well as forms acting as retinol dehydrogenases in the synthesis of the regulatory ligand retinoic acid. However, the mouse has previously been shown to possess only three forms of ADH. Hybridization analysis of mouse genomic DNA using cDNA probes specific for each of the five classes of human ADH has now indicated that mouse DNA cross-hybridizes to only classes I, III, and IV. With human class II or class V ADH cDNA probes, hybridization to mouse genomic DNA was very weak or undetectable, suggesting either a lack of these genes in the mouse or a high degree of mutational divergence relative to the human genes. cDNAs for murine ADH classes I and III have previously been cloned, and we now report the cloning of a full-length mouse class IV ADH cDNA. In Northern blot analyses, mouse class IV ADH mRNA was abundant in the stomach, eye, skin, and ovary, thus correlating with the expression pattern for the mouse Adh-3 gene previously determined by enzyme analysis. In situ hybridization studies on mouse stomach indicated that class IV ADH transcripts were abundant in the mucosal epithelium but absent from the muscular layer. Comparison of the expression patterns for all three mouse ADH genes indicated that class III was expressed ubiquitously, whereas classes I and IV were differentially expressed in an overlapping set of tissues that all contain a large component of epithelial cells. This expression pattern is consistent with the ability of classes I and IV to oxidize retinol for the synthesis of retinoic acid known to regulate epithelial cell differentiation. The results presented here indicate that the mouse has a simpler ADH gene family than the human but has conserved class IV ADH previously shown to be a very active retinol dehydrogenase in humans.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Replication of the latent class structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) subtypes in a sample of Australian twins.

BACKGROUND: Previous efforts to subtype Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) using latent class analysis (LCA) applied to DSM-IV symptom profiles of adolescent female twins from Missouri (USA) have identified distinct classes within the domains of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity and combined-type problems. The objective of the current report is to determine if the latent class structure of ADHD subtypes can be replicated in a culturally distinct sample of female and male Australian twins. METHOD: LCA was applied to parent-report DSM-IV ADHD symptom profiles of N=2,848 child and adolescent Australian twins and compared to North American findings. Separate models were fitted for females (N= 1,432) and males (N= 1,416). RESULTS: The most congruent latent ADHD classes across samples included a non-symptomatic class, three mild-moderate and two severe classes. Also present within samples was a rare hyperactive-impulsive class and a unique class, the structure of which was idiosyncratic across samples. Mean symptom endorsement and individual symptom endorsement probabilities for each of the stable classes were similar across samples. Consistent with previous findings, there was substantial overlap between the DSM-IV inattentive and combined subtypes with the severe inattentive and severe combined latent classes. However, DSM-IV inattentive and combined subtypes were distributed over several latent classes in each sample, and a substantial proportion of individuals with no DSM-IV diagnosis were also assigned to these severe classes. CONCLUSIONS: Results from LCA using an Australian twin sample replicate six of the eight latent class subtypes previously reported using Missouri female twins and extend the findings to male twins. LCA and DSM-IV systems of ADHD classification identify different phenotypic groups, and the basis of this disparity merits further investigation.

Adolescent↗