Aging mice have increased chromosome instability that is exacerbated by elevated Mdm2 expression.

Aging is thought to negatively affect multiple cellular processes including the ability to maintain chromosome stability. Chromosome instability (CIN) is a common property of cancer cells and may be a contributing factor to cellular transformation. The types of DNA aberrations that arise during aging before tumor development and that contribute to tumorigenesis are currently unclear. Mdm2, a key regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor and modulator of DNA break repair, is frequently overexpressed in malignancies and contributes to CIN. To determine the relationship between aging and CIN and the role of Mdm2, precancerous wild-type C57Bl/6 and littermate-matched Mdm2 transgenic mice at various ages were evaluated. Metaphase analyses of wild-type cells showed a direct correlation between age and increased chromosome and chromatid breaks, chromosome fusions and aneuploidy, but the frequency of polyploidy remained stable over time. Elevated levels of Mdm2 in precancerous mice increased both the numerical and the structural chromosomal abnormalities observed. Chromosome and chromatid breaks, chromosome fusions, aneuploidy and polyploidy were increased in older Mdm2 transgenic mice compared with wild-type littermates. Unexpectedly, chromosome fusions, aneuploidy and polyploidy rates in Mdm2 transgenic mice, but not chromosome and chromatid breaks, showed cooperation between Mdm2 overexpression and age. Notably, Mdm2 overexpression promoted gains in one or more chromosomes with age, while it did not affect the rate of chromosome loss. Therefore, aging increased specific forms of genomic instability, and elevated Mdm2 expression cooperated with aging to increase the likelihood of gaining certain chromosomal abnormalities of the kind thought to lead to cancer development.

Elevated Mdm2 expression induces chromosomal instability and confers a survival and growth advantage to B cells.

Mdm2, a regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor, is frequently overexpressed in lymphomas, including lymphomas that have inactivated p53. However, the biological consequences of Mdm2 overexpression in lymphocytes are not fully resolved. Here, we report that increased expression of Mdm2 in B cells augmented proliferation and reduced susceptibility to p53-dependent apoptosis, which was due to inhibition of p53 and suppression of p21 expression. Notably, developing and mature B cells from Mdm2 transgenic mice had an increased frequency of chromosomal/chromatid breaks and/or aneuploidy. This Mdm2-mediated genome instability occurred at a similar frequency as that in B cells overexpressing the oncogene c-Myc, but the chromosomal instability was not further enhanced when Mdm2 and c-Myc were overexpressed together. Elevated Mdm2 expression alone increased the occurrence of B-cell transformation in vivo and cooperated with c-Myc overexpression, resulting in an acceleration of B-cell lymphomagenesis. In addition, the frequency of p53 mutations was reduced, but not eliminated, in lymphomas arising in Mdm2/Emu-myc double transgenic mice. Therefore, increased Mdm2 expression facilitated B-cell lymphomagenesis, in part, through regulation of p53 by altering B-cell proliferation and susceptibility to apoptosis, and by inducing chromosomal instability.

Decreased Mdm2 expression inhibits tumor development induced by loss of ARF.

The tumor suppressor p14/p19(ARF) regulates Mdm2, which is known for controlling the p53 tumor suppressor. Here we report that loss of one allele of Mdm2 in cells that lack ARF resulted in a decreased rate of proliferation, fewer chromosomal aberrations, and suppression of Ras-induced transformation. Moreover, a haploinsufficiency of Mdm2 inhibited spontaneous tumor development in ARF-null mice. Remarkably, Mdm2(+/-)ARF(-/-) mice survived an average of 6 months longer than Mdm2(+/+)ARF(-/-) mice. The spectrum of tumors that arose in Mdm2(+/-)ARF(-/-) mice did not significantly differ from those that developed in mice lacking only ARF. However, the extended tumor latency allowed for the emergence of multiple primary tumors in a third of the Mdm2(+/-)ARF(-/-) mice, as compared to the single tumor type that arose in ARF-null only mice. Therefore, a decrease in Mdm2 levels restored regulation of critical cellular processes that are altered during transformation and that occur in the absence of ARF. Our findings also indicate that Mdm2 can function independently from ARF and imply that targeting Mdm2 in tumors that lack ARF expression should be an effective therapeutic approach.

DNA copy number changes in epithelioid sarcoma and its variants: a comparative genomic hybridization study.

Epithelioid sarcoma is a distinctive, rare soft tissue sarcoma that typically involves the distal extremities in young adults, and shows epithelioid morphology and immunohistochemical markers of epithelial differentiation. The genetic background of epithelioid sarcoma is poorly understood, and knowledge of it could give insights into the pathogenesis of this tumor and its possible relationship with other malignant tumors. In this study, we analyzed DNA copy number changes in 30 epithelioid sarcomas by comparative genomic hybridization. DNA was extracted from microdissected samples of formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors with a minimum of 60% of tumor cells in each sample. Sixteen tumors (53%) showed DNA copy number changes at one to six different genomic sites. The majority of the changes were gains, seen in 14 tumors, whereas 10 tumors showed losses. The most common recurrent gains were at 11q13 (five cases), 1q21-q23 (four cases), 6p21.3 (three cases), and 9q31-qter (three cases). High-level amplifications were detected once in 6p21.3-p21.1 and once in 9q32-qter. Recurrent losses were seen at 9pter-p23 (three cases), 13q22-q32 (three cases), 1p13-p22 (two cases), 3p12-p14 (two cases), 4q13-q33 (two cases), 9p21 (two cases), and 13q32-qter (two cases). The most common recurrent gain at 11q13 was seen in both classic cases and angiomatoid and rhabdoid variants supporting the relationship of these variants with the classic epithelioid sarcoma. Expression of cyclin D1 gene, located in 11q13, was immunohistochemically detected in nine of 15 cases including three of five cases with gain of 11q13, suggesting its involvement in epithelioid sarcoma. The observed comparative genomic hybridization changes give targets for future genetic studies on epithelioid sarcoma.

Comparative cytogenetics of hamsters of the genus Calomyscus.

Karyotypes of Calomyscus from different regions of Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan were studied using chromosome banding (G- and C-banding) and analyses of meiosis in laboratory hybrids. Extensive variation in the diploid number and the number of autosomal arms (FNa) was revealed (2n = 30, FNa = 44; 2n = 32, FNa = 42; 2n = 44, FNa = 46; 2n = 44, FNa = 58; 2n = 37, FNa = 44; 2n = 50, FNa = 50; 2n = 52, FNa = 56). Centric and tandem fusions and heterochromatin changes were identified as the major modes of karyotype evolution in this group. Natural hybrids between individuals with different karyotypes were recorded, and regular chromosome pairing in meiosis was observed in laboratory hybrids. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a 353-bp BspRI complex tandem repeat indicated that chromosomal repatterning occurred recently within the genus. There is no unequivocal evidence suggesting the role of chromosomal change in the speciation of the populations of Calomyscus examined.

Comparative genomic hybridization reveals complex genetic changes in primary breast cancer tumors and their cell lines.

DNA copy number changes were characterized by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in 18 breast cancer cell lines. In 5 of these, the results were comparable with those from the primary tumors of which the cell lines were established. All of the cell lines showed extensive DNA copy number changes, with a mean of 16.3 +/- 1.1 aberrations per sample (range 7-26). All of the cell lines had a gain at 8q22-qter. Other common gains of DNA sequences occurred at 1q31-32 (89%), 20q12-q13.2 (83%), 8q13 (72%), 3q26.1-qter (67%), 17q21-qter (67%) 5p14 (61%), 6p22 (56%), and 22pter-qter (50%). High-level amplifications were observed in all cell lines; the most frequent minimal common regions were 8q24.1 (89%), 20q12 (61%), 1q41 (39%), and 20p11.2 (28%). Losses were observed less frequently than gains and the minimal common regions of the most frequent losses were Xq11-q12 (56%), Xp11.2-pter (50%), 13q21 (50%), 8p12-pter (44%), 4p13-p14 (39%), 6q15-q22 (39%), and 18q11.2-qter (33%). Although the cell lines showed more DNA copy number changes than the primary tumors, all aberrations, except one found in a primary tumor, were always present in the corresponding cell line. High-level amplifications found both in primary tumors and cell lines were at 1q, 8q, 17q, and 20q. The DNA copy number changes detected in these cell lines can be valuable in investigation of tumor progression in vitro and for a more detailed mapping and isolation of genes implicated in breast cancer.

Clinical importance of genomic imbalances in synovial sarcoma evaluated by comparative genomic hybridization.

The t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) (SYT/SSX1 or SSX2) is represented in more than 95% of synovial sarcoma. Even if recent data has implicated that the type of fusion gene (SYT/SSX1 or SYT/SSX2) can be of prognostic importance, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the clinical behavior of synovial sarcoma are still poorly understood. To approach this issue, we investigated whether secondary genetic aberrations may influence the clinical outcome of synovial sarcoma. Clinical outcome with reference to comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) findings (losses or gains of genetic material) were analyzed for a uniquely large modern material of 69 synovial sarcomas. Thirty-five of 69 specimens showed DNA sequence copy number changes. The frequency of aberrations/tumor were higher (mean 4.7) for monophasic tumors than for biphasic tumors (mean 2.1). Gains of the whole or parts, including the long arm, of chromosome 8 were significantly overrepresented in large tumors (> 5 cm), suggesting that tumors with this genetic abnormality have an increased growth rate. No difference regarding metastasis-free or overall survival was seen between patients with or without tumors containing secondary copy number changes. No specific copy number change was linked to a significantly improved or impaired metastasis-free survival.

DNA copy number losses in human neoplasms.

This review summarizes reports of recurrent DNA sequence copy number losses in human neoplasms detected by comparative genomic hybridization. Recurrent losses that affect each of the chromosome arms in 73 tumor types are tabulated from 169 reports. The tables are available online at http://www.amjpathol.org and http://www. helsinki.fi/ approximately lglvwww/CMG.html. The genes relevant to the lost regions are discussed for each of the chromosomes. The review is supplemented also by a list of known and putative tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes (see Table 1, online). Losses are found in all chromosome arms, but they seem to be relatively rare at 1q, 2p, 3q, 5p, 6p, 7p, 7q, 8q, 12p, and 20q. Losses and their minimal common overlapping areas that were present in a great proportion of the 73 tumor entities reported in Table 2 (see online) are (in descending order of frequency): 9p23-p24 (48%), 13q21 (47%), 6q16 (44%), 6q26-q27 (44%), 8p23 (37%), 18q22-q23 (37%), 17p12-p13 (34%), 1p36.1 (34%), 11q23 (33%), 1p22 (32%), 4q32-qter (31%), 14q22-q23 (25%), 10q23 (25%), 10q25-qter (25%),15q21 (23%), 16q22 (23%), 5q21 (23%), 3p12-p14 (22%), 22q12 (22%), Xp21 (21%), Xq21 (21%), and 10p12 (20%). The frequency of losses at chromosomes 7 and 20 was less than 10% in all tumors. The chromosomal regions in which the most frequent losses are found implicate locations of essential tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of several tumor types.

Construction of a 1.2-Mb contig surrounding, and molecular analysis of, the human CREB-binding protein (CBP/CREBBP) gene on chromosome 16p13.3.

In the interest of cloning and analyzing the genes responsible for two very different diseases, the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with the somatic translocation t(8;16)(p11;p13.3), we constructed a high-resolution restriction map of contiguous cosmids (contig) covering 1.2 Mb of chromosome 16p13.3. By fluorescence in situ hybridization and Southern blot analysis, we assigned all tested RTS and t(8;16) translocation breakpoints to a 100-kb region. We have previously reported exact physical locations of these 16p breakpoints, which all disrupt one gene we mapped to this interval: the CREB-binding protein (CBP or CREBBP) gene. Intriguingly, mutations in the CBP gene are responsible for RTS as well as the t(8;16)-associated AML. CBP functions as an integrator in the assembly of various multiprotein regulatory complexes and is thus necessary for transcription in a broad range of transduction pathways. We report here the cloning, physical mapping, characterization, and full cDNA nucleotide sequence of the human CBP gene.

Mapping of a new MAP kinase activated protein kinase gene (3PK) to human chromosome band 3p21.2 and ordering of 3PK and two cosmid markers in the 3p22-p21 tumour-suppressor region by two-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization.

A Noti-linking clone NL1-210 (D3S1656) that contains the human MAP kinase activated protein kinase (3PK) gene was localized to 3p21.2 on DAPI-banded and propidium iodide (R-bands)-stained chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). For more precise localization of 3PK, two cosmid probes were used as a frame. In order to establish this frame, two Noti-linking clones, NL2-008 (D3S1648) and NL3-003 (D3S3872) were used to screen the cosmid library for locus extension. They mapped to 3p21 and were found to belong to two separate contigs of Noti-jumping and linking clones. Using FISH on DAPI-banded metaphase chromosomes, we have determined the precise localization of cosNL2-008 and cosNL3-003 to 3p21.2-p21.1 and 3p22-p21.3 respectively. The 3PK gene was localized to the 3p21.2 region within this frame by two-colour FISH. The orientation of the probes are tel-D3S3872-3PK-D3S1648-cen.

Localization of rat K51 keratin-like locus (Krt10l) to human and animal chromosomes by in situ hybridization.

The rat K51 locus (gene symbol Krt10l) was mapped using isotopic in situ hybridization to rat chromosome 3, human chromosome 9, pig chromosome 6, cattle chromosome 18, and mink chromosome 1.

[Characteristics of lesions of paranasal sinuses in patients with optic chiasm arachnoiditis]. / Osobennosti porazheniia okolonosovykh pazukh u bol'nykh optokhiazmal'nym arakhnoiditom.

The paper provides data on a comprehensive rhinological and x-ray examination of 201 patients suffering from optochiasmal arachnoiditis (OCA). Paranasal affection (as a rule polysinusitis) was disclosed in 75.6% of the examinees. The lesion occurred primarily in the sphenoidal sinuses and frequently combined with ethmoidal labyrinth and maxillary sinus involvement. Rhinological and x-ray symptoms in OCA are rarely prominent giving grounds to physicians for defining it as the syndrome of minor clinical signs. The latter hold importance for diagnosis which enables early cleansing of the paranasal sinuses in combined treatment of OCA.

Localization of ESD and A2M genes to sheep chromosome 3 by in situ hybridization.

The genes encoding esterase D (ESD) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2M) were mapped using 3H-labeled cDNAs to sheep chromosome 3p26-->p24 and 3q26-->q35 respectively.

[EcoRI- and BamHI-families of repeated sequences in mustelids]. / EcoRI- i BamHI-semeistva povtorov kunitseobraznykh.

The restriction enzymes EcoRI and BamHI digest the genomic DNAs from six mustelids species Mustela lutreola, M. vision, M. erminea, M. sibirica, Vormela peregusna, producing repeated fragments varying in length. Some fragments were hybridized to chromosomes and restriction digests of DNAs from some mustelids and other mammals. The 0.7 kb EcoRI repeats from DNA of M. erminea are dispersed over chromosomes of carnivors. The 1.35, 1.9 and 2.7 kb BamHI repeats from DNA of polecat M. putorius furo are specific for mustelids. These repeats demonstrate interspecific variation in length and the number of copies. All BamHI repeats have no strict tandem organization. The 1.9 kb BamHI repeats are concentrated in the heterochromatic pericentromeric regions and additional chromosome arms. The 1.35 kb BamHI repeats are only located in the centromeric regions of chromosomes of five species and are absent in Vormela peregusna.

[Phylogenetic relations of closely related species of Mustelidae. Interspecies variability of localization of restriction sites of BamHI-repeats]. / Filogeneticheskie otnosheniia blizkorodstvennykh vidov semeistva kunitseobraznykh. Mezhvidnaia izmenchivost', lokalizatsii restriktsionnykh saitov BamHI-povtorov.

The patterns of blot-hybridization of cloned BamHI repeats to genome DNAs were applied for estimation of phylogenetic relationships of closely related species (Mustela (L.) lutreola, M. (P.) putorius, M. (K.) sibirica, M. (M.) erminea, M. (L.) vision, Vormela peregusna). On the basis of information about interspecific distribution of the blot-hybridization bands (+, -) of BamHI repeats, phylogenetic tree was constructed, after selection of compatible characters, which revealed essential rate ununiformity during mustelids' evolution.

[Chromosomal localization and evolutionary age of satellite DNAs of Mustelidae]. / Khromosomnaia lokalizatsiia i évoliutsionnyi vozrast satellitnykh DNK kunitseobraznykh.

DNA reassociation kinetics were studied in the European mink (Mustela lutreola), the American mink (M. vison), the marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna). Variation in DNA quantity and heterochromatin amount occurs in connection with changes in the size of all kinetic fractions. Moderately repetitive genome component is the most variable in these three species. Cryptic CsCl satellite of the stoat (M. erminea), Ag+/Cs2SO4 satellites of the M. vison, V. peregusna were used for in situ homo- and heterologous hybridizations. Satellite DNAs revealed may be classified for the evolution age and chromosomal location type. More ancient satellite DNAs were dispersed in carnivors or mammalian genomes. Mustelids' specific satellites are concentrated in heterochromatic chromosome regions. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.

[Characteristics of the distribution of DNA repetitive sequences in the sex chromosomes of 4 species of rodent]. / Osobennosti raspredeleniia povtoriaiushchikhsia posledovatel'nostei DNK v polovykh khromosomakh chetyrekh vidov gryzunov.

Four rodent species with very large heterochromatic regions on the sex chromosomes have been studied using in situ DNA/DNA hybridization techniques. Repetitious DNA fractions were obtained at C0t 0-0.01. Heterochromatic regions of X and X chromosomes of Cricetulus barabensis and Phodopus sungorus, and the heterochromatic long arm of the Y chromosome of Mesocricetus auratus do not contain disproportionately high amounts of repeated DNA sequences. Heterochromatic regions on sex chromosomes of Microtus subarvalis contain high amounts of repeated DNA sequences. Additional heterochromatic autosomal arms, a heterochromatic arm of the X chromosome, and a short arm of the Y chromosome of Mesocricetus auratus contain high amounts of repeated DNA sequences too.