arXiv subjects

Thomas M Michelitsch

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas M Michelitsch.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Potential of longevity: hidden in structural complexity

In order to understand the phenomenon of longevity in biological world, the relationship between the potential of longevity and the structural complexity of an organism is analyzed. I. The potential of longevity is the maximum lifespan of an organism if it lives in an ideal environment. The longevity of an organism includes two parts: the time for development (development time) and the time for structure-maintenance (maintenance time). II. The development time of an organism depends on its structural complexity. The maintenance time is related to two factors: the degree of damage-exposure and the potential of functionality for structure-maintenance. The potential of functionality is built in structural complexity. Since both of development time and maintenance time are determined by structural complexity, the potential of longevity of an organism is hidden in structural complexity. III. The individuals of different species have different potentials of longevity because they have different structural complexities. An animal has limited longevity because it has limited structural complexity. Limited structural complexity and limited longevity are essential for the survival of a species. IV. Despite having the same potential of longevity, the individuals of a species can have different lifespans. The lifespan of an individual is more related to the degree of damage-exposure, which is determined by the living environment and the living habit of the individual. In conclusion, the potential of longevity of an organism is hidden in structural complexity, but the real lifespan of an organism is more related to the living environment.

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arXiv2018

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia may develop as a result of rapid transformation of a lymphoblast triggered by repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are two major forms of leukemia that arise from lymphoid cells (LCs). ALL occurs mostly in children and CLL occurs mainly in old people. However, the Philadelphia-chromosome-positive ALL (Ph+-ALL) and the Ph-like ALL occur in both children and adults. To understand childhood leukemia/lymphoma, we have recently proposed two hypotheses on the causes and the mechanism of cell transformation of a LC. Hypothesis A is: repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth and bone-repair may be a source of cell injuries of marrow cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), myeloid cells, and LCs. Hypothesis B is: a LC may have three pathways on transformation: a slow, a rapid, and an accelerated. We discuss in the present paper the developing mechanisms of ALL and CLL by these hypotheses. Having a peak incidence in young children, ALL may develop mainly as a result of rapid cell transformation of a lymphoblast (or pro-lymphocyte). Differently, Ph+-ALL and Ph-like ALL may develop as results of transformation of a lymphoblast via accelerated pathway. Occurring mainly in adults, CLL may be a result of transformation of a memory B-cell via slow pathway. By causing cell injuries of HSCs and LCs, repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth and bone-repair may be related to the cell transformation of a LC. In conclusion, ALL may develop as a result of cell transformation of a lymphoblast via rapid or accelerated pathway; and repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth may be a trigger for the cell transformation of a lymphoblast in a child.

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arXiv2018

Pediatric lymphoma may develop by "one-step" cell transformation of a lymphoid cell

Lymphomas are a large group of neoplasms developed from lymphoid cells (LCs) in lymph nodes (LNs) or lymphoid tissues (LTs). Some forms of lymphomas, including Burkitt lymphoma (BL), ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+-ALCL), and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (T-LBL), occur mainly in children and teenagers. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has a peak incidence at age 20s. To understand pediatric lymphoma, we have recently proposed two hypotheses on the causes and the mechanism of cell transformation of a LC. Hypothesis A is: repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth and bone-repair may be a source of cell injuries of marrow cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), myeloid cells, and LCs, and thymic involution may be a source of damage to the developing T-cells in thymus. Hypothesis B is: a LC may have three pathways on transformation: a slow, a rapid, and an accelerated. In this paper, we discuss pediatric lymphomas by this hypothesis. Having a peak incidence at young age, BL, T-LBL, ALK+-ALCL, and HL develop more likely as a result of rapid transformation of a LC. In BL, ALK+-ALCL, and HL, the cell transformations may be triggered by severe viral infections. In T-LBL, the cell transformation may be related to thymic involution. Occurring in both adults and children, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may develop via slow or accelerated pathway. In conclusion, pediatric lymphoma may develop as a result of "one-step" cell transformation of a LC, and severe viral infections may be the main trigger for the rapid transformation of a LC in a LN/LT.

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arXiv2018

Development of pediatric myeloid leukemia may be related to the repeatedbone-remodeling during bone-growth

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are two major formsof leukemia developed from myeloid cells (MCs). To understand why AML and CML occurin children, we analyzed the causes and the mechanism of cell transformation of a MC. I. Forthe MCs in marrow cavity, repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth may be a source ofcell injuries. II. As a type of blood cell, a MC may have higher survivability from DNAchanges and require obtaining fewer cancerous properties for cell transformation than a tissuecell. III. Point DNA mutations (PDMs) and chromosome changes (CCs) are the two majortypes of DNA changes. CCs have three subtypes by effects on a cell: great effect CCs(GECCs), mild-effect CCs (MECCs), and intermediate-effect CCs (IECCs). A GECC affectsone or more genes and can alone trigger cell transformation. PDMs/MECCs are mostly mildand can accumulate in cells. Some of the PDMs/MECCs contribute to cell transformation. AnIECC affects one or more genes and participates in cell transformation. IV. Based on II andIII, we hypothesize that a MC may have two pathways on transformation: a slow and anaccelerated. Slow pathway is driven by accumulation of PDMs/MECCs. Accelerated pathwayis driven by accumulation of PDMs/MECCs/IECC(s). A transformation via slow pathwayoccurs at old age; whereas that via accelerated pathway occurs at any age. Thus, CML andpediatric AML may develop via accelerated pathway, and adult AML may develop via bothpathways. In conclusion, pediatric AML and CML may develop as a result of transformationof a MC via accelerated pathway; and repeated bone-remodeling for bone-growth may be atrigger for the transformation of a MC in a child.

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arXiv2018

Three pathways of cell transformation of lymphoid cell: a slow, a rapid, and an accelerated

Lymphoid leukemia (LL) and lymphoma are neoplasms developed from lymphoid cells (LCs). To understand why different forms of LL/lymphoma occur at different ages, we analyzed the effects of different types of DNA changes on a LC and the cellular characteristics of LCs. Point DNA mutations (PDMs) and chromosome changes (CCs) are the two major types of DNA changes. CCs have three subtypes by their effects on a LC: great-effect CCs (GECCs), mild-effect CCs (MECCs), and intermediate-effect CCs (IECCs). PDMs and MECCs are mostly mild thus can accumulate in cells. Some of the PDMs/MECCs contribute to cell transformation. A GECC affects one or more genes and can alone drive cell transformation. An IECC affects one or more genes and participates in cell transformation. Due to cellular characteristics, a LC may have higher survivability from DNA changes and require obtaining fewer cancerous properties for transformation than a tissue cell. Hence, a LC can be more rapidly transformed by a CC. On this basis, we hypothesize that a LC may have three pathways on transformation: a slow, a rapid, and an accelerated. Slow pathway is driven by accumulation of PDMs/MECCs. Rapid pathway is driven by a GECC in "one step". Accelerated pathway is driven by accumulation of PDMs/MECCs/IECC(s). Cell transformations of a LC via different pathways occur at different ages. A transformation via slow pathway occurs mainly in adults. A transformation via rapid pathway occurs at any age and has no increasing incidence with age. A transformation via accelerated pathway occurs also at any age but has increasing incidence with age. In conclusion, a LC may have three pathways on cell transformation, and the occurring age of LL/lymphoma may be determined by the transforming pathway of a LC.

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arXiv2018

Three potential sources of cell injuries of lymphoid cells associated with developments of lymphoid leukemia and lymphoma

Lymphoid leukemia (LL) and lymphoma are blood cancers developed from lymphoid cells (LCs). To understand the cause and the mechanism of cell transformation of a LC, we studied the potential sources of cell injuries of LCs and analyzed how DNA changes are generated and accumulate in LCs. I. The DNA changes that contribute to cell transformation of a LC can be generated in the LCs in marrow, thymus, lymph nodes (LNs), and/or lymphoid tissues (LTs). In LNs/LTs, pathogen-infections may be the main cause for cell injuries of LCs. In marrow cavity, repeated bone-remodeling during bone-growth and bone-repair, by producing toxic substances, may be a source of damage to hematopoietic cells, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and developing LCs. In thymus, thymic involution and death of stromal cells may be a damaging factor for the developing T-cells. II. Point DNA mutation (PDM) and chromosome change (CC) are the two major types of DNA changes. CCs include numerical CCs (NCCs) and structural CCs (SCCs). Generation of a PDM/SCC may be a result of Misrepair of DNA on DNA breaks. Generation of NCC is rather a consequence of dysfunction of cell division. III. Repeated cell injuries and cell proliferation drive the accumulation of DNA changes in LCs and HSCs. However, long-term accumulation of DNA changes occurs mainly in long-living stem cells including HSCs and memory cells. In conclusion, the DNA changes in LCs are generated and accumulate as a consequence of repeated cell injuries and repeated cell proliferation; and three potential sources of cell injuries of LCs may be: repeated bone-remodeling, long-term thymic involution, and repeated pathogen-infections.

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arXiv2018

Development of age spots as a result of accumulation of aged cells in aged skin

Age spots are the brown spots that develop in the skin but change in color and shape with time. To understand the mechanism of development of age spots, characteristics of age spots are analyzed by Misrepair mechanism, a mechanism introduced in Misrepair-accumulation aging theory. An age spot is pathologically a group of aggregated basal cells, which contain lipofuscin bodies. Accumulation of lipofuscin bodies is a sign of aging of a cell. Characteristics of age spots include: inhomogeneity in distribution, growing flatly before becoming protruding, irregularity on shape, inhomogeneity on the color and on the protruding degree of a spot, and softness of a protruding spot. After analyzing these characteristics, we make a hypothesis on the process of development of an age spot. A. Aging of a tissue is the basis for development of age spots. B. A flat spot results from accumulation of lipofuscin containing cells. When an aged cell remains, this cell can accelerate the aging of its neighbor cells by increasing damage sensitivity and reducing repair efficiency of the local tissue. By a viscous circle, more and more neighbor cells become aged and they form a flat spot, which has an irregular shape. C. A protruding spot develops when some of the cells in a flat spot die and release lipofuscin bodies. For the survival of an organism, the un degradable lipofuscin bodies have to be isolated by a capsule made by fibrotic membrane, for maintaining the structural integrity of local epidermis. Successive deaths of lipofuscin containing cells make the capsule include more and more dead substances by layers of fibrotic membrane. In this way, the spot "grows" in three-dimension, resulting in protruding of the spot. In conclusion, development of an age spot is a result of accumulation of aged cells in aged skin.

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