Detection and delineation of an unusual 17p11.2 deletion by array-CGH and refinement of the Smith–Magenis syndrome minimum deletion to 650 kb

Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multiple congenital anomaly/mental retardation syndrome and it is characterized by an interstitial deletion of chromosome 17p11.2. SMS patients have a distinct phenotype which is believed to be caused by haploinsufficiency of one or more genes in the associated deleted region. Five non-deletion patients with classical phenotypic features of SMS have been reported with mutations in the retinoic acid induced 1 (RAI1) gene, located within the SMS critical interval. Happloinsufficiency of the RAI1 gene is likely to be the responsible gene for the majority of the SMS features, but other deleted genes in the SMS region may modify the overall phenotype in the patients with 17p11.2 deletions. SMS is usually diagnosed in the clinical genetic setting by FISH analysis using commercially available probes. We detected a submicroscopic deletion in 17p11.2 using array-CGH with a resolution of approximately 1 Mb in a patient with the SMS phenotype, who was not deleted for the commercially available SMS microdeletion FISH probe. Delineation of the deletion was performed using a 32K tiling BAC-array, containing 32,500 BAC clones. The deletion in this patient was size mapped to 2.7 Mb and covered the RAI1 gene. This case enabled the refinement of the SMS minimum deletion to 650 kb containing eight putative genes and one predicted gene. In addition, it demonstrates the importance to investigate deletion of RAI1 in SMS patients.     

Human papillomavirus genotyping by oligonucleotide microarray and p16 expression in uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasm and in invasive carcinoma in Korean women

For evaluating the diagnostic significance of p16(INK4A) over-expression in the uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasm and in invasive carcinoma, human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected and genotyped by oligonucleotide microarray in archival tissues of 117 cervical specimens, including 47 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 30 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 20 adenocarcinomas, and 20 cases of non-neoplastic cervix. The expression of p16(INK4A) protein was immunohistochemically studied in these cases and in five HPV-positive and one HPV-negative cervical cancer cell lines. HPV was detected in 50% of CIN, 61.7% of SCC, and 45.5% of adenocarcinomas. p16(INK4A) expression was seen in all 20 cases of adenocarcinoma, 78.7% (37/47) of SCC, and 96.7% (29/30) of CIN, but not in any cases of the non-neoplastic cervix. There was no difference in p16(INK4A) expression between the HPV-positive and HPV-negative cervical lesions. All HPV-positive and -negative cervical cancer cell lines expressed p16(INK4A) protein. In conclusion, the presence of p16(INK4A) expression in cervical squamous and glandular epithelium indicates the existence of dysplasia or malignancy in the uterine cervix, regardless of HPV infection.     

Identification of an unbalanced X-autosome translocation by array CGH in a boy with a syndromic form of chondrodysplasia punctata brachytelephalangic type

Screening of a large series of patients with unexplained mental retardation with a 1 Mb BAC array resulted in the detection of several cryptic chromosomal imbalances. In this paper we present the findings of array CGH screening in a 14-year-old boy with the brachytelephalangic type of chondrodysplasia punctata, mental retardation and obesity. On several occasions, cytogenetic analysis of this boy revealed a normal karyotype. Subsequent screening with array CGH resulted in the detection of a distal 9p trisomy and distal Xp nullisomy caused by an unbalanced X;9 translocation: 46,Y,der(X)t(X;9)(p22.32;p23). The identification of this de novo chromosomal rearrangement not only made accurate genetic counselling possible but also explained most of the phenotypic abnormalities observed in this patient. This study confirms the power of array CGH in the detection of subtle or submicroscopic chromosomal changes.     

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides induce IL-8 expression in CD34+ cells via mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent and NF-kappaB-independent pathways

To elucidate the role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation along with the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by CpG DNA in CD34+ cells, we investigated whether synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), containing unmethylated CpG motifs, could induce IL-8 expression in CD34+ cells through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway. We demonstrated evidence for the first time that CD34+ cells constitutively expressed TLR9. Exposure of the cells to CpG ODN resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase of IL-8 expression, and activation of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and phosphorylated p38. In addition, CpG ODN stimulated AP-1, but not NF-kappaB, signals. Moreover, inhibitors of MAPK (U0126 and SB203580) significantly reduced the IL-8 production, while the inhibition of NF-kappaB (pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and retrovirus containing dominant-negative IkappaB alpha plasmid) did not affect the IL-8 expression increased by CpG ODN. Moreover, co-stimulation with LPS and CpG synergistically up-regulates IL-8 in CD34+ cells. These results suggest that CpG DNA, acting on TLR9, activates CD34+ cells to express IL-8 through MAPK-dependent and NF-kappaB-independent pathways.     

Correlation of AIB1 overexpression with advanced clinical stage of human colorectal carcinoma

AIB1, a member of the steroid receptor coactivator 1 family, has been cloned on 20q12 and is a candidate oncogene in human breast cancer. It is commonly amplified and overexpressed in several types of human cancers. In this study, we examined the expression of AIB1, as related to clinicopathologic features, in 85 human colorectal cancers (CRCs). The status of the number of AIB1 copies, p53 expression, and DNA ploidy was also analyzed. The overexpression of AIB1 was detected in 35% of CRCs. Amplification of AIB1 was observed in 10% of CRCs. In addition, the overexpression of AIB1 was observed more frequently in CRCs in later clinical stages (T3 N1 M0/T3 N0 2M1), compared with that in T3 N0 M0 stage (P < .05). These results suggest that overexpression of AIB1 might provide a selective advantage for the developmental growth and/or progression of subsets of CRCs. In addition, a significant correlation (P < .05) of overexpression of AIB1 with p53 overexpression as well as with aneuploid DNA content was observed in these CRCs. The overexpression of p53 was also correlated significantly with CRC DNA ploidy (P < .05). Furthermore, there was a substantial population of CRCs showing overexpression of both AIB1 and p53 protein and all had aneuploid DNA content; most of these were in the later clinical stage. These findings suggest a possible convergence of AIB1 with a pathway involving p53, which might induce chromosomal instability and affect the clinical phenotype of a subset of CRCs.     

Mutant Brca2/p53 mice exhibit altered radiation responses in the developing mammary gland

Appropriate balance between proliferation and apoptosis is critical for mammary gland development and is often altered during tumorigenesis. Carcinogens like radiation induce DNA damage and activate protective responses such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We used mice carrying Brca2(-/-) and/or p53(-/-) mutations to evaluate the individual and combined effects of these genes on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the developing mammary gland. Mice were exposed to 5Gy of radiation or chamber exposure (controls) followed by injection with BrdU. Mammary glands were collected 6 h post-radiation exposure and evaluated for proliferation (BrdU) and apoptosis (TUNEL) in terminal end buds (TEB) and ducts. Under control conditions, the Brca2 mutation reduced proliferation and apoptosis in TEB but not ducts, whereas the p53 mutation reduced apoptosis in TEB and ducts but did not influence proliferation. Despite these alterations in proliferation and/or apoptosis, neither mutation, either individually or combined, significantly altered the overall balance between the two as measured by the proliferation to apoptosis ratio (growth index). Following irradiation, the Brca2 mutation had no significant effect on proliferation or apoptosis, whereas the p53 mutation resulted in reduced apoptosis in TEB and ducts but did not significantly influence proliferation. Neither mutation by itself altered the growth index in the TEB after irradiation although combined Brca2/p53 mutation caused significantly increased proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and an elevated growth index in TEB and ducts. These results reveal both independent and collaborative growth regulatory roles for Brca2 and p53 under normal and adverse environmental conditions. Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of gene-environment interactions by showing that Brca2- and p53-deficient mice can compensate for their genetic deficiencies under control conditions but not after exposure to radiation. We also demonstrate distinct spatial differences in the cellular functions of Brca2 and p53 and show that combined mutation of both genes is more detrimental than loss of either gene alone.     

HIV核心抗原p24原核系统的高效表达、纯化及活性鉴定

目的　在原核表达系统中对HIVp2 4抗原基因进行克隆和高效表达、纯化并鉴定其活性。方法　利用PCR技术从HIV-1全基因质粒 (B2N)中扩增p2 4抗原基因 ,并克隆入T载体中。通过酶切消化后连接到表达载体pRSET上 ,用此连接产物转化大肠埃希菌BL2 1,经IPTG诱导 ,表达p2 4抗原。利用固定化金属离子 (Ni2 )配体亲和层析技术从表达蛋白中纯化目的蛋白。并运用双酶切技术、SDS-PAGE电泳、WesternBlot(WB)及ELISA法分别对插入基因片段的正确性、表达产物的活性及特异性进行检测。结果　PCR产物约为 6 90bp ,与预期p2 4抗原全基因片段大小一致。重组质粒T-p2 4和pRSET-p2 4经BamHⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切 ,其插入的外源基因片段均为 6 90bp。将纯化前与纯化后的蛋白作SDS PAGE电泳 ,均可见一条约 2 4× 10 3的外源基因表达带 ,与计算的相对分子质量相符。经WB和ELISA试验 ,证明基因工程表达的p2 4抗原具有较高的特异性及活性。结论　成功构建了HIVp2 4表达载体pRSET-p2 4 ,并在原核细胞中高效表达 ,其表达产物具有良好的特异性及活性     

端粒重复因子2与p53的体外结合

目的 通过分析端粒主要结合蛋白端粒重复因子2(TRF2)与p53的体外结合,探讨p53通过端粒途径调节细胞增殖、衰老和凋亡的分子机制。方法 4种不同的p53-谷胱甘肽S转移酶(glutathione S-transferase,GST)融合蛋白和GST经大肠杆菌表达、谷胱甘肽-Sepharose^TM 4B纯化,其中的人重组p53包括野生型(1～393)、C端缺失体p53 N5(2～293)、N端缺失体p53 N5(95～393)、第175位氨基酸突变体(R→H)。将各纯化蛋白和人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的细胞蛋白进行体外结合反应(pull down),Western blot检测反应物中p53和TRF2的结合。结果 纯化的GST和p53-GST融合蛋白纯度均在90％以上,且相对分子质量与预计的完全一致。TRF2的Western blot显示：野生型p53和p53-R 175H均能沉淀MCF-7中的TRF2,且结合力相似,而单独的GST则无沉淀TRF2的作用。与野生型p53和p53 R175H相比,p53 2C与TRF2的结合力相对增加,p53 N5与TRF2的结合力相对大大减弱。结论 p53和TRF2可以进行直接而特异的体外结合,且其结合部位在p53的C端(293～393)。p53和TRF2的C端依赖性结合可能与端粒动态变化所诱导的细胞活动有关。     

转化生长因子-β1的Smad4非依赖性途径对胰腺癌细胞生长的影响

目的探讨转化生长因子(TGF)-β1过表达对Smad4纯合性缺失的胰腺癌细胞生长的影响。方法将含TGF-β1的真核表达载体转染到人胰腺癌细胞BxPC3中,通过流式细胞仪、生长曲线以及细胞迁移试验观察其对BxPC3生物学行为的影响。用Western印迹法检测TGF-β1对BxPC3细胞中p21WAF/CLIP1表达的影响。结果转染TGF-β1基因的BxPC3细胞的形态发生明显改变,其生长速度自第4天开始较转染空载体pcDNA3的阴性对照组减慢。发现BxPC3细胞组S期细胞(27.53±0.02)%与pcDNA3组(26.32±0.01)%的比例均高于TGF-β1组(17.01±0.03)%,P<0.01,表明TGF-β1阻止细胞进入S期。细胞迁移试验表明转染的细胞运动能力明显增加。Western印迹法检测表明p21WAF/CLIP1的表达也相应增高。结论TGF-β1的Smad4非依赖性途径通过增强p21WAF/CLIP1的表达使细胞阻滞于G-G期,从而抑制细胞生长,并且该通路能诱导上皮细胞向间叶细胞转变。