Abstract
Chromosomal instability or chromosomal breakage are terms employed for a situation characterized by an increased number of disrupted and rearranged chromosomes. This acquired chromosome damage is variable from one cell to the other and can be due to the influences of various physical, chemical and biological factors. Previous work of our laboratory has shown that increased chromosome breakage is observed in lymphocyte cultures from patients with so-called autoimmune diseases (1,2). The high risk of cancer and leukemia in patients with the hereditary diseases Fanconi’s anemia. Bloom’s syndrome and ataxia telangiectasia, suggests the role of chromosomal instability as the origin of cancer, since these disorders are characterized by an increase in chromosome breakage and rearrangement (3). New Zealand black [NZB] mice are also characterized by a high incidence of lymphoreticular malignancies and autoimmune reactions with chromosomal instability (4). Selective matings of NZB mice, according to chromosome breakage frequencies, leads to two NZB substrains, a high and a low breakage strain (5). Both are significantly different for the incidence of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and malignant lymphomas.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call