rhBMP-2 induces terminal differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells only by synergizing with other signals

BACKGROUND

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBM-MSCs) have been thoroughly studied for research and translational bone regeneration purposes. rhBMP-2 induces bone formation in vivo, and hBM-MSCs are its target, bone-forming cells. In this article, we studied how rhBMP-2 drives the multilineage differentiation of hBM-MSCs both in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

rhBMP-2 and hBM-MSCs were tested in an in vivo subcutaneous implantation model to assess their ability to form mature bone and undergo multilineage differentiation. Then, the hBM-MSCs were treated in vitro with rhBMP-2 for short-term or long-term cell-culture periods, alone or in combination with osteogenic, adipogenic or chondrogenic media, aiming to determine the role of rhBMP-2 in these differentiation processes.

RESULTS

The data indicate that hBM-MSCs respond to rhBMP-2 in the short term but fail to differentiate in long-term culture conditions; these cells overexpress the rhBMP-2 target genes DKK1, HEY-1 and SOST osteogenesis inhibitors. However, in combination with other differentiation signals, rhBMP-2 acts as a potentiator of multilineage differentiation, not only of osteogenesis but also of adipogenesis and chondrogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, our data indicate that rhBMP-2 alone is unable to induce in vitro osteogenic terminal differentiation of hBM-MSCs, but synergizes with other signals to potentiate multiple differentiation phenotypes. Therefore, rhBMP-2 triggers on hBM-MSCs different specific phenotype differentiation depending on the signalling environment.

Valorization of biological waste from insect-based food industry: Assessment of chitin and chitosan potential

Edible mealworms can be farmed to produce high-quality nutrients and proteins, useful as ingredients in human and animal foods. During this process biological waste is produced. This work explores the usage of the biological waste as source to produce chitin and chitosan with different potential applications. Different waste fractions were processed, and the feasibility of chitin isolation was assessed. Chitosan was derived, and films were fabricated and tested for intended uses. Data indicate that biopolymers with different properties can be obtained from multiple biological waste fractions. All samples show antibacterial activity, while chitosan films derived from molt show interesting properties for packaging purposes. Films also trigger the expression of anti-inflammatory phenotype markers in macrophage cells, which may be useful for tissue engineering implantation purposes. Altogether, biological waste from insect farming can be used to extract chitin and chitosan with different properties, and therefore, suitable for different applications.

Recommendations for the coordination of Neurology and Neuroradiology Departments in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Coordination between neurology and neuroradiology departments is crucial for performing and interpreting radiological studies as efficiently and as accurately as possible. However, improvements can be made in the communication between these departments in many Spanish hospitals.

METHODS

A panel of 17 neurologists and neuroradiologists from 8 Spanish hospitals held in-person and online meetings to draft a series of good practice guidelines for the coordinated management of MS. The drafting process included 4 phases: 1) establishing the scope of the guidelines and the methodology of the study; 2) literature review on good practices or recommendations on the use of MRI in MS; 3) discussion and consensus between experts; and 4) validation of the contents.

RESULTS

The expert panel agreed a total of 9 recommendations for improving coordination between neurology and neuroradiology departments. The recommendations revolve around 4 main pillars: 1) standardising the process for requesting and scheduling MRI studies and reports; 2) designing common protocols for MRI studies; 3) establishing multidisciplinary committees and coordination meetings; and 4) creating formal communication channels between both departments.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus recommendations are intended to optimise coordination between neurologists and neuroradiologists, with the ultimate goal of improving the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with MS.

Embryonic cerebrospinal fluid influence in the subependymal neurogenic niche in adult mouse hippocampus

The adult mouse hippocampal neurogenic niche is a complex structure which is not completely understood. It has mainly been related to the Subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus; however, as a result of differential neural stem cell populations reported in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and associated with the hippocampus, the possibility remains of a multifocal niche reproducing developmental stages. Here, using a set of molecular markers for neural precursors, we describe in the adult mouse brain hippocampus the existence of a disperse population of neural precursors in the Subependymal Zone, the Dentate Migratory Stream and the hilus; these display dynamic behaviour compatible with neurogenesis. This supports the idea that the adult hippocampal niche cannot be restricted to the dentate gyrus subgranular layer. In other neurogenic niches such as the Subventricular Zone, a functional periventricular dependence has been shown due to the ability to respond to embryonic cerebro-spinal fluid. In this study, we demonstrate that neural precursors from the three areas studied (Sub-ependymal Zone, Dentate Migratory Stream and hilus) are able to modify their behaviour by increasing neurogenesis in a locally differential manner. Our results are compatible with the persistence in the adult mouse hippocampus of a neurogenic niche with the same spatial structure as that seen during development and early postnatal stages.

Forensic evaluation of two nucleic acid extraction systems and validation of a RT-qPCR protocol for identification of SARS-CoV-2 in post-mortem nasopharyngeal swabs

The COVID-19 outbreak has represented a challenge for the international scientific community and particularly for forensic sciences. The lack of Coronavirus post-mortem testing led the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (INTCF) from Spain to verify the performance and utility of a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) clinical diagnosis protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection (TaqPath™ COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit), to shed light on the cause of death (COD) in potentially COVID-19 cases in judicial autopsies. Two different RNA extraction methods were also tested (EZ1® DSP Virus Kit on the EZ1® Advanced XL robot versus MagMAX™ Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit) regarding extraction efficiency, precision and contamination. RT-qPCR was evaluated for precision, specificity, limit of detection and concordance. Both the automated and the manual RNA extraction procedures showed good efficiency, but the automated virus extraction by bio-robot produced more reproducible results than the manual extraction. The SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR assay showed high sensitivity with a detection limit up to 10 copies/reaction and high specificity, as no cross-reactivity was detected between any of the 12 different RNA viruses tested, including three types of coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, NL63 and 229E). Reproducibility and repeatability of the studied method as well as concordance with other SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection protocols were also demonstrated.

Influence of Maternal Size on Offspring Traits in a Marine Gastropod with Direct Development and without Sibling Interaction

AbstractIn most animal taxa, large mothers (or those with high nutritional status) produce large offspring, leading to a maternal size-offspring size correlation, that is, a positive correlation between maternal size and offspring size. Here, we used the natural variation in maternal size between three natural populations of Buccinanops deformis (a marine snail with direct development, nurse egg feeding, and a single embryo per egg capsule) to study maternal investment and offspring size. The main objectives were to compare offspring size and maternal investment traits within and between populations and to evaluate the relationship between maternal size and offspring size. Although not supported in every population, our results show that maternal size was positively correlated with offspring size, thus representing an example of the maternal size-offspring size correlation in a species in which there is no competition for food between capsule mates because only one embryo develops per capsule. These findings also suggest that in B. deformis larger mothers produce more offspring and provide their offspring with more resources, and that this between-population variation in offspring size is related to differences in the number of nurse eggs allocated per egg capsule and in egg capsule size. The ubiquity of the maternal size-offspring size correlation in B. deformis needs to be tested further across populations, because factors other than maternal size could influence offspring size variation in this marine gastropod.

Recommendations for the coordination of Neurology and Neuroradiology Departments in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Coordination between Neurology and Neuroradiology departments is crucial for performing and interpreting radiological studies as efficiently and as accurately as possible. However, improvements can be made in the communication between these departments in many Spanish hospitals.

METHODS

A panel of 17 neurologists and neuroradiologists from 8 Spanish hospitals held in-person and online meetings to draft a series of good practice guidelines for the coordinated management of MS. The drafting process included 4 phases: 1) establishing the scope of the guidelines and the methodology of the study; 2) literature review on good practices or recommendations on the use of MRI in MS; 3) discussion and consensus between experts; and 4) validation of the contents.

RESULTS

The expert panel agreed a total of 9 recommendations for improving coordination between neurology and neuroradiology departments. The recommendations revolve around 4 main pillars: 1) standardising the process for requesting and scheduling MRI studies and reports; 2) designing common protocols for MRI studies; 3) establishing multidisciplinary committees and coordination meetings; and 4) creating formal communication channels between both departments.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus recommendations are intended to optimise coordination between neurologists and neuroradiologists, with the ultimate goal of improving the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with MS.

The first GHEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on forensic applications of massively parallel sequencing

One of the main goals of the Spanish and Portuguese-Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) is to promote and contribute to the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field of forensic genetics. The GHEP-ISFG supports several Working Commissions which develop different scientific activities. One of them, the Working Commission on "Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS): Forensic Applications", organized its first collaborative exercise on forensic applications of MPS technology in 2019. The aim of this exercise was to assess the concordance between the MPS results and those obtained with conventional technologies (capillary electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing), as well as to compare the results obtained within the different MPS platforms and/or the different kits/panels and analysis software packages (commercial and open-access) available on the market. The seven participating laboratories analyzed some samples of the annual GHEP-ISFG proficiency test (EIADN No. 27 (2019)), using Ion Torrent™ or MiSeq FGx® platforms. Six of them sent autosomal STR sequence data, five laboratories performed MPS analysis of individual identification SNPs, four laboratories reported MPS data of Y-chromosomal STRs, and X-chromosomal STRs, three laboratories performed MPS analysis of ancestry informative SNPs and phenotype informative SNPs, two labs performed MPS analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region, and only one lab produced MPS data of lineage informative SNPs. Autosomal STR sequencing results were highly concordant to the consensus obtained by capillary electrophoresis in the EIADN No. 27 (2019) exercise. Furthermore, in general, a high level of concordance was observed between the results of the participating laboratories, regardless of the platform used. The main discordances were due to errors during the analysis process or from sequence data obtained with low depth of coverage. In this paper we highlight some issues that still arise, such as standardization of the nomenclature for STRs analyzed by sequencing with MPS, the universal uptake of a nomenclature framework by the analysis software, and well established validation and accreditation of the new MPS platforms for use in routine forensic case-work.

Abstract P1-14-13: Residual proliferative cancer burden (RPCB) is superior to RCB index as prognostic tool in early breast cancer patients (EBC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)

BACKGROUND: Many different scales have been developed in order to assess response to NAC. Apart from Miller and Payne and RCB systems, recently the addiction of post-NAC pathological Ki 67 (yp Ki67) to RCB, called RPCB system, has been considered as a more accurate prognostic tool. The aim of this study is to assess the prognosis value of RPCB in a routine practice cohort and to compare it to RCB index and ypKi67.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of our database. Patients with stage I-III considered candidate for NAC from July 2008 and August 2011 were included. RPCB and RCB were calculated as previously published. Hormone receptor expression (HR), ypKi 67 and Her2 were assessed following international guidelines. The Harell c-index were used to compare the prognostic value of RPCB, RCB and ypKi 67. Clinical, therapeutic and pathological data were obtained from medical records. A correlation with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was done using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.

RESULTS: From our database including 333 EBC patients treated with NAC 184 had data to calculate RPCB, RCB and ypKi 67, of whom 51.6% were HR+Her2- tumours, 21.7% HR+Her2+, 8.2% HR- Her2+ and 18.5% triple negative. Mean tumour size was 37.5 mm (25-45). The majority of the patients had histhological grade II-III tumours (84.2%) and N stage 0-1 (96.7%). 67.4% of the patients received anthracycline and taxane-based NAC, associated to trastuzumab in Her2+ patients (26.1%). Pathological complete response by subtypes were 6.3%, 17.5%, 60% and 26.5%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 49.9 months, DFS and OS at 36 months were 85.2% and 95.1%. In the multivariate analysis all three systems were prognostic for DFS (RPCB p<0.001; RCB p=0.001; ypKi 67 p= 0.002) and OS (RPCB p<0.001; RCB p=0.011; ypKi 67 p= 0.037). Comparison of Harell c-index for DFS between RCPB and RCB showed a trend of RPCB towards a more accurate prognostic power (0.89 vs 0.81, p=0.061) that was significant when comparing RCPB vs ypKi67 and RPCB vs ypKi67 (0.89 vs 0.77, p=0.010). However no statistically differences were found in terms of OS (RPCB vs RCB 0.85 vs 0.82, p=0.357 and RPCB vs ypKi67 0.85 vs 0.72, p= 0.088).

CONCLUSION: RPCB, RCB and ypKi67 are prognostic for both DFS and OS in EBC patients treated with NAC. RPCB is a more accurate prognostic tool than ypKi67 and showed a trend towards superiority compared to RCB.

Citation Format: Pons V, Pérez-Fidalgo JA, Burgués O, Martín P, Cejalvo JM, Bermejo B, LLuch A. Residual proliferative cancer burden (RPCB) is superior to RCB index as prognostic tool in early breast cancer patients (EBC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-14-13.

[Obesity and anthropometric indicators in a sample of males with Acute Coronary Syndrome in a health area with inclusion of inmates: case-control study]

OBJECTIVES

Obesity is a cardiovascular risk factor with a high epidemic burden on ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the anthropometric indicators of obesity in a sample of males who have had an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) diagnosed in a prison referral hospital, and a control group.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cross-sectional case-control study in a Health Area with inclusion of a penitentiary center. The participants in this study were 204 males, 102 cases and one control selected for each case (n=102). We measured weight, height waist circumference (WC), umbilical waist (UW) and hip circumference. We calculated body mass index (BMI) and other anthropometric indicators: waist to-hip-ratios (WHR and UWHR), waist to-height-ratios (WHtR and UWHtR). We obtained the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), the odds ratio (OR) and the correlations in the infarcted people.

RESULTS

Obesity was more prevalent in ACS (31.4% vs 9.1%; OR: 4.7). Other indicators show a discriminatory association. BMI (AUC: 0.699; OR: 3.9), WC (AUC: 0.750; OR: 6.3), UW (AUC: 0.777; OR: 10), inverse height (AUC: 0.619; OR: 2.1), WHR (AUC: 0.832; OR: 11.6); UWHR (AUC: 0.857; OR: 15.6), UWHtR (AUC: 0.800; OR: 8.9). In ACS the correlations for both WC and UW with waist to-height-ratios (WHtR and UWHtR) were strong (all r ≥0.90; p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

The anthropometric indicators of obesity are clearly associated with ACS. UW is the simple measurement with the best association. BMI is most weakly associated. UWHtR presents high discriminatory power and the best anthropometric correlation of risk that supports its use for the identification of males at risk of myocardial infarction in the general population and prison.

A global analysis of Y-chromosomal haplotype diversity for 23 STR loci

In a worldwide collaborative effort, 19,630 Y-chromosomes were sampled from 129 different populations in 51 countries. These chromosomes were typed for 23 short-tandem repeat (STR) loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385ab, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, GATAH4, DYS481, DYS533, DYS549, DYS570, DYS576, and DYS643) and using the PowerPlex Y23 System (PPY23, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI). Locus-specific allelic spectra of these markers were determined and a consistently high level of allelic diversity was observed. A considerable number of null, duplicate and off-ladder alleles were revealed. Standard single-locus and haplotype-based parameters were calculated and compared between subsets of Y-STR markers established for forensic casework. The PPY23 marker set provides substantially stronger discriminatory power than other available kits but at the same time reveals the same general patterns of population structure as other marker sets. A strong correlation was observed between the number of Y-STRs included in a marker set and some of the forensic parameters under study. Interestingly a weak but consistent trend toward smaller genetic distances resulting from larger numbers of markers became apparent.

Abstract P4-13-04: Autologous dendritic cells vaccines combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy increase total pCR in stages II-III non-overexpressing HER2 breast cancer patients and induce phenotypic changes in peripheral blood

Background Based on the synergistic effect between immuno- and chemotherapy (CT), we have elaborated an autologous vaccine with dendritic cells loaded with patients´ own tumor antigens (lysate), and we have already demonstrated that the addition of the vaccines to a standard neoadjuvant CT schedule has increased total pCR (breast+ axilla) in stages II-III non-overexpressing HER2 breast cancer patients (Santisteban M, SABCS 2012). Both cohorts, the control (C) and the vaccinated (V) were well balanced related to demographic characteristics. Toxicity has been similar in both the C and the V cohorts. Moreover, we have analyzed the phenotypic changes in peripheral blood induced by the vaccine and its correlation with pathologic responses. Indeed, we have studied if the amount of lysate used to load the dendritic cells or the total dendritic cell numbers received by the patients in the first five doses (before surgery) is correlated with pCR Methods Twenty-eight patients with stage II-III HER2 negative breast cancer have started on sequential neoadjuvant CT based on dose dense antracyclines (E 100mg/m2 and C 600 mgr/m2) x4 cycles plus GM-CSF followed by taxanes (DOC 75-100 mgr/m2) x4 cycles plus vaccination. The C historic cohort was composed of thirty patients who received the same treatment except for the absence of the vaccines. Vaccine calendar was started after the 4th EC and alternated with DOC and as maintenance up to a maximum of a 2 year-period. The first 5 vaccines were administered before breast surgery. Changes in different lymphocytes populations were measured in peripheral blood of patients at different points by flow cytometry (absolute cell counts). To date, twenty-one patients have both determinations of lymphocyte subpopulations before the 1st and the 6th vaccine. Paired samples t-tests and Fisher exact were used Results pCR was superior in the V cohort (24% versus 3.3%, p = 0.04). Lymphocyte subpopulations were measured in peripheral blood (cells/uL) and a stimulation of the immune system was found after the 5 vaccines schedule at the time of surgery as follows: NK (p&lt;0.001), T cytotoxic CD8 (p = 0.018), T helper CD4 (p = 0.04), CD19 (p = 0.001), HLADRCD8 (p = 0.007), CD16CD8 (p = 0.003), HLADRCD4 (p&lt;0.001), CD16CD4 (p = 0.008) and T regulators lymphocytes (p = 0.004). We did not find any differences among CD57CD8 (p = 0.17), CD56CD8 (p = 0.11), CD57CD4 (p = 0.45) and CD56CD4 (p = 0.65). We neither see correlation among the amount of lysate to load dendritic cells and the tpCR (p = 0.09) nor the amount of dendritic cells (summatory of 5 vaccines) administered intradermally and the pCR (p = 0.59) Conclusions Immunotherapy added to standard neoadjuvant CT could improve total pCR in stage II-III non-overexpressing HER2 breast cancer patients. After 5 doses of vaccination plus chemotherapy, we can observe phenotypic changes in peripheral blood: some immune system subpopulations increased statistically after the treatment in vaccinated patients. Neither the amount of lysate nor the number of dendritic cells used in the five first vaccines significantly correlated with the pRC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-13-04.

Advancing allele group-specific amplification of the complete HLA-C gene--isolation of novel alleles from three allele groups (C*04, C*07 and C*08)

A variety of strategies have been designed for sequence-based HLA typing (SBT) and for the isolation of new human leucocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, but unambiguous characterization of complete genomic sequences remains a challenge. We recently reported a simple method for the group-specific amplification (GSA) and sequencing of a full-length C*04 genomic sequence in isolation from the accompanying allele. Here we build on this strategy and present homologous methods that enable the isolation of HLA-C alleles belonging to another two allele groups. Using this approach, which can be applied to sequence-based typing in some clinical settings, we have successfully characterized three novel HLA-C alleles (C*04:128, C*07:01:01:02, and C*08:62).

The place of the Basques in the European Y-chromosome diversity landscape

There is a trend to consider the gene pool of the Basques as a 'living fossil' of the earliest modern humans that colonized Europe. To investigate this assumption, we have typed 45 binary markers and five short tandem repeat loci of the Y chromosome in a set of 168 male Basques. Results on these combined haplotypes were analyzed in the context of matching data belonging to approximately 3000 individuals from over 20 European, Near East and North African populations, which were compiled from the literature. Our results place the low Y-chromosome diversity of Basques within the European diversity landscape. This low diversity seems to be the result of a lower effective population size maintained through generations. At least some lineages of Y chromosome in modern Basques originated and have been evolving since pre-Neolithic times. However, the strong genetic drift experienced by the Basques does not allow us to consider Basques either the only or the best representatives of the ancestral European gene pool. Contrary to previous suggestions, we do not observe any particular link between Basques and Celtic populations beyond that provided by the Paleolithic ancestry common to European populations, nor we find evidence supporting Basques as the focus of major population expansions.

Night-time atmospheric fate of acrolein and crotonaldehyde

The absolute rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of the NO3 radical with acrolein and crotonaldehyde have been measured overthe temperature range 249-330 K, using a discharge flow system and monitoring the NO3 radical by laser induced fluorescence (LIF). The obtained rate coefficients at 298 K for NO3 reactions with acrolein and crotonaldehyde were (3.30 +/- 0.39) x 10(-15) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for acrolein and (1.35 +/- 0.04) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for crotonaldehyde, and the proposed Arrhenius expressions are k(T) = (1.72 +/- 0.5) x 10(-13) exp[(-1190 +/- 43)/T] and k(T) = (5.02 +/- 0.7) x 10(-13) exp[(-1076 +/- 47)/T], respectively, in units of cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). In addition, the products and mechanisms were investigated using an environmental chamber/FTIR absorption system. Formaldehyde, CO, and acryloylperoxy nitrate were identified as the main products for the acrolein reaction with molar yields of 31.6 +/- 2.0, 20.9 +/- 1.9, and 47 +/- 3, respectively. In the crotonaldehyde reaction the main products detected were crotonylperoxy nitrate and CO with yields of 93.6 +/- 4.3 and 8.3 +/- 1.1, respectively. On the basis of the rate constant measured, the activation energy calculated, and the identified products, abstraction of the aldehydic H seems to be the main degradation pathway at room temperature for the reaction of acrolein with NO3. For crotonaldehyde, the mechanism is unclear on the basis of the experimental results. The atmospheric implications of the reactions in question are also discussed.

Allele frequencies of six miniSTR loci (D10S1248, D14S1434, D22S1045, D4S2364, D2S441 and D1S1677) in a Spanish population

Allele frequencies and forensic parameters for six miniSTR autosomal loci (D10S1248, D14S1434, D22S1045, D4S2364, D2S441 and D1S1677) were obtained from a sample of 264 unrelated individuals from Spain. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations were found. Due to the small PCR products (<125 bp), the use of these non-CODIS (NC) miniSTRs can increase the probability that a degraded sample can be typed. Additionally, these systems can be used in routine paternity analyses where more markers are needed to increase the power of exclusion or in complex paternity cases (e.g. involving closely related individuals).

Usefulness of microchip electrophoresis for the analysis of mitochondrial DNA in forensic and ancient DNA studies

We evaluate the usefulness of a commercially available microchip CE (MCE) device in different genetic identification studies performed with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) targets, including the haplotype analysis of HVR1 and HVR2 and the study of interspecies diversity of cytochrome b (Cyt b) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) mitochondrial genes in forensic and ancient DNA samples. The MCE commercial system tested in this study proved to be a fast and sensitive detection method of length heteroplasmy in cytosine stretches produced by 16 189T>C transitions in HVR1 and by 309.1 and 309.2 C-insertions in HVR2. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of PCR amplicons performed by LIF allowed normalizing the amplicon input in the sequencing reactions, improving the overall quality of sequence data. These quantitative data in combination with the quantification of genomic mtDNA by real-time PCR has been successfully used to evaluate the PCR efficiency and detection limit of full sequencing methods of different mtDNA targets. The quantification of amplicons also provided a method for the rapid evaluation of PCR efficiency of multiplex-PCR versus singleplex-PCR to amplify short HV1 amplicons (around 100 bp) from severely degraded ancient DNA samples. The combination of human-specific (Cyt b) and universal (16S rRNA) mtDNA primer sets in a single PCR reaction followed by MCE detection offers a very rapid and simple screening test to differentiate between human and nonhuman hair forensic samples. This method was also very efficient with degraded DNA templates from forensic hair and bone samples, because of its applicability to detect small amplicon sizes. Future possibilities of MCE in forensic DNA typing, including nuclear STRs and SNP profiling are suggested.

Mutation rates at Y chromosome specific microsatellites

A collaborative work was carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese ISFG Working Group (GEP-ISFG) to estimate Y-STR mutation rates. Seventeen Y chromosome STR loci (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I and II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS460, DYS461, DYS635 [GATA C4], GATA H4, and GATA A10) were analyzed in a sample of 3,026 father/son pairs. Among 27,029 allele transfers, 54 mutations were observed, with an overall mutation rate across the 17 loci of 1.998 x 10(-3) (95% CI, 1.501 x 10(-3) to 2.606 x 10(-3)). With just one exception, all of the mutations were single-step, and they were observed only once per gametogenesis. Repeat gains were more frequent than losses, longer alleles were found to be more mutable, and the mutation rate seemed to increase with the father's age. Hum Mutat 26(6), 520-528, 2005. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

FGF2 plays a key role in embryonic cerebrospinal fluid trophic properties over chick embryo neuroepithelial stem cells

During early stages of brain development, neuroepithelial stem cells undergo intense proliferation as neurogenesis begins. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) has been involved in the regulation of these processes, and although it has been suggested that they work in an autocrine-paracrine mode, there is no general agreement on this because the behavior of neuroepithelial cells is not self-sufficient in explants cultured in vitro. In this work, we show that during early stages of development in chick embryos there is another source of FGF2, besides that of the neuroepithelium, which affects the brain primordium, since the cerebrospinal fluid (E-CSF) contains several isoforms of this factor. We also demonstrate, both in vitro and in vivo, that the FGF2 from the E-CSF has an effect on the regulation of neuroepithelial cell behavior, including cell proliferation and neurogenesis. In order to clarify putative sources of FGF2 in embryonic tissues, we detected by in situ hybridization high levels of mRNA expression in notochord, mesonephros and hepatic primordia, and low levels in brain neuroectoderm, corroborated by semiquantitative PCR analysis. Furthermore, we show that the notochord segregates several FGF2 isoforms which modify the behavior of the neuroepithelial cells in vitro. In addition, we show that the FGF2 ligand is present in the embryonic serum; and, by means of labeled FGF2, we prove that this factor passes via the neuroepithelium from the embryonic serum to the E-CSF in vivo. Considering all these results, we propose that, in chick embryos, the behavior of brain neuroepithelial stem cells at the earliest stages of development is influenced by the action of the FGF2 contained within the E-CSF which could have an extraneural origin, thus suggesting a new and complementary way of regulating brain development.

[Kidney transplant]

The kidney transplant is the therapy of choice for the majority of the causes of chronic terminal kidney insufficiency, because it improves the quality of life and survival in comparison with dialysis. A kidney transplant from a live donor is an excellent alternative for the young patient in a state of pre-dialysis because it offers the best results. Immunosuppressive treatment must be individualised, seeking immunosuppressive synergy and the best safety profile, and must be adapted to the different stages of the kidney transplant. In the follow-up to the kidney transplant, cardiovascular risk factors and tumours must be especially taken into account, given that the death of the patient with a working graft is the second cause of loss of the graft following the first year of the transplant. The altered function of the graft is a factor of independent cardiovascular mortality that will require follow-up and the control of all its complications to postpone the entrance in dialysis.

A real-time PCR protocol to determine the number of amelogenin (X-Y) gene copies from forensic DNA samples

We present a fluorogenic real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure to target a segment (106-112 base pairs [bp]) of the X-Y homologous amelogenin gene by measuring the 5' nuclease activity of the Taq deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase using two (X-Fam-labeled and Y-Vic-labeled) specific Taqman MGB probes to enable simultaneous the detection of two specific PCR products (AMGY: 112-bp and AMGX: 106 bp) as they accumulate cycle by cycle during PCR. The method makes possible not only human nuclear DNA quantitation but also sex determination and has been applied to the analysis of low copy number DNA samples in forensic and ancient DNA studies. Specific quantification of human nuclear DNA is a recommended procedure in forensic casework as a way to adjust the DNA input on subsequent end-point PCR-based DNA typing approaches ensuring the optimal use of the limited amounts of nuclear DNA found in many forensic evidences. Nuclear DNA quantification also aids in the interpretation of the consistency of multiplex STR profiling data obtained from low copy number DNA samples.

Mitochondrial DNA haplotyping revealed the presence of mixed up benign and neoplastic tissue sections from two individuals on the same prostatic biopsy slide

DNA typing was requested to investigate a presumptive cancer diagnosis error by confirming whether benign and cancerous prostatic tissue in the same presurgical haematoxylin and eosin stained slide belonged to the same person. After independent histological re-examination of the slide by a pathologist, manual slide dissection was used to guarantee independent and high recovery DNA isolation from each tissue section, avoiding carryover and background contamination. Nuclear DNA quantification performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed the absence of human DNA for short tandem repeat (STR) typing. Mitochondrial DNA was only obtained by performing PCR of very short fragments ( approximately 100 bp), indicating high DNA degradation. Different low frequency hypervariable region I haplotypes were obtained from each tissue section (normal tissue section haplotype: 16224C, 16234T, 16311C, 16356C; cancer tissue section haplotype: 16256T, 16270T, 16293G). Only the normal tissue section haplotype matched that obtained from the patient's blood sample, indicating that the cancer tissue section originated from an unknown patient. These results supported the hypothesis of sample mix up during block processing or slide preparation by a carryover mechanism. Mitochondrial genetic typing is recommended to exclude the possibility of carryover artefacts when low DNA content and high degradation compromise conventional STR typing.

A case of double alleles at three Y-STR loci: forensic implications

In a genetic study of unrelated donors from Bahia (Brazil), one sample contained a 16 Y-STR haplotype with double peaks at three loci: DYS389 II, DYS437 and DYS439. The son of the subject had the same haplotype as found in the father. This profile was compared with a similar case found in a paternity case investigation in Madrid (Spain) and a match was found for the full 16 Y-STR haplotype. Because these three loci are located within the AZFa segment, these results are in accordance with duplication of the AZFa region that includes also other Y-STRs currently used in forensic investigation, for example DYS389I and DYS438. This case attracts our attention in the forensic interpretation of Y-haplotype profiles, because multiple alleles at various loci do not indicate forcibly that the sample under analysis is a mixture.

A Basque Country autochthonous population study of 11 Y-chromosome STR loci

Haplotype, allele frequencies and population data of 11 Y-chromosome STR loci DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS438 and DYS439 were determined from a sample of 168 unrelated autochthonous male individuals from the Basque Country. The eight surnames and birth places of the grandparents of all analyzed individuals were of Basque origin. A total of 89 haplotypes were identified by the 11 Y-STR loci. The haplotype diversity (97.49%) and discrimination capacity (52.98%) were calculated. Comparisons were made with previously published haplotype data on other Iberian population samples and significant differences were found.