@phdthesis{Braun2021,
  author    = {Braun, Alexandra},
  title     = {Psychosocial and somatic resilience factors of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-24280},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-242809},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Background: In recent years, health care has increasingly become the focus of public interest, politics, health insurance companies, and research. This includes the development of therapeutic concepts that can respond individually to patients' resources in order to improve coping with chronic diseases. Research into psychosocial and biological resilience factors is very important and the basic objective of the present work. I studied patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), who suffer among others from chronic pain, fatigue, sleep and gastrointestinal problems. This patient cohort is characterized by a pronounced heterogeneity in terms of clinical outcome, degree in disability and coping. FMS has a prevalence of 3 - 8 \% in the Western population and has a significant socio-economic impact. Validated psychosocial resilience factors include optimism, humor, coherence, self-efficacy, awareness with one's own resources and the ability to apply them profitably (coping), and a healthy social environment with positive relationships. Studies in patients with cancer revealed religiosity as positive and negative factor on the health outcome, but there is little data on religious aspects of pain resilience. Various genetic polymorphisms and anti-inflammatory cytokines are known as biological resilience factors. Various microRNA (miRNA) were detected to contribute to resilience in the context of stress and psychiatric disorders. Objective: The underlying research question of this work is to understand the factors that make some FMS patients resilient and others not, even though they suffer from the same disease. The long-term aim was to understand mechanisms and influencing factors of resilience to design preventive and resource-oriented therapies for FMS patients. Material and Methods: Three studies examined religious, physiological, biological, and psychosocial factors which may contribute to resilience in FMS patients. Study one combined data of questionnaires, a psychosocial interview, and regression analyses to investigate the relevance of religiosity for coping and resilience. Study two examined variance explaining factors and defined clusters among FMS patients by their differences in coping, pain phenotype and disability. The factor analysis used variables derived from questionnaires and qPCR of cytokines in white blood samples (WBC) of patients and healthy controls. Study three assessed cluster-wise miRNA signatures which may underly differences in behaviour, emotional and physiological disability, and resilience among patient clusters. A cluster-specific speculative model of a miRNA-mediated regulatory cycle was proposed and its potential targets verified by an online tool. Results: The data from the first study revealed a not very religious patient cohort, which was rather ambivalent towards the institution church, but described itself as a believer. The degree of religiosity played a role in the choice of coping strategy but had no effect on psychological parameters or health outcomes. The coping strategy "reinterpretation", which is closely related iv to the religious coping "reappraisal", had the highest influence on FMS related disability. Cognitive active coping strategies such as reappraisal which belongs to religious coping had the highest effect on FMS related disability (resilience) and could be trained by a therapist. Results from the second study showed high variances of all measured cytokines within the patient group and no difference between patient and control group. The high dispersion indicated cluster among patients. Factor analysis extracted four variance-explaining factors named as affective load, coping, pain, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Psychological factors such as depression were the most decisive factors of everyday stress in life and represented the greatest influence on the variance of the data. Study two identified four clusters with respective differences in the factors and characterized them as poorly adapted (maladaptive), well adapted (adaptive), vulnerable and resilient. Their naming was based on characteristics of both resilience concepts, indicated by patients who were less stress-sensitive and impaired as a personal characteristic and by patients who emerged as more resilient from a learning and adaptive process. The data from the variance analysis suggests that problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies and a more anti-inflammatory cytokine pattern are associated with low impairment and contribute to resilience. Additional favorable factors include low anxiety, acceptance, and persistence. Some cluster-specific intervention proposals were created that combine existing concepts of behavioral and mindfulness therapies with alternative therapies such as vitamin D supplementation and a healthy intestinal flora. The results of the third study revealed lower relative gene expression of miR103a-3p, miR107, and miR130a-3p in the FMS cohort compared to the healthy controls with a large effect size. The adaptive cluster had the highest gene expression of miR103a-3p and tendentially of miR107, which was correlated with the subscale score "physical abuse" of the trauma questionnaire. Further correlations were found in particular with pain catastrophizing and FMS-related disability. MiR103a-3p and miR107 form a miRNA-family. Based on this, we proposed a miR103a/107 regulated model of an adaptive process to stress, inflammation and pain by targeting genetic factors which are included in different anti-inflammatory and stress-regulating pathways. Conclusion: All three studies provide new insights into resilience in FMS patients. Cognitive coping (reappraisal/reinterpretation) plays a central role and thus offers therapeutic targets (reframing in the context of behavioral therapy). Religosity as a resilience factor was only partially valid for our patient cohort. Basically, the use of resource-oriented therapy in large institutions still requires research and interdisciplinary cooperation to create a consensus between the humanities, natural sciences and humanism.},
  subject      = {Resilienz},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kuzkina2020,
  author    = {Kuzkina, Anastasia},
  title     = {Dermal α-synuclein oligomers and aggregates in Parkinson's disease},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20436},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204369},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are neuropathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). These depositions in the brain mostly consist of aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) phosphorylated at Ser129. A number of studies reported detection of phosphorylated α-syn (p-α-syn) in the dermal nerve fibers in Parkinson's disease. The objective of this study was to investigate whether pathological α-syn accumulations detected in the skin represent aggregated protein. A number of methods aimed at detecting α-syn oligomers and aggregates were first tested and optimized on the brain samples in PD and normal control. These methods included proximity ligation assay (PLA), PET-blot, immunohistochemical (IHC) stains with α-syn aggregate (5G4) or oligomer specific (ASyO5) antibodies and a stain against native α-syn (syn211) after proteinase K (PK) digestion. Subsequently, the most specific methods (stains with 5G4, ASyO5 and syn211 after PK digestion) were studied in two separate patient and control cohorts. Anti-p-α-syn stain was performed in parallel. Single sections from at least 2 biopsy sites from 44 patients and 22 controls (cohort 1) as well as serial sections of 4 biopsy sites from 27 patients and 5 controls (cohort 2) were systematically studied for presence of aggregated and oligomeric α-syn. In total, 5G4 positive deposits were found in 24\% (cohort 1) and 37\% (cohort 2), ASyO5 positive lesions in 17,7\% (cohort 1) and 33\% (cohort 2), syn211 positive lesions after PK digestion in 38,7\% (cohort 1) and 48\% (cohort 2) of cases. There was a major overlap among positivity for a particular staining on the patient level and in most cases, the same nerve fiber was found to be positive for all 4 markers in neighboring sections. Among the skin biopsies which contained p-α-syn accumulation, 59\% were also PK resistant, 41\% were 5G4 positive and 45\% were ASyO5 positive. The samples belonging to normal controls did not show any positive signal in either of the newly established stainings or in the anti-p-α-syn staining. Using 3 distinct IHC methods, α-syn oligomers and aggregates were detectable in the majority of p-α-syn positive skin biopsies. This finding supports the hypothesis that α-syn aggregation occurs in the peripheral (i.e. dermal) nerves and can be specifically detected using skin biopsy.},
  subject      = {Parkinson-Krankheit},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Rauschenberger2021,
  author    = {Rauschenberger, Vera},
  title     = {Stiff-person syndrome - Pathophysiological mechanisms of glycine receptor autoantibodies},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20958},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-209588},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune disease that is characterized by symptoms including stiffness in axial and limb muscles as well as painful spasms. Different variants of SPS are known ranging from moderate forms like the stiff-limb syndrome to the most severe form progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM). SPS is elicited by autoantibodies that target different pre- or postsynaptic proteins. The focus of the present work is on autoantibodies against the glycine receptor (GlyR). At start of the present thesis, as main characteristic of the GlyR autoantibody pathology, receptor cross-linking followed by enhanced receptor internalization and degradation via the lysosomal pathway was described. If binding of autoantibodies modulates GlyR function and therefore contributes to the GlyR autoantibody pathology has not yet been investigated. Moreover, not all patients respond well to plasmapheresis or other treatments used in the clinic. Relapses with even higher autoantibody titers regularly occur. In the present work, further insights into the disease pathology of GlyRα autoantibodies were achieved. We identified a common GlyRα1 autoantibody epitope located in the far N-terminus including amino acids A1-G34 which at least represent a part of the autoantibody epitope. This part of the receptor is easily accessible for autoantibodies due to its location at the outermost surface of the GlyRα1 extracellular domain. It was further investigated if the glycosylation status of the GlyR interferes with autoantibody binding. Using a GlyRα1 de-glycosylation mutant exhibited that patient autoantibodies are able to detect the de-glycosylated GlyRα1 variant as well. The direct modulation of the GlyR analyzed by electrophysiological recordings demonstrated functional alterations of the GlyR upon autoantibody binding. Whole cell patch clamp recordings revealed that autoantibodies decreased the glycine potency, shown by increased EC50 values. Furthermore, an influence on the desensitization behavior of the receptor was shown. The GlyR autoantibodies, however, had no impact on the binding affinity of glycine. These issues can be explained by the localization of the GlyR autoantibody epitope. The determined epitope has been exhibited to influence GlyR desensitization upon binding of allosteric modulators and differs from the orthosteric binding site for glycine, which is localized much deeper in the structure at the interface between two adjacent subunits. To neutralize GlyR autoantibodies, two different methods have been carried out. Transfected HEK293 cells expressing GlyRα1 and ELISA plates coated with the GlyRα1 extracellular domain were used to efficiently neutralize the autoantibodies. Finally, the successful passive transfer of GlyRα1 autoantibodies into zebrafish larvae and mice was shown. The autoantibodies detected their target in spinal cord and brain regions rich in GlyRs of zebrafish and mice. A passive transfer of human GlyRα autoantibodies to zebrafish larvae generated an impaired escape behavior in the animals compatible with the abnormal startle response in SPS or PERM patients.},
  subject      = {Glycinrezeptor},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Schuerger2022,
  author    = {Sch{\"u}rger, Christina Rayka},
  title     = {Netrin-1 und seine Rezeptoren beeinflussen die Tight Junction Expression bei neuropathischen Schmerzen},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29690},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-296901},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Der Zusammenhang von neuropathischem Schmerz mit einer gest{\"o}rten Blut-Nerven- Schranke (BNS) ist bekannt. Die BNS wird durch Tight Junction Proteine (TJP) gebildet. Netrin-1 (Ntn1) hat je nach Rezeptorbindung verschiedene Effekte auf TJP und somit auf die Barriereeigenschaften. In dieser Arbeit wurde im Tiermodell (Chronic Constriction Injury-CCI) untersucht, ob Netrin-1 einen Einfluss auf die BNS hat und die Wirkung der Rezeptoren Unc5b und Neogenin-1 beleuchtet. Es wurde untersucht, ob der barrierestabilisierende Netrin-1- Spiegel auch von neuropathischen Schmerzen, im Speziellen durch „Chronic Regional Pain Syndrom" (CRPS), beeinflusst wird. M{\"a}nnl. Wistar-Ratten wurde lokal Unc5b Antik{\"o}rper injeziert oder nach Netrin-1 Gabe der Neogeninrezeptor durch lokale Neogenin-1-siRNA Injektion geblockt. Die mRNA Expression von Ntn1, seine Rezeptoren sowie der TJP (Claudine-Cldn) wurde mittels q- PCR untersucht. Netrin-1 wurde im Rattennerven mittels Western Blot bestimmt. Die Netrin-1-Spiegel im Plasma von CRPS Patient*innen und Kontrollen wurde mittels ELISA bestimmt. Im Rattenmodell war die Ntn1 vermehrt exprimiert, die Proteinexpression mittels Western Blot tendenziell vermindert. Die Claudinexpression war nach CCI herabreguliert. Netrin-1-Injektion steigerte die Expression von Cldn5 und 19. Der Netrin-1-Rezeptor UNC5B wird bei Neuropathie verst{\"a}rkt und Neogenin-1 vermindert exprimiert. Die Expression von Cldn 12 und Cldn19 war bei Blockade des Unc5b Rezeptors gesteigert und bei Blockade des Neogenin-1 Rezeptors tendenziell vermindert. Im Plasma von CRPS Patient*innen zeigte sich ein verminderter Netrin-1- Spiegel. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Experimente legen nahe, dass Netrin-1 {\"u}ber die Stabilisierung der Blut-Nerven-Schranke einen lindernden Effekt auf neuropathische Schmerzen hat und sich auch die Expression dieses Proteins durch CRPS ver{\"a}ndert.},
  subject      = {Komplexes regionales Schmerzsyndrom},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Seager2022,
  author    = {Seager, Anna},
  title     = {Die ur{\"a}mische Neuropathie - ein Vitamin-B\(_{12}\)-Mangel?},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29109},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-291094},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Eine Vielzahl von Patienten mit fortgeschrittener, beziehungsweise dialysepflichtiger Niereninsuffizienz entwickeln eine Polyneuropathie. Die Pathogenese der ur{\"a}mischen Neuropathie (UN) ist nicht gekl{\"a}rt, sodass auf der Suche nach dem Pathomechanismus auch ein Vitamin-B12-Mangel diskutiert werden muss, da dieser {\"a}hnliche Symptome wie die UN hervorrufen kann. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Zusammenhang zwischen den Parametern des Vitamin-B12-Stoffwechsels und der UN darzustellen. In einer prospektiven Studie mit insgesamt 54 teilnehmenden Patienten wurden diese vor und nach einer Vitamin-B12-Substitution laborchemisch untersucht. Zudem erhielten die Patienten neben einer klinischen Untersuchung eine elektroneurographische Diagnostik des N. suralis und des N. tibialis, sowie eine QST-Untersuchung.},
  subject      = {Ur{\"a}mie},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Kreul2023,
  author    = {Kreul, Lukas},
  title     = {Behandlungswechsel von Agalsidase beta zu Agalsidase alfa bei Morbus Fabry},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-31311},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313113},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Die lysosomale Speichererkrankung Morbus Fabry wird X-chromosomal rezessiv vererbt und f{\"u}hrt durch eine Mutation des α-Galactosidase A-Gens zu einer fehlerhaften Kodierung des α-Galactosidase A Enzyms. Die folgliche Akkumulation von Glykosphingolipiden, vorwiegend Gb-3 und Lyso-Gb-3 in den Lysosomen der Zellen verschiedener Organe sorgen dort f{\"u}r irreversible Sch{\"a}digungen. Klinisch werden von klassisch betroffenen M{\"a}nnern, bis zu nicht klassisch und teilweise v{\"o}llig asymptomatischen Frauen, eine Vielzahl an unterschiedlichen Ph{\"a}notypen detektiert. Insbesondere die Zellen des Herzens, der Niere, des Gef{\"a}ßsystems, des Nervensystems und auch der Cornea sind betroffen. Deshalb stellen die Krankheitsbilder der Herzinsuffizienz, fortschreitendes Nierenversagen und cerebrovaskul{\"a}re Ereignisse keine Seltenheit dar. Neben der im Jahr 2001 zugelassenen Enzymersatztherapie, besteht seit 2016 die M{\"o}glichkeit einer Chaperontherapie mit Migalastat f{\"u}r bestimmte Genotypen. Aktuell sind f{\"u}r die ERT die Produkte Agalsidase alfa (Replagal) mit einer Dosis von 0,2 mg/kg KG und Agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme) mit einer Dosis von 1,0 mg/kg KG beziehungsweise 0,3 mg/kg KG verf{\"u}gbar. Der perfekte Therapiebeginn und die optimale Dosis sind Gegenstand aktueller Forschung. Nachdem von 2009 bis 2012 ein Agalsidase beta Lieferengpass bestand, mussten viele Patienten unter Agalsidase beta Therapie auf Agalsidase alfa umgestellt werden. Bisherige Studien deuteten bei einem Wechsel zu Agalsidase alfa auf eine Abnahme der eGFR und eine Zunahme Fabry bezogener Schmerzen hin. Außerdem wurde bei einem Zur{\"u}ckwechseln zu Agalsidase beta ein Sinken der Plasma Lyso-Gb-3 Spiegel beobachtet. Da jedoch die Langzeiteffekte dieser Therapieumstellung noch unbeleuchtet waren, war es nun an der Zeit, mit dieser Arbeit Langzeitfolgen klinischer Stabilit{\"a}t und Sicherheit bei Patienten unter Dosisumstellung von Agalsidase alfa zu Agalsidase beta („switch") und solchen mit folgendem Zur{\"u}ckwechseln auf Agalsidase beta („re-switch") zu untersuchen. Von den 89 Studienteilnehmern aus drei verschiedenen Fabry Zentren in Deutschland zu Beginn konnten 78 Patienten am Ende des > 80 monatigen Bobachtungszeitraumes mit einer Baseline und zwei Follow-up Untersuchungen analysiert werden. Die Zuteilung zu den drei Gruppen „re-switch", „switch" und „regular Agalsidase beta" erfolgte je nach individuellem Therapieplan. Der Fokus der Studie lag auf den Langzeitdaten der Nierenfunktion, klinischen Symptomen und Ereignissen und der Plasma Lyso-Gb-3 Entwicklung. Patienten der „re-switch" Gruppe starteten zur Baseline mit den schlechtesten eGFR Werten. W{\"a}hrend die eGFR der Teilnehmer mit regul{\"a}rer Dosis stabil schien, verzeichnete sich in den „switch" und „re-switch" Gruppen eine signifikante Abnahme. Der eGFR-R{\"u}ckgang war dabei bei den „switch" Patienten am st{\"a}rksten. Im Geschlechtervergleich zeigten die M{\"a}nner aller drei Gruppen j{\"a}hrlich signifikante eGFR Einbußen zum zweiten Follow-up. Unterschiede in ernsthaften klinischen Ereignissen der Gruppen wurden nicht beobachtet. Gastrointestinale Beschwerden und Fabry bezogene Schmerzen verschlimmerten sich in der „re-switch" Gruppe nach Wechsel zu Agalsidase alfa und konnten durch Zur{\"u}ckwechseln zu Agalsidase beta wieder gebessert werden. Nachdem die Lyso-Gb-3 Spiegel der „switch" Gruppe konstant am h{\"o}chsten waren, konnten diese bei den „re-switch" Patienten nach einem Zur{\"u}ckwechseln zu Agalsidase beta signifikant gesenkt werden. Korrespondierend mit den vorherigen Studien konnte best{\"a}tigt werden, dass ein Wechsel von Agalsidase beta zu Agalsidase alfa im Allgemeinen sicher ist. Da aus den Daten nicht geschlussfolgert werden kann, dass Agalsidase beta das bessere Medikament ist, sollte die Wahl des Enzympr{\"a}parates nach wie vor auf individueller Basis erfolgen. Dennoch suggerieren die Daten eine bessere biochemische Antwort unter h{\"o}heren Enzymdosen, nach einem Zur{\"u}ckwechseln zu Agalsidase beta. Eine repr{\"a}sentative Optimierung der Nierenfunktion vor allem bei den M{\"a}nnern gelang nicht. Die Symptomverbesserung war am ehesten auf einen dosisabh{\"a}ngigen Enzymeffekt f{\"u}r die Beseitigung von Gb-3 Einschl{\"u}ssen zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren. Obwohl auch f{\"u}r die Reinigung von Gb-3 Einschl{\"u}ssen der Niere eine solche Wirkung nachgewiesen wurde, deutet der signifikante Verlust der Nierenfunktion der M{\"a}nner auf einen bereits gestarteten inflammatorischen Prozess hin, welcher auch durch h{\"o}here Dosen unbeeinflusst blieb. Eine L{\"o}sung k{\"o}nnte eine fr{\"u}here, noch vor dem Beginn der Inflammation startende ERT-Initiierung sein. Diese {\"U}berlegung und m{\"o}gliche anti-inflammatorische Therapiestrategien sollten mit zuk{\"u}nftigen Studien gekl{\"a}rt werden.},
  subject      = {Fabry-Krankheit},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Erbacher2023,
  author    = {Erbacher, Christoph},
  title     = {Systemic and local mechanisms of small fiber pathology in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29020},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290203},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a largely heterogeneous chronic pain syndrome of unclear pathophysiology, which lacks objective diagnostics and specific treatment. An immune-related shift towards a pro-inflammatory profile is discussed at a systemic level. Small fiber pathology (SFP) and local participation of non-neuronal skin cells like keratinocytes in cutaneous nociception are potential peripheral contributors. Small RNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRs) and newly described tRNA fragments (tRFs) act as posttranscriptional key regulators of gene expression and may modulate systemic and peripheral cell pathways. On cellular level, the exact mechanisms of keratinocyte-intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) interaction in the skin are insufficiently understood. Via small RNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, we investigated miR and tRF signatures in whole blood cells and skin biopsy-derived keratinocytes of female FMS patients versus healthy controls. We applied gene target prediction analysis to uncover underlying cellular pathways affected by dysregulated small RNAs. Altered FMS small RNAs from blood were compared with their expression in disease controls, i.e. Parkinson`s patients and patients with major depression and chronic pain. Association of SFP with small RNAs was investigated via correlation with clinical parameter. To explore keratinocyte-nerve fiber interactions with high relevance for SFP and cutaneous nociception, we adapted a super-resolution array tomography (srAT) approach and expansion microscopy (ExM) for human skin samples. Further, we created a fully human 2D co-culture model of primary keratinocytes and induced pluripotent stem cell derived sensory neurons. Blood miR deregulation indicated systemic modulation of immune processes exerted by CholinomiRs and by miRs targeting the FoxO signaling pathway. Short sized tRFs were associated with mRNA metabolism and splicing. This supports the hypothesis of an inflammatory/autoimmunity component in FMS. Expression of blood small RNAs in FMS were discriminative against disease controls, highlighting their potential as objective biomarker. Blood small RNAs were predominantly upregulated and correlations between miR and clinical parameter reflected rather pain in general than SFP. In FMS keratinocytes, a downregulation of miRs and tRFs was evident. Pathways for adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), adherens junction, and focal adhesion were predicted to be affected by miRs, while tRFs may influence proliferation, migration, and cell growth. Similar to blood miRs, altered miRs in keratinocytes correlated mostly with widespread pain and pain severity parameter. TRFs were partially associated with more severe IENF loss. Small RNAs in FMS keratinocytes may modulate pathways that define how keratinocytes interact with each other and with IENF. These interactions include nerve fiber ensheathment, a conserved epithelial mechanism, which we visualize in human epidermis and a fully human co-culture model. Additionally, we revealed plaques of connexin 43, a pore forming protein involved in intercellular communication, at keratinocyte- nerve fiber contact sites. Objective quantification of these morphological findings in FMS and other diseases with SFP may inherit diagnostic value similar to IENF density. We provide evidence for distinct miR and tRF signatures in FMS with implications for systemic immune regulation and local cell-cell interaction pathways. In the periphery we explored novel keratinocyte-nerve fiber interactions relevant for SFP and cutaneous nociception.},
  subject      = {Fibromyalgiesyndrom},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Messinger2023,
  author    = {Messinger, Julia},
  title     = {Die Effekte von IVIG auf die Antik{\"o}rperbindung und Komplementablagerung bei Anti-Neurofascin-positiver Nodo-Paranodopathie},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32110},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321109},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen nodo-paranodale Proteine des Ranvier'schen Schn{\"u}rrings wie Neurofascin-155 (NF-155), Contactin-1 und Caspr wurden in der Literatur bei Patienten/Patientinnen mit Immunneuropathien beschrieben. Bei zwei bis zehn Prozent der Patienten/Patientinnen mit Immunneuropathien k{\"o}nnen Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen Isoformen des Neurofascin detektiert werden. Patienten/Patientinnen mit Autoantik{\"o}rpern gegen NF-155 weisen gemeinsame klinische Merkmale auf, unter anderem einen schweren Verlauf mit subakutem Beginn, vorwiegend motorischen Defiziten, Tremor und einem schlechten Ansprechen auf eine Therapie mit intraven{\"o}sen Immunglobulinen (IVIG). Ein Grund f{\"u}r Letzteres k{\"o}nnte sein, dass es sich {\"u}berwiegend um Autoantik{\"o}rper der Subklasse IgG4 handelt, die als anti-inflammatorisch gelten und kein Komplement aktivieren. Neben der IgG4-Subklasse k{\"o}nnen bei manchen Erkrankten auch die proinflammatorischen IgG-Subklassen 1 bis 3 nachgewiesen werden. Bei der Anti-Pan-Neurofascin (155/140/186) Polyneuropathie zeigt sich klinisch h{\"a}ufig ein fulminanter Ph{\"a}notyp mit IgG3 Pr{\"a}dominanz. Das Ziel dieser Studie war, die Autoantik{\"o}rper-induzierte Komplementablagerung zu detektieren, sowie die Rolle der IgG Subklasse und die Effekte von IVIG auf Antik{\"o}rperbindung, Komplementaktivierung und Effektorfunktionen zu untersuchen. Hierzu wurde das Serum von 212 Probanden/-innen mit der Verdachtsdiagnose einer entz{\"u}ndlichen Neuropathie auf Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen NF-155 mittels ELISA und Bindungsversuchen an M{\"a}usezupfnerven gescreent. Im Fall eines positiven Ergebnisses dienten zellbasierte Bindungsversuche mit NF-155-transfizierten HEK-293- Zellen als Best{\"a}tigungstest. Die Effekte unterschiedlicher IVIG Konzentrationen auf die Antik{\"o}rperbindung und Komplementablagerung wurden in ELISA, Komplementbindungsassays und zellbasierten Verfahren getestet. Außerdem wurde mithilfe von LDH-Zytotoxizit{\"a}tsmessungen die Komplement-induzierte Zelllyse sowie die Effekte von IVIG untersucht. Klinische Daten wurden retrospektiv ausgewertet. F{\"u}nf Patienten/Patientinnen mit hohen Autoantik{\"o}rpertitern gegen NF-155 und ein Patient mit Anti-Pan-Neurofascin Autoantik{\"o}rpern konnten in der Studie detektiert werden. Der Patient mit Autoantik{\"o}rpern gegen alle drei Isoformen des Neurofascins und IgG3-Pr{\"a}dominanz zeigte die deutlichste Komplementablagerung. Bei drei Patienten/Patientinnen, die IgG1, IgG2 und IgG4 aufwiesen, war eine Aktivierung des Komplementsystems zu beobachten, w{\"a}hrend bei zwei Patienten mit pr{\"a}dominanter IgG4-Antik{\"o}rpersubklasse keine Komplementablagerung nachweisbar war. Bei Letzteren war eine Therapie mit IVIG in der Vorgeschichte erfolglos, w{\"a}hrend es bei zwei der Patienten/Patientinnen mit anderen IgG-Subklassen und Komplementbindung unter IVIG Therapie zu einer m{\"a}ßigen bis deutlichen Symptombesserung in der Akutphase kam. Eine Koinkubation mit IVIG f{\"u}hrte in den ELISA basierten und zellbasierten Versuchen zu keinem Effekt auf die Autoantik{\"o}rperbindung an das Zielantigen, jedoch zu einer deutlichen Reduktion der Antik{\"o}rper-vermittelten Komplementbindung. Diese Reduktion war sowohl bei Koinkuabtion von IVIG mit dem Komplementfaktor C1q als auch bei Pr{\"a}inkubation von IVIG vor C1q Gabe zu sehen. Bei zwei der Patienten/Patientinnen mit hohen Komplementablagerungen konnte eine erh{\"o}hte Zytotoxizit{\"a}t nachgewiesen werden, welche bei Zugabe von IVIG verringert wurde. Schlussfolgernd ist die Autoantik{\"o}rper-induzierte Komplementablagerung abh{\"a}ngig von der pr{\"a}dominanten IgG Subklasse. IVIG f{\"u}hrt zu einer deutlichen, konzentrationsabh{\"a}ngigen Reduktion der Komplementablagerung, sowie m{\"o}glicher zytotoxischer Effektorfunktionen wie die Zytolyse myelinisierter Schwannzellen oder Nervenaxonen. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus k{\"o}nnte die Subklassenanalyse von Erkrankten das Therapieansprechen auf IVIG vorhersagen und sollte daher eine wichtige Rolle in der Diagnostik der Nodo-Paranodopathie spielen. IVIG sowie andere {\"u}ber das Komplementsystem wirkende Therapeutika k{\"o}nnen in der Behandlung der schwer betroffenen Patienten/Patientinnen, insbesondere bei Anti-Pan-Neurofascin positiver Neuropathie, in Betracht gezogen werden.},
  subject      = {Komplement <Immunologie>},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Spitzel2023,
  author    = {Spitzel, Marlene},
  title     = {The impact of inflammation, hypoxia, and vasculopathy on pain development in the α-galactosidase A mouse model of Morbus Fabry},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-34579},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-345794},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by variants in the gene α-galactosidase A (GLA). As a consequence, the encoded homonymous enzyme GLA is not produced in sufficient amount or does not function properly. Subsequently, globotriaosylceradmide (Gb3), the target substrate of GLA, starts accumulating in several cell types, especially neurons and endothelial cells. FD patients suffer from multiorgan symptoms including cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, stroke, and acral burning pain. It is suggested that the impact of pathological Gb3 accumulation, inflammatory and hypoxic processes, and vasculopathy are contributing to the specific FD pain phenotype. Thus, we investigated the role of inflammation, hypoxia, and vasculopathy on molecular level in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the GLA knockout (KO) mouse model. Further, we investigated pain-like characteristics of GLA KO mice at baseline (BS), after capsaicin administration, and after repeated enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) administration for a period of 1.5 years. Acquired data showed disturbances in immune response markers represented by downregulated inflammation-associated genes and lower numbers of CD206+ macrophages in DRG of GLA KO mice. Hypoxic mechanisms were active in DRG of GLA KO mice reflected by increased gene expression of hypoxia- and DNA damage-associated targets, higher numbers of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-positive (HIF1α+) and carbonic anhydrase 9-positive (CA9+) neurons in DRG of GLA KO mice, and DRG neuronal HIF1α cytosolic-nuclear translocation in GLA KO mice. Vascularization in DRG of GLA KO mice was reduced including lower numbers of blood vessel branches and reduced total blood vessel length. Pain-like behavior of the GLA KO mouse model revealed no mechanical hypersensitivity at BS but age-dependent heat hyposensitivity, which developed also age-matched wild type (WT) mice. Capsaicin administration under isoflurane anesthesia did not elicit the development of nocifensive behavior in GLA KO mice after mechanical or heat stimulation. Repeated ERT administration did not show a clear effect in GLA KO mice in terms of restored heat hyposensitivity to BS paw withdrawal latencies. In summary, we demonstrated the impact of disturbed immune response markers, active hypoxic mechanisms, and reduced vascularization on molecular FD pathophysiology.},
  subject      = {Fabry-Krankheit},
  language  = {en}
}