[Molecular study of hematological diseases].
With the recent advances in molecular technology, diagnostic procedures of the diseases at a DNA level have been introduced in hematological fields. The diagnostic methods used are Southern blotting to detect gene rearrangements, Northern blotting to find gene expressions, RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) to identify transcribed fusion messages, and PCR-SSCR (single strand conformation polymorphism) to detect mutated genes. Rearrangements within major Bcr (breakpoint cluster region) were observed in almost all cases in chronic myelogenous leukemia, and breakpoint were found within minor Bcr in Philadelphia-positive leukemia. The rearrangements within the second intron of the retinoic acid receptor-alpha and sixth intron (bcr 1), third intron (bcr 3) and sixth exon (bcr 2) of the PML gene were detected in all cases with acute promyelocytic leukemia. In malignant lymphoma, the rearrangements of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes, and new genes such as Bcl-1, Bcl-2, Bcl-5, Tal-1, and Tal-2 were also reported and rearrangements of the Bcl-5 gene were found in this study using Bcl-5 specific probe which we have cloned. Point mutations and deletions of the genes involved in the coagulation and fibrinolysis system have been reported. One base insertion resulting in elongation of carboxy terminal region and one amino acid deletion in alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor gene were found in two cases of its deficiency. Further study revealed that mutated proteins were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum in the cells. With the development of the PCR method, identification of gene mutation is gradually carried out as a routine work.
Hirosawa
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D004247:DNA