101
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Beck S, Beck G, Ostendorf T, Floege J, Lambeau G, Nevalainen T, Radeke HH, Gurrieri S, Haas U, Thorwart B, Pfeilschifter J, Kaszkin M. Upregulation of group IB secreted phospholipase A(2) and its M-type receptor in rat ANTI-THY-1 glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int 2006; 70:1251-60. [PMID: 16900094 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ki.5001664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of rat glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) cultures with pancreatic secreted phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)-IB) results in an enhanced expression of sPLA(2)-IIA and COX-2, possibly via binding to its specific M-type sPLA(2) receptor. In the current study, we have investigated the expression and regulation of sPLA(2)-IB and its receptor during glomerulonephritis (GN). In vivo we used the well-established rat model of anti-Thy 1.1 GN (anti-Thy 1.1-GN) to study the expression of sPLA(2)-IB and the M-type sPLA(2) receptor by immunohistochemistry. In addition, in vitro we determined the interkeukin (IL)-1beta-regulated mRNA and protein expression in primary rat glomerular mesangial and endothelial cells as well as in rat peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). Shortly after induction of anti-Thy 1.1-GN, sPLA(2)-IB expression was markedly upregulated in the kidney at 6-24 h. Within glomeruli, the strongest sPLA(2)-IB protein expression was detected on infiltrated granulocytes and monocytes. However, at the same time, the M-type receptor was also markedly upregulated on resident glomerular cells. In vitro, the most prominent cytokine-stimulated secretion of sPLA(2)-IB was observed in monocytes isolated from rat PBLs. Treating glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) with cytokines elicited only weak sPLA(2)-IB expression, but treatment of these cells with exogenous sPLA(2)-IB resulted in a marked expression of the endogenous sPLA(2)-IB. Mesangial cells did not express sPLA(2)-IB at all. The M-type sPLA(2) receptor protein was markedly upregulated on cytokine-stimulated mesangial and endothelial cells as well as on lymphocytes and granulocytes. During anti-Thy 1.1 rat GN, sPLA(2)-IB and the M-type sPLA(2) receptor are induced as primary downstream genes stimulated by inflammatory cytokines. Subsequently, both sPLA(2)-IB and the M-type sPLA(2) receptor are involved in the autocrine and paracrine amplification of the inflammatory process in different resident and infiltrating cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Blotting, Western
- Cells, Cultured
- Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism
- Cytokines/pharmacology
- Data Interpretation, Statistical
- Disease Models, Animal
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Glomerular Mesangium/cytology
- Glomerular Mesangium/metabolism
- Glomerulonephritis/genetics
- Glomerulonephritis/immunology
- Glomerulonephritis/metabolism
- Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative/metabolism
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Inflammation/immunology
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Interleukin-1beta/pharmacology
- Isoantibodies
- Kidney/cytology
- Kidney/immunology
- Kidney/metabolism
- Kidney Glomerulus/cytology
- Kidney Glomerulus/metabolism
- Leukocytes/immunology
- Leukocytes/metabolism
- Male
- Mesangial Cells/drug effects
- Mesangial Cells/metabolism
- Mice
- Pancreas/enzymology
- Phospholipases A/genetics
- Phospholipases A/metabolism
- Phospholipases A/pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptors, Cell Surface/drug effects
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Receptors, Phospholipase A2
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Time Factors
- Up-Regulation
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102
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Bignone PA, Lee KY, Liu Y, Emilion G, Finch J, Soosay AER, Charnock FML, Beck S, Dunham I, Mungall AJ, Ganesan TS. RPS6KA2, a putative tumour suppressor gene at 6q27 in sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer. Oncogene 2006; 26:683-700. [PMID: 16878154 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We had previously defined by allele loss studies a minimal region at 6q27 (between D6S264 and D6S297) to contain a putative tumour suppressor gene. The p90 ribosomal S6 kinase-3 gene (p90 Rsk-3, RPS6KA2) maps in this interval. It is a serine-threonine kinase that signals downstream of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. It is expressed in normal ovarian epithelium, whereas reduced or absent in tumours or cell lines. We show that RPS6KA2 is monoallelically expressed in the ovary suggesting that loss of a single expressed allele is sufficient to cause complete loss of expression in cancer cells. Further, we have identified two new isoforms of RPS6KA2 with an alternative start codon. Homozygous deletions were identified within the RPS6KA2 gene in two cell lines. Re-expression of RPS6KA2 in ovarian cancer cell lines suppressed colony formation. In UCI101 cells, the expression of RPS6KA2 reduced proliferation, caused G1 arrest, increased apoptosis, reduced levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase and altered other cell cycle proteins. In contrast, small interfering RNA against RPS6KA2 showed the opposite effect in 41M cells. The above results suggest that RPS6KA2 is a putative tumour suppressor gene to explain allele loss at 6q27.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology
- Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/pathology
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Apoptosis
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/genetics
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/pathology
- Cell Cycle
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromosome Deletion
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6/genetics
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/genetics
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/metabolism
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/pathology
- DNA Methylation
- DNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- DNA, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor/physiology
- Humans
- Immunoprecipitation
- Loss of Heterozygosity
- MAP Kinase Signaling System/genetics
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/genetics
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/pathology
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
- RNA Interference
- Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa/genetics
- Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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103
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Lieb JD, Beck S, Bulyk ML, Farnham P, Hattori N, Henikoff S, Liu XS, Okumura K, Shiota K, Ushijima T, Greally JM. Applying whole-genome studies of epigenetic regulation to study human disease. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 114:1-15. [PMID: 16717444 PMCID: PMC2734277 DOI: 10.1159/000091922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2005] [Accepted: 10/06/2005] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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104
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Beck S, Schuldt M, Bausen C, Volgmann T, Brückner A, Küster J, Fusch C. Ursachensuche bei Mekoniumperitonitis – ein Fallbericht. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2006. [DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-943253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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105
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Gregory SG, Barlow KF, McLay KE, Kaul R, Swarbreck D, Dunham A, Scott CE, Howe KL, Woodfine K, Spencer CCA, Jones MC, Gillson C, Searle S, Zhou Y, Kokocinski F, McDonald L, Evans R, Phillips K, Atkinson A, Cooper R, Jones C, Hall RE, Andrews TD, Lloyd C, Ainscough R, Almeida JP, Ambrose KD, Anderson F, Andrew RW, Ashwell RIS, Aubin K, Babbage AK, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Beasley H, Bethel G, Bird CP, Bray-Allen S, Brown JY, Brown AJ, Buckley D, Burton J, Bye J, Carder C, Chapman JC, Clark SY, Clarke G, Clee C, Cobley V, Collier RE, Corby N, Coville GJ, Davies J, Deadman R, Dunn M, Earthrowl M, Ellington AG, Errington H, Frankish A, Frankland J, French L, Garner P, Garnett J, Gay L, Ghori MRJ, Gibson R, Gilby LM, Gillett W, Glithero RJ, Grafham DV, Griffiths C, Griffiths-Jones S, Grocock R, Hammond S, Harrison ESI, Hart E, Haugen E, Heath PD, Holmes S, Holt K, Howden PJ, Hunt AR, Hunt SE, Hunter G, Isherwood J, James R, Johnson C, Johnson D, Joy A, Kay M, Kershaw JK, Kibukawa M, Kimberley AM, King A, Knights AJ, Lad H, Laird G, Lawlor S, Leongamornlert DA, Lloyd DM, Loveland J, Lovell J, Lush MJ, Lyne R, Martin S, Mashreghi-Mohammadi M, Matthews L, Matthews NSW, McLaren S, Milne S, Mistry S, Moore MJF, Nickerson T, O'Dell CN, Oliver K, Palmeiri A, Palmer SA, Parker A, Patel D, Pearce AV, Peck AI, Pelan S, Phelps K, Phillimore BJ, Plumb R, Rajan J, Raymond C, Rouse G, Saenphimmachak C, Sehra HK, Sheridan E, Shownkeen R, Sims S, Skuce CD, Smith M, Steward C, Subramanian S, Sycamore N, Tracey A, Tromans A, Van Helmond Z, Wall M, Wallis JM, White S, Whitehead SL, Wilkinson JE, Willey DL, Williams H, Wilming L, Wray PW, Wu Z, Coulson A, Vaudin M, Sulston JE, Durbin R, Hubbard T, Wooster R, Dunham I, Carter NP, McVean G, Ross MT, Harrow J, Olson MV, Beck S, Rogers J, Bentley DR, Banerjee R, Bryant SP, Burford DC, Burrill WDH, Clegg SM, Dhami P, Dovey O, Faulkner LM, Gribble SM, Langford CF, Pandian RD, Porter KM, Prigmore E. The DNA sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1. Nature 2006; 441:315-21. [PMID: 16710414 DOI: 10.1038/nature04727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2005] [Accepted: 03/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The reference sequence for each human chromosome provides the framework for understanding genome function, variation and evolution. Here we report the finished sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1. Chromosome 1 is gene-dense, with 3,141 genes and 991 pseudogenes, and many coding sequences overlap. Rearrangements and mutations of chromosome 1 are prevalent in cancer and many other diseases. Patterns of sequence variation reveal signals of recent selection in specific genes that may contribute to human fitness, and also in regions where no function is evident. Fine-scale recombination occurs in hotspots of varying intensity along the sequence, and is enriched near genes. These and other studies of human biology and disease encoded within chromosome 1 are made possible with the highly accurate annotated sequence, as part of the completed set of chromosome sequences that comprise the reference human genome.
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106
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Renard C, Hart E, Sehra H, Beasley H, Coggill P, Howe K, Harrow J, Gilbert J, Sims S, Rogers J, Ando A, Shigenari A, Shiina T, Inoko H, Chardon P, Beck S. The genomic sequence and analysis of the swine major histocompatibility complex. Genomics 2006; 88:96-110. [PMID: 16515853 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2006.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2005] [Revised: 01/18/2006] [Accepted: 01/18/2006] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe the generation and analysis of an integrated sequence map of a 2.4-Mb region of pig chromosome 7, comprising the classical class I region, the extended and classical class II regions, and the class III region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), also known as swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) complex. We have identified and manually annotated 151 loci, of which 121 are known genes (predicted to be functional), 18 are pseudogenes, 8 are novel CDS loci, 3 are novel transcripts, and 1 is a putative gene. Nearly all of these loci have homologues in other mammalian genomes but orthologues could be identified with confidence for only 123 genes. The 28 genes (including all the SLA class I genes) for which unambiguous orthology to genes within the human reference MHC could not be established are of particular interest with respect to porcine-specific MHC function and evolution. We have compared the porcine MHC to other mammalian MHC regions and identified the differences between them. In comparison to the human MHC, the main differences include the absence of HLA-A and other class I-like loci, the absence of HLA-DP-like loci, and the separation of the extended and classical class II regions from the rest of the MHC by insertion of the centromere. We show that the centromere insertion has occurred within a cluster of BTNL genes located at the boundary of the class II and III regions, which might have resulted in the loss of an orthologue to human C6orf10 from this region.
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107
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Cross JGR, Harrison GA, Coggill P, Sims S, Beck S, Deakin JE, Graves JAM. Analysis of the genomic region containing the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) orthologues of MHC class III genes. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 111:110-7. [PMID: 16103651 DOI: 10.1159/000086379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2004] [Accepted: 01/13/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are central to development and regulation of the immune system in all jawed vertebrates. MHC class III cytokine genes from the tumor necrosis factor core family, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin alpha and beta (LTA, LTB), are well studied in human and mouse. Orthologues have been identified in several other eutherian species and the cDNA sequences have been reported for a model marsupial, the tammar wallaby. Comparative genomics can help to determine gene function, to understand the evolution of a gene or gene family, and to identify potential regulatory regions. We therefore cloned the genomic region containing the tammar LTB, TNF, and LTA orthologues by "genome walking", using primers designed from known tammar sequences and regions conserved in other species. We isolated two tammar BAC clones containing all three genes. These tammar genes show similar intergenic distances and the same transcriptional orientation as in human and mouse. Gene structures and sequences are also very conserved. By comparing the tammar, human and mouse genomic sequences we were able to identify candidate regulatory regions for these genes in mammals. Full length sequencing of BACs containing the three genes has been partially completed, and reveals the presence of a number of other tammar MHC III orthologues in this region.
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108
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Hendriks BS, Griffiths GJ, Benson R, Kenyon D, Lazzara M, Swinton J, Beck S, Hickinson M, Beusmans JM, Lauffenburger D, de Graaf D. Decreased internalisation of ErbB1 mutants in lung cancer is linked with a mechanism conferring sensitivity to gefitinib. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 153:457-66. [PMID: 17186707 DOI: 10.1049/ip-syb:20050108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A majority of gefitinib (IRESSA)-responsive tumours in non-small cell lung cancer have been found to carry mutations in ErbB1. Previously, it has been observed that internalisation-deficient ErbB1 receptors are strong drivers of oncogenesis. Using a computational model of ErbB1 trafficking and signalling, it is found that a deficiency in ErbB1 internalisation is sufficient to explain the observed signalling phenotype of these gefitinib-responsive ErbB1 mutants in lung cancer cell lines. Experimental tests confirm that gefitinib-sensitive cell lines with and without ErbB1 mutations exhibit markedly slower internalisation rates than gefitinib-insensitive cell lines. Moreover, the computational model demonstrates that reduced ErbB1 internalisation rates are mechanistically linked to upregulated AKT signalling. Experimentally it is confirmed that impaired internalisation of ErbB1 is associated with increased AKT activity, which can be blocked by gefitinib. On the basis of these experimental and computational results, it is surmised that gefitinib sensitivity is a marker of a reliance on AKT signalling for cell survival that may be brought about by impaired ErbB1 internalisation.
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109
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Rabis A, Grimmer AR, Thomas B, Brendler E, Beck S, Meisel M. Phosphorus-31 MAS NMR investigations of pyridine stabilized dithiomonometaphosphoryl halides. SOLID STATE NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE 2005; 28:57-63. [PMID: 16024237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssnmr.2005.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2005] [Revised: 05/14/2005] [Accepted: 06/02/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus-31 magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy was chosen in order to study a series of N-donor stabilized dithiomonometaphosphoryl halides (F, Cl, and Br) and to extract structural and bonding information from their spectra. Additionally, an unusual line splitting was observed in the 31P MAS NMR spectra of pyridine dithiomonometaphosphoryl chloride (Py-->PS2Cl) and the analogous bromide (Py-->PS2Br). It is shown that this effect is due to a residual dipolar coupling between phosphorus and chlorine or bromine, respectively. This work is to our knowledge the first observation of this effect between P and Br in 31P MAS NMR spectra.
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110
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Humphray SJ, Oliver K, Hunt AR, Plumb RW, Loveland JE, Howe KL, Andrews TD, Searle S, Hunt SE, Scott CE, Jones MC, Ainscough R, Almeida JP, Ambrose KD, Ashwell RIS, Babbage AK, Babbage S, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Banerjee R, Barker DJ, Barlow KF, Bates K, Beasley H, Beasley O, Bird CP, Bray-Allen S, Brown AJ, Brown JY, Burford D, Burrill W, Burton J, Carder C, Carter NP, Chapman JC, Chen Y, Clarke G, Clark SY, Clee CM, Clegg S, Collier RE, Corby N, Crosier M, Cummings AT, Davies J, Dhami P, Dunn M, Dutta I, Dyer LW, Earthrowl ME, Faulkner L, Fleming CJ, Frankish A, Frankland JA, French L, Fricker DG, Garner P, Garnett J, Ghori J, Gilbert JGR, Glison C, Grafham DV, Gribble S, Griffiths C, Griffiths-Jones S, Grocock R, Guy J, Hall RE, Hammond S, Harley JL, Harrison ESI, Hart EA, Heath PD, Henderson CD, Hopkins BL, Howard PJ, Howden PJ, Huckle E, Johnson C, Johnson D, Joy AA, Kay M, Keenan S, Kershaw JK, Kimberley AM, King A, Knights A, Laird GK, Langford C, Lawlor S, Leongamornlert DA, Leversha M, Lloyd C, Lloyd DM, Lovell J, Martin S, Mashreghi-Mohammadi M, Matthews L, McLaren S, McLay KE, McMurray A, Milne S, Nickerson T, Nisbett J, Nordsiek G, Pearce AV, Peck AI, Porter KM, Pandian R, Pelan S, Phillimore B, Povey S, Ramsey Y, Rand V, Scharfe M, Sehra HK, Shownkeen R, Sims SK, Skuce CD, Smith M, Steward CA, Swarbreck D, Sycamore N, Tester J, Thorpe A, Tracey A, Tromans A, Thomas DW, Wall M, Wallis JM, West AP, Whitehead SL, Willey DL, Williams SA, Wilming L, Wray PW, Young L, Ashurst JL, Coulson A, Blöcker H, Durbin R, Sulston JE, Hubbard T, Jackson MJ, Bentley DR, Beck S, Rogers J, Dunham I. DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 9. Nature 2004; 429:369-74. [PMID: 15164053 PMCID: PMC2734081 DOI: 10.1038/nature02465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2003] [Accepted: 03/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Chromosome 9 is highly structurally polymorphic. It contains the largest autosomal block of heterochromatin, which is heteromorphic in 6-8% of humans, whereas pericentric inversions occur in more than 1% of the population. The finished euchromatic sequence of chromosome 9 comprises 109,044,351 base pairs and represents >99.6% of the region. Analysis of the sequence reveals many intra- and interchromosomal duplications, including segmental duplications adjacent to both the centromere and the large heterochromatic block. We have annotated 1,149 genes, including genes implicated in male-to-female sex reversal, cancer and neurodegenerative disease, and 426 pseudogenes. The chromosome contains the largest interferon gene cluster in the human genome. There is also a region of exceptionally high gene and G + C content including genes paralogous to those in the major histocompatibility complex. We have also detected recently duplicated genes that exhibit different rates of sequence divergence, presumably reflecting natural selection.
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111
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Deloukas P, Earthrowl ME, Grafham DV, Rubenfield M, French L, Steward CA, Sims SK, Jones MC, Searle S, Scott C, Howe K, Hunt SE, Andrews TD, Gilbert JGR, Swarbreck D, Ashurst JL, Taylor A, Battles J, Bird CP, Ainscough R, Almeida JP, Ashwell RIS, Ambrose KD, Babbage AK, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Banerjee R, Bates K, Beasley H, Bray-Allen S, Brown AJ, Brown JY, Burford DC, Burrill W, Burton J, Cahill P, Camire D, Carter NP, Chapman JC, Clark SY, Clarke G, Clee CM, Clegg S, Corby N, Coulson A, Dhami P, Dutta I, Dunn M, Faulkner L, Frankish A, Frankland JA, Garner P, Garnett J, Gribble S, Griffiths C, Grocock R, Gustafson E, Hammond S, Harley JL, Hart E, Heath PD, Ho TP, Hopkins B, Horne J, Howden PJ, Huckle E, Hynds C, Johnson C, Johnson D, Kana A, Kay M, Kimberley AM, Kershaw JK, Kokkinaki M, Laird GK, Lawlor S, Lee HM, Leongamornlert DA, Laird G, Lloyd C, Lloyd DM, Loveland J, Lovell J, McLaren S, McLay KE, McMurray A, Mashreghi-Mohammadi M, Matthews L, Milne S, Nickerson T, Nguyen M, Overton-Larty E, Palmer SA, Pearce AV, Peck AI, Pelan S, Phillimore B, Porter K, Rice CM, Rogosin A, Ross MT, Sarafidou T, Sehra HK, Shownkeen R, Skuce CD, Smith M, Standring L, Sycamore N, Tester J, Thorpe A, Torcasso W, Tracey A, Tromans A, Tsolas J, Wall M, Walsh J, Wang H, Weinstock K, West AP, Willey DL, Whitehead SL, Wilming L, Wray PW, Young L, Chen Y, Lovering RC, Moschonas NK, Siebert R, Fechtel K, Bentley D, Durbin R, Hubbard T, Doucette-Stamm L, Beck S, Smith DR, Rogers J. The DNA sequence and comparative analysis of human chromosome 10. Nature 2004; 429:375-81. [PMID: 15164054 DOI: 10.1038/nature02462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2003] [Accepted: 03/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The finished sequence of human chromosome 10 comprises a total of 131,666,441 base pairs. It represents 99.4% of the euchromatic DNA and includes one megabase of heterochromatic sequence within the pericentromeric region of the short and long arm of the chromosome. Sequence annotation revealed 1,357 genes, of which 816 are protein coding, and 430 are pseudogenes. We observed widespread occurrence of overlapping coding genes (either strand) and identified 67 antisense transcripts. Our analysis suggests that both inter- and intrachromosomal segmental duplications have impacted on the gene count on chromosome 10. Multispecies comparative analysis indicated that we can readily annotate the protein-coding genes with current resources. We estimate that over 95% of all coding exons were identified in this study. Assessment of single base changes between the human chromosome 10 and chimpanzee sequence revealed nonsense mutations in only 21 coding genes with respect to the human sequence.
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112
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Dunham A, Matthews LH, Burton J, Ashurst JL, Howe KL, Ashcroft KJ, Beare DM, Burford DC, Hunt SE, Griffiths-Jones S, Jones MC, Keenan SJ, Oliver K, Scott CE, Ainscough R, Almeida JP, Ambrose KD, Andrews DT, Ashwell RIS, Babbage AK, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Bannerjee R, Barlow KF, Bates K, Beasley H, Bird CP, Bray-Allen S, Brown AJ, Brown JY, Burrill W, Carder C, Carter NP, Chapman JC, Clamp ME, Clark SY, Clarke G, Clee CM, Clegg SCM, Cobley V, Collins JE, Corby N, Coville GJ, Deloukas P, Dhami P, Dunham I, Dunn M, Earthrowl ME, Ellington AG, Faulkner L, Frankish AG, Frankland J, French L, Garner P, Garnett J, Gilbert JGR, Gilson CJ, Ghori J, Grafham DV, Gribble SM, Griffiths C, Hall RE, Hammond S, Harley JL, Hart EA, Heath PD, Howden PJ, Huckle EJ, Hunt PJ, Hunt AR, Johnson C, Johnson D, Kay M, Kimberley AM, King A, Laird GK, Langford CJ, Lawlor S, Leongamornlert DA, Lloyd DM, Lloyd C, Loveland JE, Lovell J, Martin S, Mashreghi-Mohammadi M, McLaren SJ, McMurray A, Milne S, Moore MJF, Nickerson T, Palmer SA, Pearce AV, Peck AI, Pelan S, Phillimore B, Porter KM, Rice CM, Searle S, Sehra HK, Shownkeen R, Skuce CD, Smith M, Steward CA, Sycamore N, Tester J, Thomas DW, Tracey A, Tromans A, Tubby B, Wall M, Wallis JM, West AP, Whitehead SL, Willey DL, Wilming L, Wray PW, Wright MW, Young L, Coulson A, Durbin R, Hubbard T, Sulston JE, Beck S, Bentley DR, Rogers J, Ross MT. The DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 13. Nature 2004; 428:522-8. [PMID: 15057823 PMCID: PMC2665288 DOI: 10.1038/nature02379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2003] [Accepted: 01/27/2004] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chromosome 13 is the largest acrocentric human chromosome. It carries genes involved in cancer including the breast cancer type 2 (BRCA2) and retinoblastoma (RB1) genes, is frequently rearranged in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and contains the DAOA locus associated with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We describe completion and analysis of 95.5 megabases (Mb) of sequence from chromosome 13, which contains 633 genes and 296 pseudogenes. We estimate that more than 95.4% of the protein-coding genes of this chromosome have been identified, on the basis of comparison with other vertebrate genome sequences. Additionally, 105 putative non-coding RNA genes were found. Chromosome 13 has one of the lowest gene densities (6.5 genes per Mb) among human chromosomes, and contains a central region of 38 Mb where the gene density drops to only 3.1 genes per Mb.
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Mungall AJ, Palmer SA, Sims SK, Edwards CA, Ashurst JL, Wilming L, Jones MC, Horton R, Hunt SE, Scott CE, Gilbert JGR, Clamp ME, Bethel G, Milne S, Ainscough R, Almeida JP, Ambrose KD, Andrews TD, Ashwell RIS, Babbage AK, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Banerjee R, Barker DJ, Barlow KF, Bates K, Beare DM, Beasley H, Beasley O, Bird CP, Blakey S, Bray-Allen S, Brook J, Brown AJ, Brown JY, Burford DC, Burrill W, Burton J, Carder C, Carter NP, Chapman JC, Clark SY, Clark G, Clee CM, Clegg S, Cobley V, Collier RE, Collins JE, Colman LK, Corby NR, Coville GJ, Culley KM, Dhami P, Davies J, Dunn M, Earthrowl ME, Ellington AE, Evans KA, Faulkner L, Francis MD, Frankish A, Frankland J, French L, Garner P, Garnett J, Ghori MJR, Gilby LM, Gillson CJ, Glithero RJ, Grafham DV, Grant M, Gribble S, Griffiths C, Griffiths M, Hall R, Halls KS, Hammond S, Harley JL, Hart EA, Heath PD, Heathcott R, Holmes SJ, Howden PJ, Howe KL, Howell GR, Huckle E, Humphray SJ, Humphries MD, Hunt AR, Johnson CM, Joy AA, Kay M, Keenan SJ, Kimberley AM, King A, Laird GK, Langford C, Lawlor S, Leongamornlert DA, Leversha M, Lloyd CR, Lloyd DM, Loveland JE, Lovell J, Martin S, Mashreghi-Mohammadi M, Maslen GL, Matthews L, McCann OT, McLaren SJ, McLay K, McMurray A, Moore MJF, Mullikin JC, Niblett D, Nickerson T, Novik KL, Oliver K, Overton-Larty EK, Parker A, Patel R, Pearce AV, Peck AI, Phillimore B, Phillips S, Plumb RW, Porter KM, Ramsey Y, Ranby SA, Rice CM, Ross MT, Searle SM, Sehra HK, Sheridan E, Skuce CD, Smith S, Smith M, Spraggon L, Squares SL, Steward CA, Sycamore N, Tamlyn-Hall G, Tester J, Theaker AJ, Thomas DW, Thorpe A, Tracey A, Tromans A, Tubby B, Wall M, Wallis JM, West AP, White SS, Whitehead SL, Whittaker H, Wild A, Willey DJ, Wilmer TE, Wood JM, Wray PW, Wyatt JC, Young L, Younger RM, Bentley DR, Coulson A, Durbin R, Hubbard T, Sulston JE, Dunham I, Rogers J, Beck S. The DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 6. Nature 2003; 425:805-11. [PMID: 14574404 DOI: 10.1038/nature02055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2003] [Accepted: 09/11/2003] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome 6 is a metacentric chromosome that constitutes about 6% of the human genome. The finished sequence comprises 166,880,988 base pairs, representing the largest chromosome sequenced so far. The entire sequence has been subjected to high-quality manual annotation, resulting in the evidence-supported identification of 1,557 genes and 633 pseudogenes. Here we report that at least 96% of the protein-coding genes have been identified, as assessed by multi-species comparative sequence analysis, and provide evidence for the presence of further, otherwise unsupported exons/genes. Among these are genes directly implicated in cancer, schizophrenia, autoimmunity and many other diseases. Chromosome 6 harbours the largest transfer RNA gene cluster in the genome; we show that this cluster co-localizes with a region of high transcriptional activity. Within the essential immune loci of the major histocompatibility complex, we find HLA-B to be the most polymorphic gene on chromosome 6 and in the human genome.
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Beck S. Multiplex DNA sequencing. Methods Mol Biol 2003; 23:225-34. [PMID: 8220754 DOI: 10.1385/0-89603-248-5:225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Beck S. Direct blotting electrophoresis. Methods Mol Biol 2003; 23:219-23. [PMID: 8220753 DOI: 10.1385/0-89603-248-5:219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Ramalho AS, Beck S, Penque D, Gonska T, Seydewitz HH, Mall M, Amaral MD. Transcript analysis of the cystic fibrosis splicing mutation 1525-1G>A shows use of multiple alternative splicing sites and suggests a putative role of exonic splicing enhancers. J Med Genet 2003; 40:e88. [PMID: 12843337 PMCID: PMC1735516 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.40.7.e88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Schreiner C, Beck S. Stability of a new liquid intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (IGIV-C 10%) manufactured using a novel production process. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s0091-6749(03)80779-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Novik KL, Nimmrich I, Genc B, Maier S, Piepenbrock C, Olek A, Beck S. Epigenomics: genome-wide study of methylation phenomena. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2002; 4:111-28. [PMID: 12432963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is one of the key areas of future research that can elucidate how genomes work. It combines genetics and the environment to address complex biological systems such as the plasticity of our genome. While all nucleated human cells carry the same genome, they express different genes at different times. Much of this is governed by epigenetic changes resulting in differential methylation of our genome--or different epigenomes. Individual studies over the past decades have already established the involvement of DNA methylation in imprinting, gene regulation, chromatin structure, genome stability and disease, especially cancer. Now, in the wake of the Human Genome Project (HGP), epigenetic phenomena can be studied genome-wide and are giving rise to a new field, epigenomics. Here, we review the current and future potential of this field and introduce the pilot study towards the Human Epigenome Project (HEP).
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Schwenn O, Troost R, Vogel A, Grus F, Beck S, Pfeiffer N. Ocular pulse amplitude in patients with open angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, and ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol 2002; 86:981-4. [PMID: 12185121 PMCID: PMC1771281 DOI: 10.1136/bjo.86.9.981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Intraocular pressure (IOP) is not a fixed constant value but rather has pulsatile components associated with cardiac action. The SmartLens dynamic observing tonometer (odc, Ophthalmic Development Company AG, Zurich, Switzerland) can measure and record simultaneously IOP and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA). It was the aim of this study to evaluate OPA in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and high IOP, normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and ocular hypertension (OHT). Furthermore, the authors examined whether there were any correlations with blood pressure. METHODS 80 subjects were divided into four groups (n=20): 20 patients each with POAG, NTG, and OHT and 20 volunteers without any ocular pathology except for cataract served as a control group. RESULTS The OPA of the POAG group was not statistically significant different from the control group and from the OHT group. However, OPA was statistically significant lower (p<0.01) in the NTG group compared with all other groups. The OPA of the OHT group was slightly higher compared to the healthy volunteers (p=0.09) and to the POAG patients (p=0.09). No statistically significant correlations with blood pressure could be detected. A logistic regression model was established which identified OPA as an independent risk factor for NTG. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated a decrease in OPA of patients suffering from NTG. Thus, measuring of OPA by the SmartLens dynamic observing tonometer could be helpful in the detection of NTG patients.
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Allcock RJN, Atrazhev AM, Beck S, de Jong PJ, Elliott JF, Forbes S, Halls K, Horton R, Osoegawa K, Rogers J, Sawcer S, Todd JA, Trowsdale J, Wang Y, Williams S. The MHC haplotype project: a resource for HLA-linked association studies. TISSUE ANTIGENS 2002; 59:520-1. [PMID: 12445322 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2002.590609.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Walker B, Milne S, Beck S, Kaufman J. 17. Genes encoding the transporters associated with antigen processing in the chicken are situated between the classical MHC class I genes and are highly polymorphic. Res Vet Sci 2002. [DOI: 10.1016/s0034-5288(02)90019-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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122
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Beck S, Trowsdale J. The human major histocompatability complex: lessons from the DNA sequence. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2002; 1:117-37. [PMID: 11701627 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.genom.1.1.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The entire 3.6-MbpDNA sequence of a human major histocompatibility complex derived from a composite of DNA clones from different haplotypes, was completed in 1999, primarily through the work of four main groups. At that time, it was the longest contiguous human DNA sequence to have been determined. The sequence is of extremely high quality and accuracy. In this review, we discuss how the DNA sequence has facilitated our understanding of the biology and genetics of the major histocompatibility complex. We suggest some ways in which the sequence may be exploited in the future to explore the relationship between the extraordinary polymorphism of the region and its association with both autoimmune and infectious diseases.
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Deloukas P, Matthews LH, Ashurst J, Burton J, Gilbert JG, Jones M, Stavrides G, Almeida JP, Babbage AK, Bagguley CL, Bailey J, Barlow KF, Bates KN, Beard LM, Beare DM, Beasley OP, Bird CP, Blakey SE, Bridgeman AM, Brown AJ, Buck D, Burrill W, Butler AP, Carder C, Carter NP, Chapman JC, Clamp M, Clark G, Clark LN, Clark SY, Clee CM, Clegg S, Cobley VE, Collier RE, Connor R, Corby NR, Coulson A, Coville GJ, Deadman R, Dhami P, Dunn M, Ellington AG, Frankland JA, Fraser A, French L, Garner P, Grafham DV, Griffiths C, Griffiths MN, Gwilliam R, Hall RE, Hammond S, Harley JL, Heath PD, Ho S, Holden JL, Howden PJ, Huckle E, Hunt AR, Hunt SE, Jekosch K, Johnson CM, Johnson D, Kay MP, Kimberley AM, King A, Knights A, Laird GK, Lawlor S, Lehvaslaiho MH, Leversha M, Lloyd C, Lloyd DM, Lovell JD, Marsh VL, Martin SL, McConnachie LJ, McLay K, McMurray AA, Milne S, Mistry D, Moore MJ, Mullikin JC, Nickerson T, Oliver K, Parker A, Patel R, Pearce TA, Peck AI, Phillimore BJ, Prathalingam SR, Plumb RW, Ramsay H, Rice CM, Ross MT, Scott CE, Sehra HK, Shownkeen R, Sims S, Skuce CD, Smith ML, Soderlund C, Steward CA, Sulston JE, Swann M, Sycamore N, Taylor R, Tee L, Thomas DW, Thorpe A, Tracey A, Tromans AC, Vaudin M, Wall M, Wallis JM, Whitehead SL, Whittaker P, Willey DL, Williams L, Williams SA, Wilming L, Wray PW, Hubbard T, Durbin RM, Bentley DR, Beck S, Rogers J. The DNA sequence and comparative analysis of human chromosome 20. Nature 2001; 414:865-71. [PMID: 11780052 DOI: 10.1038/414865a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The finished sequence of human chromosome 20 comprises 59,187,298 base pairs (bp) and represents 99.4% of the euchromatic DNA. A single contig of 26 megabases (Mb) spans the entire short arm, and five contigs separated by gaps totalling 320 kb span the long arm of this metacentric chromosome. An additional 234,339 bp of sequence has been determined within the pericentromeric region of the long arm. We annotated 727 genes and 168 pseudogenes in the sequence. About 64% of these genes have a 5' and a 3' untranslated region and a complete open reading frame. Comparative analysis of the sequence of chromosome 20 to whole-genome shotgun-sequence data of two other vertebrates, the mouse Mus musculus and the puffer fish Tetraodon nigroviridis, provides an independent measure of the efficiency of gene annotation, and indicates that this analysis may account for more than 95% of all coding exons and almost all genes.
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Troost R, Vogel A, Beck S, Schwenn O, Grus F, Pfeiffer N. Clinical comparison of two intraocular pressure measurement methods: SmartLens dynamic observing tonography versus Goldmann. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2001; 239:889-92. [PMID: 11820692 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-001-0376-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare intraocular pressure measurements obtained with SmartLens, a gonioscopic contact lens, to those from Goldmann applanation tonometry. METHODS Eighty volunteers (20 healthy individuals and 60 glaucoma patients from the university eye hospital's outpatient department) were examined using conventional Goldmann tonometry and the new SmartLens tool. For each device three replicate measurements were performed. A paired t-test and the corresponding mean difference confidence interval approach were used to assess deviations in location of the two tonometric methods; the test procedure of Maloney and Rastogi was used for comparison of precision in paired data. Intraindividual differences were evaluated according to the approach of Altman and Bland. RESULTS There was a mean difference of 5.6 mmHg (95% CI: 4.3 mmHg; 6.8 mmHg; P<0.01) in intraocular pressure between the two methods with a significant overestimation by SmartLens tonometry compared to Goldmann tonometry (P<0.01). The 95%-limits of agreement ranged from -5.4 mmHg to +16.6 mmHg for individual patients. The measurement method variance of SmartLens was higher (Maloney-Rastogi test; P <0.01). The mean coefficients of variation for intraindividual replicates were 10.1% (SmartLens) and 3.8% (Goldmann; P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Accepting Goldmann tonometry as gold standard for intraocular pressure measurement, the SmartLens method shows considerable variation and therefore is not proven to be an adequate substitute for Goldmann tonometry.
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Amaral MD, Pacheco P, Beck S, Farinha CM, Penque D, Nogueira P, Barreto C, Lopes B, Casals T, Dapena J, Gartner S, Vásquez C, Pérez-Frías J, Olveira C, Cabanas R, Estivill X, Tzetis M, Kanavakis E, Doudounakis S, Dörk T, Tümmler B, Girodon-Boulandet E, Cazeneuve C, Goossens M, Blayau M, Verlingue C, Vieira I, Féréc C, Claustres M, des Georges M, Clavel C, Birembaut P, Hubert D, Bienvenu T, Adoun M, Chomel JC, De Boeck K, Cuppens H, Lavinha J. Cystic fibrosis patients with the 3272-26A>G splicing mutation have milder disease than F508del homozygotes: a large European study. J Med Genet 2001; 38:777-83. [PMID: 11732487 PMCID: PMC1734751 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.38.11.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Kammer T, Beck S, Erb M, Grodd W. The influence of current direction on phosphene thresholds evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Clin Neurophysiol 2001; 112:2015-21. [PMID: 11682339 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(01)00673-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To quantify phosphene thresholds evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the occipital cortex as a function of induced current direction. METHODS Phosphene thresholds were determined in 6 subjects. We compared two stimulator types (Medtronic-Dantec and Magstim) with monophasic pulses using the standard figure-of-eight coils and systematically varied hemisphere (left and right) and induced current direction (latero-medial and medio-lateral). Each measurement was made 3 times, with a new stimulation site chosen for each repetition. Only those stimulation sites were investigated where phosphenes were restricted to one visual hemifield. Coil positions were stereotactically registered. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of retinotopic areas was performed in 5 subjects to individually characterize the borders of visual areas; TMS stimulation sites were coregistered with respect to visual areas. RESULTS Despite large interindividual variance we found a consistent pattern of phosphene thresholds. They were significantly lower if the direction of the induced current was oriented from lateral to medial in the occipital lobe rather than vice versa. No difference with respect to the hemisphere was found. Threshold values normalized to the square root of the stored energy in the stimulators were lower with the Medtronic-Dantec device than with the Magstim device. fMRI revealed that stimulation sites generating unilateral phosphenes were situated at V2 and V3. Variability of phosphene thresholds was low within a cortical patch of 2x2cm(2). Stimulation over V1 yields phosphenes in both visual fields. CONCLUSIONS The excitability of visual cortical areas depends on the direction of the induced current with a preference for latero-medial currents. Although the coil positions used in this study were centered over visual areas V2 and V3, we cannot rule out the possibility that subcortical structures or V1 could actually be the main generator for phosphenes.
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Beck S, Mockenhaupt FP, Bienzle U, Eggelte TA, Thompson WN, Stark K. Multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnancy. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001; 65:631-6. [PMID: 11716126 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the distribution and disease association of multiple Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnant women. Genotyping of the merozoite surface protein-1 region was performed in 332 P. falciparum infected pregnant women in Ghana, and clinical and epidemiologic data were obtained. Overall, 68% of the women were infected with more than one strain (mean number of strains per carrier = 2.9). The multiplicity of infection decreased significantly with an increasing number of pregnancies, and infection with multiple P. falciparum strains was significantly associated with anemia. In logistic regression, women infected with four or more strains were 2.3 times more likely to be anemic than women harboring fewer strains. This association, however, was only observed in women with up to three pregnancies. The results suggest that with increasing gravidity and subsequent infections with multiple strains effective immune mechanisms against more and more strains develop. In pregnant women, the multiplicity of infection may be an important factor for the acquisition and maintenance of immunity against malaria.
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Beck S. Changing styles of drinking; alcohol use in the Balkans. EAST EUROPEAN QUARTERLY 2001; 18:395-413. [PMID: 11616899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
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Wagner CA, Ott M, Klingel K, Beck S, Melzig J, Friedrich B, Wild KN, Bröer S, Moschen I, Albers A, Waldegger S, Tümmler B, Egan ME, Geibel JP, Kandolf R, Lang F. Effects of the serine/threonine kinase SGK1 on the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) and CFTR: implications for cystic fibrosis. Cell Physiol Biochem 2001; 11:209-18. [PMID: 11509829 DOI: 10.1159/000051935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by impaired Cl(-) secretion and increased Na(+) reabsorption in several tissues including respiratory epithelium. Many CFTR mutations have been identified over the past years. However, only a poor correlation between the genotype and lung phenotype was found suggesting additional factors influencing the phenotype and course of the disease. The serine/threonine kinase SGK1 has recently been shown to stimulate the activity of the epithelial Na(+) channel ENaC. A variety of stimuli such as aldosterone, cell shrinkage, insulin or TGF-beta1 stimulate transcription and activate the SGK1 kinase. Here we further examined the effects of SGK1 on ENaC and CFTR which have mutual interactions and we analyzed sgk1 mRNA abundance in lung tissue from CF patients. Coexpression of CFTR and h-SGK1 in Xenopus oocytes increased ENaC currents as previously described. In addition CFTR mediated currents were also stimulated. h-SGK1 accelerated the expression of the amiloride sensitive Na(+)- current in Xenopus oocytes paralleled by increased ENaC-protein abundance in the oocyte membrane, an effect which was reversed by a h-SGK1(K127R) mutation lacking the ATP-binding site. The cation selectivity or Na(+) affinity were not affected. However, coexpression of h-SGK1 with ENaC altered the sensitivity of the Na(+)-channel to the inhibitors amiloride and triamterene. The inhibitory effect of CFTR expression on ENaC current was not affected by coexpression of h-SGK1 in Xenopus oocytes. Lung tissue from CF patients strongly expressed the serine/threonine kinase h-sgk1 which was not the case for non-CF lung tissue. Loss of CFTR function itself in a CF lung epithelial cell line did not increase SGK1 expression. In summary, enhanced expression of h-SGK1 in epithelial cells of CF-lung tissue may be a novel pathophysiological factor contributing to increased Na(+) channel activity and thus to increased Na(+) transport in CF.
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Degré M, Ranneberg-Nilsen T, Beck S, Rollag H, Fiane AE. Human cytomegalovirus productively infects porcine endothelial cells in vitro. Transplantation 2001; 72:1334-7. [PMID: 11602867 DOI: 10.1097/00007890-200110150-00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The possibility that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may infect porcine endothelial cells (ECs) was investigated. This may be relevant during xenotransplantation of porcine cells or organs into human recipients. METHODS HCMV was inoculated into low-passage porcine ECs. Replication of virus was detected by development of characteristic cytopathogenic effect. Appearance of immediate early, early, and late antigens was studied by immunocytochemical staining. Infectious virus was detected in human fibroblast cells. Presence of HCMV RNA was studied by Northern Blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS All parameters indicated that a fresh clinical HCMV isolate productively infects porcine ECs. The same cells do not fully support replication of the laboratory strain Ad 169. CONCLUSION Our results may indicate the possibility of cross-species infectivity of HCMV to porcine cells.
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Vogel A, Beck S, Schwenn O, Grus F, Krummenauer F, Pfeiffer N. [Reproducibility of measurement of ocular pulse amplitude and intraocular pressure using Smartlens]. Ophthalmologe 2001; 98:944-9. [PMID: 11699315 DOI: 10.1007/s003470170041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SmartLens (ODC Ophthalmic Development Company AG, Zürich) is a contact lens tonometer, which allows continuous registration of intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and simultaneous ophthalmoscopy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interobserver variability and reliability of intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude measurements using SmartLens. METHODS To evaluate the intraobserver variability, intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) were both measured 5 times in 10 healthy eyes by one observer. To evaluate the interobserver variability, intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude were measured by 3 different observers in 10 healthy eyes. Data description is based on coefficients of variation (SD/mean in %), statistical inference on ANOVA-based reliability estimation. RESULTS The coefficient of the intraobserver variation was 9.57% for the IOP and 14.5% for the OPA (SD IOP: +/- 1.64 mmHg, SD OPA: +/- 0.39 mmHg). The coefficient of the interobserver variation with 5 replicate measurements was 10.16% for the IOP and 14% for the OPA (SD IOP: +/- 1.83 mmHg, SD OPA: +/- 0.4 mmHg). The interobserver reliability was 87% for the IOP and 86% for the OPA. One of the three observers obtained significantly higher IOP and OPA values. CONCLUSIONS SmartLens is a reasonably precise and reliable device for IOP as well as OPA measurements but the results were not found to be observer independent.
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Asakawa S, Takayanagi A, Sasaki T, Shimizu A, Shintani A, Kawasaki K, Mungall AJ, Beck S, Minoshima S, Shimizu N. The genomic structure and promoter region of the human parkin gene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 286:863-8. [PMID: 11527378 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Parkin has been identified as a causative gene of the autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP). In this study, we determined the genomic structure of the Parkin gene and identified a core promoter region based on the DNA sequence of 1.4 Mb. The 5'-flanking region contained no apparent TATA or CAAT box elements but several putative cis-elements for various transcription factors. The GC- and CpG-rich regions were observed not only in the 5'-flanking sequence but also in the 5'-part of the first intron of Parkin. We identified an exact starting point of Parkin transcription. A core promoter region was determined by transfecting a series of deletion constructs with a dual luciferase reporter system into human neuroblastoma cells. Furthermore, we located a neighboring novel gene in a head-to-head direction with Parkin with only a 198-bp interval.
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Trowsdale J, Barten R, Haude A, Stewart CA, Beck S, Wilson MJ. The genomic context of natural killer receptor extended gene families. Immunol Rev 2001; 181:20-38. [PMID: 11513141 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-065x.2001.1810102.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The two sets of inhibitory and activating natural killer (NK) receptor genes belong either to the Ig or to the C-type lectin superfamilies. Both are extensive and diverse, comprising genes of varying degrees of relatedness, indicative of a process of iterative duplication. We have constructed gene maps to help understand how and when NK receptor genes developed and the nature of their polymorphism. A cluster of over 15 C-type lectin genes, the natural killer complex is located on human chromosome 12p13.1, syntenic with a region in mouse that borders multiple Ly49 loci. The equivalent locus in man is occupied by a single pseudogene, LY49L. The immunoglobulin superfamily of loci, the leukocyte receptor complex (LRC), on chromosome 19q13.4, contains many polymorphic killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes as well as multiple related sequences. These include immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) (or leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor genes), leukocyte-associated inhibitory receptor genes (LAIR), NKp46, Fc alphaR and the platelet glycoprotein receptor VI locus, which encodes a collagen-binding molecule. KIRs are expressed mostly on NK cells and some T cells. The other LRC loci are more widely expressed. Further centromeric of the LRC are sets of additional loci with weak sequence similarity to the KIRs, including the extensive CD66(CEA) and Siglec families. The LRC-syntenic region in mice contains no orthologues of KIRs. Some of the KIR genes are highly polymorphic in terms of sequence as well as for presence/absence of genes on different haplotypes. Some anchor loci, such as KIR2DL4, are present on most haplotypes. A few ILT loci, such as ILT5 and ILT8, are polymorphic, but only ILT6 exhibits presence/absence variation. This knowledge of the genomic organisation of the extensive NK superfamilies underpins efforts to understand the functions of the encoded NK receptor molecules. It leads to the conclusion that the functional homology of human KIR and mouse Ly49 genes arose by convergent evolution. NK receptor immunogenetics has interesting parallels with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in which some of the polymorphic genes are ligands for NK molecules. There are hints of an ancient genetic relationship between NK receptor genes and MHC-paralogous regions on chromosomes 1, 9 and 19. The picture that emerges from both complexes is of eternal evolutionary restlessness, presumably in response to resistance to disease.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19/genetics
- Evolution, Molecular
- Genome, Human
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Leukocytes/immunology
- Ligands
- Mice
- Minisatellite Repeats
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Multigene Family
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, KIR
- Receptors, KIR2DL4
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
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Younger RM, Amadou C, Bethel G, Ehlers A, Lindahl KF, Forbes S, Horton R, Milne S, Mungall AJ, Trowsdale J, Volz A, Ziegler A, Beck S. Characterization of clustered MHC-linked olfactory receptor genes in human and mouse. Genome Res 2001; 11:519-30. [PMID: 11282967 PMCID: PMC311051 DOI: 10.1101/gr.gr-1603r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory receptor (OR) loci frequently cluster and are present on most human chromosomes. They are members of the seven transmembrane receptor (7-TM) superfamily and, as such, are part of one of the largest mammalian multigene families, with an estimated copy number of up to 1000 ORs per haploid genome. As their name implies, ORs are known to be involved in the perception of odors and possibly also in other, nonolfaction-related, functions. Here, we report the characterization of ORs that are part of the MHC-linked OR clusters in human and mouse (partial sequence only). These clusters are of particular interest because of their possible involvement in olfaction-driven mate selection. In total, we describe 50 novel OR loci (36 human, 14 murine), making the human MHC-linked cluster the largest sequenced OR cluster in any organism so far. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses confirm the cluster to be MHC-linked but divergent in both species and allow the identification of at least one ortholog that will be useful for future regulatory and functional studies. Quantitative feature analysis shows clear evidence of duplications of blocks of OR genes and reveals the entire cluster to have a genomic environment that is very different from its neighboring regions. Based on in silico transcript analysis, we also present evidence of extensive long-distance splicing in the 5'-untranslated regions and, for the first time, of alternative splicing within the single coding exon of ORs. Taken together with our previous finding that ORs are also polymorphic, the presented data indicate that the expression, function, and evolution of these interesting genes might be more complex than previously thought.
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135
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Beck S. Home visit 2002. HOME HEALTHCARE NURSE 2001; 19:197-9. [PMID: 11985250 DOI: 10.1097/00004045-200104000-00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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136
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Böhmer C, Wagner CA, Beck S, Moschen I, Melzig J, Werner A, Lin JT, Lang F, Wehner F. The shrinkage-activated Na(+) conductance of rat hepatocytes and its possible correlation to rENaC. Cell Physiol Biochem 2001; 10:187-94. [PMID: 11093028 DOI: 10.1159/000016349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
At moderate cell shrinkage, activation of Na(+) channels is the most prominent mechanism of regulatory cell volume increase in rat hepatocytes. The amiloride sensitivity of these channels suggests a relation to the family of epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaCs). The present study was performed to determine the pharmacological profile of shrinkage-activated Na(+) channels and to test for ENaC expression in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes; in addition, the influence of the cell volume regulated serine/threonine kinase hSGK on activity and pharmacological profile of rENaC was examined in Xenopus oocytes. Conventional electrophysiology in hepatocytes reveals that the shrinkage-activated Na(+) channel is inhibited by amiloride and EIPA with IC(50) values of 6.0 and 0.12 micromol/l, respectively. Western blots and RT-PCR demonstrate that rat hepatocytes do express all three subunits (alpha, beta, gamma) of ENaC. Coexpression of hSGK with rENaC in Xenopus oocytes reveals that the kinase stimulates ENaC by a factor of 4. Moreover, hSGK decreases the affinity to amiloride (increase of IC(50) from 0.12 to 0.26 micromol/l) and increases the affinity to EIPA (decrease of IC(50) from 250 to 50 micromol/l). In conclusion, rat hepatocytes express ENaC, which is activated by the cell volume-sensitive kinase hSGK. ENaC may contribute to the Na(+) channels activated by osmotic cell shrinkage in hepatocytes, whereby the relatively low amiloride and high EIPA sensitivity of the channel could at least be partially due to modification by SGK, which decreases the amiloride and increases the EIPA sensitivity of ENaC.
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137
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Lander ES, Linton LM, Birren B, Nusbaum C, Zody MC, Baldwin J, Devon K, Dewar K, Doyle M, FitzHugh W, Funke R, Gage D, Harris K, Heaford A, Howland J, Kann L, Lehoczky J, LeVine R, McEwan P, McKernan K, Meldrim J, Mesirov JP, Miranda C, Morris W, Naylor J, Raymond C, Rosetti M, Santos R, Sheridan A, Sougnez C, Stange-Thomann Y, Stojanovic N, Subramanian A, Wyman D, Rogers J, Sulston J, Ainscough R, Beck S, Bentley D, Burton J, Clee C, Carter N, Coulson A, Deadman R, Deloukas P, Dunham A, Dunham I, Durbin R, French L, Grafham D, Gregory S, Hubbard T, Humphray S, Hunt A, Jones M, Lloyd C, McMurray A, Matthews L, Mercer S, Milne S, Mullikin JC, Mungall A, Plumb R, Ross M, Shownkeen R, Sims S, Waterston RH, Wilson RK, Hillier LW, McPherson JD, Marra MA, Mardis ER, Fulton LA, Chinwalla AT, Pepin KH, Gish WR, Chissoe SL, Wendl MC, Delehaunty KD, Miner TL, Delehaunty A, Kramer JB, Cook LL, Fulton RS, Johnson DL, Minx PJ, Clifton SW, Hawkins T, Branscomb E, Predki P, Richardson P, Wenning S, Slezak T, Doggett N, Cheng JF, Olsen A, Lucas S, Elkin C, Uberbacher E, Frazier M, Gibbs RA, Muzny DM, Scherer SE, Bouck JB, Sodergren EJ, Worley KC, Rives CM, Gorrell JH, Metzker ML, Naylor SL, Kucherlapati RS, Nelson DL, Weinstock GM, Sakaki Y, Fujiyama A, Hattori M, Yada T, Toyoda A, Itoh T, Kawagoe C, Watanabe H, Totoki Y, Taylor T, Weissenbach J, Heilig R, Saurin W, Artiguenave F, Brottier P, Bruls T, Pelletier E, Robert C, Wincker P, Smith DR, Doucette-Stamm L, Rubenfield M, Weinstock K, Lee HM, Dubois J, Rosenthal A, Platzer M, Nyakatura G, Taudien S, Rump A, Yang H, Yu J, Wang J, Huang G, Gu J, Hood L, Rowen L, Madan A, Qin S, Davis RW, Federspiel NA, Abola AP, Proctor MJ, Myers RM, Schmutz J, Dickson M, Grimwood J, Cox DR, Olson MV, Kaul R, Raymond C, Shimizu N, Kawasaki K, Minoshima S, Evans GA, Athanasiou M, Schultz R, Roe BA, Chen F, Pan H, Ramser J, Lehrach H, Reinhardt R, McCombie WR, de la Bastide M, Dedhia N, Blöcker H, Hornischer K, Nordsiek G, Agarwala R, Aravind L, Bailey JA, Bateman A, Batzoglou S, Birney E, Bork P, Brown DG, Burge CB, Cerutti L, Chen HC, Church D, Clamp M, Copley RR, Doerks T, Eddy SR, Eichler EE, Furey TS, Galagan J, Gilbert JG, Harmon C, Hayashizaki Y, Haussler D, Hermjakob H, Hokamp K, Jang W, Johnson LS, Jones TA, Kasif S, Kaspryzk A, Kennedy S, Kent WJ, Kitts P, Koonin EV, Korf I, Kulp D, Lancet D, Lowe TM, McLysaght A, Mikkelsen T, Moran JV, Mulder N, Pollara VJ, Ponting CP, Schuler G, Schultz J, Slater G, Smit AF, Stupka E, Szustakowki J, Thierry-Mieg D, Thierry-Mieg J, Wagner L, Wallis J, Wheeler R, Williams A, Wolf YI, Wolfe KH, Yang SP, Yeh RF, Collins F, Guyer MS, Peterson J, Felsenfeld A, Wetterstrand KA, Patrinos A, Morgan MJ, de Jong P, Catanese JJ, Osoegawa K, Shizuya H, Choi S, Chen YJ, Szustakowki J. Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome. Nature 2001; 409:860-921. [PMID: 11237011 DOI: 10.1038/35057062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14520] [Impact Index Per Article: 631.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.
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138
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Rhodes DA, Stammers M, Malcherek G, Beck S, Trowsdale J. The cluster of BTN genes in the extended major histocompatibility complex. Genomics 2001; 71:351-62. [PMID: 11170752 DOI: 10.1006/geno.2000.6406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We sequenced the 170-kb cluster of BTN genes in the extended major histocompatibility complex region, 4 Mb telomeric of human leukocyte antigen class I genes, at 6p22.1. The cluster consists of seven genes belonging to the expanding B7/butyrophilin-like group, a subset of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. The main complex is composed of six genes, from two subfamilies, BTN2 and BTN3, arranged in pairs. This alternating pattern must have evolved by duplications of an original block of two genes, one from each subfamily. The sequences from the two subfamilies share approximately 50% amino acid identity. By analysis of repeat elements within each block, these duplications may be dated to approximately 100 million years ago, at about the time of the branching of the Rodentia and Primate lineages. The single BTN1A1 (butyrophilin) gene was positioned approximately 25 kb centromeric to the cluster. Each gene covers approximately 12 kb and consists of seven (BTN2 subfamily) or nine (BTN3 subfamily) coding exons. The predicted leader sequence, immunoglobulin-like IgV (variable)/IgC (constant) ectodomains, and the predicted transmembrane domain are encoded on separate exons and are separated from a B30.2 domain by a variable number of very short exons, 21 and 27 nucleotides in length. BTN transcripts were detected in all tissues examined. Alternative splicing, involving particularly the carboxyl-terminal B30.2 domain, was a notable feature. Most transcripts of BTN2 subfamily genes contained this domain, whereas BTN3 genes did not. Using immunofluorescence, we showed surface expression of BTN-green fluorescent protein fusions in mammalian cell transfectants.
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MESH Headings
- Alternative Splicing
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Butyrophilins
- CHO Cells
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6
- Cricetinae
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Exons
- Expressed Sequence Tags
- Genetic Markers
- Green Fluorescent Proteins
- Haplotypes
- HeLa Cells
- Homozygote
- Humans
- Luminescent Proteins/metabolism
- Major Histocompatibility Complex
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Models, Genetic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Multigene Family
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Spliced Leader
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Transfection
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139
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Kammer T, Beck S, Thielscher A, Laubis-Herrmann U, Topka H. Motor thresholds in humans: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study comparing different pulse waveforms, current directions and stimulator types. Clin Neurophysiol 2001; 112:250-8. [PMID: 11165526 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(00)00513-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the stimulation effectiveness of different magnetic stimulator devices with respect to pulse waveform and current direction in the motor cortex. METHODS In 8 normal subjects we determined motor thresholds of transcranial magnetic stimulation in a small hand muscle. We used focal figure-of-eight coils of 3 common stimulators (Dantec Magpro, Magstim 200 and Magstim Rapid) and systematically varied current direction (postero-anterior versus antero-posterior, perpendicular to the central sulcus) as well as pulse waveform (monophasic versus biphasic). The coil position was kept constant with a stereotactic positioning device. RESULTS Motor thresholds varied consistently with changing stimulus parameters, despite substantial interindividual variability. By normalizing the values with respect to the square root of the energy of the capacitors in the different stimulators, we found a homogeneous pattern of threshold variations. The normalized Magstim threshold values were consistently higher than the normalized Dantec thresholds by a factor of 1.3. For both stimulator types the monophasic pulse was more effective if the current passed the motor cortex in a postero-anterior direction rather than antero-posterior. In contrast, the biphasic pulse was weaker with the first upstroke in the postero-anterior direction. We calculated mean factors for transforming the intensity values of a particular configuration into that of another configuration by normalizing the different threshold values of each individual subject to his lowest threshold value. CONCLUSIONS Our transformation factors allow us to compare stimulation intensities from studies using different devices and pulse forms. The effectiveness of stimulation as a function of waveform and current direction follows the same pattern as in a peripheral nerve preparation (J Physiol (Lond) 513 (1998) 571).
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140
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Zhou J, Lancaster SJ, Walker DA, Beck S, Thornton-Pett M, Bochmann M. Synthesis, structures, and reactivity of weakly coordinating anions with delocalized borate structure: the assessment of anion effects in metallocene polymerization catalysts. J Am Chem Soc 2001; 123:223-37. [PMID: 11456508 DOI: 10.1021/ja002820h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The formation of adducts of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane with strongly coordinating anions such as CN(-) and [M(CN)(4)](2)(-) (M = Ni, Pd) is a synthetically facile route to the bulky, very weakly coordinating anions [CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)](-) and [M[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)](2-) which are isolated as stable NHMe(2)Ph(+) and CPh(3)(+) salts. The crystal structures of [CPh(3)][CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)] (1), [CPh(3)][ClB(C(6)F(5))(3)] (2), [NHMe(2)Ph](2)[Ni[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)].2Me(2)CO (4b.2Me(2)CO), [CPh(3)](2)[Ni[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)].2CH(2)Cl(2) (4c.2CH(2)Cl(2)), and [CPh(3)](2)[Pd[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)].2CH(2)Cl(2) (5c.2CH(2)Cl(2)) are reported. The CN stretching frequencies in 4 and 5 are shifted by approximately 110 cm(-1) to higher wavenumbers compared to the parent tetracyano complexes in aqueous solution, although the M-C and C-N distances show no significant change on B(C(6)F(5))(3) coordination. Zirconocene dimethyl complexes L(2)ZrMe(2) [L(2) = Cp(2), SBI = rac-Me(2)Si(Ind)(2)] react with 1, 4c or 5c in benzene solution at 20 degrees C to give the salts of binuclear methyl-bridged cations, [(L(2)ZrMe)(2)(mu-Me)][CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)] and [(L(2)ZrMe)(2)(mu-Me)](2)[M[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)]. The reactivity of these species in solution was studied in comparison with the known [[(SBI)ZrMe](2)(mu-Me)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)]. While the latter reacts with excess [CPh(3)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] in benzene to give the mononuclear ion pair [(SBI)ZrMe(+).B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-)] in a pseudo-first-order reaction, k = 3 x 10(-4) s(-1), [(L(2)ZrMe)(2)(mu-Me)][CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)] reacts to give a mixture of L(2)ZrMe(mu-Me)B(C(6)F(5))(3) and L(2)ZrMe(mu-NC)B(C(6)F(5))(3). Recrystallization of [Cp' '(2)Zr(mu-Me)(2)AlMe(2)][CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)] affords Cp' '(2)ZrMe(mu-NC)B(C(6)F(5))(3) 6, the X-ray structure of which is reported. The stability of [(L(2)ZrMe)(2)(mu-Me)](+)X(-) decreases in the order X = [B(C(6)F(5))(4)] > [M[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)] > [CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)] and increases strongly with the steric bulk of L(2) = Cp(2) << SBI. Activation of (SBI)ZrMe(2) by 1 in the presence of AlBu(i)(3) gives extremely active ethene polymerization catalysts. Polymerization studies at 1-7 bar monomer pressure suggest that these, and by implication most other highly active ethene polymerization catalysts, are strongly mass-transport limited. By contrast, monitoring propene polymerization activities with the systems (SBI)ZrMe(2)/1/AlBu(i)(3) and CGCTiMe(2)/1/AlBu(i)(3) at 20 degrees C as a function of catalyst concentration demonstrates that in these cases mass-transport limitation is absent up to [metal] approximately 2 x 10(-5) mol L(-1). Propene polymerization activities decrease in the order [CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)](-) > [B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) > [M[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)](2-) >> [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-), with differences in activation barriers relative to [CN[B(C(6)F(5))(3)](2)](-) of DeltaDeltaG = 1.1 (B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-)), 4.1 (Ni[CNB(C(6)F(5))(3)](4)(2-)) and 10.7-12.8 kJ mol(-)(1) (MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)(-)). The data suggest that even in the case of very bulky anions with delocalized negative charge the displacement of the anion by the monomer must be involved in the rate-limiting step.
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141
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Yuan X, Sobolev SV, Kind R, Oncken O, Bock G, Asch G, Schurr B, Graeber F, Rudloff A, Hanka W, Wylegalla K, Tibi R, Haberland C, Rietbrock A, Giese P, Wigger P, Röwer P, Zandt G, Beck S, Wallace T, Pardo M, Comte D. Subduction and collision processes in the Central Andes constrained by converted seismic phases. Nature 2000; 408:958-61. [PMID: 11140679 DOI: 10.1038/35050073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 305] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Central Andes are the Earth's highest mountain belt formed by ocean-continent collision. Most of this uplift is thought to have occurred in the past 20 Myr, owing mainly to thickening of the continental crust, dominated by tectonic shortening. Here we use P-to-S (compressional-to-shear) converted teleseismic waves observed on several temporary networks in the Central Andes to image the deep structure associated with these tectonic processes. We find that the Moho (the Mohorovicić discontinuity--generally thought to separate crust from mantle) ranges from a depth of 75 km under the Altiplano plateau to 50 km beneath the 4-km-high Puna plateau. This relatively thin crust below such a high-elevation region indicates that thinning of the lithospheric mantle may have contributed to the uplift of the Puna plateau. We have also imaged the subducted crust of the Nazca oceanic plate down to 120 km depth, where it becomes invisible to converted teleseismic waves, probably owing to completion of the gabbro-eclogite transformation; this is direct evidence for the presence of kinetically delayed metamorphic reactions in subducting plates. Most of the intermediate-depth seismicity in the subducting plate stops at 120 km depth as well, suggesting a relation with this transformation. We see an intracrustal low-velocity zone, 10-20 km thick, below the entire Altiplano and Puna plateaux, which we interpret as a zone of continuing metamorphism and partial melting that decouples upper-crustal imbrication from lower-crustal thickening.
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142
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Ehlers A, Beck S, Forbes SA, Trowsdale J, Volz A, Younger R, Ziegler A. MHC-linked olfactory receptor loci exhibit polymorphism and contribute to extended HLA/OR-haplotypes. Genome Res 2000; 10:1968-78. [PMID: 11116091 PMCID: PMC313068 DOI: 10.1101/gr.10.12.1968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Clusters of olfactory receptor (OR) genes are found on most human chromosomes. They are one of the largest mammalian multigene families. Here, we report a systematic study of polymorphism of OR genes belonging to the largest fully sequenced OR cluster. The cluster contains 36 OR genes, of which two belong to the vomeronasal 1 (V1-OR) family. The cluster is divided into a major and a minor region at the telomeric end of the HLA complex on chromosome 6. These OR genes could be involved in MHC-related mate preferences. The polymorphism screen was carried out with 13 genes from the HLA-linked OR cluster and three genes from chromosomes 7, 17, and 19 as controls. Ten human cell lines, representing 18 different chromosome 6s, were analyzed. They were from various ethnic origins and exhibited different HLA haplotypes. All OR genes tested, including those not linked to the HLA complex, were polymorphic. These polymorphisms were dispersed along the coding region and resulted in up to seven alleles for a given OR gene. Three polymorphisms resulted either in stop codons (genes hs6M1-4P, hs6M1-17) or in a 16-bp deletion (gene hs6M1-19P), possibly leading to lack of ligand recognition by the respective receptors in the cell line donors. In total, 13 HLA-linked OR haplotypes could be defined. Therefore, allelic variation appears to be a general feature of human OR genes.
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143
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Ziegler A, Ehlers A, Forbes S, Trowsdale J, Volz A, Younger R, Beck S. Polymorphisms in olfactory receptor genes: a cautionary note. Hum Immunol 2000; 61:1281-4. [PMID: 11163084 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(00)00219-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The hundreds of human olfactory receptor (OR) genes are organized into clusters occurring on nearly every chromosome. Although their sequences are not always closely related, they share stretches of considerable similarity, both at the amino acid and nucleotide levels. We demonstrate here that an HLA complex-linked OR sequence, FAT11, for which recently a number of alleles have been claimed within the Hutterites, contains sequences derived from two closely related, linked OR genes, hs6M1-12 and hs6M1-16. Instead of indicating a difference between alleles of a given locus, two of the polymorphisms described for FAT11 (at amino acids 48 and 220 of the deduced protein sequence, respectively) may in fact reflect distinct sequences of hs6M1-12 and a further, closely related HLA-linked OR locus, hs6M1-13P. As a consequence, recombination rates in Hutterites in the region telomeric of HLA-G may have to be reconsidered.
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144
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Torkar M, Haude A, Milne S, Beck S, Trowsdale J, Wilson MJ. Arrangement of the ILT gene cluster: a common null allele of the ILT6 gene results from a 6.7-kbp deletion. Eur J Immunol 2000; 30:3655-62. [PMID: 11169408 DOI: 10.1002/1521-4141(200012)30:12<3655::aid-immu3655>3.0.co;2-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The leukocyte receptor cluster (LRC) is a highly polymorphic region of human chromosome 19q13.4 that encompasses at least 24 members of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig-SF). The centromeric end of the LRC contains eight Ig-SF loci, namely LAIR1 and seven ILT genes. All ILT genes conform to prototypic ILT gene structures. ILT6 is the only member of the ILT family that lacks a transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain. Close examination of the ILT6 genomic sequence reveals high similarity of this locus with the organization of activating ILT genes. However, the ILT6 transcript runs through the putative splice site of exon 8 that encodes for an extracellular stalk region, leading to a premature in-frame stop codon. Downstream of exon 8 are three pseudo exons that are not included in any of the known ILT6 transcripts, but share high homology to the equivalent region in activating ILT loci, suggesting that these genes have evolved from a common ancestral sequence. Comparison of two haplotypes over this region revealed a remarkable polymorphism with respect to the ILT6 gene which lacks exons 1-7 in one allele, reminiscent of the presence/absence variation displayed by the closely related and genetically linked KIR loci. Detailed sequence analysis of the two LAIR/ILT clusters suggests that the two complexes may have evolved from an inverted duplication.
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145
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Matos P, Skaug J, Marques B, Beck S, Veríssimo F, Gespach C, Boavida MG, Scherer SW, Jordan P. Small GTPase Rac1: structure, localization, and expression of the human gene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000; 277:741-51. [PMID: 11062023 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rac1 is a member of the Rho family of small GTPases involved in signal transduction pathways that control proliferation, adhesion, and migration of cells during embryonic development and invasiveness of tumor cells. Here we present the complete structure of the human RAC1 gene and characterize its expression. The gene comprises 7 exons over a length of 29 kb and is localized to chromosome 7p22. The GC-rich gene promoter shows characteristics of a housekeeping gene and Northern blot studies revealed ubiquitous expression of two rac1 transcripts, 1.2 and 2.5 kb in size. The two transcripts are expressed in tissue-specific ratios, reflecting competition between two alternative polyadenylation sites. The RAC1 but not RAC2 gene contains an additional exon 3b that is included by alternative splicing into the variant Rac1b, a constitutively active mutant which induces the formation of lamellipodia in fibroblasts. These data indicate that the RAC1 gene encodes two signaling GTPases. The gene structure reported here will enable studies on the regulation of RAC1 expression during tumorigenesis and development.
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146
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Mockenhaupt FP, Rong B, Günther M, Beck S, Till H, Kohne E, Thompson WN, Bienzle U. Anaemia in pregnant Ghanaian women: importance of malaria, iron deficiency, and haemoglobinopathies. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2000; 94:477-83. [PMID: 11132370 DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(00)90057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In sub-Saharan Africa, anaemia in pregnancy results from multiple causes including malaria, iron deficiency and haemoglobinopathies. In a cross-sectional study among 530 pregnant women in Ghana in November-December 1998, red blood cell indices were analysed with respect to malaria, serum concentrations of ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP), and the haemoglobin and alpha-globin genotypes. Anaemia (haemoglobin [Hb] < 11 g/dL) was found in 54% of the women; 63% harboured malaria parasites at predominantly low numbers. Ferritin levels were considerably influenced by malaria and inflammatory processes (CRP > 0.6 mg/dL). Depending on the definition applied, the prevalence of iron deficiency ranged between 5% and 46%. The HbAS trait was observed in 14%, HbAC and elevated HbF in 7% each, and sickle cell disease in 1%. Heterozygous beta-thalassaemia was present in 1% of the women and alpha(+)-thalassaemia in 33% (29% heterozygous, 4% homozygous). Women with HbAS had higher malaria parasite densities than those with HbAA. In individuals with highly elevated HbF (> 10%), parasitaemia occurred in 27% only. Low gravidity, second trimester of pregnancy, malaria, raised CRP levels, and homozygous alpha(+)-thalassaemia were independent risk factors for anaemia in multivariate analysis. alpha(+)-Thalassaemia, however, was associated with a lesser degree of malarial anaemia when compared to non-thalassaemic women. Iron deficiency appears not to be a major health problem in this population. Haemoglobinopathies are common but, except for homozygous alpha(+)-thalassaemia, do not substantially contribute to anaemia in pregnancy. alpha(+)-Thalassaemia ameliorates malarial anaemia in pregnant women.
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147
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Koch MO, Foster RS, Bell B, Beck S, Cheng L, Parekh D, Jung SH. Characterization and predictors of prostate specific antigen progression rates after radical retropubic prostatectomy. J Urol 2000; 164:749-53. [PMID: 10953139 DOI: 10.1097/00005392-200009010-00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Detectable serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy indicates recurrent disease and treatment failure. We characterized PSA recurrence after prostatectomy and identified predictors of rapid PSA progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 165 patients with detectable PSA after radical prostatectomy to characterize the rate of PSA increase and correlate this rate with the possible predictors of rapid PSA progression known at prostatectomy. RESULTS For a median of 48 months postoperatively we followed 142 patients with PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy who received no immediate adjuvant therapy. PSA doubling time was less than 6, greater than 6, 12, 18 and 24 months in 46%, 54%, 18%, 11% and 9% of cases, while time to PSA 50 ng./ml. was greater than 5, 10, 15 and 20 years in 69%, 34%, 22% and 9%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that rapid PSA doubling time was associated with Gleason secondary grade, Gleason score and time to initial detectable PSA (p = 0.019, 0.031 and 0.0001, and p = 0.043, 0.045 and 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS PSA recurrence progresses at a greatly variable rate and many recurrences progress slowly with a long doubling time. Gleason secondary grade and score appear to be predictive of rapid PSA progression. No other pathological features were predictive of rapid PSA progression.
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148
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Rössler P, Boekhoff I, Tareilus E, Beck S, Breer H, Freitag J. G protein betagamma complexes in circumvallate taste cells involved in bitter transduction. Chem Senses 2000; 25:413-21. [PMID: 10944505 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/25.4.413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein betagamma (Gbetagamma) complexes are considered to play an important role in second messenger signaling of phospholipase C (PLC). Monitoring the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) response in circumvallate tissue homogenates upon stimulation with denatonium benzoate, it was demonstrated that a glutathione S-transferase-GRK3ct fusion protein-a Gbetagamma scavenger-attenuates the bitter tastant-induced second messenger reaction. Towards an identification of the Gbetagamma complex involved in rat bitter taste transduction, it was found that the G protein beta(3) subtype is specifically expressed in taste receptor cells of circumvallate papillae. Gbeta(3)-specific antibodies blocked the denatonium benzoate-induced IP(3) formation in a dose-dependent manner; the inhibitory effect was reversed by preincubation with the antigenic peptide. A less pronounced inhibition was observed using Gbeta(1)-specific antibodies. Analyzing individual taste cells by single cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction approaches, overlapping expression patterns for PLCbeta(2), Galpha(gust), Gbeta(3) and Ggamma(3) could be demonstrated. Furthermore, the co-expression of all profiled signal transduction components in individual taste receptor cells could be detected. These data support the concept that the denatonium benzoate-induced IP(3) response is mediated by an activation of PLCbeta(2) via a Gbetagamma complex, possibly composed of Gbeta(3) as the predominant beta subunit and Ggamma(3), and imply that multiple second messenger pathways may exist in individual taste receptor cells.
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149
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Mungall AJ, Beck S, Cann HM, Dunham I, Trowsdale J, Ziegler A. Report of the Fourth International Chromosome 6 Workshop 1999. 10-12 June 1999. Cambridge, UK. Abstracts. CYTOGENETICS AND CELL GENETICS 2000; 88:173-96. [PMID: 10828583 DOI: 10.1159/000015544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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150
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Penque D, Mendes F, Beck S, Farinha C, Pacheco P, Nogueira P, Lavinha J, Malhó R, Amaral MD. Cystic fibrosis F508del patients have apically localized CFTR in a reduced number of airway cells. J Transl Med 2000; 80:857-68. [PMID: 10879737 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3780090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Present state of knowledge, mostly based on heterologous expression studies, indicates that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein bearing the F508del mutation is misprocessed and mislocalized in the cytoplasm, unable to reach the cell surface. Recently, however, it was described that protein levels and localization are similar between F508del and wild-type CFTR in airway and intestinal tissues, but not in the sweat glands. In this study, we used immunocytochemistry with three different anti-CFTR antibodies to investigate endogenous CFTR expression and localization in nasal epithelial cells from F508del homozygous patients, F508del carriers, and non-CF individuals. On average, 300 cells were observed per individual. No significant differences were observed for cell type distributions among CF, carrier, and non-CF samples; epithelial cells made up approximately 80% to 95% of all cells present. CFTR was detected mostly in the apical region (AR) of the tall columnar epithelial (TCE) cells, ciliated or nonciliated. By confocal microscopy analysis, we show that the CFTR apical region-staining does not overlap with either anti-calnexin (endoplasmic reticulum), anti-p58 (Golgi), or anti-tubulin (cilia) stainings. The median from results with three antibodies indicate that the apical localization of CFTR happens in 22% of TCE cells from F508del homozygous patients with CF (n = 12), in 42% of cells from F508del carriers (n = 20), and in 56% of cells from healthy individuals (n = 12). Statistical analysis indicates that differences are significant among all groups studied and for the three antibodies (p < 0.05). These results confirm the presence of CFTR in the apical region of airway cells from F508del homozygous patients; however, they also reveal that the number of cells in which this occurs is significantly lower than in F508del carriers and much lower than in healthy individuals. These findings may have an impact on the design of novel pharmacological strategies aimed at circumventing the CF defect caused by the F508del mutation.
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