Inoko, Hidetoshi

Abstract DQw6b transgenic mice have been generated by microinjecting a linearized cosmid clone containing 34-kb DQb genomic DNA, isolated from HLA-homozygous B cell line AKIBA (DR2, Dw12, DQw6), into embryos of (CBA x B10.M)F2 or (SWR x SJL)F2. Among 85 mice screened, eight mice were transgene-positive. The transgene in seven of eight founders was germline-transmitted. FACS analysis and immunohistochemical studies with DQ beta-specific mAb demonstrated that DQ beta molecules in association with mouse A alpha f molecules are expressed on peripheral mononuclear cells, spleen cells, and in thymic medulla. More interestingly, V beta 11-, V beta 5.1-, and V beta 5.2-bearing T cells, but not V beta 8.2-bearing T cells, were clonally deleted in the H-2E-negative but DQ beta+ progeny of two selected founders (260-23 and 258-10). The deletion was found to take place intrathymically during the transition stage from immature to mature thymocyte development. We postulate that although human DQ genes are more homologous to mouse H-2A genes, A alpha f/DQ beta hybrid molecules may possess the same self-peptide- (or superantigen)-presenting epitope as E alpha/E beta molecules critical for deletion of V beta 11-, V beta 5.1-, and V beta 5.2-bearing T cells in thymus. Our results also confirm the previous findings that accessory molecules on thymocytes such as CD4 may be involved in thymic selection, and further suggest that an interaction of mousE CD4 and mouse A alpha chain is required for the clonal deletion.

Abstract Eating disorders and substance use disorders frequently co‐occur. Twin studies reveal shared genetic variance between liabilities to eating disorders and substance use, with the strongest associations between symptoms of bulimia nervosa and problem alcohol use (genetic correlation [ r g ], twin‐based = 0.23‐0.53). We estimated the genetic correlation between eating disorder and substance use and disorder phenotypes using data from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). Four eating disorder phenotypes (anorexia nervosa [AN], AN with binge eating, AN without binge eating, and a bulimia nervosa factor score), and eight substance‐use‐related phenotypes (drinks per week, alcohol use disorder [AUD], smoking initiation, current smoking, cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence, cannabis initiation, and cannabis use disorder) from eight studies were included. Significant genetic correlations were adjusted for variants associated with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Total study sample sizes per phenotype ranged from ~2400 to ~537 000 individuals. We used linkage disequilibrium score regression to calculate single nucleotide polymorphism‐based genetic correlations between eating disorder‐ and substance‐use‐related phenotypes. Significant positive genetic associations emerged between AUD and AN ( r g = 0.18; false discovery rate q = 0.0006), cannabis initiation and AN ( r g = 0.23; q < 0.0001), and cannabis initiation and AN with binge eating ( r g = 0.27; q = 0.0016). Conversely, significant negative genetic correlations were observed between three nondiagnostic smoking phenotypes (smoking initiation, current smoking, and cigarettes per day) and AN without binge eating ( r gs = −0.19 to −0.23; qs < 0.04). The genetic correlation between AUD and AN was no longer significant after co‐varying for major depressive disorder loci. The patterns of association between eating disorder‐ and substance‐use‐related phenotypes highlights the potentially complex and substance‐specific relationships among these behaviors.