Dysferlin mutations in LGMD2B, Miyoshi myopathy, and atypical dysferlinopathies

DYSF encoding dysferlin is mutated in Miyoshi myopathy and Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2B, the two main phenotypes recognized in dysferlinopathies. Dysferlin deficiency in muscle is the most relevant feature for the diagnosis of dysferlinopathy and prompts the search for mutations in DYSF. DYSF, located on chromosome 2p13, contains 55 coding exons and spans 150 kb of genomic DNA. We performed a genomic analysis of the DYSF coding sequence in 34 unrelated patients from various ethnic origins. All patients showed an absence or drastic decrease of dysferlin expression in muscle. A primary screening of DYSF using SSCP or dHPLC of PCR products of each of 55 exons of the gene was followed by sequencing whenever a sequence variation was detected. All together, 54 sequence variations were identified in DYSF, 50 of which predicting either a truncated protein or one amino-acid substitution and most of them (34 out of 54) being novel. In 23 patients, we identified two pathogenic mutations, while only one was identified in 11 patients. These mutations were widely spread in the coding sequence of the gene without any mutational "hotspot."     

Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas demonstrate the same chromosome changes as those found in frozen samples: a comparative study using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Cytogenetic studies in lymphomas classically require fresh or frozen tissue, whereas in many instances only paraffin-embedded biopsies are available. We applied an interphase FISH assay on nuclei extracted from thick paraffin sections to determine accuracy of molecular cytogenetics in such samples. Twenty-three lymphoma samples and 4 reactive lymph nodes were tested with various commercially available DNA probes, and hybridization patterns were compared with those obtained on frozen nuclei counterparts. Successful hybridization with all probes tested was observed for 23/27 (85%) paraffin-embedded tissues and for all (100%) frozen samples, and cut-off levels defining positivity were superimposable for both situations. Chromosome changes were detected in the same way, without any false-positive or false-negative cases. Hybridization signals observed on dewaxed samples were either those classically expected to define the relevant chromosome change or were atypical: all atypical changes could be demonstrated also into nuclei from the frozen counterpart. Moreover, all typical and atypical chromosome changes observed on frozen nuclei were also detected in paraffin-embedded tissues. Our study shows that our interphase FISH assay performed on paraffin-embedded samples is a valuable alternate to conventional methods to ascertain diagnosis of lymphomas as to include patients into therapeutic trials.     

IL-4 production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are phagocytic cells, able to secrete a large range of cytokines, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, as well as the Th1 cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-12. Although PMN do not seem to express IL-10 and IL-13, no information exists on the ability of PMN to produce IL-4. Therefore intracellular flow cytometry was performed in the presence or absence of Brefeldin A. Similarly to eosinophils, freshly isolated neutrophils from normal donors contained low amounts of IL-4, which significantly increased upon culture with Brefeldin A (P < 0001). Immunostaining performed on cytospin preparations of normal granulocytes confirmed the presence of intracellular IL-4. Using a highly sensitive ELISA, the levels of IL-4 secreted by cultured PMN and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were compared. PBMC secrete up to 60 times more IL-4 as PMN but, in the presence of calcium ionophore, only PMN showed a slight but significant increase in IL-4 secretion (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we report here the presence within human PMN of intracellular IL-4, which can at least partly be released under calcium ionophore stimulation. The relevance of this production of IL-4 by human PMN is discussed.     

Various protocols for determining estrogens by the enzymatic method using estradiol dehydrogenase. Respective procedures and advantages

Up to now, more than 40.000 determinations of urinary estrogens (E1 + E2) have been carried out in routine clinical analysis by the enzymatic method using estradiol dehydrogenase. This method makes use of the transhydrogenating activity of the placental enzyme: this enzyme transfers hydrogen from NADP to NAD with recycling of the specific substrate (E1 + E2). For several years the necessary reagents have been commercially available in the form of a kit. Nonetheless, various improvements have been made to the measurement of reduced NAD, which accumulates in the reaction medium and is directly proportional to the concentration of the two estrogens. Three protocols are available at present: Spectrophotometric measurement at 340 nm (initial technique); Colorimetric measurement at 492 nm. The pink colour measured arises from the reduction of a tetrazolium salt (INT) by reduced NAD in a coupled system using diaphorase; Measurement by bioluminescence of the light energy liberated on the reduction of flavin derivatives by NADH. The reaction is mediated by various enzymes isolated from marine bacteria (FMN oxidoreductase and luciferase) in the presence of an aliphatic aldehyde (decanal). The procedure for each of these protocols is described as well as the means for controlling the linearity of the reaction. The choice of protocol is determined by the biological fluid available, the speed of response desired and the cost of the analysis.     

Expression of HLA-DR and common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigens on glioma cells

The expression on several established human glioma cell lines of two well-defined differentiation antigens, HLA-DR and the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) has been demonstrated. Rabbit anti-CALLA antiserum and monoclonal anti-la antibodies specifically lysed glioma cells in the presence of complement. Absorption of anti-CALLA antiserum and anti-Ia antibodies by glioma cells abolished their cytotoxicity against blasts isolated from a common acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immunoprecipitation of solubilized glioma cells by monoclonal anti-Ia antibodies revealed two polypeptide chains of 28 and 33 kDa, whereas the anti-CALLA antiserum precipitated a single polypeptide chain of 100 kDa.     

Simplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus.

A simplified and reliable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to the detection of serum antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV-infected cells were fixed and dried on 96-well microtiter plates and kept at 4 degrees C. The titers of reference sera were determined by endpoint dilution. A linear relation was found between the titers and the logarithm of absorbance values of sera diluted to 1:1,000 (r = 0.93, P less than 0.001). Measurement of RSV antibodies was done by using a single serum dilution (1:1,000) in conjunction with a standard curve. A strong correlation was found between complement fixation and ELISA results (r = 0.89, P less than 0.001). In addition, the ELISA method exhibited higher titers and a greater sensitivity than did complement fixation, although the applicability of the assay is limited with positive serum samples of low titer.