@article{WilliamsChagtaiAlcaideGermanetal.2015, author = {Williams, Richard D. and Chagtai, Tasnim and Alcaide-German, Marisa and Apps, John and Wegert, Jenny and Popov, Sergey and Vujanic, Gordan and Van Tinteren, Harm and Van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Marry M and Kool, Marcel and De Kraker, Jan and Gisselsson, David and Graf, Norbert and Gessler, Manfred and Pritchard-Jones, Kathy}, title = {Multiple mechanisms of MYCN dysregulation in Wilms tumour}, series = {Oncotarget}, volume = {6}, journal = {Oncotarget}, number = {9}, doi = {10.18632/oncotarget.3377}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143471}, pages = {7232-7243}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Genomic gain of the proto-oncogene transcription factor gene MYCN is associated with poor prognosis in several childhood cancers. Here we present a comprehensive copy number analysis of MYCN in Wilms tumour (WT), demonstrating that gain of this gene is associated with anaplasia and with poorer relapse-free and overall survival, independent of histology. Using whole exome and gene-specific sequencing, together with methylation and expression profiling, we show that MYCN is targeted by other mechanisms, including a recurrent somatic mutation, P44L, and specific DNA hypomethylation events associated with MYCN overexpression in tumours with high risk histologies. We describe parallel evolution of genomic copy number gain and point mutation of MYCN in the contralateral tumours of a remarkable bilateral case in which independent contralateral mutations of TP53 also evolve over time. We report a second bilateral case in which MYCN gain is a germline aberration. Our results suggest a significant role for MYCN dysregulation in the molecular biology of Wilms tumour. We conclude that MYCN gain is prognostically significant, and suggest that the novel P44L somatic variant is likely to be an activating mutation.}, language = {en} } @article{WeibelBasseLuesebrinkHessetal.2013, author = {Weibel, Stephanie and Basse-Luesebrink, Thomas Christian and Hess, Michael and Hofmann, Elisabeth and Seubert, Carolin and Langbein-Laugwitz, Johanna and Gentschev, Ivaylo and Sturm, Volker J{\"o}rg Friedrich and Ye, Yuxiang and Kampf, Thomas and Jakob, Peter Michael and Szalay, Aladar A.}, title = {Imaging of Intratumoral Inflammation during Oncolytic Virotherapy of Tumors by \(^{19}\)F-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0056317}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130311}, pages = {e56317}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Oncolytic virotherapy of tumors is an up-coming, promising therapeutic modality of cancer therapy. Unfortunately, non-invasive techniques to evaluate the inflammatory host response to treatment are rare. Here, we evaluate \(^{19}\)F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which enables the non-invasive visualization of inflammatory processes in pathological conditions by the use of perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions (PFC) for monitoring of oncolytic virotherapy. Methodology/Principal Findings The Vaccinia virus strain GLV-1h68 was used as an oncolytic agent for the treatment of different tumor models. Systemic application of PFC emulsions followed by \(^1H\)/\(^{19}\)F MRI of mock-infected and GLV-1h68-infected tumor-bearing mice revealed a significant accumulation of the \(^{19}\)F signal in the tumor rim of virus-treated mice. Histological examination of tumors confirmed a similar spatial distribution of the \(^{19}\)F signal hot spots and \(CD68^+\)-macrophages. Thereby, the \(CD68^+\)-macrophages encapsulate the GFP-positive viral infection foci. In multiple tumor models, we specifically visualized early inflammatory cell recruitment in Vaccinia virus colonized tumors. Furthermore, we documented that the \(^{19}\)F signal correlated with the extent of viral spreading within tumors. Conclusions/Significance These results suggest \(^{19}\)F MRI as a non-invasive methodology to document the tumor-associated host immune response as well as the extent of intratumoral viral replication. Thus, \(^{19}\)F MRI represents a new platform to non-invasively investigate the role of the host immune response for therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy and individual patient response.}, language = {en} } @article{LittsAchHammacketal.2016, author = {Litts, Katie M. and Ach, Thomas and Hammack, Kristen M. and Sloan, Kenneth R. and Zhang, Yuhua and Freund, K. Bailey and Curcio, Christine A.}, title = {Quantitative Analysis of Outer Retinal Tubulation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Histology}, series = {Investigative Ophthalmology \& Visual Science}, volume = {57}, journal = {Investigative Ophthalmology \& Visual Science}, doi = {10.1167/iovs.16-19262}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165532}, pages = {2647-2656}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Purpose: To assess outer retinal tubulation (ORT) morphology from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes and donor eye histology, analyze ORT reflectivity, and estimate the number of cones surviving in ORT. Methods: In SD-OCT volumes from nine patients with advanced AMD, ORT was analyzed en face and in B-scans. The hyperreflective ORT border in cross-section was delineated and surface area calculated. Reflectivity was compared between ORT types (Closed, Open, Forming, and Branching). A flatmount retina from a donor with neovascular AMD was labeled to visualize the external limiting membrane that delimits ORT and allow measurements of cross-sectional cone area, center-to-center cone spacing, and cone density. The number of cones surviving in ORT was estimated. Results: By en face SD-OCT, ORT varies in complexity and shape. Outer retinal tubulation networks almost always contain Closed cross-sections. Spectral-domain OCT volumes containing almost exclusively Closed ORTs showed no significant direction-dependent differences in hyperreflective ORT border intensity. The surface areas of partial ORT assessed by SD-OCT volumes ranged from 0.16 to 1.76 mm2. From the flatmount retina, the average cross-sectional area of cone inner segments was 49.1 ± 7.9 μm2. The average cone spacing was 7.5 ± 0.6 μm. Outer retinal tubulation cone density was 20,351 cones/mm2. The estimated number of cones in ORT in a macula ranged from 26,399 to 186,833 cones, which is 6\% to 44\% of the cones present in a healthy macula. Conclusions: These first estimates for cone density and number of cones surviving in ORT suggest that ORT formation considerably distorts the photoreceptor mosaic. Results provide additional insight into the reflectivity characteristics and number of ORT cones observable in living patients by SD-OCT, as cones persist and disease progresses.}, language = {en} } @article{KraftSchuhmannGarzetal.2017, author = {Kraft, Peter and Schuhmann, Michael K. and Garz, Cornelia and Jandke, Solveig and Urlaub, Daniela and Mencl, Stine and Zernecke, Alma and Heinze, Hans-Jochen and Carare, Roxana O. and Kleinschnitz, Christoph and Schreiber, Stefanie}, title = {Hypercholesterolemia induced cerebral small vessel disease}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {12}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0182822}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170493}, pages = {e0182822}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background While hypercholesterolemia plays a causative role for the development of ischemic stroke in large vessels, its significance for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains unclear. We thus aimed to understand the detailed relationship between hypercholesterolemia and CSVD using the well described Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mouse model. Methods We used Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice (n = 16) and wild-type (WT) mice (n = 15) at the age of 6 and 12 months. Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice develop high plasma cholesterol levels following a high fat diet. We analyzed cerebral capillaries and arterioles for intravascular erythrocyte accumulations, thrombotic vessel occlusions, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and microbleeds. Results We found a significant increase in the number of erythrocyte stases in 6 months old Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice compared to all other groups (P < 0.05). Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) animals aged 12 months showed the highest number of thrombotic occlusions while in WT animals hardly any occlusions could be observed (P < 0.001). Compared to WT mice, Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice did not display significant gray matter BBB breakdown. Microhemorrhages were observed in one Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mouse that was 6 months old. Results did not differ when considering subcortical and cortical regions. Conclusions In Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice, hypercholesterolemia is related to a thrombotic CSVD phenotype, which is different from hypertension-related CSVD that associates with a hemorrhagic CSVD phenotype. Our data demonstrate a relationship between hypercholesterolemia and the development of CSVD. Ldlr\(^{-/-}\) mice appear to be an adequate animal model for research into CSVD.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Huber2020, author = {Huber, Philipp}, title = {Megakaryocyte localization in the bone marrow depending on the knock-out of small Rho GTPases}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20051}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200513}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This work focuses on megakaryocyte physiology with a special interest in the description of the localization of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow in mice single-deficient of the small Rho GTPase RhoA or double-deficient for RhoA and Cdc42. RhoA knock-out mice revealed intraluminal presence of megakaryocytes in bone marrow sinusoids. In a next step, potential aggravation, attenuation or preservation of this phenotype was studied in related mouse strains and also in the setting of platelet depletion and blockage of important megakaryocyte and platelet glycoprotein receptors in order to understand underlying singling pathways. A second part of this thesis studied the role of RhoF in filopodia formation and scrutinized RhoF deficient mice with regard to platelet activation and degranulation.}, subject = {Histologie}, language = {en} } @article{HesselbachSeegerSchilcheretal.2020, author = {Hesselbach, Hannah and Seeger, Johannes and Schilcher, Felix and Ankenbrand, Markus and Scheiner, Ricarda}, title = {Chronic exposure to the pesticide flupyradifurone can lead to premature onset of foraging in honeybees Apis mellifera}, series = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, volume = {57}, journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2664.13555}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-212769}, pages = {609-618}, year = {2020}, abstract = {1.Honeybees Apis mellifera and other pollinating insects suffer from pesticides in agricultural landscapes. Flupyradifurone is the active ingredient of a novel pesticide by the name of 'Sivanto', introduced by Bayer AG (Crop Science Division, Monheim am Rhein, Germany). It is recommended against sucking insects and marketed as 'harmless' to honeybees. Flupyradifurone binds to nicotinergic acetylcholine receptors like neonicotinoids, but it has a different mode of action. So far, little is known on how sublethal flupyradifurone doses affect honeybees. 2. We chronically applied a sublethal and field-realistic concentration of flupyradifurone to test for long-term effects on flight behaviour using radio-frequency identification. We examined haematoxylin/eosin-stained brains of flupyradifurone-treated bees to investigate possible changes in brain morphology and brain damage. 3. A field-realistic flupyradifurone dose of approximately 1.0 μg/bee/day significantly increased mortality. Pesticide-treated bees initiated foraging earlier than control bees. No morphological damage in the brain was observed. 4. Synthesis and applications. The early onset of foraging induced by a chronical application of flupyradifurone could be disadvantageous for honeybee colonies, reducing the period of in-hive tasks and life expectancy of individuals. Radio-frequency identification technology is a valuable tool for studying pesticide effects on lifetime foraging behaviour of insects.}, language = {en} } @article{HarterHaukeHeitzetal.2017, author = {Harter, Philipp and Hauke, Jan and Heitz, Florian and Reuss, Alexander and Kommoss, Stefan and Marm{\´e}, Frederik and Heimbach, Andr{\´e} and Prieske, Katharina and Richters, Lisa and Burges, Alexander and Neidhardt, Guido and de Gregorio, Nikolaus and El-Balat, Ahmed and Hilpert, Felix and Meier, Werner and Kimmig, Rainer and Kast, Karin and Sehouli, Jalid and Baumann, Klaus and Jackisch, Christian and Park-Simon, Tjoung-Won and Hanker, Lars and Kr{\"o}ber, Sandra and Pfisterer, Jacobus and Gevensleben, Heidrun and Schnelzer, Andreas and Dietrich, Dimo and Neunh{\"o}ffer, Tanja and Krockenberger, Mathias and Brucker, Sara Y. and N{\"u}rnberg, Peter and Thiele, Holger and Altm{\"u}ller, Janine and Lamla, Josefin and Elser, Gabriele and du Bois, Andreas and Hahnen, Eric and Schmutzler, Rita}, title = {Prevalence of deleterious germline variants in risk genes including \(BRCA1/2\) in consecutive ovarian cancer patients (AGO-TR-1)}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {12}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0186043}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-173553}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background Identification of families at risk for ovarian cancer offers the opportunity to consider prophylactic surgery thus reducing ovarian cancer mortality. So far, identification of potentially affected families in Germany was solely performed via family history and numbers of affected family members with breast or ovarian cancer. However, neither the prevalence of deleterious variants in \(BRCA1/2\) in ovarian cancer in Germany nor the reliability of family history as trigger for genetic counselling has ever been evaluated. Methods Prospective counseling and germline testing of consecutive patients with primary diagnosis or with platinum-sensitive relapse of an invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. Testing included 25 candidate and established risk genes. Among these 25 genes, 16 genes (\(ATM\), \(BRCA1\), \(BRCA2\), \(CDH1\), \(CHEK2\), \(MLH1\), \(MSH2\), \(MSH6\), \(NBN\), \(PMS2\), \(PTEN\), \(PALB2\), \(RAD51C\), \(RAD51D\), \(STK11\), \(TP53\)) were defined as established cancer risk genes. A positive family history was defined as at least one relative with breast cancer or ovarian cancer or breast cancer in personal history. Results In total, we analyzed 523 patients: 281 patients with primary diagnosis of ovarian cancer and 242 patients with relapsed disease. Median age at primary diagnosis was 58 years (range 16-93) and 406 patients (77.6\%) had a high-grade serous ovarian cancer. In total, 27.9\% of the patients showed at least one deleterious variant in all 25 investigated genes and 26.4\% in the defined 16 risk genes. Deleterious variants were most prevalent in the \(BRCA1\) (15.5\%), \(BRCA2\) (5.5\%), \(RAD51C\) (2.5\%) and \(PALB2\) (1.1\%) genes. The prevalence of deleterious variants did not differ significantly between patients at primary diagnosis and relapse. The prevalence of deleterious variants in \(BRCA1/2\) (and in all 16 risk genes) in patients <60 years was 30.2\% (33.2\%) versus 10.6\% (18.9\%) in patients \(\geq\)60 years. Family history was positive in 43\% of all patients. Patients with a positive family history had a prevalence of deleterious variants of 31.6\% (36.0\%) versus 11.4\% (17.6\%) and histologic subtype of high grade serous ovarian cancer versus other showed a prevalence of deleterious variants of 23.2\% (29.1\%) and 10.2\% (14.8\%), respectively. Testing only for \(BRCA1/2\) would miss in our series more than 5\% of the patients with a deleterious variant in established risk genes. Conclusions 26.4\% of all patients harbor at least one deleterious variant in established risk genes. The threshold of 10\% mutation rate which is accepted for reimbursement by health care providers in Germany was observed in all subgroups analyzed and neither age at primary diagnosis nor histo-type or family history sufficiently enough could identify a subgroup not eligible for genetic counselling and testing. Genetic testing should therefore be offered to every patient with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer and limiting testing to \(BRCA1/2\) seems to be not sufficient.}, language = {en} } @article{HaferkampHesbacherWeyandtetal.2014, author = {Haferkamp, Sebastian and Hesbacher, Sonja and Weyandt, Gerhard and Vetter-Kauczok, Claudia S. and Becker, J{\"u}rgen C. and Motschenbacher, Stephanie and Wobser, Marion and Maier, Melissa and Schmid, Corinna P. and Houben, Roland}, title = {p53 regulation by TRP2 is not pervasive in melanoma}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0087440}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-111396}, year = {2014}, abstract = {p53 is a central tumor suppressor protein and its inhibition is believed to be a prerequisite for cancer development. In approximately 50\% of all malignancies this is achieved by inactivating mutations in the p53 gene. However, in several cancer entities, including melanoma, p53 mutations are rare. It has been recently proposed that tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP2), a protein involved in melanin synthesis, may act as suppressor of the p53 pathway in melanoma. To scrutinize this notion we analyzed p53 and TRP2 expression by immunohistochemistry in 172 melanoma tissues and did not find any correlation. Furthermore, we applied three different TRP2 shRNAs to five melanoma cell lines and could not observe a target specific effect of the TRP2 knockdown on either p53 expression nor p53 reporter gene activity. Likewise, ectopic expression of TRP2 in a TRP2 negative melanoma cell line had no impact on p53 expression. In conclusion our data suggest that p53 repression critically controlled by TRP2 is not a general event in melanoma.}, language = {en} }