@phdthesis{Baeuerlein2012,
  author    = {B{\"a}uerlein, Carina},
  title     = {Identification of new predictive markers for an early diagnosis of an imminent acute Graft-versus-Host Disease},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78489},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) is an immune syndrome associated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) that is mediated by alloreactive donor T cells attacking the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and skin of the host. Early diagnosis remains problematic and to date mainly relies on clinical symptoms and histopathology. Previously, different groups demonstrated that in order to cause aGvHD, alloreactive T cells require the expression of appropriate homing receptors to efficiently migrate from their priming sites to their target tissues. Therefore, the development of a predictive test based on the homing receptor expression profile of peripheral blood T cells seems attractive to identify patients at risk before the onset of aGvHD. The aim of this study was to analyze migrating alloreactive donor T cell kinetics in the peripheral blood early after allo-HCT in a murine model across minor histocompatibility antigens (miHAg) followed by a precise characterization of the homing receptor expression profile of migrating donor lymphocytes in order to identify suitable predictive markers. Combining daily bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and flow cytometry (FC) allowed defining two weeks of massive alloreactive donor T cell migration before clinical aGvHD symptoms became apparent. Peripheral blood donor T lymphocytes highly up-regulated the homing markers α4β7 integrin, and P- and E-selectin-ligand at peak time points of cell migration. The combination with the activation markers CD25 and CD69 and low expression levels of L-selectin allowed alloreactive donor T cell definition. Based on this migration phase we postulated a potential diagnostic window to precisely identify alloreactive donor T cells upon their homing receptor expression profile. Consequently, targeted pre-emptive treatment with rapamycin starting at the earliest detection time point of alloreactive donor T cells in the peripheral blood (day+6) significantly prolonged survival of treated mice. Based on this data, we propose a potential diagnostic window for alloreactive cell detection based on their homing receptor expression profile for a timely and effective therapeutic intervention before the clinical manifestation of aGvHD.},
  subject      = {Transplantat-Wirt-Reaktion},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kober2012,
  author    = {Kober, Franz-Xaver Wilhelm},
  title     = {Molecular insights into the protein disulfide isomerase family},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-72144},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Upon synthesis, nascent polypeptide chains are subject to major rearrangements of their side chains to obtain an energetically more favorable conformation in a process called folding. About one third of all cellular proteins pass through the secretory pathway and undergo oxidative folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). During oxidative folding, the conformational rearrangements are accompanied by the formation of disulfide bonds - covalent bonds between cysteine side chains that form upon oxidation. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) assists in the folding of substrates by catalyzing the oxidation of pairs of cysteine residues and the isomerization of disulfide bonds as well as by acting as chaperones. In addition to PDI itself, a family of related ER-resident proteins has formed. All PDI family members share the thioredoxin fold in at least one of their domains and exhibit a subset of the PDI activities. Despite many studies, the role of most PDI family members remains unclear. The project presented in this thesis was aimed to establish tools for the biochemical characterization of single members of the PDI family and their role in the folding process. A combination of fluorescence based assays was developed to selectively study single functions of PDI family members and relate their properties of either catalysis of oxidation or catalysis of isomerization or chaperone activity to the rest of the protein family. A binding assay using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was established to complement the activity assays. Using ITC we could show for the first time that members of the PDI family can distinguish between folded and unfolded proteins selectively binding the latter. The unique information provided by this method also revealed a two-site binding of unfolded proteins by PDI itself. In addition to the functional characterization, experiments were conducted to further investigate the oligomeric state of PDI. We could show that the equilibrium between structurally different states of PDI is heavily influenced by the redox state of the protein and its environment. This new data could help to further our understanding of the interplay between oxidases like PDI and their regenerative enzymes like Ero1, which may be governed by structural changes in response to the change in redox status. Another structural approach was the screening of all investigated PDI family members for suitable crystallization conditions. As a result of this screening we could obtain protein crystals of human ERp27 and were able to solve the structure of this protein with X-ray crystallography. The structure gives insight into the mechanisms of substrate binding domains within the PDI family and helps to understand the interaction of ERp27 with the redox active ERp57. In collaboration with the group of Heike Hermanns we could further show the physiological importance of this interaction under oxidative stress. In conclusion, the project presented in this thesis provides novel tools for an extensive analysis of the activities of single PDI family members as well as a useful set of methods to characterize novel oxidoreductases and chaperones. The initial results obtained with the our novel methods are very promising. At the same time, the structural approach of this project could successfully solve the structure of a PDI family member and give information about the interplay within the PDI family.},
  subject      = {Biochemie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Thakur2012,
  author    = {Thakur, Chitra},
  title     = {Lineage tracing of metastasis in a mouse model for Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-85420},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the deadliest form of lung cancer and has a poor prognosis due to its high rate of metastasis. Notably, metastasis is one of the leading causes of death among cancer patients. Despite the clinical importance, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the initiation, establishment and progression of metastasis remain unclear. Moreover, knowledge gained on metastatic process was largely based on cultured or in vitro manipulated cells that were reintroduced into immune-compromised recipient mice. In the present study, a spontaneous metastasis mouse model for NSCLC was generated with a heritable fluorescent tag (DsRed) driven by CAG (combination of cytomegalovirus early enhancing element and chicken beta actin) promoter in alveolar type II cells (SpC-rtTA/TetO-Cre/LSL-DsRed). This approach is essential, keeping in mind the reprogramming nature of Myc oncogene (Rapp et al, 2009). Such genetic lineage tracing approach not only allowed us to monitor molecular and cellular changes during development of primary tumor but also led us to identify the different stages of secondary tumor development in distant organs. Upon combined expression of oncogenic C Raf-BXB and c-Myc (MYC-BXB-DsRed) in lung alveolar type II epithelial cells, macroscopic lung tumors arose comprising of both cuboidal and columnal cellular features. C Raf-BXB induced tumors (CRAF-DsRed) exhibit cuboidal morphology and is non-metastatic whereas Myc-BXB induced lung tumors (Myc-BXB-DsRed) present cuboidal-columnar cellular features and is able to undergo metastasis mainly in liver. Surprisingly, cystic lesions which were negative for SpC (Surfactant protein C) and CCSP (Clara cell secretory protein), strongly expressed DsRed proteins indicating its origin from lung alveolar type II cells. Moreover, early lung progenitor markers such as GATA4 (GATA-binding protein 4) and TTF1 (Thyroid Transcription Factor 1) were still expressed in these early cystic lesions suggesting metastasis as a faulty recapitulation of ontogeny (Rapp et al, 2008). Interestingly, mixed cystic lesions and metastatic tumors contained DsRed and SpC positive cells. These results demonstrate secondary tumor progression from cystic, mixed cystic to malignant transformation. Our results shed tremendous light on reprogramming of metastasizing cells during secondary tumor development. Moreover, such fluorescent tagged metastatic mice model can also be used to track the migration ability of metastatic cancer cell to different organs and its potential to differentiate into other cell types such as blood vessel or stromal cell within the primary tumor.},
  subject      = {Lungenkrebs},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Nono2012,
  author    = {Nono, Justin},
  title     = {Immunomodulation through Excretory/Secretory Products of the parasitic Helminth Echinococcus multilocularis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-85449},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Die Alveol{\"a}re Echinokokkose (AE) ist eine lebensbedrohliche Zoonose, die durch das Metazestoden-Larvenstadium des Fuchsbandwurms Echinococcus multilocularis ausgel{\"o}st wird. Nach Eintritt des Parasiten in den Zwischenwirt wird zun{\"a}chst eine potentiell anti-parasitische, Th1-dominierte Immunantwort ausgel{\"o}st, welche anschließend in der chronischen Phase graduell durch eine permissive, Th2-dominierte Antwort ersetzt wird. Als Ergebnis einer zugrunde liegenden Immunmodulation durch den Parasiten k{\"o}nnen Echinococcus-Larven f{\"u}r Jahre bis Jahrzehnte im Wirt persistieren und verhalten sich {\"a}hnlich einem perfekt transplantierten Organ. {\"U}ber die molekulare Basis der Immunmodulation durch den Parasiten ist derzeit wenig bekannt. In dieser Arbeit wurden geeignete Kultursysteme f{\"u}r verschiedene E. multilocularis Larvenstadien verwendet, um den Einfluss exkretorisch/sekretorischer Metaboliten (E/S-Produkte) auf Wirts-Immuneffektor-Zellen zu studieren. E/S-Produkte kultivierter Larven, die die fr{\"u}he (Prim{\"a}rzellen) und chronische (Metazestode) Phase der Infektion repr{\"a}sentieren induzierten Apoptose und tolerogene Eigenschaften in Dendritischen Zellen (DC) des Wirts, w{\"a}hrend solche von Kontroll-Larven (Protoskolizes) keine derartigen Effekte zeigten. Dies zeigt, dass die fr{\"u}hen infekti{\"o}sen Stadien von E. multilocularis in DC ein tolerierendes Milieu erzeugen, welches sehr wahrscheinlich die initiale Etablierung des Parasiten in einer Phase beg{\"u}nstigt, in der er h{\"o}chst sensitiv gegen{\"u}ber Wirtsangriffen ist. Interessanterweise f{\"o}rderten E/S-Produkte des Metazestoden in vitro die Konversion von CD4+ T-Zellen in Foxp3+, regulatorische T-Zellen (Treg) w{\"a}hrend E/S-Produkte von Prim{\"a}rzellen oder Protoskolizes dies nicht vermochten. Da Foxp3+ Tregs generell als immunosuppressorisch bekannt sind, deuten diese Daten an, dass der Metazestode aktiv eine Induktion von Tregs herbeif{\"u}hrt, um eine permissive Immunsuppression w{\"a}hrend einer Infektion zu erreichen. Eine substantielle Zunahme von Anzahl und Frequenz Foxp3+ Tregs konnte zudem in Peritoneal-Exsudaten von M{\"a}uuen nach intraperitonealer Injektion von Parasitengewebe gemessen werden, was anzeigt, dass eine Expansion von Foxp3+ Tregs auch w{\"a}hrend der in vivo Infektion von Bedeutung ist. Interessanterweise konnte in dieser Arbeit ein Activin-Orthologes des Parasiten, EmACT, identifiziert werden, weleches vom Metazestoden sekretiert wird und {\"a}hnlich wie humanes Activin in der Lage ist, eine TGF-β-abh{\"a}ngige Expansion von Tregs in vitro zu induzieren. Dies zeigt an, dass E. multilocularis evolutionsgeschichtlich konservierte Zytokine nutzt, um aktiv die Wirts-Immunantwort zu beeinflussen. Zusammenfassend deuten die gewonnenen Daten auf eine wichtige Rolle Foxp3+ Tregs, welche u.a. durch EmACT induziert werden, im immunologischen geschehen der AE hin. Ein weiterer Parasiten-Faktor, EmTIP, mit signifikanten Homologien zum T-cell Immunomodulatory Protein (TIP) des Menschen wurde in dieser Arbeit n{\"a}her charakterisiert. EmTIP konnte in der E/S-Fraktion von Prim{\"a}rzellen nachgewiesen werden und induzierte die Freisetzung von IFN-γ in CD4+ T-Helferzellen. Durch Zugabe von anti-EmTIP-Antik{\"o}rpern konnte zudem die Entwicklung des Parasiten zum Metazestoden in vitro gehemmt werden. EmTIP d{\"u}rfte daher einerseits bei der fr{\"u}hen Parasiten-Entwicklung im Zwischenwirt eine Rolle spielen und k{\"o}nnte im Zuge dessen auch die Auspr{\"a}gung der fr{\"u}hen, Th-1-dominierten Immunantwort w{\"a}hrend der AE beg{\"u}nstigen. Zusammenfassend wurden in dieser Arbeit zwei E. multilocularis E/S-Faktoren identifiziert, EmACT und EmTIP, die ein hohes immunmodulatorisches Potential besitzen. Die hier vorgestellten Daten liefern neue, fundamentale Einsichten in die molekularen Mechanismen der Parasiten-induzierten Immunmodulation bei der AE und sind hoch relevant f{\"u}r die Entwicklung anti-parasitischer Immuntherapien.},
  subject      = {Immunmodulation},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hirschbeck2012,
  author    = {Hirschbeck, Maria Wenefriede},
  title     = {Structure-based drug design on the enoyl-ACP reductases of Yersinia pestis and Burkholderia pseudomallei},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-70869},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Spreading drug resistances among Gram-negative pathogens and the paucity of new agents on the antibacterial drug market against these tenacious bacteria create a pressing need for the development of new antibiotics. The bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis pathway FAS-II, especially the enoyl-ACP reductase catalyzing the last step of the elongation cycle, is an established drug target against tuberculosis but has not been extensively exploited for drug design against other bacterial pathogens. In this thesis the enoyl-ACP reductases of the Gram-negative biothreat organisms Burkholderia pseudomallei and Yersinia pestis were targeted in a structure-based drug design approach. The structure of the most recently identified enoyl-ACP isoenzyme FabV was characterized by X-ray crystallography and could be determined in three different states. FabV from B. pseudomallei was obtained in the apo-form of the enzyme, whereas FabV from Y. pestis was characterized in a binary complex with the cofactor NADH as well as in a ternary complex with NADH and the triclosan-based 2-pyridone inhibitors PT172 and PT173. Analysis of the FabV structure revealed the typical fold of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily with the NADH-binding Rossmann fold and a substrate-binding pocket with a conserved active site geometry compared to the related isoenzyme FabI. Additional structural elements of FabV are located around the active site. The monomeric form of the enzyme is thereby stabilized and the substrate-binding loop is kept in a closed, helical conformation. The ternary complexes of FabV exhibited a similar inhibitor-binding mode as observed for triclosan inhibition in FabI and point to a potential substrate-binding mechanism. B. pseudomallei possesses FabI as an additional enoyl-ACP reductase isoenzyme, which was structurally characterized in the apo form and in ternary complexes with NAD+ and the diphenyl ether inhibitors triclosan, PT02, PT12 or PT404 as well as the 4-pyridone inhibitor PT155. The structural data of the ternary enoyl-ACP reductases complexes of B. pseudomallei and Y. pestis hold the promise for the possibility to develop antibacterials targeting FabV or even both isoenzymes, FabI and FabV, based on the triclosan scaffold.},
  subject      = {Yersinia},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Nowotny2012,
  author    = {Nowotny, Boris},
  title     = {Etablierung von zellul{\"a}ren Testsystemen f{\"u}r die Identifizierung von neuartigen Inhibitoren des HIV-1 Vif-induzierten APOBEC3G-Abbaus},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-70477},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Als einer der ersten gegen HIV gerichteten Restriktionsfaktoren konnte die Cytidindeaminase APOBEC3G isoliert werden. Dieses zellul{\"a}re Enzym hemmt {\"a}ußerst effizient die Replikation von HIV. Weiterf{\"u}hrende Untersuchungen konnten demonstrieren, dass die Hemmung der Virusreplikation haupts{\"a}chlich auf einer Deaminase-katalysierten G zu A-Hypermutation des viralen Genoms w{\"a}hrend der Reversen Transkription beruht. Als Gegenstrategie zur antiretroviralen Wirkung von A3G kodiert HIV-1 das Protein Vif (virion infectivity factor), welches durch eine direkte Wechselwirkung den Ubiquitin-abh{\"a}ngigen proteasomalen Abbau von A3G bewirkt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird der Inhibition des Vif induzierten A3G- Abbaus großes Potential als neuartiges Wirkstoffziel bei der Behandlung von HIV Infektionen vorhergesagt. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit bestand deshalb in der Etablierung von zellul{\"a}ren Screening-Assays f{\"u}r die Identifizierung von Inhibitoren des Vif induzierten A3G-Abbaus. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit konnten insgesamt vier fluoreszenzbasierte zellul{\"a}re Assays erfolgreich entwickelt und als Screeningsysteme f{\"u}r die Wirkstoffsuche etabliert werden. Drei dieser Assays basieren auf stabilen Zelllinien, von denen eine Vif und ein mit EYFP markiertes A3G ko-exprimiert. Dieser sogenannte A3G-Abbauassay stellt den prim{\"a}ren Assay f{\"u}r die Identifizierung von Inhibitoren des Vif induzierten A3G-Abbaus dar und wird durch zwei weitere Zelllinien-basierte Assays erg{\"a}nzt. Diese sekund{\"a}re Assays erlauben die Detektion von Substanzen, die falsch-positive oder falsch-negative Signale im A3G-Abbauassays generieren. Zusammengenommen erm{\"o}glichen die drei Assays die pr{\"a}zise Identifizierung von Inhibitoren, die spezifisch auf den A3G-Abbau wirken und stellen damit eine wesentliche Verbesserung bereits existierender Screeningsysteme dar. Weiterhin wurde ein auf dem Prinzip der bimolekularen Fluoreszenzkomplementation (BiFC) basierendes Testsystem entwickelt. Besagtes System misst die direkte Interaktion zwischen Vif und ElonginC in lebenden Zellen und repr{\"a}sentiert damit ein weiteres Testsystem f{\"u}r die Identifizierung von Inhibitoren der Vif induzierten A3G-Degradation. Den zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit umfasste die Analyse von Derivaten des Vif Antagonisten RN-18 und neu entwickelten niedermolekularen Inhibitoren der Vif-ElonginC- Interaktion. Als ein wichtiges Ergebnis der Derivat-Analyse ergab sich, dass RN-18 zytotoxisch wirkt und im hier etablierten A3G-Abbauassay ein falsch-positives Signal generiert. Unter den analysierten Vif-ElonginC-Interaktionsinhibitoren fand sich eine Verbindung, die in einem initialen Screening, unter Verwendung des A3G-Abbauassays, eine deutliche Inhibition der Vif induzierten A3G-Degradation bewirkte. Zusammenfassend konnten im Rahmen dieses Promotionsprojektes erfolgreich mehrere Screeningsysteme f{\"u}r die Identifizierung von spezifischen Inhibitoren des A3G-Abbaus etabliert werden. Diese Systeme werden zuk{\"u}nftig dazu beitragen, dass Auffinden von neuartigen Therapeutika f{\"u}r die Behandlung von HIV-Infektionen zu beschleunigen.},
  subject      = {Inhibitor},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Doehler2012,
  author    = {D{\"o}hler, Anja},
  title     = {Regulation der Toleranzinduktion von steady-state migratorischen Dendritischen Zellen durch den Transkriptionsfaktor RelB},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-72343},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Toleranz gegen{\"u}ber Selbstantigenen in den peripheren Geweben kann durch CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatorische T-Zellen (Tregs) vermittelt werden. Diese Zellen entstehen entweder in Folge der thymischen T-Zellselektion (nat{\"u}rlich vorkommende Tregs, nTreg) oder durch Konversion aus naiven T-Zellen in den peripheren lymphatischen Organen (induzierte Tregs, iTregs). Im Vorfeld der Arbeit war bereits bekannt, dass Dendritische Zellen (DZ) eine wichtige Rolle bei der Generierung von iTreg spielen. Allerdings bestand weitestgehend Unklarheit dar{\"u}ber, welche DZ in welchem Reifungszustand dazu in der Lage sind, iTregs gegen peripher-exprimierte Selbstantigene zu induzieren. Steady-state migratorische DZ (ssmDZ) gelten in dieser Hinsicht als potentielle Kandidaten, da bekannt ist, dass diese DZ bereits unter hom{\"o}ostatischen Bedingungen Selbstantigene aus peripheren Geweben in die drainierenden Lymphknoten transportieren und dort T-Zellen pr{\"a}sentieren k{\"o}nnen. Ein Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war daher, den Ph{\"a}notyp und die tolerogene Kapazit{\"a}t der ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten n{\"a}her zu untersuchen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass ssmDZ einen semireifen MHC IIint CD40hi CD80/CD86int CCR7+ Ph{\"a}notyp aufweisen und in vitro mit Hilfe von endogenem TGF-β iTregs induzieren k{\"o}nnen. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus belegt diese Arbeit zusammen mit weiteren Daten aus unserer Arbeitsgruppe, dass ssmDZ in transgenen K5mOVA-M{\"a}usen zellassoziertes epidermales OVA aus der Haut in die drainierenden Lymphknoten transportieren und dort an CD4+ OVA-spezifische TZR-transgene OT-II T-Zellen pr{\"a}sentieren k{\"o}nnen. Innerhalb der ssmDZ konnten die Langerin+ dermalen DZ als die DZ-Subpopulation eingegrenzt werden, die f{\"u}r die Konversion von naiven OT-II T-Zellen in CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ iTregs verantwortlich war. Ferner zeigte sich, dass CD103 nicht als Marker f{\"u}r ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten herangezogen werden kann. Ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit war, herauszufinden, welchen Einfluss der Transkriptionsfaktor RelB auf die partielle Reifung und Migration der ssmDZ hat. RelB ist ein Mitglied der NF-κB-Familie und wird mit der Reifung von DZ in Verbindung gebracht. Erste Experimente zeigten eine nukle{\"a}re Translokation von RelB in ssmDZ sowie eine verringerte Frequenz dieser DZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten von relB+/- M{\"a}usen und M{\"a}usen mit einer Defizienz f{\"u}r den RelB-Bindungspartner p52. Allerdings konnte bei M{\"a}usen mit einer DZ-spezifischen RelB-Inaktivierung (RelBDCko M{\"a}use) eine erh{\"o}hte Frequenz an ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten festgestellt, die nicht auf einer Zunahme an DZ in der Haut der Tiere zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren war. Diese Ergebnisse legen einerseits die Vermutung nahe, dass es sich bei den beobachteten Effekte in den relB+/- M{\"a}usen um DZ-extrinsische Auswirkungen auf die ssmDZ handelt. Andererseits scheint RelB unter hom{\"o}ostatischen Bedingungen die Erhaltung und Migration der ssmDZ eher negativ zu beeinflussen. Weitere durchflusszytometrische Analysen wiesen zudem darauf hin, dass RelB in ssmDZ die Expression von Reifungsmarkern nur partiell reguliert. So konnte auf den ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten von RelBDCko M{\"a}usen eine erh{\"o}hte Expression von CD40 beobachtet werden, w{\"a}hrend andere Reifungsmarker wie MHC II, CD80 und CD86 nicht signifikant in ihrer Expression betroffen waren. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde zudem untersucht, wie sich eine RelB-Defizienz in DZ auf die Hom{\"o}ostase und Induktion von Tregs auswirkt. Die hierzu analysierten RelBDCko M{\"a}use wiesen eine erh{\"o}hte Frequenz und absolute Zellzahl an Tregs in allen untersuchten lymphatischen Organen (hautdrainierende Lymphknoten, Milz und Thymus) auf. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus war in diesen Organen auch eine verst{\"a}rkte Proliferation der Tregs gegen{\"u}ber den Kontrolltieren festzustellen. Weitere Untersuchungen zeigten, dass die Proliferation der Tregs in RelBDCko M{\"a}usen in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten sogar st{\"a}rker ausfiel als in der Milz. RelB scheint somit die tolerogene Kapazit{\"a}t der DZ zur Regulation der Treg-Expansion im Thymus und in der Peripherie zu beeinflussen. Unter Verwendung von neutralisierenden αIL-2-Antik{\"o}rpern konnte zudem belegt werden, dass die periphere Proliferation der Tregs in den RelBDCko M{\"a}usen von IL-2 abh{\"a}ngig ist. Damit einhergehend zeigten erste Vorversuche eine erh{\"o}hte IL-2-Produktion in den peripheren lymphatischen Organen von RelBDCko M{\"a}usen. Zusammenfassend legen die Daten dieser Arbeit den Schluss nahe, dass ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten in der Lage sind, Toleranz durch Induktion von iTregs gegen epidermale Selbstantigene zu induzieren. Untersuchungen an neuartigen M{\"a}usen mit einer konditionalen RelB-Inaktivierung spezifisch in DZ deuten darauf hin, dass die Migration und Reifung von ssmDZ partiell durch RelB reguliert wird. Da Tregs eine Schl{\"u}sselrolle bei der Erhaltung der peripheren Toleranz einnehmen, ist die Beobachtung, dass eine RelB-Defizienz in allen DZ zu einer verst{\"a}rkten Treg-Proliferation und somit zu einer ver{\"a}nderten Treg-Hom{\"o}ostase f{\"u}hrt, ein intererssanter Ausgangspunkt f{\"u}r weitere Untersuchungen.},
  subject      = {Dendritische Zelle},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Foerster2012,
  author    = {F{\"o}rster, Sabine},
  title     = {Nuclear Hormone Receptors and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in Echinococcus multilocularis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-85832},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Parasitic helminths share a large degree of common genetic heritage with their various hosts. This includes cell-cell-communication mechanisms mediated by small peptide cytokines and lipophilic/steroid hormones. These cytokines are candidate molecules for host-parasite cross-communication in helminth diseases. In this work the function of two evolutionary conserved signaling pathways in the model cestode Echinococcus multilocularis has been studied. First, signaling mechanisms mediated through fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and their cognate receptors (FGFR) which influence a multitude of biological functions, like homeostasis and differentiation, were studied. I herein investigated the role of EmFR which is the only FGFR homolog in E. multilocularis. Functional analyses using the Xenopus oocyte expression system clearly indicate that EmFR can sense both acidic and basic FGF of human origin, resulting in an activation of the EmFR tyrosine kinase domain. In vitro experiments demonstrate that mammalian FGF significantly stimulates proliferation and development of E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles and primary cells. Furthermore, DNA synthesis and the parasite's Erk-like MAPK cascade module was stimulated in the presence of exogenously added mammalian FGF. By using the FGFR inhibitor BIBF1120 the activity of EmFR in the Xenopus oocyte system was effectively blocked. Addition of BIBF1120 to in vitro cultivated Echinococcus larval material led to detrimental effects concerning the generation of metacestode vesicles from parasite stem cells, the proliferation and survival of metacestode vesicles, and the dedifferentiation of protoscoleces towards the metacestode. In conclusion, these data demonstrate the presence of a functional EmFR-mediated signaling pathway in E. multilocularis that is able to interact with host-derived cytokines and that plays an important role in larval parasite development. Secondly, the role of nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) signaling was addressed. Lipophilic and steroid hormone signaling contributes to the regulation of metazoan development. By means of in silico analyses I demonstrate that E. multilocularis expresses a set of 17 NHRs that broadly overlaps with that of the related flatworms Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum, but also contains several NHR encoding genes that are unique to this parasite. One of these, EmNHR1, is homolog to the DAF-12/HR-96 subfamily of NHRs which regulate cholesterol homeostasis in metazoans. Modified yeast-two hybrid analyses revealed that host serum contains a ligand which induces homodimerization of the EmNHR1 ligand-binding domain. Also, a HNF4-like homolog, EmHNF4, was characterized. Human HNF4 plays an important role in liver development. RT-PCR experiments showed that both isoforms of the EmHNF4 encoding gene are expressed stage-dependently suggesting distinct functions of the two isoforms in the parasite. Moreover, specific regulatory mechanisms on the convergence of NHR signaling and TGF-β/BMP signaling pathways in E. multilocularis have been identified. On the one hand, EmNHR1 directly interacted with the EmSmadC and on the other hand EmHNF4b interacted with EmSmadD, EmSmadE which are all downstream signaling components of the TGF-β/BMP signaling pathway. This suggests cross-communication in order to regulate target gene expression. With these results, further studies on the role of NHR signaling in the cestode will be facilitated. Also, the first serum-free in vitro cultivation system for E. multilocularis was established using PanserinTM401 as medium. Serum-free co-cultivation with RH-feeder cells and an axenic cultivation method have been established. With the help of this serum-free cultivation system investigations on the role of specific peptide hormones, like FGFs, or lipophilic/steroid hormones, like cholesterol, for the development of helminths will be much easier.},
  subject      = {Signaltransduktion},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Gupta2012,
  author    = {Gupta, Shuchi},
  title     = {The role of the Canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) channel and the C terminal LIM domain protein of 36 kDa (CLP36) for platelet function},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-72262},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Platelet activation and aggregation are essential to limit posttraumatic blood loss at sites of vascular injury, but also contribute to arterial thrombosis, leading to myocardial infarction and stroke. Thrombus formation is the result of well-defined molecular events, including agonist-induced elevation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and series of cytoskeletal rearrangements. With the help of genetically modified mice, the work presented in this thesis identified novel mechanisms underlying the process of platelet activation in hemostasis and thrombosis. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) through Orai1 was previously shown to be the main Ca2+ influx pathway in murine platelets. The residual Ca2+ entry in the Orai1 deficient platelets suggested a role for additional non-store-operated Ca2+ (non-SOC) and receptor operated Ca2+ entry (ROCE) in maintaining platelet calcium homeostasis. Canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6), which is expressed in both human and murine platelets, has been attributed to be involved in SOCE as well as in diacylglycerol (DAG)-triggered ROCE. In the first part of the study, the function of TRPC6 in platelet Ca2+ signaling and activation was analyzed by using the TRPC6 knockout mice. In vitro agonist induced Ca2+ responses and in vivo platelet function were unaltered in Trpc6-/- mice. However, Trpc6-/- mice displayed a completely abolished DAG mediated Ca2+-influx but a normal SOCE. These findings identified TRPC6 as the major DAG operated ROC channel in murine platelets, but DAG mediated ROCE has no major functional relevance for hemostasis and thrombosis. In the second part of the thesis, the involvement of the PDLIM family member CLP36 in the signaling pathway of the major platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI was investigated. The GPVI/FcR-chain complex initiates platelet activation through a series of tyrosine phosphorylation events downstream of the FcR-chain-associated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). GPVI signaling has to be tightly regulated to prevent uncontrolled intravascular platelet activation, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study reports the adaptor protein CLP36 as a major inhibitor of GPVI-ITAM signaling in platelets. Platelets from mice expressing a truncated form of CLP36, (Clp36ΔLIM) and platelets from mice lacking the entire protein (Clp36-/-) displayed profound hyper-activation in response to GPVI-specific agonists, whereas GPCR signaling pathways remained unaffected. These alterations translated into accelerated thrombus formation and enhanced pro-coagulant activity of Clp36ΔLIM platelets and a pro-thrombotic phenotype in vivo. These studies revealed an unexpected inhibitory function of CLP36 in GPVI-ITAM signaling and established it as a key regulator of arterial thrombosis.},
  subject      = {Thrombozytenaggregation},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{EmamiNemini2012,
  author    = {Emami-Nemini, Alexander Darius},
  title     = {Differential parathyroid hormone receptor signaling directed by adaptor proteins},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-72369},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {The superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) regulates numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. Hence GPCRs are of significant interest for pharmacological therapy. Embedded into cytoplasmic membranes, GPCRs represent the core of large signaling complexes, which are critical for transduction of exogenous stimuli towards activation of downstream signaling pathways. As a member of the GPCR family B, the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR) activates adenylyl cyclases, phospholipases C β as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling pathways, thereby mediating endocrine and paracrine effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), respectively. This regulates, calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism and bone development. Paradoxically, PTH is able to induce both catabolic and anabolic bone metabolism. The anabolic effect of PTH is successfully applied in the therapy of severe osteoporosis. Domination of anabolic or catabolic bone-metabolism is entailed by temporal and cell-type specific determinants. The molecular bases are presumably differential arrangements of adaptor proteins within large signaling complexes that may lead to differential activation of signaling pathways, thereby regulating physiological effects. The molecular mechanisms are largely unclear; thus, there is significant interest in revealing a better understanding of PTHR-related adaptor proteins. To identify novel adaptor proteins which direct PTHR signaling pathways, a proteomic screening approach was developed. In this screening, vav2, a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for small GTPases which regulates cytoskeleton reorganization, was found to interact with intracellular domains of PTHR. Evidence is provided that vav2 impairs PTH-mediated phospholipase C β (PLCβ) signaling pathways by competitive interactions with G protein αq subunits. Vice versa, PTH was shown to regulate phosphorylation and subsequent GEF activity of vav2. These findings may thus shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of PTH on bone metabolism by PLC-signaling, cell migration and cytoskeleton organization. In addition to the understanding of intracellular molecular signaling processes, screening for ligands is a fundamental and demanding prerequisite for modern drug development. To this end, ligand binding assays represent a fundamental technique. As a substitution for expensive and potentially harmful radioligand binding, fluorescence-based ligand-binding assays for PTHR were developed in this work. Based on time-resolved fluorescence, several assay variants were established to facilitate drug development for the PTHR.},
  subject      = {G-Protein gekoppelte Rezeptoren},
  language  = {en}
}