A cluster of highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeats in intron 17b of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene

A cluster of highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeats has been detected in intron 17b of the CFTR gene, 200 bp downstream from the preceding exon. At least 24 alleles, with sizes ranging from 7 to 56 units of a TA repeat, have been identified in a panel of 92 unrelated carriers of cystic fibrosis (CF). The common ones are those with 7, 30, and 31 dinucleotide units, with frequencies of .22, .19, and .12, respectively, among the non-CF chromosomes. Mendelian, codominant segregation of the alleles has been demonstrated in family studies, as expected. A less polymorphic dinucleotide (CA repeat) cluster has also been detected in a region 167 bp downstream from the TA repeat. The length of the CA repeat cluster varies from 11 to 17 dinucleotide units, and it appears to have an inverse relationship to that of the TA repeats. These dinucleotide repeats should be useful in genetic linkage studies, in counseling for CF families with unknown mutations, and in tracing the origins of the various mutant CF alleles.published_or_final_versio

Selective inhibition of the human tie-1 promoter with triplex-forming oligonucleotides targeted to ets binding sites

The Tie receptors (Tie-1 and Tie-2/Tek) are essential for angiogenesis and vascular remodeling/integrity. Tie receptors are up-regulated in tumor-associated endothelium, and their inhibition disrupts angiogenesis and can prevent tumor growth as a consequence. To investigate the potential of anti-gene approaches to inhibit tie gene expression for anti-angiogenic therapy, we have examined triple-helical (triplex) DNA formation at 2 tandem Ets transcription factor binding motifs (designated E-1 and E-2) in the human tie-1 promoter. Various tie-1 promoter deletion/mutation luciferase reporter constructs were generated and transfected into endothelial cells to examine the relative activities of E-1 and E-2. The binding of antiparallel and parallel (control) purine motif oligonucleotides (21-22 bp) targeted to E-1 and E-2 was assessed by plasmid DNA fragment binding and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Triplex-forming oligonucleotides were incubated with tie-1 reporter constructs and transfected into endothelial cells to determine their activity. The Ets binding motifs in the E-1 sequence were essential for human tie-1 promoter activity in endothelial cells, whereas the deletion of E-2 had no effect. Antiparallel purine motif oligonucleotides targeted at E-1 or E-2 selectively formed strong triplex DNA (K(d) approximately 10(-7) M) at 37 degrees C. Transfection of tie-1 reporter constructs with triplex DNA at E-1, but not E-2, specifically inhibited tie-1 promoter activity by up to 75% compared with control oligonucleotides in endothelial cells. As similar multiple Ets binding sites are important for the regulation of several endothelial-restricted genes, this approach may have broad therapeutic potential for cancer and other pathologies involving endothelial proliferation/dysfunction

Identification of four new mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene: I148T, L1077P, Y1092X, 2183AA→G

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Biosensors from conjugated polyelectrolyte complexes

A charge neutral complex (CNC) was formed in aqueous solution by combining an orange light emitting anionic conjugated polyelectrolyte and a saturated cationic polyelectrolyte at a 1:1 ratio (per repeat unit). Photoluminescence (PL) from the CNC can be quenched by both the negatively charged dinitrophenol (DNP) derivative, (DNP-BS(−)), and positively charged methyl viologen (MV(2+)). Use of the CNC minimizes nonspecific interactions (which modify the PL) between conjugated polyelectrolytes and biopolymers. Quenching of the PL from the CNC by the DNP derivative and specific unquenching on addition of anti-DNP antibody (anti-DNP IgG) were observed. Thus, biosensing of the anti-DNP IgG was demonstrated

Not all tetramer binding CD8+ T cells can produce cytokines and chemokines involved in the effector functions of virus-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infected children.

International audienceIn the pediatric human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, the presence of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is associated with a slow progression to AIDS. The secretion of cytokines by CTLs may be critical in the control of viral infection. We used the combination of cell surface and intracellular staining to study the functionality of tetramer binding CD8+ T cells recognizing two HIV-1 immunodominant epitopes, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected children. A fraction of tetramer positive CD8+ T cells produce cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) or chemokines (CCL4, CCL5) after ex vivo stimulation with the cognate peptide. There was a negative correlation between the plasma viral load and the percentage of CD8+ Tetramer Gag+ T cells secreting IFN-gamma. This is the first report in the context of pediatric HIV-1 infection showing that only a fraction of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells have the capacity to produce cytokines and chemokines implicated in their antiviral functions