@phdthesis{Weber2024,
  author    = {Weber, Justus C.},
  title     = {Development and preclinical assessment of ROR2-specific CAR-T cells for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and multiple myeloma},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-31039},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-310399},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Adoptive immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells is an effective treatment for hematological malignancies that are refractory to conventional chemotherapy. To address a wider variety of cancer entities, there is a need to identify and characterize additional target antigens for CAR-T cell therapy. The two members of the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor family, ROR1 and ROR2, have been found to be overexpressed on cancer cells and to correlate with aggressive cancer phenotypes. Recently, ROR1-specific CAR-T cells have entered testing in phase I clinical trials, encouraging us to assess the suitability of ROR2 as a novel target for CAR-T cell therapy. To study the therapeutic potential of targeting ROR2 in solid and hematological malignancies, we selected two representative cancer entities with high unmet medical need: renal cell carcinoma and multiple myeloma. Our data show that ROR2 is commonly expressed on primary samples and cell lines of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and multiple myeloma. To study the efficacy of ROR2-specific CAR T cell therapy, we designed two CAR constructs with 10-fold binding affinity differences for the same epitope of ROR2. We found both cell products to exhibit antigen-specific anti-tumor reactivity in vitro, including tumor cell lysis, secretion of the effector cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ), and T cell proliferation. In vivo studies revealed ROR2 specific CAR-T cells to confer durable responses, significant survival benefits and long-term persistence of CAR-expressing T cells. Overall, there was a trend towards more potent anti-tumor efficacy upon treatment with T cells that expressed the CAR with higher affinity for ROR2, both in vitro and in vivo. We performed a preclinical safety and toxicology assessment comprising analyses of ROR2 expression in healthy human and murine tissues, cross-reactivity, and adoptive T cell transfer in immunodeficient mice. We found ROR2 expression to be conserved in mice, and low-level expression was detectable in the male and female reproductive system as well as parts of the gastrointestinal tract. CAR-T cells targeting human ROR2 were found to elicit similarly potent reactivity upon recognition of murine ROR2. In vivo analyses showed transient tissue-specific enrichment and activation of ROR2-specific CAR-T cells in organs with high blood circulation, such as lung, liver, or spleen, without evidence for clinical toxicity or tissue damage as determined by histological analyses. Furthermore, we humanized the CAR binding domain of ROR2-specific CAR-T cells to mitigate the risk of adverse immune reactions and concomitant CAR-T cell rejection. Functional analyses confirmed that humanized CARs retained their specificity and functionality against ROR2-positive tumor cells in vitro. In summary, we show that ROR2 is a prevalent target in RCC and MM, which can be addressed effectively with ROR2-specific CAR-T cells in preclinical models. Our preliminary toxicity studies suggest a favorable safety profile for ROR2-specific CAR-T cells. These findings support the potential to develop ROR2-specific CAR-T cells clinically to obtain cell products with broad utility.},
  subject      = {CAR-T-Zell-Therapie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vogg2023,
  author    = {Vogg, Nora Johanna},
  title     = {Mass spectrometry-based quantification of steroids for the diagnostic workup of adrenal tumors},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29343},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293438},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Tumors of the adrenal gland belong to the most frequent neoplasms in humans with a prevalence of 3-10 \% in adults. The aim of the diagnostic workup is the identification of potentially hormone-secreting and / or malignant tumors, because most of these tumors will require surgical resection. Malignant adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are very rare and associated with a poor prognosis in advanced stages, therefore, an early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Within this thesis, two liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for the quantification of steroids in different biomaterials were developed to improve the diagnostic workup of adrenal tumors. First, an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of cortisol and dexamethasone in serum samples after dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was developed, validated, and applied to 400 clinical samples. Newly established method-specific threshold concentrations for cortisol and dexamethasone increased DST specificity from 67.5 \% to 92.4 \% while preserving 100 \% sensitivity. Second, an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of eleven urinary steroids was developed and validated to improve the differentiation between ACC and adrenocortical adenomas (ACA). A decision tree requiring only two steroids was trained for classification and tested based on 24 h urine samples from 268 patients with adrenal tumor. Malignancy was excluded with a negative predictive value of 100 \% in an independent validation cohort of 84 samples of 24-h urine. A newly proposed simplified diagnostic workflow with urinary steroid profiling as first tier test could obviate additional adrenal-specific imaging in 42 of 64 patients with ACA. The new DST method is already in clinical use at the University Hospital W{\"u}rzburg, whereas the classification model based on urinary steroid profiling will require prospective validation in a larger cohort.},
  subject      = {Nebennierentumor},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Chen2022,
  author    = {Chen, Mengjia},
  title     = {Right Ventricular Dysfunction contributes to Left Ventricular Thrombus Formation in Patients post Anterior Myocardial Infarction},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20414},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204149},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Our current data demonstrate that besides the known risk factors, including apical aneurysm, reduced left ventricular longitudinal systolic function (MAPSE) and advanced diastolic dysfunction, Right ventricular dysfunction as determined by reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) or right ventricular fractional area change (RV_FAC) is independently associated with left ventricular thrombus formation in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients, especially in the setting of anterior myocardial infarction without the formation of an apical aneurysm. This study suggests that besides left ventricular abnormalities, right ventricular dysfunction likewise contributes LVT formation in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction.},
  subject      = {Thrombus},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Gaal2022,
  author    = {Gaal, Chiara Claudia},
  title     = {Cardiac Antigens and T cell Specificity after Experimental Myocardial Infarction in Mice},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-26004},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260047},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), subsuming atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and subsequent myocardial infarction, are the leading cause of death in the European Union (over 4 million deaths annually), with devastating individual and economic consequences. Recent studies revealed that T cells play a crucial role in post-MI inflammation, healing and remodelling processes. Nevertheless, the specificity profile of adaptive immune responses in the infarcted myocardium has not yet been differentiated. The experiments portrayed in this thesis sought to assess whether post-MI CD4+ T cell responses in mice are triggered by heart specific antigens, and eventually identify relevant epitopes. We were able to create a murine antigen atlas including a list of 206 epitopes for I-Ab and 193 epitopes for I-Ad presented on MHC-II in the context of MI. We sought to consecutively test this panel by in vitro T cell proliferation and antigen recall assays ex vivo. The elispot assay was used as a readout for antigen-specific stimulation by measurement of IL-2 and IFN-γ production, currently the most sensitive approach available to detect even small counts of antigen producing cells. Splenocytes as well as lymphocytes from mediastinal lymph nodes were purified from animals 7 days or 56 days after EMI conducted by ligation of the left anterior descending artery. We were able to provide evidence that post-MI T cell responses in Balb/c mice are triggered by heart-specific antigens and that MYHCA, especially MYHCA614-628, is relevant for that response. Moreover, a significant specific T cell response after MI in C57BL/6J mice was observed for α actin, cardiac muscle 1 [ACTC1], myosin-binding protein C3 [MYBPC3] and myosin heavy chain α [MYHCA] derived heart specific antigens. Generally, the epitopes of interest for Balb/c as well as C57BL/6J could be further investigated and may eventually be modulated in the future.},
  subject      = {Regulatorische T-Lymphozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sbiera2022,
  author    = {Sbiera, Iuliu},
  title     = {Possible role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and its associated FGF/FGFR pathway in adrenocortical carcinoma},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-27745},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-277454},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Recent studies have hinted to an involvement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a mechanism often associated with metastasis in epithelial cancers, in adrenocortical carcinoma. In addition, the knowledge about the FGF/FGFR pathway in pathogenesis of the adrenal gland, a pathway often associated with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, is sparse and fragmented. We assessed, in a large number of normal, benign and malignant adrenocortical tissues (a total of 181 different samples), the expression of canonical and novel epithelial and mesenchymal markers and compared it with their expression in typical epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. In addition, we also quantified the expression of most members of the FGF/FGFR pathway in adrenocortical tissues and compared it against well-studied epithelial and mesenchymal tissues as well as between malignant and not malignant adrenocortical tissues, in order to assess the possible connection to epithelial to mesenchymal transition and find possible drug targets. Surprisingly, both normal and neoplastic adrenocortical tissues lacked expression of epithelial markers (e.g. E-Cadhering or EpCAM) but strongly expressed mesenchymal markers (e.g. N-Cadherin or SLUG), suggesting a higher similarity of adrenocortical tissues to mesenchymal compared to epithelial tissues, reminiscent of the adrenocortical origin from the intermediate mesoderm. Despite their ubiquitous expression in all adrenocortical tissues, mesenchymal markers had a variable expression in adrenocortical carcinoma, associating either directly or inversely with different clinical markers of tumor aggressiveness. Lymph node infiltration was associated with high expression of SLUG (p = 0.04), and at the same time low expression of N-cadherin (p = 0.001), and the same pattern was observed for venous infiltration of tumoral tissue, Weiss score of tumor malignancy or Ki67 proliferation marker. In malignant compared to benign adrenal tumors, we found significant differences in the expression of 16 out of the 94 studied FGF receptor pathway related genes. Genes involved in tissue differentiation and metastatic spread through epithelial to mesenchymal transition were most strongly altered. The therapeutically targetable FGF receptors 1 and 4 were upregulated 4.6- and 6-fold, respectively, in malignant compared to benign adrenocortical tumors, which was confirmed by using two different quantification methods in both frozen and paraffin embedded tissue material. High expression of FGFR1 and 4 was significantly associated with worse patient prognosis (High FGFR1 expression was associated with a shorter overall patient survival of 84 vs 148 months (HR=1.8, 95\% CI: 1.01-3.25) as well as a shorter resection free survival of 25 vs 75 months ((HR=2.93, 95\% CI: 1.25-6.84), while high FGFR4 was associated with a much shorter overall survival of 50 vs 155 months (HR=2.44, 95\% CI: 1.41-4.22). In conclusion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition does not seem to play a role in adrenocortical carcinoma tumor progression, and the FGF/FGFR pathway, even if it is probably not related to EMT, is nonetheless associated with tumor aggressiveness. Furthermore, quantification of FGF receptors may enable a stratification of adrenocortical carcinoma for the use of FGFR inhibitors in future clinical trials.},
  subject      = {Nebennierenrindenkrebs},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hauser2022,
  author    = {Hauser, Tobias Gregor},
  title     = {Mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonism and its metabolic consequences in haemodialysis patients},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-25938},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-259382},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Patients on haemodialysis are highly susceptible to different forms of heart failure. To date, the benefit of Mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonist (MRA) administration in haemodialysis patients remains subject to discussion. Biomarkers play an important role in therapy guidance and pose a promising tool to detect pathological processes of heart failure in an earlier stage. The randomised-controlled Mineralocorticoid-Receptor Antagonists in End-Stage Renal Disease (MiREnDa) trial was set up to investigate the effect of 50 mg of spironolactone once daily on left ventricular mass index in haemodialysis patients and several secondary endpoints. This dissertation reports findings from the MiREnDa trial on (a) the efficacy of spironolactone to influence serum levels of biomarkers of heart failure, fibrosis and inflammation and electrolytes and (b) the ability of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), Galectin-3 and soluble source of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) to reflect left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction assessed by imaging characteristics. Treatment of spironolactone over a 40-week period did not alter serum levels of biomarkers of heart failure, fibrosis and inflammation including NT-proBNP, Galectin-3 and sST2. A small but significant effect on serum sodium but not potassium was observed. NT-proBNP was significantly different in the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (normal vs. LVH (median [IQR]): 2,120 [810; 5,040] vs. 6,340 [2,410; 15,360] pg/ml, p<0.01) or moderate and severe diastolic dysfunction (DD) (normal diastolic function and DD grade I vs. DD grade II and DD grade III: 2,300 [850; 6,050] vs. 12,260 [3,340; 34,830] pg/ml, p=0.02). NT-proBNP further showed a significant correlation at baseline with LVMi (Spearman's rho=0.41, p<0.001), LAVi (Spearman's rho=0.55, p<0.001) and septal E/e' (Spearman's rho=0.45, p<0.001). No correlation was observed between Galectin-3 and the investigated functional and morphological parameters. sST2 was mildly correlated to LVMi at baseline (Spearman's rho=0.21, p=0.05) and NT-proBNP at baseline (Spearman's rho=0.37, p<0.001). In conclusion, spironolactone did not affect the investigated parameters but NT-proBNP proved to be significantly correlated to cardiac imaging measurements.},
  subject      = {Dialyse},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Weigand2021,
  author    = {Weigand, Isabel},
  title     = {Consequences of Protein Kinase A mutations in adrenocortical cells and tumours},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-16064},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160646},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Adrenal Cushing's Syndrome (CS) is a rare but life-threatening disease and therefore it is of great importance to understand the pathogenesis leading to adrenal CS. It is well accepted that Protein Kinase A (PKA) signalling mediates steroid secretion in adrenocortical cells. PKA is an inactive heterotetramer, consisting of two catalytic and two regulatory subunits. Upon cAMP binding to the regulatory subunits, the catalytic subunits are released and are able to phosphorylate their target proteins. Recently, activating somatic mutations affecting the catalytic subunit a of PKA have been identified in a sub-population of cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) associated with overt CS. Interestingly, the PKA regulatory subunit IIb has long been known to have significantly lower protein levels in a sub-group of CPAs compared to other adrenocortical tumours. Yet, it is unknown, why these CPAs lack the regulatory subunit IIb, neither are any functional consequences nor are the underlying regulation mechanisms leading to reduced RIIb levels known. The results obtained in this thesis show a clear connection between Ca mutations and reduced RIIb protein levels in CPAs but not in other adrenocortical tumours. Furthermore, a specific pattern of PKA subunit expression in the different zones of the normal adrenal gland is demonstrated. In addition, a Ca L206R mutation-mediated degradation of RIIb was observed in adrenocortical cells in vitro. RIIb degradation was found to be mediated by caspases and by performing mutagenesis experiments of the regulatory subunits IIb and Ia, S114 phosphorylation of RIIb was identified to make RIIb susceptible for degradation. LC-MS/MS revealed RIIb interaction partners to differ in the presence of either Ca WT and Ca L206R. These newly identified interaction partners are possibly involved in targeting RIIb to subcellular compartments or bringing it into spatial proximity of degrading enzymes. Furthermore, reducing RIIb protein levels in an in vitro system were shown to correlate with increased cortisol secretion also in the absence of PRKACA mutations. The inhibiting role of RIIb in cortisol secretion demonstrates a new function of this regulatory PKA subunit, improving the understanding of the complex regulation of PKA as key regulator in many cells.},
  subject      = {Cushing-Syndrom},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{vandenBerg2020,
  author    = {van den Berg, Anne Maria},
  title     = {Age-related alterations of the immune system aggravate the myocardial aging process},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19362},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193622},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increases dramatically with age. Nevertheless, most of the basic research in cardiology has been conducted on young healthy animals which may not necessarily reflect the situation observed in the clinic. The heart undergoes profound changes in elderly, including molecular alterations, myocardial hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis and functional decline. To date, numerous approaches exist to explain mechanisms of the cardiac aging process whereupon inflammation and immune activity are of increasing interest. Myocardial aging is temporally associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and accumulation of memory T-cells. However, a possible causal relationship between these two phenomena has not yet been investigated. Thus, aim of the present study was to assess how immunological mechanisms contribute to the myocardial aging process. Herein, the healthy murine heart was found to harbor all major resident leukocyte populations, including macrophages (CD45+CD11b+Ly6G-), granulocytes (CD45+ CD11b+Ly6G+), T-cells (CD45+CD11b-CD3e+), B-cells (CD45+CD11b-B220+) at frequencies that largely surpass those found in skeletal muscles. Age-related structural alterations and functional impairment occur simultaneously with significant shifts of the tissue resident leukocyte composition. Gene expression analyses performed on bulk myocardial samples revealed higher expression levels of TNF and INF- suggesting that in situ inflammation plays a role in the myocardial aging process. Aging was furthermore accompanied by a significant increase in size and cellularity of mediastinal, heart draining lymph nodes (med LN). Moreover, the med LNs harvested from aged mice showed a strong accumulation of effector-memory T-cells (CD44+CD62L-), mainly exhibiting a pro-inflammatory phenotype (Foxp3-, TNF+, IFN- γ+). None of these alterations were observed in popliteal lymph nodes of aged mice, indicating that they might be site-specific. Next, to go beyond mere associative evidence and examine underlying mechanisms, the myocardial aging process was comprehensively characterized in mice lacking B- (µMT) or CD4+ T-cells (CD4ko). Our analyses revealed that aged CD4+ T-cell-deficient, but not B-cell-deficient mice, exhibit a lower in situ inflammatory tone and preserved ventricular function, as compared to age-matched wild type controls. No differences in the expression levels of genes related to fibrosis were observed in the groups. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that heart-directed immune responses may spontaneously arise in the elderly, even in the absence of a clear tissue damage or concomitant infection. The T-cell-mediated immunosenescence profile might be particularly associated with age-related myocardial inflammation and functional decline, but not with tissue remodeling. These observations might shed new light on the emerging role of T cells in myocardial diseases, which primarily affect the elderly population.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Blocka2019,
  author    = {Blocka, Joanna},
  title     = {Molecular mechanisms underlying Woodhouse-Sakati syndrome: characterization of DCAF17 with specific, polyclonal antibodies},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-174766},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Woodhouse-Sakati syndrome (WSS) is a rare multisystemic, autosomal recessive disease. The underlying cause of WSS are mutations of C2orf37 gene, which result in a truncated protein. Little is known about the function of C2orf37 (DDB1-CUL4A-associated factor 17, DCAF17) apart from it being part of the DDB1-CUL4-ROC1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, specifically binding directly to DDB1 and serving as a substrate recruiter for E3. There are two major isoforms of DCAF17: beta (65 kDa, 520 amino acids) and alpha (27 kDa, 240 amino acids), which is a C-terminal part of beta. The intracellular localization of the WSS protein is thought to be primarily the nucleolus. A murine ortholog protein was found to be expressed in all tissues with a relatively higher expression in the brain, liver, and skin.The aim of this work was to investigate DCAF17 in HeLa cells in more detail, in particular the redistribution of both WSS isoforms on the subcellular and -nuclear level as well as their chemical features. For these experiments, I developed, through recombinant expression and affinity purification, a specific polyclonal antibody against a WSS-epitope 493-520. Furthermore, three other specific polyclonal antibodies were obtained through affinity purification with help of commercially produced high-affinity epitope peptides.By means of these antibodies, I determined- through immunofluorescence and subcellular protein fractionation- that, apart from the redistribution of the WSS protein within the non-soluble = chromatin-bound nuclear fraction, a significant amount of both WSS isoforms is present in the soluble nuclear fraction. Indeed, treatment of purified nuclear envelopes with an increasing concentration of NaCl as well as urea confirmed a non-covalent binding of the WSS protein to the nuclear envelope with the detachment ofbeta-WSS at a lower NaCl concentration than alpha-WSS. In regard to the chromatin-bound WSS protein, I performed hydrolysis of nuclear and nucleolar extract with DNase and RNase. The results indicate that the WSS protein is bound to DNA but not RNA, with alpha-WSS being possibly located more abundantly in the nucleolus, whereas beta-WSS within other subnuclear departments. Furthermore, in all the above-mentioned experiments, a presence of an 80-kDa protein, which specifically reacted with the polyclonal high-affinity antibodies and showed similar redistribution and chemical features as alpha- and beta-WSS, was observed. In order to investigate whether this protein is a posttranslationally modified WSS isoform, I performed deglycosylation and dephosphorylation of nuclear extract, which showed no disappearance or change in abundance of the 80-kDa band on Western blot. While other ways of poststranslational modification cannot be excluded as the cause of occurrence of the 80-kDa protein, an existence of a third, yet undescribed, major isoform is also conceivable. Summarizing, this work contributed to a deeper characterization of the WSS protein, which can help future investigators in developing new experimental ideas to better understand the pathology of WSS.},
  subject      = {Humangenetik},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hartmann2014,
  author    = {Hartmann, Sonja},
  title     = {Relevance of antibodies targeting the beta1-adrenergic receptor for renal function},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-106285},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Functionally active (conformational) autoantibodies directed against the β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) are supposed to have a pathogenic relevance in human heart failure, particularly in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Prevalence of anti-β1-autoantibodies (anti-β1-aabs) in the healthy population is almost negligible, whereas it amounts to up to 30\% in heart failure patients with idiopathic DCM. As β1-ARs are not restricted to the heart and are also highly expressed in particular segments of the nephron, it is conceivable that such autoantibodies might also affect kidney function to some extent through the activation of renal β1-ARs. In the kidney, β1-ARs are highly abundant in the juxtaglomerular apparatus, the distal convoluted tubules, the collecting duct, and the renal arteries. However, the functional significance of β1-ARs at these particular sites along the nephron is poorly understood, as are the effects of conformational stimulating anti-β1-aabs on renal β1-ARs. From the available literature, it is well known that the β1-adrenergic system is involved in, e.g., the regulation of renin-secretion from juxtaglomerular cells. In addition, the β1-adrenergic system is thought to be involved in the regulation of the urine pH via type B-intercalated cells in the collecting duct. In contrast, the regulation of salt- and fluid-secretion in the medullary collecting duct appears to occur independently from the SNS. As a consequence, the present work aimed to unravel the potential pathophysiological links between renal function, alterations in the cardiovascular system, and circulating agonist-like anti- β1-abs. We analyzed possible renal effects of anti-β1-abs in a human-analogous rat model. After immunization with a GST-fusion protein containing the second extracellular loop (β1-ECII) of the human β1-AR, Lewis-rats develop functionally active, stimulating, conformational anti-β1-ECII-abs. Within the first 6 months, anti-β1-ECII-ab-positive animals develop a hypertensive phenotype, which after 9 months evolves into a DCM phenotype. In n=40 GST/ β1-ECII-immunized Lewis rats and n=40 age-matched, 0.9\% NaCl-injected control animals, we sequentially (i.e. at months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 after start of immunization) analyzed the changes in renal function on a molecular, functional, and structural level. We could show that the presence of stimulating anti-β1-ECII-abs - even though having detrimental effects on the heart - has only a minor impact on kidney function and structure. Within the first 3 months after induction of anti-β1-ECII-abs, the levels and activity of renin were significantly increased in immunized compared to corresponding control animals, which was confirmed by experiments on isolated perfused kidneys, in which anti-β1-ECII-abs were able to directly induce the liberation of renin. However, within several weeks the initial anti-β1-ECII-ab-mediated RAAS activation was counter-regulated by auto-regulatory mechanisms activated in the kidney. Similarly, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF) were initially decreased in the presence of the stimulating anti-β1-ECII-abs, but returned to control values within 3 months after immunization of the animals. Although expression of several pro-fibrotic markers was significantly up-regulated in anti-β1-ECII-ab-positive rats, no significant differences were noted on a histomorphological level with regard to the occurrence of renal fibrosis, glomerular damage, tubular damage, and perivascular fibrosis. Only a mild decrease in glomerular filtration function was observed in the kidneys of anti-β1-ECII-ab-positive animals from immunization-month 12 on, apparent by increased levels of urinary protein. Even though anti-β1-ECII-abs were able to induce mild changes in renal function, their effects were not strong enough to critically damage the kidneys in our rat-model. Differences between immunized anti-β1-ECII-ab-positive and corresponding control rats at later time-points (that is, from immunization-month 12 on) are most likely secondary to the progressive heart failure phenotype that immunized animals develop in the course of the experiment. The present study is the first to focus on the effects of stimulating anti-β1-ECII-abs on the kidney, and on the prevalence of these effects for the heart (referred to as cardio-renal crosstalk). Although our results were obtained in a rat model, they might contribute to better understand the situation in anti-β1-AR-aab-positive human patients. Following the results of our experiments, treatment of such patients should focus on direct and specific neutralization/elimination of stimulating anti-β1-ECII-aab or at least comprise therapeutic strategies that counteract the anti-β1-ECII-aab-effects on the heart by standard treatment for heart failure (i.e. ACE inhibitors, AT1-receptor blockers, and β-blockers) according to current guidelines.},
  subject      = {Nierenfunktion},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Devine2013,
  author    = {Devine, Eric},
  title     = {Increased removal of protein bound uremic toxins through reversible modification of the ionic strength during hemodiafiltration},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-83583},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {A large number of metabolic waste products accumulate in the blood of patients with renal failure. Since these solutes have deleterious effects on the biological functions, they are called uremic toxins and have been classified in three groups: 1) small water soluble solutes (MW < 500 Da), 2) small solutes with known protein binding (MW < 500 Da), and 3) middle molecules (500 Da < MW < 60 kDa). Protein bound uremic toxins are poorly removed by conventional hemodialysis treatments because of their high protein binding and high distribution volume. The prototypical protein bound uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (pCS) are associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality of patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Furthermore, these two compounds are bound to albumin, the main plasma protein, via electrostatic and/or Van-der-Waals forces. The aim of the present thesis was to develop a dialysis strategy, based on the reversible modification of the ionic strength in the blood stream by increasing the sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration, in order to enhance the removal of protein bound substances, such as IS and pCS, with the ultimate goal to improve clinical patient outcomes. Enhancing the NaCl concentration ([NaCl]) in both human normal and uremic plasma was efficient to reduce the protein bound fraction of both IS and pCS by reducing their binding affinity to albumin. Increasing the ionic strength was feasible during modified pre-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) by increasing the [NaCl] in the substitution fluid. The NaCl excess was adequately removed within the hemodialyzer. This method was effective to increase the removal rate of both protein bound uremic toxins. Its ex vivo hemocompatibility, however, was limited by the osmotic shock induced by the high [NaCl] in the substituate. Therefore, modified pre-dilution HDF was further iterated by introducing a second serial cartridge, named the serial dialyzers (SDial) setup. This setting was validated for feasibility, hemocompatibility, and toxin removal efficiency. A better hemocompatibility at similar efficacy was obtained with the SDial setup compared with the modified pre-dilution HDF. Both methods were finally tested in an animal sheep model of dialysis to verify biocompatibility. Low hemolysis and no activation of both the complement and the coagulation systems were observed when increasing the [NaCl] in blood up to 0.45 and 0.60 M with the modified pre-dilution HDF and the SDial setup, respectively. In conclusion, the two dialysis methods developed to transitory enhance the ionic strength in blood demonstrated adequate biocompatibility and improved the removal of protein bound uremic toxins by decreasing their protein bound fraction. The concepts require follow-on clinical trials to assess their in vivo efficacy and their impact on long-term clinical outcomes.},
  subject      = {H{\"a}modiafiltration},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Schlereth2013,
  author    = {Schlereth, Florian},
  title     = {Expression of the DHEA/DHEAS-Shuttle in cell lines and foetal tissue of human liver, adrenal and cartilage},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-102068},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {DHEA is a precursor for the male and female sex hormones testosterone and estradiol, which are mainly secreted from the testes and the ovary, respectively. In addition, epidemiological studies showed that low serum levels of DHEA and DHEAS correlate with the incidence of autoimmune disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In vitro, DHEA and DHEAS influenced glucose metabolism in a favourable manner. However, positive effects of DHEA substitution were only significant adrenal insufficiency in women. Steroid sulphotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1) is the responsible enzyme for sulphonation of DHEA to DHEAS which is thought to be the inactive form of DHEA. In this role, SULT2A1 acts as a central regulator of steroid synthesis because sulphonation of DHEA withdraws the substrate for further downstream conversion. Another essential cofactor for sulphonation is PAPS, which is produced by the enzyme PAPS synthase (PAPSS) from ATP and anorganic sulphate. PAPSS exists in the different isoforms PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 and splice variants PAPSS2a and PAPSS2b. Changes in PAPSS activity are thought to influence sulphonation of DHEA significantly. However, neither regulation of PAPSS nor its influence on SULT2A1 have been investigated in human cell lines or humans. The main goal of this thesis was to analyze the enzyme expression of the DHEA/DHEA shuttle, i.e. mRNA and protein of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2, in various human cell lines. Furthermore, I investigated which cell line could serve as a suitable model for further research regarding regulation of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2. Here, I could show that the enzymes of the DHEA/DHEAS shuttle were expressed in the human adrenal cell line NCI-h295R as both mRNA and protein. In enzyme assays, I was able to prove conversion of DHEA to DHEAS as well as to different other steroids. However, applying Trilostane, a potent inhibitor of CYP3B, effectively directed conversion of DHEA to DHEAS. Using these findings, future experiments can investigate for example the influence of certain cytokines or endocrine disruptors on expression and activity of PAPSS1/2 and on sulphonation of DHEA. In particular, the relatively equal expression of PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 will enable us to do knock down experiments with siRNA to elucidate how the activity of one enzyme changes when the other one fails. Sulphonation of DHEA by SULT2A1 is thought to happen in the cytoplasm or more precisely in the Golgi apparatus. However, experiments in transfected cells have shown both a cytoplasmatic and a nuclear localisation when both enzymes were expressed at the same time. Immunocytochemistry revealed the same results in the adrenal cell line NCI-h295R, where both enzymes were expressed strongly in the nucleus. The physiological role is not clear and requires further research. Presumably, sulphate is activated in the nucleus. However, one could also speculate that a shift of PAPSS to the nucleus could generate a reservoir, which can be activated by re-localisation to the cytoplasm when more PAPS is needed. Expression of SULT2A1 in some foetal tissues has been investigated earlier. Whilst in adult human cartilage PAPSS1 is predominant, in newly born hamsters PAPSS2 is more abundantly expressed. The expression of PAPSS isoforms in highly sulphonating tissue has not been investigated in humans, so far. This work demonstrated a differential expression of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 in adult and foetal liver, adrenal and foetal cartilage tissue. In adult and foetal adrenal expression was similar. However, foetal and adult liver differed in the expression of SULT2A1, which was expressed much more in adult tissue. Most importantly, in foetal cartilage there was only a low expression of SULT2A1 and PAPS seems to mostly provided by PAPSS1, which was considerably higher expressed in cartilage than in other tissues. In contrast, PAPSS2 was mainly expressed in adult and foetal adrenal. Additionally, we reported a case of a female patient who had been investigated for hyperandrogenism. Two mutations in the PAPSS2 gene had led to massively reduced serum levels of DHEAS. One heterozygous mutation in the domain of the APS kinase of the PAPSS2 protein leads to substitution of one amino acid at position 48 (T48R). In vitro experiments showed a residual activity of 6\% for this mutation. A second mutation in the ATP sulphurylase domain of PAPSS2 was found. The introduction of thymidine instead of cytidine leads to a stop codon, which is presumed to truncate the protein at position 329 (R329X). In vitro, no residual activity was seen for this mutation. The lack of PAPS reduces sulphonation of DHEA but also sulphonation of proteoglycanes, which leads to skeletal abnormalities. The abundance of DHEA enables massive downstream conversion to androgens leading to clinical features of hyperandrogenism. Regarding the bone abnormalities, it is interesting and surprising that activity of PAPSS1 compensated to a great extent in cartilage but was not able to keep up a more considerable sulphonation of DHEA. Possibly, the subcellular localisation might play a role in this scenario.},
  subject      = {Dehydroepiandrosteron},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Michalska2013,
  author    = {Michalska, Marta},
  title     = {Molecular Imaging of atherosclerosis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-73243},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Atherosklerose ist eine aktive und progressive Erkrankung, bei der vaskul{\"a}re Adh{\"a}sionsmolek{\"u}le wie VCAM-1 eine entscheidende Rolle durch Steuerung der Rekrutierung von Immunzellen in den fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen Plaques spielen. Ein zielgerichteter Einsatz von VCAM-1-Molek{\"u}len mit spezifischen Kontrastmitteln ist daher eine M{\"o}glichkeit, die VCAM-1-Expression zu kontrollieren, Plaquewachstum ab einem fr{\"u}hen Zeitpunkt zu visualisieren und eine fr{\"u}he Pr{\"a}vention von Atherosklerose vor Beginn der Thrombusbildung zu etablieren. Des Weiteren bietet die nichtinvasive Magnetresonanz (MR)-Bildgebung den Vorteil der Kombination molekularer und morphologischer Daten. Sie erm{\"o}glicht, mithilfe von entwickelten VCAM-1-markierten Eisenoxidpartikeln, den spezifischen Nachweis entz{\"u}ndlicher Prozesse w{\"a}hrend der Atherosklerose. Diese Arbeit belegt, dass mit dem VCAM-1-Konzept eine vielversprechende Herangehensweise gefunden wurde und dass das, mit spezifischen superparamagnetischen Eisenoxid (USPIO) konjugierte VCAM-1-Peptid, gegen{\"u}ber unspezifischer USPIOs ein erh{\"o}htes Potenzial bei der Untersuchung der Atherosklerose in sich tr{\"a}gt. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit konnte im Mausmodell gezeigt werden, dass gerade das VCAM-1-Molek{\"u}l ein sinnvoller Ansatzpunkt zur Darstellung und Bildgebung von Atherosklerose ist, da in der fr{\"u}hen Phase der Entz{\"u}ndung die vaskul{\"a}ren Zelladh{\"a}sionsmolek{\"u}le {\"u}berexprimiert und auch kontinuierlich, w{\"a}hrend der fortschreitenden Plaquebildung, hochreguliert werden. Weiterhin beschreibt diese Arbeit die Funktionst{\"u}chtigkeit und das Verm{\"o}gen des neu gestalteten USPIO Kontrastmittels mit dem zyklischen Peptid, in seiner Spezialisierung auf die VCAM-1 Erkennung. Experimentelle Studien mit ultra-Hochfeld-MRT erm{\"o}glichten weitere ex vivo und in vivo Nachweise der eingesetzten USPIO-VCAM-1-Partikel innerhalb der Region um die Aortenwurzel in fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen atherosklerotischen Plaques von 12 und 30 Wochen alten Apolipoprotein E-defizienten (ApoE-/-) M{\"a}usen. Mit ihrer Kombination aus Histologie und Elektronenmikroskopie zeigt diese Studie zum ersten Mal die Verteilung von VCAM-1-markierten USPIO Partikeln nicht nur in luminalem Bereich der Plaques, sondern auch in tieferen Bereichen der medialen Muskelzellen. Dieser spezifische und sensitive Nachweis der fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen Stadien der Plaquebildung bringt auf molekularer Ebene neue M{\"o}glichkeiten zur Fr{\"u}herkennung von atherosklerotischen Plaques vor dem Entstehen von 8 Rupturen. Im Gegensatz zum USPIO-VCAM-1-Kontrastmittel scheiterten unspezifische USPIO Partikel an der Identifikation fr{\"u}her Plaqueformen und begrenzten die Visualisierung von Atherosklerose auf fortgeschrittene Stadien in ApoE-/- M{\"a}usen.},
  subject      = {VCAM},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Liu2011,
  author    = {Liu, Dan},
  title     = {Regional Myocardial Deformation in Adult Patients with Isolated Left Ventricular Non-compaction Cardiomyopathy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-55838},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Isolated left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a congenital myocardial disease characterized by excessive and prominent trabeculations in the left ventricle with deep intertrabecular recesses. Trabeculation is, however, a non specific finding which is present not only in LVNC but also in other cardiomyopathies like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and even in healthy controls, therefore, differential diagnosis keeps puzzling clinicians. Therefore the present study aimed to comprehensively explore regional myocardial deformation properties in adult patients with isolated LVNC using strain and strain rate imaging derived from tissue Doppler imaging and 2D speckle tracking. It was proposed that the knowledge of deformation properties in LVNC would help to differentiate patients with LVNC and DCM. A total of 14 patients with LVNC, 15 patients with DCM, and 15 healthy controls were included in this study. The groups were matched for age and gender. Standard 2D echocardiography was performed in all subjects, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of all ventricular walls was acquired using parasternal long axis, apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and apical long axis views. Deformation imaging data derived from both TDI and grey scale images were analyzed. Clinical and standard echocardiographic findings in patients with LVNC and DCM were similar. In patients with LVNC, hypertrabeculation was mostly located in the apical and mid segments of the left ventricle and strikingly more than in patients with DCM. The extent of non-compaction was poorly related to global left ventricular systolic function (LVEF) as well as regional myocardial function assessed by strain rate imaging. Regional myocardial systolic deformation in patients with LVNC was significantly impaired in the left and right ventricles in both longitudinal and radial direction. There was a striking difference on longitudinal myocardial systolic function between LVNC and DCM patients, i.e., an increasing strain and strain rate gradient from apex to base in patients with LVNC, whereas patients with DCM displayed a homogeneously decreased strain and strain rate in all segments. Results derived from 2D speckle tracking method were consistent with those from TDI method. Analysis of myocardial mechanical asynchrony revealed a lack of myocardial contraction synchrony in the LVNC and DCM patients. The time to systolic peak velocity was obviously delayed in these two patient groups. However, the mechanical asynchrony features were similar in patients with LVNC and DCM and could not serve for differential diagnosis. In conclusion, LVNC and DCM are both cardiomyopathies presenting reduced regional myocardial function and mechanical asynchrony. Nevertheless differential diagnosis can be made by analysis of hypertrabeculation as well as analysis of regional myocardial deformation pattern.},
  subject      = {Ultraschallkardiographie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Fiedler2010,
  author    = {Fiedler, Jan},
  title     = {Endothelial microRNA-24 contributes to capillary density in the infarcted heart},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-49809},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Cardiovascular disease is the most common mortality risk in the industrialized world. Myocardial infarction (MI) results in the irreversible loss of cardiac muscle, triggering pathophysiological remodelling of the ventricle and development of heart failure. Insufficient myocardial capillary density within the surviving myocardium after MI has been identified as a critical event in this process, although the underlying molecular signalling pathways of cardiac angiogenesis are mechanistically not well understood. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs), small non-coding RNAs with 19-25 nucleotides in length, has introduced a new level of the regulation of cardiac signalling pathways. MiRNAs regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to their complementary target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and represent promising therapeutic targets for gene therapy. Here, it is shown that cardiac miR-24 is primarily expressed in cardiac endothelial cells and upregulated following MI in mice and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Enhanced miR-24 expression induces endothelial cell apoptosis and impairs endothelial capillary network formation. These effects on endothelial cell biology are at least in part mediated through targeting of transcription factor GATA2, histone deacetylase H2A.X, p21-activated kinase PAK4 and Ras p21 protein activator RASA1. Mechanistically, target repression abolishes respective and secondary downstream signalling cascades. Here it is shown that endothelial GATA2 is an important mediator of cell cycle, apoptosis and angiogenesis at least in part by regulation of cytoprotective heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1). Moreover, additional control of endothelial apoptosis is achieved by the direct miR-24 target PAK4. Its kinase function is essential for anti-apoptotic Bad phosphorylation in endothelial cells. In a mouse model of MI, blocking of endothelial miR-24 by systemic administration of a specific antagonist (antagomir) enhances capillary density in the infarcted heart and preserves cardiac function. The current findings indicate miR-24 to act as a critical regulator of endothelial cell apoptosis and angiogenesis. Modulation of miR-24 may be potentially a suitable strategy for therapeutic intervention in the setting of ischemic heart diseases.},
  subject      = {Herzinfarkt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Burkard2010,
  author    = {Burkard, Natalie},
  title     = {Signal{\"u}bertragungswege und Pr{\"a}ventionsm{\"o}glichkeiten der kardialen Hypertrophie : conditional overexpression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase is cardioprotective in ischemia-reperfusion},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-51832},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Zusammenfassung: Wie fr{\"u}her schon gezeigt, wird der L-Typ Ca2+-Kanal durch eine induzierbare, myokardspezifische {\"U}berexpression der neuronalen Stickstoffmonoxidsynthase (nNOS) inhibiert. Gleichzeitig bewirkt diese {\"U}berexpression eine verminderte kardiale Kontraktilit{\"a}t1 (Burkard N. et al. (2007). Circ Res 100, 32-44). nNOS interagiert mit vielen verschiedenen Kompartimenten und Kan{\"a}len innerhalb der Zelle. In dieser Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass eine nNOS {\"U}berexpression nach Isch{\"a}mie-Reperfusion kardioprotektiv wirkt. Dieses wird durch eine Inhibition der Mitochondrienfunktion und durch eine Verminderung der reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies (ROS) erm{\"o}glicht. In einer fr{\"u}heren Arbeit wurde der Effekt der induzierbaren und myokardspezifischen {\"U}berexpression von nNOS unter physiologischen Bedingungen am transgenen Tiermodell untersucht. Diese Arbeit besch{\"a}ftigt sich nun mit der {\"U}berexpression von nNOS unter pathophysiologischen (Isch{\"a}mie-Reperfusion) Bedingungen. Ein Isch{\"a}mie-Reperfusions-Schaden bewirkt bei Wildtyp-M{\"a}usen, sowie bei transgener nNOS {\"U}berexpression eine Anreicherung von nNOS in den Mitochondrien. Elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahmen von Mausmyokard haben gezeigt, dass bei {\"U}berexpression nNOS zus{\"a}tzlich in den Mitochondrien lokalisiert ist. Diese Translokation von nNOS in die Mitochondrien ist abh{\"a}ngig von HSP90. Isch{\"a}mie- Reperfusionsexperimente an isolierten M{\"a}useherzen zeigten einen kardioprotektiven Effekt der nNOS {\"U}berexpression (30min post ischemia, LVDP 27.0±2.5mmHg vs. 45.2±1.9mmHg, n=12, p<0.05). Dieser positive Effekt konnte bei der Bestimmung der Infarktgr{\"o}ße best{\"a}tigt werden. nNOS {\"u}berexprimierende M{\"a}use hatten eine kleinere Infarktgr{\"o}ße nach Isch{\"a}mie-Reperfusion (36.6±8.4 relative \% vs. 61.1±2.9 relative \%, n=8, p<0.05). Die {\"U}berexpression von nNOS bewirkte ebenfalls einen signifikanten Anstieg des mitochondrialen Nitrit-Levels, begleitet von einer Verminderung der Cytochrom C Oxidase Aktivit{\"a}t (72.0±8.9units/ml in nNOS overexpressing mice vs. 113.2±17.1units/ml in non-induced mice, n=12, p<0.01), was zu einer Hemmung der Mitochondrienfunktion f{\"u}hrt. Dementsprechend war der Sauerstoffverbrauch (gemessen an isolierten Herzmuskelstreifen) schon unter basalen Bedingungen beinNOS {\"U}berexpression vermindert (0.016±0.0015 vs. 0.024±0.006ml[O2] x mm-3 x min-1, n=13, p<0.05). Außerdem war die ROS Konzentration in Herzen von nNOS {\"u}berexprimierenden M{\"a}usen signifikant vermindert (6.14±0.685 vs. 14.53±1.7μM, n=8, p<0.01). Die Zugabe von verschiedenen Inhibitoren, Western Blot- und Aktivit{\"a}tsuntersuchungen zeigten schließlich, dass diese niedrigere ROS Konzentration durch eine verminderte Xanthin Oxidoreduktase Aktivit{\"a}t hervorgerufen wurde. Zusammenfassend hat diese Arbeit gezeigt, dass eine induzierbare und myokardspezifische {\"U}berexpression von nNOS unter pathophysiologischen Bedingungen (Isch{\"a}mie-Reperfusion) kardioprotektiv wirkt. Zus{\"a}tzlich zu der Verminderung des myokardialen Ca2+-{\"U}berschusses nach Reperfusion k{\"o}nnte dieser protektive Effekt durch eine Hemmung der Mitochondrienfunktion bedingt sein, schließlich wird der Sauerstoffverbrauch schon unter basalen Bedingungen reduziert},
  subject      = {Herzhypertrophie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kehlenbrink2010,
  author    = {Kehlenbrink, Sylvia},
  title     = {Inhibiting Gluconeogenesis (GNG) Prevents the Effects of Free Fatty Acids (FFA) on Hepatic Glucose Effectiveness (GE)},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-48389},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Free fatty acids (FFA) modulate the effectiveness of glucose to suppress endogenous glucose production (EGP), and increased FFA levels contribute importantly to the loss of glucose effectiveness in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Elevating FFA levels in nondiabetic (ND) subjects for at least 6h both increases gluconeogenesis (GNG) and impairs glucose effectiveness. Therefore, we wished to define the extent to which an increase in GNG is responsible for the loss of glucose effectiveness and whether EGP can be inhibited in the presence of elevated plasma FFA by inhibiting GNG with ethanol. To determine the effect of inhibiting GNG on glucose effectiveness, EGP ([3-3H]-glucose) was measured during three separate 7h normoglycemic/hyperglycemic pancreatic clamp studies (somatostatin; basal glucagon/GH/insulin replacement) in n=7 ND subjects (1F/6M; age=45±5 yr; BMI=27.6±3.0 kg/m2). Following an initial 210 min interval of euglycemia (5 mmol/l), blood glucose levels were raised to hyperglycemic levels (10 mmol/l) from t=210-420 min. The first pancreatic clamp study was a baseline study with saline infusions (Lip-/Et-). Lipid emulsion (Liposyn 20\%) was infused throughout the second and third study types (Lip+ and Lip+/Et+) to increase FFA to T2DM levels (~ 500 mmol/l). In addition to Liposyn, ethanol (Et) was infused during hyperglycemia in the third study type (Lip+/Et+), using a pharmacokinetic algorithm to attain GNG-inhibiting ethanol levels of 80 mg/dl within 20 min. Under baseline conditions, hyperglycemia suppressed EGP by 61\%. After raising plasma FFA to T2DM levels, suppression of EGP by hyperglycemia was impaired in Lip+ (34\% decrease). During the Lip+/Et+ co-infusion studies the infusion of ethanol enhanced suppression of EGP by hyperglycemia (65.8\% decrease, P=0.004 vs. Lip+) and thus restored glucose effectiveness (P=0.6 vs. Lip-/Et-). Thus, our results confirm the striking effects of elevated plasma FFA to impair glucose effectiveness and suggest that increased GNG contributes importantly to this loss of regulation. Inhibiting GNG could be an effective means of lowering EGP and improving glucose effectiveness in T2DM.},
  subject      = {Gluconeogenese},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Govindaraj2009,
  author    = {Govindaraj, Vijayakumar},
  title     = {Improved Cardiac Glucose Uptake: A Potential Mechanism for Estrogens to Prevent the Development of Cardiac Hypertrophy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-35911},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {The incidence of cardiovascular diseases including cardiac hypertrophy and failure in pre-menopausal women is lower compared to age-matched men but the risk of heart disease increases substantially after the onset of menopause. It has been postulated that female sex hormones play an important role in cardiovascular health in pre-menopausal women. In animal studies including spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats, the development of cardiac hypertrophy is attenuated by 17\&\#946;-estradiol treatment. Cardiac energy metabolism is crucial for normal function of the heart. In cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, the myocardium undergoes a metabolic shift from fatty acid as primary cardiac energy source to glucose, which re-introduces the fetal type of metabolism that representing the glucose as a major source of energy. Many studies have reported that the disruption of the balance between glucose and fatty acid metabolism plays an important role in cardiac pathologies including hypertrophy, heart failure, diabetes, dilative cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. Glucose enters cardiomyocytes via GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters and GLUT4 is the major glucose transporter which is insulin-dependent. Cardiac-selective GLUT4 deficiency leads to cardiac hypertrophy. This shows that the decrease in cardiac glucose uptake may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Estrogens modulate glucose homeostasis in the liver and the skeletal muscle. But it is not known whether estrogens affect also cardiac glucose uptake which could provide another mechanism to explain the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy by female sex hormones. In the present study, SHR Rats were ovariectomized (OVX), not ovariectomized (sham) or ovariectomized and treated with subcutaneous 17\&\#946;-estradiol. After 6 weeks of treatment, body weight, the serum levels of estrogen, insulin, intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IP-GTT), myocardial glucose uptake by FDG-PET (2-(18F)-fluoro-deoxyglucose (18FDG) and Positron Emission Tomography), cardiac glucose transporter expression and localization and cardiac hexokinase activity were analyzed. As results of this study, PET analysis of female SHR revealed decreased cardiac glucose uptake in OVX animals compared to intact that was normalized by estrogen supplementation. Interestingly, there was no change in global glucose tolerance among the treatment groups. Serum insulin levels and cardiac hexokinase activity were elevated by E2 substitution. The protein content of cardiac glucose transporters GLUT-4 and GLUT-1, and their translocation as determined by fractionation studies and immuno-staining did not show any significant change by ovariectomy and estrogen replacement. Also levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and its tyrosine phosphorylation, which is required for activation and translocation of GLUT4, was un-affected in all groups of SHR. Cardiac gene expression analysis in SHR heart showed that ei4Ebp1 and Frap1 genes which are involved in the mTOR signaling pathway, were differentially expressed upon estrogen treatment. These genes are known to be activated in presence of glucose in the heart. As a conclusion of this study, reduced myocardial FDG uptake in ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rat is normalized by 17\&\#946;-estradiol treatment. Increased myocardial hexokinase appears as a potential mechanism to explain increased myocardial glucose uptake by 17\&\#946;-estradiol. Increased cardiac glucose uptake in response to 17\&\#946;-estradiol in ovariectomized SHR may provide a novel mechanism to explain the reduction of cardiac hypertrophy in E2 treated SHR. Therefore, 17\&\#946;-estradiol improves cardiac glucose utilization in ovariectomized SHR which may give rise to possible mechanism for its protective effects against cardiac hypertrophy.},
  subject      = {estrogen},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Padmapriya2008,
  author    = {Padmapriya, Ponnuswamy},
  title     = {Insight into oxidative stress mediated by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in atherosclerosis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30659},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {The principle product of each NOS is nitric oxide. However, under conditions of substrate and cofactor deficiency the enzymes directly catalyze superoxide formation. Considering this alternative chemistry of each NOS, the effects of each single enzyme on key events of atherosclerosis are difficult to predict. Here, we evaluate nitric oxide and superoxide production by all three NOS isoforms in atherosclerosis. ESR measurements of circulating and vascular wall nitric oxide production showed significantly reduced nitric oxide levels in apoE/eNOS double knockout (dko) and apoE/iNOS dko animals but not in apoE/nNOS dko animals suggesting that eNOS and iNOS majorly contribute to vascular nitric oxide production in atherosclerosis. Pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of eNOS and iNOS reduced vascular superoxide production suggesting that eNOS and iNOS are uncoupled in atherosclerotic vessels. Though genetic deletion of nNOS did not alter superoxide production, acute inhibition of nNOS showed that nNOS contributes significantly to superoxide production. In conclusion, uncoupling of eNOS occurs in apoE ko atherosclerosis but eNOS mediated superoxide production does not outweigh the protective effects of eNOS mediated nitric oxide production. We show that although nNOS is not a major contributor of the vascular nitric oxide formation, it prevents atherosclerosis development. Acute inhibition of nNOS showed a significant reduction of superoxide formation suggesting that nNOS is uncoupled. The exact mechanism of action of nNOS in atheroprotection is yet to be elucidated. Genetic deletion of iNOS reduced NADPH oxidase activity. Thus, iNOS has both direct and indirect proatherosclerotic effects, as it directly generates both nitric oxide and superoxide simultaneously resulting in peroxynitrite formation and indirectly modulates NADPH oxidase activity. We hypothesize that eNOS is coupled in the disease free regions of the vessel and contributes to nitric oxide generation whereas in the diseased region of the vessel it is uncoupled to produce superoxide (Figure 16). nNOS expressed in the smooth muscle cells of the plaque contributes to the local superoxide generation. iNOS expressed in smooth muscle cells and leukocytes of the plaque generates superoxide and nitric oxide simultaneously to produce the strong oxidant peroxynitrite.},
  subject      = {atherosclerosis},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hallhuber2007,
  author    = {Hallhuber, Matthias},
  title     = {Inhibition of Nuclear Import of Calcineurin Prevents the Development of Myocardial Hypertrophy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-23536},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The Calcineurin/NFAT signaling cascade is a crucial transducer of cellular function. It has recently been emerged that in addition to the transcription factor NFAT, the phosphatase Calcineurin is also translocated to the nucleus. Our traditional understanding of Calcineurin activation via sustained high Ca2+-levels was also advanced by recent findings from this working group (AG Ritter), which showed that Calcineurin is activated by proteolysis of the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain. This leads to the constitutive activation and nuclear translocation of Calcineurin. Therefore, Calcineurin is not only responsible for dephosphorylating of NFAT in the cytosol thus enabling its nuclear import, its presence in the nucleus is also significant in ensuring the full transcriptional activity of NFAT. Formation of complexes between transcription factors and DNA regulates the transcriptional process. Therefore, the time that transcription factors remain nuclear is a major determinant of transcriptional activity. The movement of proteins over ~40 kDa into and out of the nucleus is governed by the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Transcription factors and enzymes that regulate the activity of these proteins are shuttled across the nuclear envelope by proteins that recognize nuclear localization signals (NLS) and nuclear export signals (NES) within the amino acid sequence of these transcription factors. In this study, the precise mechanisms of Calcineurin nuclear import and export were identified. Additionally to the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and the nuclear export sequence (NES) within the sequence of Calcineurin, the respective nuclear cargo proteins, responsible for nuclear import, Importin\&\#946;1, and for nuclear export, CRM1, were identified. Inhibition of the Calcineurin/importin interaction by a competitive peptide, called Import Blocking Peptide (IBP), which mimicked the Calcineurin NLS, prevented nuclear entry of Calcineurin. A non-inhibitory control peptide showed no effect. Using this approach, it was able to prevent the development of myocardial hypertrophy. In Angiotensin II stimulated cardiomyocytes, both the transcriptional and the translational level was suppressed. Additionally, cell size and expression of Brain natriuretic peptide (as molecular marker for hypertrophy) were significantly reduced compared untreated controls. IBP worked dose-dependent, but did not affect the Calcineurin phosphatase activity. In conclusion, Calcineurin is not only capable of dephosphorylating NFAT, thus enabling its nuclear import, its presence in the nucleus is also important for full NFAT transcriptional activity. Using IBP to prevent the nuclear import of Calcineurin is a completely new approach to prevent the development of myocardial hypertrophy.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Christensen2003,
  author    = {Christensen, Morten Overby},
  title     = {Dynamics of human DNA Topoisomerases I and II},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-4927},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {The first goal of this study was to develop cell lines with a stable expression of bio-fluorescent topo II and topo I. This was successfully achieved using a bicistronic vector system. Control experiments showed that proteins of expected size were expressed, and that GFP-tagged topos I, IIa, and IIb were active in the cells and fully integrated in the endogenous pools of the enzymes. These cell-lines provided a novel tool for investigating the cell biology of human DNA topoisomerases. Our most important finding was, that both types of mammalian topoisomerases are entirely mobile proteins that are in continuous and rapid flux between all compartments of the nucleus and between the cytososl and the chromosomes of mitotic cells. This was particularly surprising with regard to topo II, which is considered to be a structural component of the nuclear matrix and the chromosome scaffold. We must conclude that if this was the case, then these architectural structures appear to be much more dynamic than believed until now. In this context it should also be mentioned, that the alignment of topo II with the central axes of the chromosome arms, which has until now been considered a hall-mark of the enzyme's association with the chromosomal scaffold, is not seen in vivo and can be demonstrated to be to some extent an artefact of immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we show that the two isoforms of topo II (a and b) have a different localisation during mitotic cell division, supporting the general concept that topo II functions at mitosis are exclusively assigned to the a-form, whereas at interphase the two isoenzymes work in concert. Despite unrestricted mobility within the entire nuclear space, topoisomerases I and II impose as mostly nucleolar proteins. We show that this is due to the fact that in the nucleoli they are moving slower than in the nucleoplasm. The decreased nucleolar mobility cannot be due to DNA-interactions, because compounds that fix topoisomerases to the DNA deplete them from the nucleoli. Interestingly, the subnucleolar distribution of topoisomerases I and II was complementary. The type II enzyme filled the entire nucleolar space, but excluded the fibrial centers, whereas topo I accumulated at the fibrial centers, an allocation directed by the enzyme's N-terminus. During mitosis, it also mediates association with the nucleolar organising regions of the acrocentric chromosomes. Thus, topo I stays associated with the rDNA during the entire cell-cycle and consistently colocalizes there with RNA-polymerase I. Finally, we show that certain cancer drugs believed to act by stabilising covalent catalytic DNA-intermediates of topoisomerases, do indeed immobilize the enzymes in living cells. Interestingly, these drugs do not target topoisomerases in the nucleoli but only in the nucleoplasm.},
  subject      = {Mensch},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Visan2003,
  author    = {Visan, Ioana Andreea},
  title     = {The CD23 receptor-regulation of expression and signal transduction},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-5556},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {Bisher sind zwei Isoformen des humanen CD23 (CD23a und CD23b) beschrieben. Beide unterscheiden sich lediglich in 6-7 Resten im N-terminalen, zytoplasmatischen Anteil. CD23a wird ausschließlich auf B-Zellen exprimiert, w{\"a}hrend CD23b sowohl auf B-Zellen als auch auf Monozyten, eosinophilen Granulozyten, Makrophagen und zahlreichen anderen Zelltypen durch Stimulation mit IL-4 induziert werden kann. Die beiden Isoformen vermitteln wahrscheinlich unterschiedliche Funktionen. CD23a gilt als Isoform, welche vornehmlich mit der Endozytose von IgE-Immunkomplexen und der Vermittlung von Antigen-Pr{\"a}sentation auf B-Zellen assoziiert ist. CD23b besitzt ein Phagozytose-Motiv und scheint bei der Phagozytose IgE besetzter Partikel, der Freisetzung von Zytokinen und der Bildung von Peroxiden eine Rolle zu spielen. Fr{\"u}here Untersuchungen legen die Vermutung nahe, dass die beiden Isoformen zwei getrennte Signal{\"u}bertragungswege miteinander verbinden. Die Gegen{\"u}berstellung von Ereignissen, welche in Zellen, die nur eine einer oder beide Isoformen von CD23 besitzen, stattfinden, legt die Vermutung nahe, dass CD23b cAMP und iNOS hochreguliert, wohingegen CD23a einen Anstieg des intrazellul{\"a}ren Kalziums vermittelt. Im ersten Teil unserer Untersuchungen haben wir die Regulation der B-Zell-spezifischen Expression von CD23a analysiert. Pax-5 ist ein auf B-Zellen beschr{\"a}nkter Transkriptionsfaktor, welcher f{\"u}r die fr{\"u}he und sp{\"a}te B-Zellentwicklung von entscheidender Bedeutung ist. M{\"o}gliche Pax-5 Bindungsstellen wurden in den proximalen Abschnitten des CD23a Promotors vermutet. Die Analyse des CD23a Promotors ergab drei mutmaßliche Pax-5 Bindungsstellen mit mehr als 50\% Homologie zur Konsensus-Sequenz. Eine dieser Bindungsstellen, namens CD23-1, kann mit einer hochaffinen Pax-5 Bindungsstelle konkurrieren oder direkt das Pax-5 Protein in Elektromobilit{\"a}ts Experimenten (EMSA) binden. Das Einf{\"u}gen von Mutationen an dieser Stelle verhindert die Bindung. Ein weiterer Versuch, bei dem die gesamte L{\"a}nge des CD23a Promotors durch {\"u}berlappende Peptide in einem kompetitiven Verfahren gegen{\"u}ber hoch affinen Bindungsstellen getestet wurde, zeigt ebenso CD23-1 als die einzige Stelle, welche direkt Pax-5 binden kann. In weiteren Experimenten f{\"u}hrte die Expression von Pax-5 in 293 Zellen zu einer 7fachen Aktivierung eines CD23a Kernpromotor Konstrukts. Die Kotransfektion zusammen mit STAT6 zeigte, dass Pax-5 mit diesem Transkriptionsfaktor kooperiert, indem es die Transkriptionsrate eines vergr{\"o}ßerten CD23a Promotorkonstrukts erh{\"o}ht. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Tatsache, dass die ektope Expression von Pax-5 in der monozyt{\"a}ren Zelllinie U-937, die normalerweise nur die CD23b Isoform exprimiert, dann zu einer Expression von CD23a nach Stimulation mit IL-4 und PMA f{\"u}hrte. Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Pax-5 in der auf B-Zellen beschr{\"a}nkten Expression der CD23 Isoform eine Schl{\"u}sselrolle zukommt. Im zweiten Teil des Projekts haben wir ein "Zwei-Hefen-Hybrid-System" (Cyto-Trap von Stratagene) verwendet, um nach zytoplasmatischen Interaktionspartnern f{\"u}r den CD23 Rezeptor zu suchen. Das System wurde modifiziert um eine hohe Effizienz an Transformation zu erzielen. Unterschiedliche „K{\"o}der"-Vektorkonstrukte wurden hergestellt. Das Screening wurde mittels einer humanen Milzbibliothek mit dem Zielvektor des Systems durchgef{\"u}hrt. Die anfangs benutzten Konstrukte -pSosCD23a und pSosCD23b - exprimierten sehr kurze (22 Aminos{\"a}uren) zytoplasmatischen Reste der Isoformen am C-terminalen Ende des Fusionsproteins (humanes SOS). Verbesserte Konstrukte (pSos CD23a+Linker und pSosCD23b+Linker) exprimierten den zytoplasmatischen Anteil von CD23a/b am N-terminalen Ende des humanen SOS und hatten folglich den N-terminalen Anteil als Andockstelle frei, entsprechend den Bedingungen in vivo. Eine flexible Verbindungsregion trennte die Fusionsproteine, um auf diese Weise die kurze Aminos{\"a}urekette deutlich „sichtbar" werden zu lassen. Ann{\"a}hernd drei Millionen Klone wurden mittels der verschiedenen Konstrukte untersucht. Dabei konnte keine tats{\"a}chlich positive Interaktion gefunden werden. Stattdessen fand sich eine vergleichsweise hohe Zahl falsch-positiver Klone. Diese wiederum wurden in einem zweiten "Zwei-Hefen-Hybrid-System" getestet. In Zukunft wird ein neues Konstrukt als K{\"o}der verwendet werden. Hierbei wurde ein Tyrosin-Rest im zytoplasmatischen Anteil von CD23a durch Glutamat ersetzt. Das System wurde bereits dazu verwendet, die Interaktion zwischen CD23 und p59fyn - einem Mitglied der Src-Familie von Proteinkinasen, welches mit CD23a assoziiert sein soll - zu testen. Jedoch konnte im CytoTrap "Zwei-Hefen-Hybrid-System" keine Wechselwirkung nachgewiesen werden. Zusammenfassend zeigt das zentrale Ergebnis der Arbeit, dass Pax-5 der Schl{\"u}sselregulator ist, der die B-Zell-spezifische Expression von CD23a erm{\"o}glicht. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurde ein "Zwei-Hefen-Hybrid-System" etabliert, mit dem zytoplasmatische Interaktionspartner f{\"u}r die CD23 Isoformen gefunden werden k{\"o}nnen.},
  subject      = {Antigen CD23},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Grue1999,
  author    = {Grue, Pernille},
  title     = {The physiological role of the two isoforms of DNA topoisomerase II in human cells},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-1369},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {1999},
  abstract  = {Unique functions of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha and IIbeta have been suggested. A human cell line which carries a homozygeous mutation of the nuclear localization sequence of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene expresses the isoform outside the nucleus at the onset of mitosis. At mitosis topoisomerase IIbeta diffused away from the chromatin despite the nuclear lack of the IIalpha-form. Chromosome condensation and disjunction was performed with the aid of cytosolic topoisomerase IIalpha which bound to the mitotic chromatin with low affinity. Consequently an increased rate of nondisjunction is observed in these cells. It is concluded that high affinity chromatin binding of topoisomerase IIalpha is essential for chromosome condensation/disjunction and that topoisomerase IIbeta does not adopt these functions. A centrosomal protein was recognized by topoisomerase IIalpha. This topoisomerase IIalpha-like protein resembles a modified form of topoisomerase IIalpha with an apparent size of 205 kDa compared to 170 kDa. The expression of the protein is constant in all stages of the cell cycle and it appears in proliferating as well as in resting cells. If there is not sufficient topoisomerase IIalpha present at mitosis the centrosomal proteins might adopt the function and a mitotic catastrophe in the cells could therefore be prevented.},
  subject      = {DNS-Gyrase},
  language  = {en}
}