Transformation of hematopoietic cell lines to growth-factor independence and induction of a fatal myelo- and lymphoproliferative disease in mice by retrovirally transduced TEL/JAK2 fusion genes

Recent reports have demonstrated fusion of the TEL gene on 12p13 to the JAK2 gene on 9p24 in human leukemias. Three variants have been identified that fuse the TEL pointed (PNT) domain to (i) the JAK2 JH1-kinase domain, (ii) part of and (iii) all of the JH2 pseudokinase domain. We report that all of the human TEL/JAK2 variants, and a human/mouse chimeric hTEL/mJAK2(JH1) fusion gene, transform the interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent murine hematopoietic cell line Ba/F3 to IL-3-independent growth. Transformation requires both the TEL PNT domain and JAK2 kinase activity. Furthermore, all TEL/JAK2 variants strongly activated STAT 5 by phosphotyrosine Western blots and by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Mice (n = 40) transplanted with bone marrow infected with the MSCV retrovirus containing either the hTEL/mJAK2(JH1) fusion or its human counterpart developed a fatal mixed myeloproliferative and T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with a latency of 2-10 weeks. In contrast, mice transplanted with a TEL/JAK2 mutant lacking the TEL PNT domain (n = 10) or a kinase-inactive TEL/JAK2(JH1) mutant (n = 10) did not develop the disease. We conclude that all human TEL/JAK2 fusion variants are oncoproteins in vitro that strongly activate STAT 5, and cause lethal myelo- and lymphoproliferative syndromes in murine bone marrow transplant models of leukemia.     

Identification of residues in the cysteine-rich domain of Raf-1 that control Ras binding and Raf-1 activity

We have identified mutations in Raf-1 that increase binding to Ras. The mutations were identified making use of three mutant forms of Ras that have reduced Raf-1 binding (Winkler, D. G., Johnson, J. C., Cooper, J. A., and Vojtek, A. B. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24402-24409). One mutation in Raf-1, N64L, suppresses the Ras mutant R41Q but not other Ras mutants, suggesting that this mutation structurally complements the Ras R41Q mutation. Missense substitutions of residues 143 and 144 in the Raf-1 cysteine-rich domain were isolated multiple times. These Raf-1 mutants, R143Q, R143W, and K144E, were general suppressors of three different Ras mutants and had increased interaction with non-mutant Ras. Each was slightly activated relative to wild-type Raf-1 in a transformation assay. In addition, two mutants, R143W and K144E, were active when tested for induction of germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocytes. Interestingly, all three cysteine-rich domain mutations reduced the ability of the Raf-1 N-terminal regulatory region to inhibit Xenopus oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown induced by the C-terminal catalytic region of Raf-1. We propose that a direct or indirect regulatory interaction between the N- and C-terminal regions of Raf-1 is reduced by the R143W, R143Q, and K144E mutations, thereby increasing access to the Ras-binding regions of Raf-1 and increasing Raf-1 activity.     

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in hypothyroidism before and after exercise

Eleven men and 50 women with severe hypothyroidism were studied. All patients had a serum PBI less than 3.0 mug/100 ml, 131I 24 hours uptake less than 13% and a a photomotogram contraction and half relaxation time of 380 msec or more. Before exercise the mean +/- SE heart rate was 68.39 +/- 3.26/min, the PR interval 17.08 +/- 0.37 csec, the QRS voltage (sum of the QRS amplitude in leads I, II and III) 16.44 +/- 0.89 mm (10mm = 1.0 mV) and the T wave amplitude 0.06 +/- 0.15 mm. A significant correlation (p less than 0.05) existed between the PBI values and the QRS voltage. Following exercise there was a significant acceleration of the heart rate (+ 23.39/min, p less than 0.001), shortening of the PR interval (-0.66 csec, p less than 0.02) and T wave elevation (+ 0.40 mm, p less than 0.001). ST segment changes were not observed in any case. Replacement treatment in 7 cases resulted in a significant change in the resting heart rate (+ 11.86/min. p less than 0.025), PR interval (-3.28 mm, p less than 0.025) and T wave height (+ 2.50 mm, p less than 0.01). These findings suggest that exercise may be used in the differentiation between hypothyroidism and coronary heart disease. The theoretical importance of these findings is also discussed. An increase in cardiac energy demands during exercise may be the cause for some of the ECG changes observed on exertion.     

Effects of cognitively induced anxiety on hand temperature

This study explored the relationship of cognitively induced anxiety and hand temperature reduction in a nonclinical sample. Forty college students were randomly assigned to either the Anxiety Group or the Pleasant Group. Following a baseline period, individuals in the Anxiety Group discussed with the experimenter topics which were anxiety-producing for them. Individuals in the Pleasant Group discussed topics of a pleasant nature. During these discussions, hand temperatures were recorded from the palmar surface of the third finger on the dominant hand. Data analysis indicated that hand temperature decreases were significant only in subjects discussing anxiety-producing topics.     

Respiratory effects of extradural analgesia after lower abdominal surgery

Blood-gas tensions, FRC and volume of trapped gas (VTG) in the lung were measured in patients on the day before lower abdominal gynaecological surgery, and twice on the day following surgery, before and after establishing lumbar extradural block (EDB) using 0.5% bupivacaine to provide analgesia after operation. FRC and VTG were measured with the closed-circuit helium-dilution technique. Mean VTG was 175 ml before operation and 275 ml after operation. PaO2 decreased significantly after operation, and the changes in FRC and VTG that occurred were related qualitatively. EDB did not significantly alter FRC, VTG or PaO2. Individual changes in FRC could not be related to changes in VTG or PaO2. Although EDB provided effective analgesia, the variables measured did not indicate that EDB conferred an immediate respiratory advantage.     

Tricyclic antidepressants. Prolonged plasma levels after overdose

Twenty-four patients hospitalized for overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant were monitored clinically, and serial plasma-drug measurements were taken for up to 144 hours. Six of 24 patients had maximum antidepressant plasma levels greater than or equal to 1,000 ng/ml, and their plasma levels at 96 hours ranged from 170 to 1,280 ng/ml. Patients ingesting substantial tricyclic overdoses may remain medically unstable for days. When high tricyclic levels persist, accurate psychiatric assessment is often impossible.