Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.48 (transcriptase)
 9,479 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thirty-five patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were classified on the basis of the fusion pattern of bcr-abl mRNA determined by the reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Semiquantitative assay of the bcr exon 2/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b2-a2) and bcr exon 3/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b3-a2) resulted in 21 patients showing b3-a2 type mRNA, seven showing b2-a2 type and seven showing coexpression. Quantification of the autoradiographic signals of amplified products was estimated using an MCID image analysis system. The relative intensity was defined as the ratio of bcr-abl signal to that of beta-actin. The relationship between the semiquantified bcr-abl mRNA and the platelet/megakaryocyte counts was analyzed. A possible correlation was found between the semiquantified b3-a2 type mRNA and the platelet (p < .05, N = 28) and megakaryocyte (p < .05, N = 13) counts of these patients. This finding suggests the possibility that b3-a2 mRNA may affect the thrombopoietic activity in Ph1-positive CML in a dose-response manner.
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PMID:Possible correlation of b3-a2-type bcr-abl messenger RNA defined by semiquantitative RT-PCR to platelet and megakaryocyte counts in Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. 752 Jul 86

This report describes a patient presenting with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML-FAB classification M2). Phenotypic markers were positive for cells of the myeloid lineage, but negative for monocyte/macrophage, megakaryocyte, and T-cell lineages. The occasional blast was positive for CALLA. All blasts carried the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+), with 20% also harbouring a monosomy 7 (a cytogenetic marker for AML). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed the presence of two BCR/Abl mRNA transcripts; b2a2, the CML-type and E1a2, the ALL-type. Immunoglobulin (Ig) gene analysis demonstrated the presence of a small population of cells containing rearranged Ig genes. After a short remission, the patient relapsed. At relapse the leukaemia had undergone a major phenotypic switch from AML to ALL, with blasts bearing B-cell markers. Ig gene analysis confirmed a monoclonal population of B-cells. The Ph+ persisted, but the monosomy 7 had disappeared. The same two BCR/Abl mRNA transcripts were found at relapse as at presentation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an AML simultaneously expressing BCR/Abl transcripts from both the minor and major BCR. The possible mechanisms of this dual expression are discussed.
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PMID:A Ph+ acute myeloid leukaemia expressing both CML-type and ALL-type BCR/ABL mRNA transcripts. 795 Sep 25

The recent discovery of chemokine receptors as coreceptors for human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) entry offers new avenues for investigating the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related cytopenias. To this end, we sought to (1) phenotype human hematopoietic cells for CD4 and the HIV-1 coreceptors CXCR4, CCR5, CCR3, and CCR2b; (2) correlate CD4 and chemokine receptor expression with their susceptibility to HIV-1 infection; and (3) examine any potential interplay between inflammatory cytokines released during HIV-1 infection and regulation of chemokine receptor expression. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC), cells derived from serum-free expanded hematopoietic lineages (colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage [CFU-GM], colony-forming unit-megakaryocyte [CFU-Meg], and burst-forming unit-erythroid [BFU-E]), and CD34(+) cells showed differential expression of chemokine receptors and CD4 with some lineage specificity. Significantly, FACS-sorted CXCR4(+)/CD34(+) cells had the same clonogeneic potential as CXCR4(-)/CD34(+) cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of FACS-sorted human candidate stem cells (HSC; CD34(+), c-kit+, Rho123(low)) showed the presence of CXCR4 mRNA but not CD4 mRNA. Infection studies with HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped luciferase reporter viruses indicated that X4 Env (CXCR4-using) pseudotypes infected megakaryocytic cells, whereas R5 Env (CCR5-using) pseudotypes did not. Similarly, R5 but not X4 Env-pseudotyped viruses infected granulocyte-macrophage cells in a CD4/CCR5-dependent manner. Erythroid cells were resistant to R5 or X4 viral infection. Finally, we found that gamma-interferon treatment upregulated CXCR4 expression on primary hematopoietic cells. In summary, the delineation of chemokine receptor expression on primary hematopoietic cells is a first step towards dissecting the chemokine-chemokine receptor axes that may play a role in hematopoietic cell proliferation and homing. Furthermore, susceptibility of hematopoietic cells to HIV-1 infection is likely to be more complicated than the mere physical presence of CD4 and the cognate chemokine receptor. Lastly, our results suggest a potential interplay between gamma-interferon secretion and CXCR4 expression.
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PMID:Coreceptor/chemokine receptor expression on human hematopoietic cells: biological implications for human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 infection. 994 56

Better understanding of hemostasis will be possible by the identification of new lineage-specific stimuli that regulate platelet formation. We describe a novel functional megakaryocyte receptor that belongs to a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype responsible for synaptic neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies identified expression of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2D type subunit mRNA in rat marrow, human megakaryocytes, and MEG-01 clonal megakaryoblastic cells. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo autoradiographic binding of the NMDA receptor-specific antagonist MK-801 confirmed that megakaryocytes expressed open channel-forming NMDA receptors in vivo. Western blots indicated that megakaryocyte NMDAR1 was either unglycosylated or only glycosylated to low levels, and of identical size to CNS-type NMDAR1 after deglycosylation with endoglycosidase F/peptide-N-glycosidase F. In functional studies, we demonstrated that NMDA receptor activity was necessary for phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of megakaryoblastic cells; NMDA receptor blockade by specific antagonists significantly inhibited PMA-mediated increases in cell size, CD41 expression, and adhesion of MEG-01 cells. These results provide evidence for a novel pathway by which megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production may be regulated.
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PMID:Expression of a functional N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor by bone marrow megakaryocytes. 1021 82

Protein kinase C (PKC), a key component of the signaling pathways leading to proliferation and differentiation, consists of a family closely related serine/threonine protein kinases. The mRNA expression of these PKC isoforms has been characterized during hematopoietic differentiation. Using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique, we have analyzed the levels of isoform transcripts in bone marrow CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitors and their progeny differentiated along erythroid, megakaryocyte, or granulocyte/monocyte lineages, upon exposure to growth factors. In contrast with isoforms alpha, beta(I), beta(II), delta, and epsilon, ubiquitously expressed, isoforms theta, eta/L, zeta, and iota/lambda exhibited a lineage-restricted expression. These qualitative changes, which allow to distinguish the erythroid and megakaryocyte phenotypes from the granulocyte/monocyte phenotype, include zeta exclusively upregulated in granulocytes/monocytes and theta, eta/L, and iota/lambda exclusively expressed in megakaryocytes and erythroblasts. In contrast, erythroblasts and megakaryocytes, which supposedly share a common bipotential progenitor, displayed only quantitative changes. These results evidence the selective expression of PKC isoforms at transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional levels in hematopoietic progenitors induced to differentiate, which may suggest a differential contribution of individual isoforms to cellular signaling.
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PMID:Differential expression of protein kinase C isoform transcripts in human hematopoietic progenitors undergoing differentiation. 1051 25

Identification of the regulatory inputs that direct megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production is essential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of thrombosis and related hematologic disorders. We have previously shown that primary human megakaryocytes express the N-methyl-d-aspartate acid (NMDA) receptor 1 (NR1) subunit of NMDA-type glutamate receptors, which appear to be pharmacologically similar to those identified at neuronal synapses, responsible for mediating excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. However, the functional role of NMDA receptor signaling in megakaryocytopoiesis remains unclear. Here we provide evidence that demonstrates the fundamental importance of this signaling pathway during human megakaryocyte maturation in vitro. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of RNA extracted from CD34+-derived megakaryocytes identified expression of NR2A and NR2D receptor subunits in these cells, as well as the NMDA receptor accessory proteins, Yotiao and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). In functional studies, addition of a selective NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 inhibited proplatelet formation, without affecting proliferation or apoptosis. Exposure of CD34+ cells to MK-801 cultured for 14 days in the presence of thrombopoietin induced a decrease in expression of the megakaryocyte cell surface markers CD61, CD41a, and CD42a compared with controls. At an ultrastructural level, MK-801-treated cells lacked alpha-granules, demarcated membranes, and multilobed nuclei, which were prominent in untreated mature megakaryocyte controls. Using immunohistochemistry on sections of whole tibiae from c-Mpl knockout mice we demonstrated that megakaryocytic NMDA receptor expression was maintained following c-Mpl ablation. These data support a fundamental role for glutamate signaling in megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production, which is likely to be independent of thrombopoietin-mediated effects.
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PMID:NMDA receptor-mediated regulation of human megakaryocytopoiesis. 1264 30