Complex Patterns of Chromosome 11 Aberrations in Myeloid Malignancies Target CBL, MLL, DDB1 and LMO2

Exome sequencing of primary tumors identifies complex somatic mutation patterns. Assignment of relevance of individual somatic mutations is difficult and poses the next challenge for interpretation of next generation sequencing data. Here we present an approach how exome sequencing in combination with SNP microarray data may identify targets of chromosomal aberrations in myeloid malignancies. The rationale of this approach is that hotspots of chromosomal aberrations might also harbor point mutations in the target genes of deletions, gains or uniparental disomies (UPDs). Chromosome 11 is a frequent target of lesions in myeloid malignancies. Therefore, we studied chromosome 11 in a total of 813 samples from 773 individual patients with different myeloid malignancies by SNP microarrays and complemented the data with exome sequencing in selected cases exhibiting chromosome 11 defects. We found gains, losses and UPDs of chromosome 11 in 52 of the 813 samples (6.4%). Chromosome 11q UPDs frequently associated with mutations of CBL. In one patient the 11qUPD amplified somatic mutations in both CBL and the DNA repair gene DDB1. A duplication within MLL exon 3 was detected in another patient with 11qUPD. We identified several common deleted regions (CDR) on chromosome 11. One of the CDRs associated with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (P=0.013). One patient with a deletion at the LMO2 locus harbored an additional point mutation on the other allele indicating that LMO2 might be a tumor suppressor frequently targeted by 11p deletions. Our chromosome-centered analysis indicates that chromosome 11 contains a number of tumor suppressor genes and that the role of this chromosome in myeloid malignancies is more complex than previously recognized

Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

This paper presents a detailed study on the role of various annealing treatments on organic poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blends under different experimental conditions. A combination of analytical tools is used to study the alteration of the phase separation, structure and photovoltaic properties of the P3HT:PCBM blend during the annealing process. Results showed that the thermal annealing yields PCBM ‘‘needle-like’’ crystals and that prolonged heat treatment leads to extensive phase separation, as demonstrated by the growth in the size and quantity of PCBM crystals. The substrate annealing method demonstrated an optimal morphology by eradicating and suppressing the formation of fullerene clusters across the film, resulting in longer P3HT fibrils with smaller diameter. Improved optical constants, PL quenching and a decrease in the P3HT optical bad-gap were demonstrated for the substrate annealed films due to the limited diffusion of the PCBM molecules. An effective strategy for determining an optimized morphology through substrate annealing treatment is therefore revealed for improved device efficiency.Web of Scienc

Assessment of the implementation of the measure "Setting up of young farmers" under RDP 2007-2013 by provinces

Przedstawiono poziom wykorzystania środków i przestrzenne zróżnicowanie aktywności rolników w pozyskiwaniu wsparcia w działaniu PROW „Ułatwianie startu młodym rolnikom” w latach 2007-2013 na podstawie danych ARiMR. Porównania w układzie wojewódzkim dokonano według stanu na 31.12.2015 roku. Rolnicy z województw środkowej części Polski (mazowieckie, wielkopolskie i lubelskie) złożyli największą liczbę wniosków i uzyskali największą łączną kwotę wsparcia w analizowanym działaniu. Najaktywniej korzystali ze wsparcia w ramach analizowanego działania uprawnieni rolnicy z województw wielkopolskiego, kujawsko-pomorskiego, warmińsko-mazurskiego, podlaskiego, a także opolskiego, pomorskiego i zachodniopomorskiego.The paper presents spatial differentiation of the level and use by farmers the support under the RDP 2007- 2013 measure 1.2. „Setting up of young farmers”. Comparisons were made in a province as of 31.12.2015. Farmers from the provinces of the central part of Poland (Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie and Lubelskie provinces) made the largest number of applications and received the largest total amount of support. Accordingly the smallest interest was shown by young farmers from the East provinces (Podlaskie and Lubuskie)

A novel germline JAK2 mutation in familial myeloproliferative neoplasms

The novel H608N mutation is mapped in exon 14, as the classic V617F mutation. Histidine 608 belongs to the JH2 domain of JAK2 protein, which inhibits the JH1 kinase domain. Mutations affecting the JH2 domain, as H608N, might impair the regulatory function of JH2 and increase the kinase activity. Two cases of hereditary thrombocytosis associated with novel JAK2 germline mutations (R564Q and V617I) have been recently reported. According to these previous reports and to our study, it seems that JAK2 germline mutations might account for some cases of familial ET that are indeed hereditary thrombocytosis

Identification of genomic aberrations associated with disease transformation by means of high-resolution SNP array analysis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). These disorders may undergo phenotypic shifts, and may specifically evolve into secondary myelofibrosis (MF) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We studied genomic changes associated with these transformations in 29 patients who had serial samples collected in different phases of disease. Genomic DNA from granulocytes, i.e., the myeloproliferative genome, was processed and hybridized to genome-wide human SNP 6.0 arrays. Most patients in chronic phase had chromosomal regions with uniparental disomy (UPD) and/or copy number changes. Disease progression to secondary MF or AML was associated with the acquisition of additional chromosomal aberrations in granulocytes (P = 0.002). A close relationship was observed between aberrations of chromosome 9p (UPD and/or gain) and progression from PV to post-PV MF (P = 0.002). The acquisition of one or more aberrations involving chromosome 5, 7, or 17p was specifically associated with progression to AML (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.2-27.7, P = 0.006), and significantly affected overall survival (HR 18, 95% CI 1.9-164, P = 0.01). These observations indicate that disease progression from chronic-phase MPN to secondary MF or AML is associated with specific chromosomal aberrations that can be detected by means of high-resolution SNP array analysis of granulocyte DNA

A novel germline JAK2 mutation in familial myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The novel H608N mutation is mapped in exon 14, as the classic V617F mutation. Histidine 608 belongs to the JH2 domain of JAK2 protein, which inhibits the JH1 kinase domain. Mutations affecting the JH2 domain, as H608N, might impair the regulatory function of JH2 and increase the kinase activity. Two cases of hereditary thrombocytosis associated with novel JAK2 germline mutations (R564Q and V617I) have been recently reported. According to these previous reports and to our study, it seems that JAK2 germline mutations might account for some cases of familial ET that are indeed hereditary thrombocytosis

Genome integrity of myeloproliferative neoplasms in chronic phase and during disease progression.

Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal myeloid disorders with increased production of terminally differentiated cells. The disease course is generally chronic, but some patients show disease progression (secondary myelofibrosis or accelerated phase) and/or leukemic transformation. We investigated chromosomal aberrations in 408 MPN samples using high-resolution single-nucleotide polymorphism microarrays to identify disease-associated somatic lesions. Of 408 samples, 37.5% had a wild-type karyotype and 62.5% harbored at least 1 chromosomal aberration. We identified 25 recurrent aberrations that were found in 3 or more samples. An increased number of chromosomal lesions was significantly associated with patient age, as well as with disease progression and leukemic transformation, but no association was observed with MPN subtypes, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutational status, or disease duration. Aberrations of chromosomes 1q and 9p were positively associated with disease progression to secondary myelofibrosis or accelerated phase. Changes of chromosomes 1q, 7q, 5q, 6p, 7p, 19q, 22q, and 3q were positively associated with post-MPN acute myeloid leukemia. We mapped commonly affected regions to single target genes on chromosomes 3p (forkhead box P1 [FOXP1]), 4q (tet oncogene family member 2 [TET2]), 7p (IKAROS family zinc finger 1 [IKZF1]), 7q (cut-like homeobox 1 [CUX1]), 12p (ets variant 6 [ETV6]), and 21q (runt-related transcription factor 1 [RUNX1]). Our data provide insight into the genetic complexity of MPNs and implicate new genes involved in disease progression