Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-144).

Objetivo: Investigar a presença de alterações (deleção e/ou duplicação) na região 22q11 em indivíduos até 02 anos de idade com fissura de palato, com o intuito de realizar diagnóstico precoce da síndrome da deleção 22q11 (SD22q11). Local: Laboratório de Genética e Citogenética Humana, HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Casuística e metodologia: Foram selecionados 55 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos, com idade até 2 anos e com fissura de palato, cadastrados e em tratamento no Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais/USP. Todos os indivíduos foram analisados utilizando citogenética convencional por bandamento G e pela técnica de MLPA. Resultados e discussão: Foram analisados 55 indivíduos, dos quais 46 apresentaram fissura de palato isolada, 6 apresentaram fissura de palato e cardiopatia, 1 fissura de palato e atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, 1 caso apresentou fissura de palato submucosa e 1 caso com fissura de palato submucosa e atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Não foram observadas anomalias cromossômicas numéricas ou estruturais por meio da análise citogenética. Embora não tenhamos encontrado nenhuma alteração, a análise citogenética inicial foi importante para detectar possíveis alterações em outras regiões cromossômicas que pudessem resultar em um fenótipo semelhante ao da SD22q11. Também não foram detectadas deleção ou duplicação na região 22q11 pela técnica de MLPA, a qual se mostrou um método rápido, sensível, eficaz e com um custo relativamente baixo em comparação a outras técnicas, para a investigação de alterações na região 22q11. Nossos resultados, associados aos da literatura, demonstram que a prevalência da deleção 22q11 nos casos de fissura de palato isolada é muito baixa. Mesmo sendo considerada como sugestiva da SD22q11, não detectamos nenhuma alteração na região 22q11 nos 6 indivíduos com cardiopatia. Somente foi possível identificar atraso no desenvolvimento em 2 indivíduos, ambos com dois anos de idade. Isso demonstra a dificuldade de realizar diagnóstico em idade precoce. Conclusão: O teste de rotina para investigação da deleção/duplicação da região 22q11 não se justifica em crianças com idade até dois anos que apresentam fissura de palato como principal achado clínico. Esses indivíduos devem ter um acompanhamento clínico criterioso, porque um comprometimento comportamental ou mental, bem como as características dismórficas da SD22q11 podem evoluir com o tempo. Devido ao tamanho relativamente pequeno desse estudo, e os dados inconsistentes da literatura atual, mais estudos são necessários para estabelecer critérios para indicação da rotina de investigação de deleção/duplicação 22q11 em indivíduos com anomalias palatinas. / Purpose: To investigate alterations (deletions/duplications) in the 22q11 region in individuals with cleft palate aged 0-2 years, in order to perform early diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome (SD22q11). Local: Genetics and Human Cytogenetics Laboratory, HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Methods: We selected 55 individuals with cleft palate, both genders, registered and in treatment at Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais/USP. All individuals were investigated by cytogenetics and MLPA techniques. Results and Discussion: 46 out of 55 individuals, presented isolated cleft palate, 6 cleft palate and heart malformations, 1 cleft palate and developmental delay, 1 submucous cleft, and 1 submucous cleft and developmental delay. G karyotype did not show any chromosomal abnormalities. Although we did not detect any alterations, the initial cytogenetics analysis was important to exclude alteration in other chromosomal region that could result in a similar phenotype. Deletion or duplication in 22q11 region by MLPA was not detected, which shown to be a rapid, sensitive, and low cost method in comparison with other methods to investigate 22q11 region. Results, associated with the literature, have shown that the prevalence of the 22q11 alteration is very low in cleft palate. The presence of heart malformation is suggestive of 22q11DS. Besides, there were no alterations in 22q11 region in 6 patients with cleft palate and heart malformations. We were able to identify developmental delay in only 2 individual, both aged 2 years which demonstrates the difficulty of making early diagnosis. Conclusion: There is no justification for routine screening for 22q11 region deletion/duplication in children aged 0-2 years with cleft palate as main feature. These individuals should be carefully followed because behavioral or mentalimpairments as well as dysmorphic features characteristic of 22q11DS may evolve with time.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / External apical root resorption (EARR) is a common sequela of orthodontic treatment, although it may also occur without orthodontic treatment. Despite rigorous investigation, no single factor or group of factors that directly causes root resorption has been identified. Experiment 1. A sample of 83 pairs of full siblings who had undergone orthodontic treatment was studied. Measurements were made of the longest maxillary central incisor, mandibular central incisor and mesial and distal roots of the mandibular first molars. Heritability estimates were generated by generalized liner models. Our results showed that the heritability estimate of the EARR was 64% on average. It was concluded that there was sufficient heritability for EARR to pursue genetic analysis. Experiment 2. Five polymorphic markers flanking or lying within the IL-IA , IL-JB, TNSALP, TNFA, and TNFRSFJ JA genes were used in a candidate gene approach to assess linkage and association with EARR in 38 pedigrees. Suggestive evidence for linkage between EARR and the polymorphic marker D18S64 was obtained with the analysis program MAPMAKER/SIBS (LOD score 2.51). The Q-TDT program showed highly significant (p = 0.0003) evidence of linkage disequilibrium of IL-1 B polymorphisms with EARR. Our analysis indicates that the JL -1 B polymorphism accounts for 15% of the total EARR variation. Experiment 3. Nine-week-old male mice were randomly selected as controls or for placement under anesthesia of an open coil spring ligated to the left maxillary first molar producing a force of approximately 25 g. The control (C) or treated (T) per strain were A/J (C=3,T=9), C57BL/6J (C=7,T=8), C3H/HeJ (C = 4,T=6), BALB/cJ (C=4,T=6), 129P3 /J (C=6,T=8), DBA/2J (C=8,T=9), SJL/J (C=8,T= 10), and AKR/J (C=9,T =8). Animals were sacrificed after nine days of treatment or control; maxillae were immediately removed, prepared, sectioned, mounted, stained with H&E, and observed microscopically at 1 OOX to determine root resorption. Mice were grouped into root resorption resistant (A/J, C57BL/6J and SJL/J); intermediate (C3H/HeJ and AKR/J); and susceptible (BALB/cJ, DBA/2J, and 129P3/J) strains. It was concluded that there were differential susceptibility or resistance to root resorption among inbred mouse strains, indicating that genotype is an influencing factor.

Poon Cho Sun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-91). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.v / ABSTRACT --- p.vi / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature review --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Epidemiology and aetiology of cervical cancer --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Incidence and mortality --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Aetiology --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Oral contraceptive pills and cervical cancer --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Immunity and cervical cancer --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Socio-economic differences and cervical cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2.5 --- Smoking and cervical cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2.6 --- Male role and cervical cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2.7 --- Nutrition and cervical cancer --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Oncogene --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Tumour suppressor gene --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Alterations of oncogene in cervical cancer --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Alterations of tumour suppressor genes in cervical cancer --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Alterations of chromosome 1 in cervical cancer --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Cytogenetic tudy --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Molecular genetic study --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4 --- Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and methods --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- Materials --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Patients --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Specimens --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Blood samples --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Tumour tissue specimens --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Chemicals and reagents --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Chemicals --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- Reagents --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3.3 --- Markers --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Major equipment --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- DNA extraction --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DNA amplification --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Validation of PCR primers and optimisation of PCR condition --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- End labelling of the primer by (γ-32p)ATP --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- PCR for LOH detection --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Electrophoresis --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Gel dry and radioautography --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.2.6 --- PCR analysis of the D1S80 and D1S76 loci --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3 --- Determination of Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1 --- LOH analysis in cervical cancer --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2 --- LOH and age in cervical cancer --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3 --- LOH and pathological grade in cervical cancer --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- LOH and clinical stage in cervical cancer --- p.64 / Chapter 4.5 --- LOH and clinical status in cervical cancer --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1 --- Microsatellite markers --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2 --- PCR condition --- p.70 / Chapter 5.3 --- LOH in cervical cancer --- p.72 / Chapter 5.4 --- Correlation of LOH with clinico-pathologic characteristics of cervical cancer --- p.76 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- LOH and age --- p.78 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- LOH and clinical stage --- p.78 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- LOH and pathologic grade --- p.79 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- LOH and clinical status --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.80 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- References --- p.83

Microarray expression analysis was carried out to identify genes with a role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The U133A Affymetrix GeneChipRTM was used to determine the expression patterns of the 3p25.3-ptel genes represented on the microarray in 14 primary cultures of normal ovarian surface epithelial (NOSE) samples, 25 frozen malignant ovarian tumor samples and four EOC cell lines. Seven genes with differential expression patterns in the tumor samples compared to the NOSE samples were identified as candidates for further analysis, starting with ARPC4, SRGAP3 and ATP2B2. Although none of the candidates had been previously studied in ovarian cancer, several had either family or pathway members that had. Expression patterns seemed unaffected by either tumor histopathological subtype or the allelic imbalances observed with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis. The absence of association with genomic context suggested that differential expression was the result of transcriptional regulation rather than direct targeting.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2010.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2010.

The development of cancer is a multi-step process which involves a series of events, including activation of oncogenes and loss of tumor suppressor function, leading to cell immortalization and misregulated proliferation. In the last few years, the importance of epigenetic defects in cancer development has become increasingly recognized. While most epigenetic studies focus on silencing of tumor suppressors, this thesis addresses defects in the maintenance of silenced heterochromatin in cancer, particularly breast cancer. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer in women and many familial cases have been linked to mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. BRCA1 has been linked to DNA repair as well as multiple other cellular processes, including cell cycle checkpoints, ubiquitination, centrosome function, and meiotic silencing of the XY body. This work began with a particular interest in the report that BRCA1 was linked to the failed maintenance of random X-inactivation in female somatic cells, via a role in supporting XIST RNA localization to the inactive X chromosome (Xi). XIST RNA is a non-coding RNA that fully coats or “paints” the Xi and induces its silencing. Work presented in Chapter II substantially clarifies the relationship of BRCA1 to XIST RNA, based on several lines of experimentation. Loss of BRCA1 does not lead to loss of XIST RNA in these studies, nor did reconstitution of HCC1937 BRCA1-/- tumor cells with BRCA1 lead to XIST RNA localization on Xi, although an effect on XIST RNA transcription is possible. Studies of BRCA1 localization with Xi showed that BRCA1 has a limited association with the Xi in ~3-10% of cells, it rarely colocalizes with XIST RNA to a significant extent, but rather is in close apposition to a small part of the XIST RNA/Xi territory. Additionally, analysis of several breast cancer cell lines revealed mislocalization of XIST RNA in some breast cancer cell lines. Many studies have examined BRCA1 foci that form following DNA damage and demonstrated that these are sites of repair. However, whether the numerous large foci consistently present in normal S-phase nuclei were storage sites or had any function was unknown. In Chapter III, I demonstrate that the BRCA1 foci in normal S-phase nuclei associate overwhelmingly with specific heterochromatic regions of the genome. More specifically, BRCA1 foci often associate with centromeric or pericentromeric regions in both human and mouse cells. In human cells BRCA1 foci often appear juxtaposed to centromeric signal, whereas in mouse, BRCA1 often rings or paints the large chromocenters, clusters of DAPI-dense pericentric and centric heterochromatin. Using PCNA and BrdU as markers of replication, I demonstrate that BRCA1 preferentially associates with the chromocenters during their replication, although high-resolution analysis indicates that BRCA1 and PCNA foci rarely directly overlap. Interestingly, cells with defects in BRCA1 were found to have lagging chromosomes and DNA bridges which nearly always contained satellite DNA, which is consistent with the possibility that BRCA1 deficit contributes to failed separation of sister chromatids at the centromere. This is consistent with other recent reports that BRCA1 is necessary for DNA decatenation by topoisomerase II during routine replication and with my demonstration that topoisomerase II also accumulates on pericentric heterochromatin (PCH) during replication. Chapter IV presents recent work which reveals that RNA is commonly expressed from the centric/pericentric heterochromatin and appears to be linked to its replication. In mouse cells RNA from heterochromatic sequences is readily detected using a broad molecular cytological assay for repeat transcription (the COT-1 RNA assay). In addition to a more dispersed nucleoplasmic signal from euchromatic nuclear regions, distinct localized foci of repeat RNA are detected with COT1 probe or pancentromeric probe. Further analysis with the minor satellite (centromere proper) and the major satellite (comprising the larger pericentric heterochromatin) reveals that the large RNA foci often contain these satellite sequences, long thought to be essentially silent. These foci generally associate with the PCH of chromocenters, and produce various patterns similar to BRCA1- including a larger signal partially painting or ringing the chromocenter in a fraction of cells. In conjunction again with PCNA staining, it was possible to determine that the major satellite RNAs associate with the chromocenters during replication. While the satellite RNA co-localizes precisely with PCNA, neither of these co-localizes at high resolution with BRCA1, although they all are present on replicating chromocenters contemporaneously. These findings show that satellite RNAs are more widely expressed in normal cells than previously thought and link their expression to replication of centromere-linked heterochromatin. Finally, Chapter V presents three lines of recent results to support a major concept forwarded in this manuscript: that loss of Xi heterochromatin may reflect defects in the broader heterochromatic compartment, which may be manifest at multiple levels. I provide evidence using two new assays that both the peripheral heterochromatic compartment and the expression and silencing of satellite repeats is commonly compromised in cancer, although this appears to vary among cancer lines or types. The final results connect back to the question with which I began: what maintains XIST RNA localization to the chromosome in normal cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that Aurora B Kinase activity, mediated by Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) during interphase, controls the interphase retention and mitotic release of XIST RNA from the chromosome, likely linked to chromatin modifications such as H3Ser10 phosphorylation. As Aurora B Kinase is commonly over-expressed in cancer and is linked to chromatin changes, this exemplifies one type of mechanism whereby broad epigenetic changes in cancer may impact XIST RNA localization and the maintenance of heterochromatin more generally. This thesis represents a melding of cancer biology with the study of X inactivation and heterochromatin, with findings of fundamental interest to both of these fields.

No description available.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um teste não invasivo para a trissomia do cromossomo 21 através da análise de ácidos nucleicos fetais livres no plasma materno por sequenciamento de última geração realizado no sequenciador automático Ion Torrent. A metodologia proposta para o teste é a análise de SNPs com alta taxa de heterozigosidade na população brasileira localizados em dois genes presentes no cromossomo 21 (PLAC4 e C21orf105), e a detecção da cópia extra do cromossomo 21 é feita pela razão dos alelos desses SNPs, sendo que a razão de 1:1 indica que o feto é normal, e a razão de 2:1 indica que o feto tem uma cópia extra do cromossomo 21. Para a validação da metodologia foram utilizadas 50 amostras de DNA livre extraídas de líquido amniótico, previamente caracterizadas por análise citogenética consideradas como o padrão ouro pois contém apenas material genético fetal abundante. A metodologia foi validada com sucesso nessas amostras, sendo que as 24 amostras de fetos com trissomia foram claramente distinguidas das 26 amostras de fetos normais. A metodologia validada foi aplicada a 44 amostras de DNA livre extraídas de plasma de gestantes (21 amostras de fetos com trissomia do 21 e 23 de fetos normais), porém não foi possível fazer a distinção entre fetos normais e fetos com trissomia do 21, possivelmente devido à variações na fração fetal do DNA livre em relação à fração materna. Como nosso objetivo principal não foi alcançado, Propomos aqui que o teste realizado em líquido amniótico seja utilizado como uma alternativa mais simples, rápida e barata ao cariótipo convencional atualmente utilizado para fazer o diagnóstico da trissomia do cromossomo 21 em amostras coletadas por procedimentos invasivos, enquanto as deficiências do teste não-invasivo pelo plasma materno são aprimoradas / The purpose of this study was to develop a test for trisomy 21 by analyzing cell-free fetal nucleic acids in maternal plasma by next-generation sequencing performed on automated sequencer Ion Torrent. The proposed methodology for the test is based on analysis of SNPs with high heterozygosity rates in Brazilian population, located in two genes present on chromosome 21 (PLAC4 and C21orf105), and the detection of the extra copy of chromosome 21 is made by the allelic-ratio of these SNPs, where 1:1 ratio indicates a normal fetus, and the 2:1 ratio indicates that the fetus has an extra copy of chromosome 21. In order to validate the methodology 50 cell-free DNAs extracted from amniotic fluid were used representing a gold standard since it contains abundant genetic material exclusively from the fetus. The methodology has been successfully validated in these samples, all the 24 samples from fetuses with trisomy 21 were clearly distinguished from 26 samples of normal fetuses. The validated method was applied to 44 cell-free DNA samples extracted from plasma of pregnant women (21 samples from fetuses with trisomy 21 and 23 from normal fetuses), but unfortunately it was not possible to distinguish between normal and trisomy 21 fetuses, possibly due to variations on the fetal fraction of the cell-free DNA in relation to maternal fraction. As our main goal was not achieved, we propose here that the test performed on amniotic fluid sample could be used as a simpler, faster and cheaper alternative test to traditional karyotype, which is used nowadays to make the diagnosis of trisomy 21 in samples collected by invasive procedures. In parallel, minor improvements in the described method may enable its clinical use