The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
The S-type alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency allele differs from the normal M1(Val213) allele by a single amino acid substitution (Glu264----Val). To evaluate the molecular pathophysiology responsible for the reduced serum levels of alpha 1AT associated with the S-type allele, alpha 1AT gene expression was examined in blood monocytes, cells which normally produce alpha 1AT, as well as murine fibroblasts modified by retroviral gene transfer to express the S-type and normal M-type human alpha 1AT genes. Northern analysis and S1 protection analysis demonstrated that monocytes of M and S homozygotes both express 1.8-kilobase alpha 1AT mRNA transcripts in comparable levels and similar in structure. Pulse-chase labeling studies demonstrated that both M and S monocytes synthesized and secreted a 52-kDa protein, but the S monocytes secreted significantly less. The cellular lysates of both M and S monocytes contained a newly synthesized 50-kDa precursor form of alpha 1AT, but the S monocytes contained reduced amounts. Pulse-chase labeling in the presence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of core oligosaccharide addition, demonstrated that S monocytes exhibited a selective inhibition of secretion of 45-kDa nonglycosylated alpha 1AT not observed in M monocytes. Consistent with these observations, murine fibroblasts modified by retroviral gene transfer to contain an integrated human S-type alpha 1AT cDNA demonstrated reduced secretion of alpha 1AT compared with fibroblasts containing an integrated human M-type alpha 1AT cDNA and also reproduced the abnormality of alpha 1AT biosynthesis observed with S-type monocytes. Furthermore, in the presence of leupeptin, an inhibitor of cellular proteinases, the S-type modified fibroblasts demonstrated a selective augmentation of human alpha 1AT secretion not observed for the M-type. Together, these observations are consistent with the concept that the single A----T mutation of the S-type alpha 1AT gene results in reduced cellular secretion of alpha 1AT because the newly synthesized S-type alpha 1AT protein is degraded intracellularly prior to secretion.