Dystonia associated with mutation of the neuronal sodium channel Scn8a and identification of the modifier locus Scnm1 on mouse chromosome 3

The mouse mutant medJ contains a splice site mutation in the neuronal sodium channel Scn8a that results in a very low level of expression. On a C57BL/6J genetic background, medJ homozygotes exhibit progressive paralysis and juvenile lethality. The C3H genetic background has an ameliorating effect, producing viable adults with a novel dystonic phenotype. The dystonic mice exhibit movement-induced, sustained abnormal postures of the trunk and limbs. A dominant modifier locus responsible for the difference between strains was mapped to a 4.5 +/- 1.3 cM interval on mouse chromosome 3. Our findings establish a role for ion channels in dystonia and demonstrate the impact of genetic background on its severity and progression. This new model suggests that SCN8A on chromosome 12q13 and SCNM1 on chromosome 1p21-1q21 may contribute to human inherited dystonia.      

X射线全身照射后脾细胞内［Ca2+］i对ConA反应性的变化

目的研究电离辐射对ＣｏｎＡ激活的脾细胞内游离钙离子（［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ）动员的影响,以探讨电离辐射免疫抑制作用的发生机理。方法采用Ｆｕｒａ２／ＡＭ双波长荧光测定法检测了Ｘ射线全身照射后的小鼠脾细胞内［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ对ＣｏｎＡ反应性的变化。结果小鼠接受０、０５、１、２、４和６Ｇｙ吸收剂量的Ｘ射线全身照射后２４小时,脾细胞内［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ对ＣｏｎＡ反应性呈剂量依赖性下降,表现为［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ上升幅度减小、上升至峰值时间延长。２ＧｙＸ射线全身照射后的时程观察表明,照后２小时细胞内［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ对ＣｏｎＡ反应性开始下降,２４小时达最低点,照后５天才略有回升。结论电离辐射所致免疫功能抑制与其抑制淋巴细胞内［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ动员等信息传递过程有关     

Molecular characteristics of two esophageal carcinosarcomas: a hint for theclonality of carcinomatic and sarcomatic tumor components

AIM To study the clonality of the esophageal carcinosarcoma by using molecular approaches.METHODS Two esophageal carcinosarcomas were included in the study. Tumor area from dysplasticlesion, squamout cell carcinoma, basaloid cell carcinoma and spindle cell elements were microdissectedseparately. Each element was analyzed with 14 microsatellite markers and direct sequenced for p53 gene andras gene mutation.RESULTS Both tumors displayed a typical histologic feature of carcinosarcoma. Both cases showed thedivergent differentiation by immunohistochemistry study. In case 1 the identical LOH at p53 and hMLH1 lociwas detected. The heterogenous LOH was detected only in carcinosarcoma at RB1 and BRCA1 loci, whilethe LOH at ACTC locus was seen only in sarcoma. The same mutation of the splice site of exon 6-intron 6displayed in the two tumor elements. In case 2, a coordinate LOH at RB locus was demonstrated in threetypes of tumor elements: sqamous carcinoma, basaloid carcinoma and spindle cell element. A heterogenousLOH was seen only in spindle cells at TAP1 locus. No mutation in exon 5-8 of p53 gene has been found incase 2. No mutation of K-ras gene was found.CONCLUSION Although the different differentiation, the two elements of esophageal carcinosarcoma mayhave a single clonality. The p53 gene mutation occurred before the two differentiation directions switched.The distinct molecular genotype can be determined through molecular biological analysis. The microsatelliteprofiling can serve as an approach to find out which genetic alteration occurs before or after thedifferentiation is determines.