Use of polymerase chain reaction in detection of growth hormone gene deletions

Familial isolated GH deficiency type 1A (IGHD1A) results from deletion of both GH alleles. To facilitate detection of cases of IGHD1A, we have developed a rapid method that uses polymerase chain reaction amplification of small amounts of genomic DNA, digestion with a single restriction endonuclease, and visualization of DNA fragments after gel electrophoresis. Employing this method we have identified two subjects with IGHD1A among a cohort of seven Chinese subjects with severe growth retardation due to GHD.     

实时荧光定量PCR检测直肠癌XPC基因表达

目的 检测核苷酸切除修复（NER）基因XPC在直肠癌及直肠组织中的表达。方法采用实时定量荧光PCR法,检测16例手术后切除的新鲜直肠癌组织及6例癌旁直肠组织中XPC基因表达水平。结果直肠癌中XPC基因水平明显高于正常直肠组织。结论高表达的XPC基因直接在NER早期发挥着重要作用,在一定程度上导致直肠癌患者对化疗药物的敏感性降低。     

Clinical applications of the polymerase chain reaction: an update

The development, in the past decade, of nucleic acid amplification and detection methods is useful in the study of the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of a variety of clinical (including rheumatologic) disorders. An association between infectious agents and rheumatic disorders has been established through such methods as polymerase chain reaction. This article describes the principles behind polymerase chain reaction-based diagnosis and updates its clinical applications. It is beyond the scope of this article, however, to describe other nucleic acid amplification methods or to include a complete list of all polymerase chain reaction assays that have been developed. Other recent reviews offer additional details.     

Detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in B lymphoid malignancies by polymerase chain reaction gene amplification

Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement serves as a marker of cell lineage and clonality in B lymphoproliferative disorders. We have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gene amplification to detect immunoglobulin gene rearrangements involving VH251, a heavy chain variable region preferentially utilized in B lymphoproliferative disorders. Using synthetic amplimers derived from VH251 and the heavy chain joining region, under conditions of high stringency, a homogeneous VH251-specific fragment of approximately 350 bp could be amplified from leukaemic DNA. Of 53 cases of B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia screened for VH251 rearrangement by PCR, 10 were positive. A background level of VH251 rearrangement could also be amplified from normal peripheral blood and bone marrow DNA, but a VH251 rearranged leukaemic clone representing 0.01% of bone marrow mononuclear cells could be readily detected. The application of PCR to detect immunoglobulin gene rearrangement involving VH251 and potentially other preferentially utilized V regions provides a sensitive method both for tracking malignant B cells and for the study of normal B cell developmental pathways through which B lineage malignancies arise.     

Applications of polymerase chain reaction in rheumatology

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive and specific method for detection and quantification of specific nucleic acids from a clinical sample. With its use, genetic, infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases can be diagnosed and managed with a high level of sensitivity, accuracy, and rapidity. This technique exactly reproduces unlimited copies of DNA, even if only a small amount are present initially. PCR assays can detect presence of fastidious and slow-growing microorganisms, such as chlamydia, mycoplasmas, mycobacterias, and viruses directly from clinical specimens and also can detect antimicrobial resistance. The value of viral load measurement by nucleic acid amplification in the management of patients with HIV infection or hepatitis C has also been well established. From the point of view of a clinician, the applications of PCR are focused mainly in the amplification and detection of diagnostic DNA segments from the genomes of both pathogens and patients.     

Antigen receptor gene analysis in lymphoid malignancies--a study using the polymerase chain reaction

A leukemia line KOPN30bi was established from a patient of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with Philadelphia chromosome. The clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was identical between KOPN30bi and the predominant clone in the fresh sample (S1) from which KOPN30bi was established, indicating that they are of the same clonal origin. The study of the T cell receptor (TCR) genes including TCR beta, gamma, delta loci showed none of these loci was identical between KOPN30bi and S1. The result of the TCR delta region analysis which was rearranged on one of the alleles in KOPN30bi and was deleted on both alleles in S1, however, indicated KOPN30bi was not a derivative of S1. Polymerase chain reaction, using oligonucleotide probe corresponding to the N region sequence of V gamma-J gamma juncture of KOPN30bi, indicated that only one % of the blast cells in S1 corresponded to KOPN30bi. These studies indicated that the predominant clone in the fresh sample, although it occupied more than 99% of the blasts, did not represent the characteristics of the target cell for leukemogenesis, and furthermore that the leukemogenic molecular mechanisms such as P190 type BCR/ABL translocation are not enough to freeze the differentiation of the target cell.     

巢式聚合酶链反应检测慢性粒细胞白血病bcr／abl融合基因

目的 探讨Ph染色体和bcr/abl融合基因在慢性粒细胞白血病（CGL）的发病机制、诊断、治疗、预后判断的价值。方法 对46例CGL患者作巢式逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测bcr/abl融合基因,同时对其中28例作细胞遗传学检查。结果 46例CGL患者中,44例bcr/abl融合基因阳性,阳性率为95.7%;28例CGL患者作细胞遗传学检查。26例Ph染色体阳性,阳性率为92.9%;2例Ph染色体阴性的CGL患者,用RT-PCR检测出ber/abl融合基因。结论 巢式RT-PCR是一种快速、敏感而准确的检测方法,可以为部分Ph染色体阴性的CGL患者提供分子生物学的诊断依据。     

Detection of Helicobacter pylori cagA gene by polymerase chain reaction in faecal samples.

OBJECTIVE: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been extensively and successfully used to detect Helicobacter pylori in gastric juice and gastric biopsies. In contrast, the results obtained using faeces as biological samples for PCR are rather conflicting. This may be due to the presence of faecal inhibitory compounds (polysaccharides) which can inhibit the amplification reaction. The aim of this study was to characterize the H. pylori genotype in faecal samples by using specific primers for the cagA gene. To overcome the problem of contamination by polysaccharides, we used a filter-based extraction technique already applied in a previous study. METHODS: Antral and body biopsies were obtained from 30 symptomatic patients undergoing upper endoscopy. PCR was used to detect the presence of H. pylori organisms in faecal samples by using primers selected for the urease gene A. In addition, H. pylori organisms were characterized both in faecal samples and paraffin-embedded biopsies by PCR with specific primers for the cagA gene. RESULTS: All patients showed a positive CLO test (rapid urease test) and evidence of H. pylori by Warthin-Starry stain. PCR detected the urease A gene in the faecal samples of all patients. The cagA gene was detected in the faecal and biopsy samples of 18 subjects (60%). Duodenal ulcer and/or antral erosions were observed in 15 of the 18 cagA-positive patients (83.3%) and in five of the 12 cagA-negative patients (41.7%). Endoscopic features of normal mucosa or gastritis were observed in three cagA-positive patients (16.7%) and in seven cagA-negative patients (56.3%). cagA-positive status was found to be significantly related to the endoscopic features of duodenal ulceration and/or antral erosions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings prove that faeces are suitable samples for the detection of cagA status. Moreover, they confirm the existence of a significant relationship between cagA-positive status and duodenal ulcer and/or antral erosions.     

多重PCR检测方法在鼠疫监测中的应用

目的验证在鼠疫疫源地调查中应用多重PCR方法快速检测鼠疫菌的实用性。方法在14个省的17个鼠疫监测点采集标本2524份。选用针对鼠疫菌特异序列的引物,并加入内部对照模板,直接从鼠肝、脾等脏器标本中进行鼠疫核酸检测,与细菌分离培养结果相比较并进行统计学分析。结果两种检测方法的符合率为92.67%。PCR方法阳性检出率为10.38%,较细菌培养阳性检出率(4.48%)高(x~2=682.25,P<0.01)。结论多重PCR方法可应用于鼠疫监测中,比传统方法迅速、灵敏,但还有待于优化。     

Detection of monoclonality of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in thyroid malignant lymphoma by vectorette polymerase chain reaction

Distinguishing between thyroid malignant lymphoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) is quite difficult and problematic. B cell lymphomas display clonal Ig heavy-chain (IgH) gene rearrangement, and Southern blot hybridization (SBH) is often used for detection of the monoclonality of the IgH gene. However, SBH is often problematic because it requires a large volume of samples. We examined the efficiency in detecting the monoclonality of IgH gene in thyroid malignant lymphomas by vectorette PCR, which we started with only 200 ng of genomic DNA. Monoclonality was detected in 36 of 47 (76.6%) malignant lymphomas, whereas it was not detected in 10 samples of tissue of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The sensitivity was almost the same as that with SBH in which monoclonality was detected in 33 of 45 (73.3%) malignant lymphomas. These results suggest that vectorette PCR may be a substitute for SBH, and because it requires only a small volume of samples, it may be used in the analysis of aspiration biopsies.     

Quantitative analysis of renin gene expression in extrarenal tissues by polymerase chain reaction method.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of locally synthesized renin in the pathogenesis of hypertension, we investigated modulation of the renin gene expression in extrarenal tissues. DESIGN: Expression levels of renin messenger (m)RNA in various tissues were determined in the genetically hypertensive rats and their control strains. Effects of salt, captopril and clonidine upon renin gene expression were also investigated. METHODS: Due to the very low expression level of renin mRNA in extrarenal tissues, a competitive polymerase chain reaction method of assessment was applied. Total RNA from various tissues combined with a synthetic deletion-mutated renin RNA were reverse-transcribed and the resultant complementary DNA mixtures were amplified in one reaction in which the same primers were used. RESULTS: Expression levels of the renin mRNA in various parts of the central nervous system of 4-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were approximately twofold higher than those of age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats and expression levels in the brain were positively modulated by the administration of either captopril or clonidine. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the brain renin angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats was strongly suggested.     

The use of the polymerase chain reaction in prenatal diagnosis of growth hormone gene deletions

OBJECTIVE: Familial isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) type IA is characterized by a complete absence of human growth hormone (hGH) resulting in most cases from either a 6.7 or 7.7 kb deletion of DNA containing the hGH-1 gene. These patients have a strong initial anabolic response to exogenous recombinant hGH (r-hGH) therapy, frequently associated with the development of immune intolerance to r-hGH which causes an arrest of response to r-hGH replacement. This disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: In two pregnancies at risk, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied as a method for identifying hGH-1 gene deletions in DNA obtained by chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in the first trimester. RESULTS: Homozygotes for the 6.7kb deletion of DNA containing the hGH-1 gene were easily and conclusively detected by the absence of 1900, 761 and 712bp fragments after SmaI digestion of the polymerase chain reaction products. In contrast, the pattern found in heterozygotes for the hGH-1 gene deletion was difficult to distinguish from the pattern found in normal homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the polymerase chain reaction method is valuable for diagnosing individuals who are homozygous for hGH-1 gene deletions, while heterozygotes and normal individuals may be difficult to distinguish from each other. We suggest that, in these cases, Southern blotting remains the analysis to perform.     

Regulation of sodium-iodide-symporter gene expression in human thyrocytes measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The sodium-iodide-symporter (NIS) plays a key role in iodination, the first step in the biosynthesis of the thyroid hormones, and is thought to be critically involved in several thyroid disorders associated with altered iodine up-take. To elucidate the pathogenic role of NIS in these diseases a sensitive technique is needed to measure human NIS gene expression. We established a real time RT-PCR for accurate quantification of hNIS mRNA levels based on fluorescence-labelled hybridisation probes in the LightCycler system. Human NIS expression was investigated in primary cultures of human thyrocytes. After optimisation of PCR conditions less than 10 molecules hNIS were detected with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Under basal conditions NIS expression varied from 83 to 593 copies per 10 6 GAPDH molecules. Stimulation of thyrocytes with TSH (0.1-10 U/ml) or forskolin (0.1-15 microM) results in a dose- and time-dependent up-regulation of NIS expression reaching a maximum at 10 mU/ml TSH (2211 +/- 761 copies) or 10 microM forskolin (1663 +/- 302 copies) after 24 h. In conclusion, we here established a real-time RT-PCR combining the advantages of rapid thermocycling and online detection of NIS mRNA amplification. The sensitive quantification of human NIS mRNA expression offered by this novel technique may improve analysis of hNIS regulation and measurement of NIS mRNA expression in small biopsies.     

Detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in lymphoid malignancies of B-cell lineage by seminested polymerase chain reaction gene amplification

Seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the DNA fragments of the complementarity-determining region 3 of the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene heavy chain from the malignant cell specimens of patients with leukemias and lymphomas of B-cell lineage. Two different pairs of primers were used sequentially. Twenty of the 27 (74%) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, 14 of 19 (74%) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and eight of 20 (40%) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, who had rearrangement of the Ig gene heavy chain by Southern analysis, were positive by the seminested PCR. False-negative results appeared to occur more commonly in cases of lymphoma. The PCR analysis was also less likely to be positive if one-stage PCR studies with either pair of primers were both negative. The seminested PCR technique was found to have a high sensitivity of detecting malignant cells at the level of 0.02%. The clinical application of this assay needs to be investigated further.