Topography of genetic loci in tissue samples: towards new diagnostic tool using interphase FISH and high-resolution image analysis techniques

Using single and dual colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) comb ined with image analysis techniques the topographic characteristics of gene s and centromeres in nuclei of human colon tissue cells were investigated. The distributions of distances from the centre-of-nucleus to genes (centrom eres) and from genes to genes (centromeres to centromeres) were studied in normal colon tissue cells found in the neighbourhood of tumour samples, in tumour cell line HT-29 and in promyelocytic HL-60 cell line for comparison. Our results show that the topography of genetic loci determined in 3D-fixe d cell tissue corresponds to that obtained for 2D-fixed cells separated fro m the tissue. The distributions of the centre-of-nucleus to gene (centromer e) distances and gene to gene (centromere to centromere) distances and thei r average values are different for various genetic loci but similar for nor mal colon tissue cells, HT-29 colon tumour cell line and HL-60 promyelocyti c cell line. It suggests that the arrangement of genetic loci in cell nucle us is conserved in different types of human cells. The investigations of tr isomic loci in HT-29 cells revealed that the location of the third genetic element is not different from the location of two homologues in diploid cel ls. We have shown that the topographic parameters used in our experiments f or different genetic elements are not tissue or tumour specific. In order t o validate high-resolution cytometry for oncology, further investigations s hould include more precise parameters reflecting the state of chromatin in the neighbourhood of critical oncogenes or tumour suppresser genes.