Retroviral mediated gene transfer of Flt3 ligand enhances proliferation and MAP kinase activity of AML5 cells

Flt3/flk-2 ligand (Flt3-L) co-stimulates and synergizes with cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and erythropoietin in the proliferation of bone marrow and cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. To study the biological effects of Flt3-L on the Flt3-L responsive AML5 cell line, the retroviral vector L(Flt3-L)SN was constructed based on the vector LXSN, but containing the human Flt3-L cDNA transcriptionally regulated by the Mo-MLV LTR. High-titer amphotropic producer cells that generated 10(6) cfu/mL after shuttle packaging through ecotropic packaging cells were isolated. AML5 cells were cultured overnight with L(Flt3-L)SN retroviral supernatant, 8 micrograms/mL polybrene, and 100 U/mL G-CSF, and expanded 1 week in medium with G-CSF. Transduced cells were selected in medium containing 0.4 mg/mL G418 and then in medium with 1.0 mg/mL G418. Retroviral mediated gene transfer in G418-resistant cells was confirmed after amplification by PCR of neo-specific sequences in genomic DNA. Northern blot analysis demonstrated L(Flt3-L)SN mRNA expression. Soluble Flt3-L was undetectable (< 100 pg/mL) by ELISA assay of conditioned medium from transduced cells, but Flt3-L was detected on the surface of AML5 cells by FACS analysis. Cells were plated in colony assay with and without 100 ng/mL Flt3-L, 100 U/mL G-CSF, and the combination. Gene transfer or growth factor treatment increased somewhat the clonogenicity of the nontransduced AML5 cells. More strikingly, L(Flt3-L)SN and each growth factor combination greatly increased the size of the resultant colonies such that the size of colonies from AML5/Flt3-L cells without added growth factor approximated that of the AML5 cells stimulated by exogenous soluble Flt3-L. Moreover, MAP kinase activity in L(Flt3-L)SN-transduced cells cultured without soluble Flt3-L was increased to the level induced in control cells by soluble Flt3-L. These results indicate that retroviral mediated gene transfer and autologous expression of the Flt3-L enhances growth and intracellular signaling of AML5 cells, information that should be of value for studying the effects of Flt3-L on immature subsets of primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Glucocorticoid-stimulated CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha expression is required for steroid-induced G1 cell cycle arrest of minimal-deviation rat hepatoma cells

By genetic correlation with the growth-suppressible phenotype and direct functional tests, we demonstrate that the glucocorticoid-stimulated expression of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) transcription factor is required for the steroid-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest of minimal-deviation rat hepatoma cells. Comparison of C/EBP alpha transcript and active protein levels induced by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone in glucocorticoid growth-suppressible (BDS1), nonsuppressible receptor-positive (EDR1) and nonsuppressible receptor-deficient (EDR3) hepatoma cell proliferative variants revealed that the stimulation of C/EBP alpha expression is a rapid, glucocorticoid receptor-mediated response associated with the G1 cell cycle arrest. Consistent with the role of C/EBP alpha as a critical intermediate in the growth suppression response, maximal induction of transcription factor mRNA occurred within 2 h of dexamethasone treatment whereas maximal inhibition of [3H] thymidine incorporation was observed 24 h after steroid treatment. As a direct functional approach, ablation of C/EBP alpha protein expression and DNA-binding activity by transfection of an antisense C/EBP alpha expression vector blocked the dexamethasone-induced G1 cell cycle arrest of hepatoma cells but did not alter general glucocorticoid responsiveness. Transforming growth factor beta induced a G1 cell cycle arrest in C/EBP alpha antisense transfected cells, demonstrating the specific involvement of C/EBP alpha in the glucocorticoid growth suppression response. Constitutive expression of a conditionally activated form of C/EBP alpha caused a G1 cell cycle arrest of BDS1 hepatoma cells in the absence of glucocorticoids. In contrast, overexpression of C/EBP beta or C/EBP delta had no effect on hepatoma cell growth. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the steroid-induced expression of C/EBP alpha is necessary to mediate the glucocorticoid G1 cell cycle arrest of rat hepatoma cells and implicates a role for this transcription factor in the growth control of liver-derived epithelial tumor cells.

Flt3-ligand production by human bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells are important sources of cytokines and growth factors which participate in regulation of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Recently flt3/flk-2-ligand (flt3-L), a new growth factor which uses a membrane tyrosine kinase receptor, was cloned. It is expressed in transmembrane and soluble forms and stimulates/co-stimulates proliferation and colony formation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. It has not been reported whether flt3-L is produced by cells of the hematopoietic bone marrow microenvironment. We demonstrate the expression of flt3-L in bone marrow fibroblasts (BMF) and in stromal cells of adherent layers of long-term bone marrow cultures by RT-PCR, Northern blot, immunocytochemistry and FACS analysis. The latter two methods localized flt3-L intracellularly and on cell membranes. Treatment with interleukin-1 alpha increased the expression of flt3-L in BMF. This demonstrates production and modulation of flt3-L in stromal cells of human bone marrow.

Hyperpermeability and ATP depletion induced by chronic hypoxia or glycolytic inhibition in Caco-2BBe monolayers

Previous studies have documented that the barrier function of epithelial or endothelial monolayers is deranged when cellular ATP levels are rapidly decreased to very low levels by inhibitors of mitochondrial and glycolytic function. We hypothesized that lesser degrees of ATP depletion also might affect epithelial permeability, particularly if the perturbation were sustained for a prolonged interval. Using Caco-2BBe cells grown on permeable supports mounted in bicameral chambers, we assessed permeability by measuring the apical-to-basolateral clearance (flux divided by apical compartment concentration) of fluorescein disulfonic acid. ATP was depleted by incubating cells in glucose-free (Glu-) medium containing 10 mM 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG) for 12, 24, or 48 h or under an anoxic atmosphere for 24, 48, or 72 h. Although both models of energy depletion were characterized by significant derangements in barrier function, metabolic inhibition with 2-DOG/ Glu- resulted in greater increases in permeability and more profound decrements in cellular ATP content. Morphological studies using electron and confocal fluorescence microscopy showed structural changes in individual cells and derangements in the normal distribution of perijunctional actin after monolayers were incubated with 2-DOG/Glu- but not after incubation under an anoxic atmosphere. Addition of 10 mM lactic acid (final pH 6.7) provided significant protection against both hyperpermeability and ATP depletion induced by 2-DOG/Glu-. We conclude that moderate degrees of ATP depletion are sufficient to increase the permeability of Caco-2BBe monolayers and that lactic acidosis helps to preserve ATP content, barrier function, and morphological integrity in hypoxic intestinal epithelial cells.

FliH and fliI of Borrelia burgdorferi are similar to flagellar and virulence factor export proteins of other bacteria

Two motility genes (fliH and fliI) of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi were cloned, physically mapped and sequenced, FliH and FliI showed extensive homology to the proteins involved in the export of flagellar components and to virulence factors found in both animal and plant bacterial pathogens. The results suggest that the flagellar apparatus and associated protein export pathway are well conserved in evolution.

Influence of retroviral-mediated gene transduction of both the recombinant human erythropoietin receptor and interleukin-9 receptor genes into single CD34++CD33-or low cord blood cells on cytokine-stimulated erythroid colony formation

Introduction of genes for cytokine receptors into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) may be of clinical use in the future. We recently reported that retroviral-mediated transduction of either the human erythropoietin receptor (hEpoR) or interleukin-9 receptor (hIL-9R) genes into highly purified HSC/HPC from cord blood (CB) resulted in increased numbers of detectable cytokine-responsive erythroid progenitors (burst-forming units-erythroid [BFU-E]). In the present study, we evaluated if this increase could be further enhanced by cotransducing both these genes into single isolated HSC/HPC. Single CD34++CD33-or low-expressing cells from CB were transduced with viral supernatant containing the hEpoR or hIL-9R genes or cotransduced with both genes. In the presence of Steel factor (SLF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), erythropoietin (Epo), and IL-9, the numbers of erythroid colonies formed were significantly increased after transduction of cells with either the hIL-9R or hEpoR gene compared to mock-transduced cells. This increase was significantly enhanced in cells cotransduced with both genes compared with either gene alone. Integration and expression of both genes was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis, respectively. The data demonstrate that myeloid progenitors can be transduced at the single-cell level with both hEpoR and hIL-9R genes with resultant enhanced proliferation of these progenitors in the erythroid lineage by combinations of cytokines including Epo and IL-9.

Retroviral transfer of the recombinant human erythropoietin receptor gene into single hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from human cord blood increases the number of erythropoietin-dependent erythroid colonies

To test whether an enforced expression of a lineage-specific cytokine receptor would influence the proliferation/differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, retroviral vectors containing the human erythropoietin receptor (hEpoR) gene were used to transduce the hEpoR gene into phenotypically sorted subsets of cells. CD34 , CD34++CD33-, and CD34++CD33+ populations of human cord blood, highly enriched for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, were sorted and plated as single cells per well in methylcellulose culture medium containing early acting growth factors in the presence or absence of Epo. The hEpoR gene was efficiently transduced into single high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) and multipotential (colony-forming unit granulocyte, erythroid, monocyte, megakaryocyte [CFU-GEMM]), erythroid (burst-forming unit-erythroid [BFU-E]), and granulocyte-macrophage (colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage [CFU-GM]) progenitor cells. As expected in cultures grown in the absence of Epo, no BFU-E or CFU-GEMM colonies grew. In the presence of Epo, the hEpoR-gene transduced cells formed significantly more CFU-GEMM and BFU-E colonies than did the controls. A significant decrease in HPP-CFC colonies was also observed under these conditions. Little or no effect of hEpoR gene transduction was apparent in the numbers of CFU-GM colonies formed in the presence or absence of Epo. All of the above results were similar whether the cell populations assessed were CD34 or their CD33- or CD33+ subsets plated in the presence of growth factors at 200 cells/mL or after limiting dilution at 2 cells/well. These results suggest that the profile of detectable stem/progenitors can be altered by retrovirus-mediated expression of the hEpoR gene.

Accurate localization of cortical convolutions in MR brain images

Analysis of brain images often requires accurate localization of cortical convolutions. Although magnetic resonance (MR) brain images offer sufficient resolution for identifying convolutions in theory, the nature of tomographic imaging prevents clear definition of convolutions in individual slices. Existing methods for solving this problem rely on heuristic adaptation of brain atlases created from a small number of individuals. These methods do not usually provide high accuracy because of large biological variations among individuals. The authors propose to localize convolutions by linking realistic visualizations of the cortical surface with the original image volume. They have developed a system so that a user can quickly localize key convolutions in several visualizations of an entire brain surface. Because of the links between the visualizations and the original volume, these convolutions are simultaneously localized in the original image slices. In the process of the authors' development, they have implemented a fast and easy method for visualizing cortical surfaces in MR images, thereby making their scheme usable in practical applications.

Truncated WT1 mutants alter the subnuclear localization of the wild-type protein

WT1 encodes a zinc-finger protein, expressed as distinct isoforms, that is inactivated in a subset of Wilms tumors. Both constitutional and somatic mutations disrupting the DNA-binding domain of WT1 result in a potentially dominant-negative phenotype. In generating inducible cell lines expressing wild-type isoforms of WT1 and WT1 mutants, we observed dramatic differences in the subnuclear localization of the induced proteins. The WT1 isoform that binds with high affinity to a defined DNA target, WT1(-KTS), was diffusely localized throughout the nucleus. In contrast, expression of an alternative splicing variant with reduced DNA binding affinity, WT1 (+KTS), or WT1 mutants with a disrupted zinc-finger domain resulted in a speckled pattern of expression within the nucleus. Although similar in appearance, the localization of WT1 variants to subnuclear clusters was clearly distinct from that of the essential splicing factor SC35, suggesting that WT1 is not directly involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Localization to subnuclear clusters required the N terminus of WT1, and coexpression of a truncated WT1 mutant and wild-type WT1(-KTS) resulted in their physical association, the redistribution of WT1(-KTS) from a diffuse to a speckled pattern, and the inhibition of its transactivational activity. These observations suggest that different WT1 isoforms and WT1 mutants have distinct subnuclear compartments. Dominant-negative WT1 proteins physically associate with wild-type WT1 in vivo and may result in its sequestration within subnuclear structures.

CD34 stem/progenitor cells purified from cryopreserved normal cord blood can be transduced with high efficiency by a retroviral vector and expanded ex vivo with stable integration and expression of Fanconi anemia complementation C gene

A future possibility for treatment of genetic diseases may be gene therapy using autologous cord blood (CB) stem/progenitor cells. This might require cryopreservation of CB stem/progenitor cells prior to purification, gene transduction, and ex vivo expansion of cells. To address this possibility, nonadherent low density T-lymphocyte depleted (NALT-) cells from fresh or cryopreserved cord blood were sorted for CD34 phenotype, transduced with a recombinant retroviral vector encoding Fanconi anemia complementation C (FACC) gene, and cells expanded ex vivo in suspension culture for 7 days with growth factors. The results demonstrate: 1) high recovery of viable cells after thawing; 2) high efficiency purification of CD34 cells from NALT- cells prior to and after cryopreservation; 3) high degree of expansion of nucleated cells and immature progenitors from CD34 cells before and after cryopreservation; 4) efficient transduction with stable integration and expression of newly introduced genes in cryopreserved and then sorted stem/progenitor cells, as detected prior to and after ex vivo expansion; and 5) high efficiency transduction of single isolated CD34 cells obtained from cryopreserved NALT- CB. This information should be of value for future studies evaluating the use of cryopreserved cord blood for gene transfer/gene therapy.

Retrospective registration of PET and MR brain images: an algorithm and its stereotactic validation

OBJECTIVE

We present a validation study of an algorithm for retrospective registration of PET and MR brain images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This algorithm involves two steps. In the first step, the two volumes are reformatted by aligning their interhemispheric fissure planes (midsagittal plane). In the second step, the corresponding planes parallel to the midsagittal plane are further aligned in the reformatted volumes to produce a 3D rigid body registration of the two original volumes. It is an efficient algorithm because both steps are performed in 2D spaces, and in each step only a small number of landmarks are required. A user-friendly system has been implemented to facilitate easy and fast processing of registration and reformatting of image volumes. The accuracy of this algorithm is validated using clinical scans of neurosurgical patients with a stereotaxic frame attached to their skull. The frame-based stereotaxic system provides an effective method for transforming image coordinates from different image volumes into a common coordinate system. This common coordinate system is used for assessing the spatial correspondence of each pixel in the registered image volumes. Validation using the stereotaxic image volumes enables objective estimation of retrospective registration accuracy.

RESULTS

Analysis of 11 MR/PET image pairs indicates that our registration method not only is efficient but also provides adequate accuracy for most clinical evaluation of PET studies.

CONCLUSION

We have implemented and validated an efficient algorithm for retrospective registration of PET and MR brain images.

Automatic extraction and registration of shock wave fronts from series interferograms of a flow field

Algorithms for extracting shock wave fronts from interferograms of a flow field and for registering time-series shock waves are proposed. Based on these, application software is developed on a PC-Vision 100 image-processing system. As application examples, interferograms of a primary high-explosive flow field and a real, solid rocket muzzle flow field are processed. The results indicate that the propagation velocity of the shock wave can be easily calculated with this method.

Cellular distribution of endotoxin after injection of chemically purified lipopolysaccharide differs from that after injection of live bacteria

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) chemically extracted from gram-negative bacteria is often used in animal models to study endotoxemia. Laser confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence staining for comparison of injections of live Escherichia coli O111:B4 bacteria with LPS extracted from the same strain showed that cellular localization and time course in rat organs were markedly different after the two injections. Fluorescent staining and image analysis software allowed quantitative comparison of LPS within tissues at different times and doses. Antigenic LPS was detected in all tissues 1 hour after injection of both bacteria and LPS and was present in liver and spleen over the 28-day study period. Whole bacteria were identified in tissue macrophages for the first 48 h after injection; later, bacterial cell walls were replaced by diffuse antigenic material throughout the cytoplasm. Antigenic LPS was localized within hepatocytes only after injection of chemically purified LPS. Cellular localization of LPS in tissues is dependent on the form injected. Animal models that use purified LPS may not be representative of gram-negative bacteremia.

Glucocorticoids induce a G1/G0 cell cycle arrest of Con8 rat mammary tumor cells that is synchronously reversed by steroid withdrawal or addition of transforming growth factor-alpha

Con8 mammary tumor cells are an epithelial cell line derived from the 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene-induced 13762NF rat mammary adenocarcinoma. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone suppresses the growth of Con8 cells, and after 5 days of treatment with this steroid, Con8 cells undergo less than 0.5 population doublings. This growth arrest is accompanied by a 30-fold elevation in c-jun transcript levels, no change in c-fos expression, and a moderate increase in total AP-1 transcriptional activity. Dexamethasone inhibited DNA synthesis within one cell cycle, and flow cytometry of propidium iodide-stained nuclei demonstrated that dexamethasone growth-suppressed cells had a DNA content indicative of a specific cell cycle block in either G1 or G0. Consistent with a G1/G0 arrest of the cell cycle, dexamethasone did not prevent Con8 cells from entering the S phase after release from synchronization at the G1/S boundary by a double thymidine block. Analysis of [3H]thymidine incorporation and autoradiography of [3H]thymidine-labeled nuclei revealed that after either dexamethasone withdrawal or the addition of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha), Con8 cells synchronously reinitiate cell cycle progression. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that an induction of transcripts for the G1 marker genes c-myc and cyclin D1 occurs before cells enter the S-phase. After dexamethasone withdrawal, c-myc and cyclin D1 expression transiently peak at 2 and 4 h, respectively. In contrast, c-myc expression peaked at 0.5-1 h, whereas cyclin D1 expression was induced at 2 h and maintained at a high level after the addition of TGF alpha. Our results demonstrate that glucocorticoids induce a specific block of the cell cycle progression of a rat mammary tumor cell, and that after synchronous progression through the cell cycle, the temporal expression pattern for c-myc and cyclin D1 is distinct for dexamethasone release vs. the addition of TGF alpha to glucocorticoid-suppressed cells.

HLA-DR and -DQB1 genotyping in a Chinese population

Using molecular biological methods, 58 unrelated Chinese from Shanghai were typed for HLA-DR and DQ. The Shanghai population possesses the principal HLA-DR and DQ characteristics of the oriental populations but with an increase of the DRB1*12 allele. So HLA typing of populations appears to be important not only for anthropological studies but also for transplantations and HLA associations with diseases.

Simulation of inelastic-scattering contributions to the irradiance field in the ocean: variation in Fraunhofer line depths

Raman scattering and fluorescence are important processes in oceanic optics because of their influence on the natural light field in the water. Monte Carlo simulations are described that verify that measurements of the Fraunhofer line depth in the in-water irradiance can be used to separate the irradiance into elastic and inelastic components, i.e., components that are generated by elastic- and inelastic-scattering processes, respectively. Specifically, the upwelling and downwelling irradiances, including Raman scattering, are simulated for a variety of model oceans. The inherent optical properties of the ocean are derived from a bio-optical model in which the elastic-scattering and the absorption coefficients of the biological material depend only on the phytoplankton pigment concentration, C. The Fraunhofer line at 656 nm is found to fill in, i.e., disappear into, the background continuum rapidly with increasing depth. This indicates a rapid transition from a near-surface light field dominated by elastic s cattering to one composed of irradiance derived entirely from Raman scattering. Conversely the depth of the Fraunhofer line at 486 mm is nearly independent of depth in the water, indicating that Raman scattering never makes a significant contribution to the irradiance there. Between these two extremes, the lines at 518 and 589 nm show variations in line depths that depend significantly on C, e.g., at 518 nm the line fills in with increasing depth at low-C values but not at high-C values.

Characterization of sgk, a novel member of the serine/threonine protein kinase gene family which is transcriptionally induced by glucocorticoids and serum

A novel member of the serine/threonine protein kinase gene family, designated sgk, for serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase, was identified in a differential screen for glucocorticoid-inducible transcripts expressed in the Con8.hd6 rat mammary tumor cell line. sgk encodes a protein of 49 kDa which has significant sequence homology (45 to 55% identity) throughout its catalytic domain with rac protein kinase, the protein kinase C family, ribosomal protein S6 kinase, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. sgk mRNA is expressed in most adult rat tissues, with the highest levels in the thymus, ovary, and lung, as well as in several rodent and human cell lines. sgk mRNA was stimulated by glucocorticoids and by serum within 30 min, and both inductions were independent of de novo protein synthesis. The transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoids is a primary response, since the promoter of sgk contains a glucocorticoid response element consensus sequence 1.0 kb upstream of the start of transcription which is able to stimulate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene activity in a dexamethasone-dependent manner. Antibodies that specifically recognize sgk-encoded protein on an immunoblot were generated. This protein was shown to increase in abundance with glucocorticoid treatment in a manner which paralleled the mRNA accumulation. This is the first report of a presumed serine/threonine protein kinase that is highly regulated at the transcriptional level by glucocorticoid hormones and suggests a novel interplay between glucocorticoid receptor signalling and a protein kinase of the second messenger family.

Treatment of 100 cases of nerve deafness with injectio radix salviae miltiorrhizae

100 cases of nerve deafness were treated with Injectio Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae by i.v. drip, and additional drugs that promoted blood circulation were used according to symptom differentiation. Results were 28 cases cured, 45 cases improved, and 27 cases failed, for a total effective rate of 73%.

Sequence, higher order repeat structure, and long-range organization of alpha satellite DNA specific to human chromosome 8

We have characterized alphoid repeat clones derived from a chromosome 8 library. These clones are specific for human chromosome 8, as demonstrated by use of a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel and by in situ hybridization. Hybridization of the clones to HindIII digests of human genomic DNA reveals a complex pattern of fragments ranging in size from 1.3 to greater than 20 kb. One clone, which corresponds in size to the most prevalent genomic HindIII fragment, appears to represent a major higher order repeat in the chromosome 8 centromere. The DNA sequence of this clone reveals a dimeric organization of alphoid monomers. Restriction analysis of two other clones indicates that they are derivatives of this same repeat unit. The chromosome 8 alphoid clones hybridize to EcoRI fragments of genomic DNA ranging up to 1000 kb in length and reveal a high degree of polymorphism between chromosomes. Distribution of higher order repeat units across the centromere was examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Repeat units of the same size class tended to cluster together in restricted regions of centromeric DNA.

Digital subtraction angiography in the preoperative diagnosis of congenital heart disease

From December of 1986 through February of 1990, digital subtraction angiography was performed on 156 patients, and specific diagnoses of congenital heart disease were made on the basis of information gathered by this imaging technique, supplemented by the physical examination. No other imaging techniques were used, for this was a prospective study designed to determine the accuracy of digital subtraction angiography alone in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. When 80 of these 156 patients underwent subsequent operation, 75 were shown to have been diagnosed correctly, for an accuracy rate of 93.75%. Two patients died, for a mortality rate of 2.5%. The diagnostic value of digital subtraction angiography is discussed, as well as the compensative management of its artifacts.

A hybrid cell mapping panel for regional localization of probes to human chromosome 8

We have characterized a panel of somatic cell hybrids that carry fragments of human chromosome 8 and used this panel for the regional localization of anonymous clones derived from a chromosome 8 library. The hybrid panel includes 11 cell lines, which were characterized by Southern blot hybridization with chromosome 8-specific probes of known map location and by fluorescent in situ hybridization with a probe derived from a chromosome 8 library. The chromosome fragments in the hybrid cell lines divide the chromosome into 10 intervals. Using this mapping panel, we have mapped 56 newly derived anonymous clones to regions of chromosome 8. We have also obtained physical map locations for 7 loci from the genetic map of chromosome 8, thus aligning the genetic and physical maps of the chromosome.

Immunoglobulins and complement in splenectomised and autotransplanted subjects

Serum immunoglobulins and complement factors were investigated retrospectively in 35 splenectomised (n = 28) and autoreplanted (n = 7) patients following trauma. The main deficiency of the immune system following splenectomy was a reduction in the concentrations of serum IgM, C3, and Factor B with normal IgG, IgA and C4 values. These changes were not correlated with the time elapsed after splenectomy. However, patients who had splenic tissue autoreplantation had normal values of immunoglobulins and complement factors compared with healthy controls. Splenic replantation may be able to stop a fall in immunoglobulin and complement factor values after splenectomy.