PCR assay for screening patients at risk for 22q11.2 deletion.

Deletions of 22q11.2 have been detected in the majority of patients with DiGeorge, velocardiofacial, and conotruncal anomaly face syndromes by either cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or Southern blot hybridization. However, these techniques may not be the most efficient or cost-effective means of screening large numbers of "at-risk" patients.

The 22q11.2 deletion: screening, diagnostic workup, and outcome of results; report on 181 patients.

A submicroscopic deletion of chromosome 22q11.2 has been identified in the majority of patients with the DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, and in some patients with isolated conotruncal cardiac anomalies, Opitz G/BBB syndrome, and Cayler cardiofacial syndrome. We have evaluated 181 patients with this deletion.

Molecular studies of an ependymoma-associated constitutional t(1;22)(p22;q11.2).

We previously described a patient with a de novo constitutional translocation, t(1;22)(p22;q11.2), who developed a malignant ependymoma at age 5, and we proposed that the translocation predisposed the child to the development of the tumor. As a step toward isolation of a putative cancer gene, we have characterized the breakpoints of the (1;22) translocation at the molecular level.

Progress in the autosomal segmental aneusomy syndromes (SASs): single or multi-locus disorders?

Based on cytogenetic observations, several syndromes have been previously identified as microdeletion-based disorders. In this review, recent progress is presented regarding whether one or multiple genes can be implicated in the pathogenesis of these segmentally aneusomic syndromes. The syndromes discussed include Angelman, Alagille, Williams, Langer-Giedeon, Prader-Willi, Smith-Magenis, Miller-Dieker, and DiGeorge/velocardiofacial or the 22q11 deletion syndromes.

A region of mouse chromosome 16 is syntenic to the DiGeorge, velocardiofacial syndrome minimal critical region.

DGS and VCFS, haploinsufficiencies characterized by multiple craniofacial and cardiac abnormalities, are associated with a microdeletion of chromosome 22q11.2. Here we document synteny between a 150-kb region on mouse chromosome 16 and the most commonly deleted portion of 22q11.

Long-range mapping and construction of a YAC contig within the cat eye syndrome critical region.

Cat eye syndrome (CES) is typically associated with a supernumerary bisatellited marker chromosome derived from human chromosome 22pter to 22q11.2. The region of 22q duplicated in the typical CES marker chromosome extends between the centromere and locus D22S36.

Regional localization of over 300 loci on human chromosome 22 using a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel.

A somatic cell hybrid panel, consisting of 25 cell lines, has been developed to localize loci subregionally on chromosome 22. Over 300 markers in the form of STSs or hybridization probes have been assigned to one of 24 unique regions or "bins" using this panel. This ordered collection of markers will aid in the assembly of physical maps and contigs of chromosome 22 and assist in positional cloning of disease loci mapped to chromosome 22.

A transcription map of the DiGeorge and velo-cardio-facial syndrome minimal critical region on 22q11.

The majority of patients with DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) and velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) have a microdeletion of 22q11. Using translocation breakpoints and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH), the minimal DiGeorge critical region (MDGCR) has been narrowed to 250 kb in the vicinity of D22S75 (N25). The construction of a detailed transcription map covering the MDGCR is an essential first step toward the identification of genes important to the etiology of DGS/VCFS, two complex disorders.

Cloning a balanced translocation associated with DiGeorge syndrome and identification of a disrupted candidate gene.

DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), a developmental defect, is characterized by cardiac defects and aplasia or hypoplasia of the thymus and parathyroid glands. DGS has been associated with visible chromosomal abnormalities and microdeletions of 22q11, but only one balanced translocation--ADU/VDU t(2;22)(q14;q11.21).

Cerebellar atrophy in a patient with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Velocardiofacial syndrome and DiGeorge syndrome have not previously been associated with central nervous system degeneration. We report a 34 year old man who presented for neurological evaluation with cerebellar atrophy of unknown aetiology. On historical review, he had neonatal hypocalcaemia, an atrial septal defect, and a corrected cleft palate.

Classical Noonan syndrome is not associated with deletions of 22q11.

Deletions of 22q11 cause DiGeorge sequence (DGS), velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS), conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, and some isolated conotruncal heart anomalies. Demonstration of a 22q11 deletion in a patient with manifestations of DGS and Noonan syndrome (NS) has raised the question of whether NS is another of the chromosome 22 microdeletion syndromes. This prompted us to evaluate a cohort of patients with NS for evidence of 22q11 deletions.

Flow cytometric analysis of primary and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

A retrospective analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from patients with histologically confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was performed using flow cytometry. Ninety-eight sets of specimens from previously untreated patients with an oral cavity or oropharyngeal tumor and a simultaneous cervical metastatic deposit were analyzed. Normal mucosa and cervical lymph nodes were processed identically and run as controls.

Lung abscess in infants and children.

We retrospectively reviewed 18 cases of primary lung abscess and 10 cases of secondary lung abscess in infants and children during a 6-year period. Among 18 patients with primary abscesses, nine were boys and nine girls, from 9 months to 20 years old, but only two of 18 were less than 5 years old. Each had a solitary abscess.

Isolation and regional mapping of 110 chromosome 22 STSs.

As part of a larger effort to create a complete physical map of the human genome, we have developed 110 new STSs specific for human chromosome 22. Clones isolated and sequenced from chromosome 22-enriched libraries provided a source of primers. These STSs were localized to regions of chromosome 22 using a panel of somatic cell hybrids.

Prenatal diagnosis of the derivative chromosome 22 associated with cat eye syndrome by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Cytogenetic studies of cultured amniocytes demonstrated a karyotype of 46,XX/47,XX, +mar. A bisatellited, dicentric, distamycin-DAPI negative, NOR-positive marker was present in 76 per cent of the metaphases examined. Similar markers have been associated with cat eye syndrome (CES).

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome and DiGeorge sequence with meningomyelocele and deletions of the 22q11 region.

Approximately 5% of children with neural tube defects (NTDs) have a congenital heart defect and/or cleft lip and palate. The cause of isolated meningomyelocele, congenital heart defects, or cleft lip and palate has been largely thought to be multifactorial. However, chromosomal, teratogenic, and single gene causes of combinations of NTDs with congenital heart defects and/or cleft lip and palate have been reported.

EWS-erg and EWS-Fli1 fusion transcripts in Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors with variant translocations.

We have determined the frequency of EWS fusion transcripts in a series of primary Ewing's sarcomas and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors and cells lines. Type 1 and 2 EWS-Fli1 fusions were demonstrated in 8 cell lines and 14 patient samples. Five patients with cytogenetically characterized rearrangements of chromosome 22 that did not involve chromosome 11 were included in these studies.

Molecular characterization of the marker chromosome associated with cat eye syndrome.

Cat eye syndrome (CES) is associated with a supernumerary bisatellited marker chromosome which is derived from duplicated regions of 22pter-22q11.2. In this study we have used dosage and RFLP analyses on 10 CES patients with marker chromosomes, by using probes to five loci mapped to 22q11.

Structure, chromosomal localization, and methylation pattern of the human mb-1 gene.

The Ag receptor on B lymphocytes is a multimeric complex that is composed of an Ag-specific component, surface Ig, which is noncovalently associated with at least two other proteins, Ig alpha and Ig beta. These are the glycoprotein products of the B lineage-restricted mb-1 and B29 genes and are crucial for the cell surface expression and function of the Ag receptor on B lymphocytes. To better understand the regulation of mb-1, we have cloned and sequenced a 5.

Assessment of injury in transplanted and nontransplanted lungs after 6 h of cold storage with glutathione.

Single-lung transplantation after 3 h of hypothermic storage produces bilateral lung injury [pulmonary reimplantation response (PRR)]. We hypothesized that glutathione (GSH) hypothermic storage would protect both lungs from PRR for extended preservation times and that differences in injury and protection would be realized between the graft and the nontransplanted lung. Mongrel dogs underwent left single-lung autotransplantation after preservation for 5-6 h in Euro-Collins (EC) solution, EC plus exogenous GSH (EC+GSH), or Viaspan (VIA) at 4 degrees C.

Assignment of sterol carrier protein X/sterol carrier protein 2 to 1p32 and its exclusion as the causative gene for infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

In the positional cloning of a disease gene with an unknown protein defect a spectrum of molecular biological methods is applied after linkage has been established. It is reasonable to analyze in detail any relevant candidate gene mapping to the particular chromosomal region. We report here the refined chromosomal assignment of SCPx/SCP2, a gene coding for the protein that is believed to have an important role in lipid metabolism by transporting many kinds of lipid molecules between organelles.

Abnormalities of chromosome 22 in pediatric meningiomas.

Cytogenetic studies of eight meningiomas in young children or adolescents were performed. Two tumors exhibited normal karyotypes. Two tumors from patients with bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis demonstrated monosomy 22 as the only abnormality.