12876
2013
eng
56
11
article
1
2016-03-07
--
--
Mena/VASP and alphaII-Spectrin complexes regulate cytoplasmic actin networks in cardiomyocytes and protect from conduction abnormalities and dilated cardiomyopathy
Background: In the heart, cytoplasmic actin networks are thought to have important roles in mechanical support, myofibrillogenesis, and ion channel function. However, subcellular localization of cytoplasmic actin isoforms and proteins involved in the modulation of the cytoplasmic actin networks are elusive. Mena and VASP are important regulators of actin dynamics. Due to the lethal phenotype of mice with combined deficiency in Mena and VASP, however, distinct cardiac roles of the proteins remain speculative. In the present study, we analyzed the physiological functions of Mena and VASP in the heart and also investigated the role of the proteins in the organization of cytoplasmic actin networks.
Results: We generated a mouse model, which simultaneously lacks Mena and VASP in the heart. Mena/VASP double-deficiency induced dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction abnormalities. In wild-type mice, Mena and VASP specifically interacted with a distinct αII-Spectrin splice variant (SH3i), which is in cardiomyocytes exclusively localized at Z- and intercalated discs. At Z- and intercalated discs, Mena and β-actin localized to the edges of the sarcomeres, where the thin filaments are anchored. In Mena/VASP double-deficient mice, β-actin networks were disrupted and the integrity of Z- and intercalated discs was markedly impaired.
Conclusions: Together, our data suggest that Mena, VASP, and αII-Spectrin assemble cardiac multi-protein complexes, which regulate cytoplasmic actin networks. Conversely, Mena/VASP deficiency results in disrupted β-actin assembly, Z- and intercalated disc malformation, and induces dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction abnormalities.
Cell Communication and Signaling
10.1186/1478-811X-11-56
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128760
Cell Communication and Signaling 2013, 11:56. doi:10.1186/1478-811X-11-56
311575
Peter M. Benz
Carla J. Merkel
Kristin Offner
Marco Abeßer
Melanie Ullrich
Tobias Fischer
Barbara Bayer
Helga Wagner
Stepan Gambaryan
Jeanine A. Ursitti
Ibrahim M. Adham
Wolfgang A. Linke
Stephan M. Feller
Ingrid Fleming
Thomas Renné
Stefan Frantz
Andreas Unger
Kai Schuh
eng
uncontrolled
Mena/VASP
eng
uncontrolled
dilated cardiomyopathy
eng
uncontrolled
actin
eng
uncontrolled
heart
eng
uncontrolled
spectrin
Physiologie und verwandte Themen
open_access
Medizinische Fakultät
OpenAIRE
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/12876/016_Benz_Mena_VASP.pdf
24852
2021
eng
10
11
article
1
--
2021-10-17
--
Genotype- and Age-Dependent Differences in Ultrasound Vocalizations of SPRED2 Mutant Mice Revealed by Machine Deep Learning
Vocalization is an important part of social communication, not only for humans but also for mice. Here, we show in a mouse model that functional deficiency of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing 2 (SPRED2), a protein ubiquitously expressed in the brain, causes differences in social ultrasound vocalizations (USVs), using an uncomplicated and reliable experimental setting of a short meeting of two individuals. SPRED2 mutant mice show an OCD-like behaviour, accompanied by an increased release of stress hormones from the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, both factors probably influencing USV usage. To determine genotype-related differences in USV usage, we analyzed call rate, subtype profile, and acoustic parameters (i.e., duration, bandwidth, and mean peak frequency) in young and old SPRED2-KO mice. We recorded USVs of interacting male and female mice, and analyzed the calls with the deep-learning DeepSqueak software, which was trained to recognize and categorize the emitted USVs. Our findings provide the first classification of SPRED2-KO vs. wild-type mouse USVs using neural networks and reveal significant differences in their development and use of calls. Our results show, first, that simple experimental settings in combination with deep learning are successful at identifying genotype-dependent USV usage and, second, that SPRED2 deficiency negatively affects the vocalization usage and social communication of mice.
Brain Sciences
2076-3425
10.3390/brainsci11101365
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-248525
2021-11-05T00:07:26+00:00
sword
swordwue
attachment; filename=deposit.zip
d5bb3c0725291c14d2d7ab842cc2bd28
Brain Sciences 2021, 11(10), 1365; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101365
false
true
CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International
Denis Hepbasli
Sina Gredy
Melanie Ullrich
Amelie Reigl
Marco Abeßer
Thomas Raabe
Kai Schuh
eng
uncontrolled
SPRED
eng
uncontrolled
SPRED2
eng
uncontrolled
mice
eng
uncontrolled
neural networks
eng
uncontrolled
ultrasound vocalizations
eng
uncontrolled
DeepSqueak
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Physiologisches Institut
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Import
Förderzeitraum 2021
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/24852/brainsci-11-01365-v2.pdf
32400
2023
eng
1
47
article
1
--
--
--
Usability of a mHealth solution using speech recognition for point-of-care diagnostic management
The administrative burden for physicians in the hospital can affect the quality of patient care. The Service Center Medical Informatics (SMI) of the University Hospital Würzburg developed and implemented the smartphone-based mobile application (MA) ukw.mobile1 that uses speech recognition for the point-of-care ordering of radiological examinations. The aim of this study was to examine the usability of the MA workflow for the point-of-care ordering of radiological examinations. All physicians at the Department of Trauma and Plastic Surgery at the University Hospital Würzburg, Germany, were asked to participate in a survey including the short version of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). For the analysis of the different domains of user experience (overall attractiveness, pragmatic quality and hedonic quality), we used a two-sided dependent sample t-test. For the determinants of the acceptance model, we employed regression analysis. Twenty-one of 30 physicians (mean age 34 ± 8 years, 62% male) completed the questionnaire. Compared to the conventional desktop application (DA) workflow, the new MA workflow showed superior overall attractiveness (mean difference 2.15 ± 1.33), pragmatic quality (mean difference 1.90 ± 1.16), and hedonic quality (mean difference 2.41 ± 1.62; all p < .001). The user acceptance measured by the UTAUT (mean 4.49 ± 0.41; min. 1, max. 5) was also high. Performance expectancy (beta = 0.57, p = .02) and effort expectancy (beta = 0.36, p = .04) were identified as predictors of acceptance, the full predictive model explained 65.4% of its variance. Point-of-care mHealth solutions using innovative technology such as speech-recognition seem to address the users’ needs and to offer higher usability in comparison to conventional technology. Implementation of user-centered mHealth innovations might therefore help to facilitate physicians’ daily work.
Journal of Medical Systems
10.1007/s10916-022-01896-y
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-324002
@articleKerwagen.2023, author = Kerwagen, Fabian and Fuchs, Konrad F. and Ullrich, Melanie and Schulze, Andres and Straka, Samantha and Krop, Philipp and Latoschik, Marc E. and Gilbert, Fabian and Kunz, Andreas and Fette, Georg and Störk, Stefan and Ertl, Maximilian, year = 2023, title = Usability of a mHealth Solution using Speech Recognition for Point-of-care Diagnostic Management, pages = 18, volume = 47, number = 1, journal = Journal of medical systems, doi = 10.1007/s10916-022-01896-y
md5:830b0c796e9cf74b5b9f500c84ba2efb
2023-08-12T09:13:03+00:00
/tmp/phpcmFGfP
bibtex
64d74d1f784180.65360981
Journal of Medical Systems (2023) 47:1, 18 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-022-01896-y
false
true
CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International
Fabian Kerwagen
Konrad F. Fuchs
Melanie Ullrich
Andres Schulze
Samantha Straka
Philipp Krop
Marc E. Latoschik
Fabian Gilbert
Andreas Kunz
Georg Fette
Stefan Störk
Maximilian Ertl
eng
uncontrolled
mHealth
eng
uncontrolled
digital Health
eng
uncontrolled
speech recognition
eng
uncontrolled
usability
eng
uncontrolled
user-centered design
eng
uncontrolled
clinical systems
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I
Universität Würzburg
Deutsches Zentrum für Herzinsuffizienz (DZHI)
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/32400/s10916-022-01896-y.pdf
10735
2014
eng
doctoralthesis
1
2014-12-17
--
2014-07-30
Identification of SPRED2 as a Novel Regulator of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity and of Body Homeostasis
SPRED2 - Ein neuer Regulator der Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennierenrindenachse und der Hormonbalance
SPRED proteins are inhibitors of the Ras/ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, an evolutionary highly conserved and very widespread signaling cascade regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. To elucidate physiological consequences of SPRED2 deficiency, SPRED2 KO mice were generated by a gene trap approach. An initial phenotypical characterization of KO mice aged up to five months identified SPRED2 as a regulator of chondrocyte differentiation and bone growth. Here, the loss of SPRED2 leads to an augmented FGFR-dependent ERK activity, which in turn causes hypochondroplasia-like dwarfism. However, long term observations of older KO mice revealed a generally bad state of health and manifold further symptoms, including excessive grooming associated with severe self-inflicted wounds, an abnormally high water uptake, clear morphological signs of kidney deterioration, and a reduced survival due to sudden death. Based on these observations, the aim of this study was to discover an elicitor of this complex and versatile phenotype.
The observed kidney degeneration in our SPRED2 KO mice was ascribed to hydronephrosis characterized by severe kidney atrophy and apoptosis of renal tubular cells. Kidney damage prompted us to analyze drinking behavior and routine serum parameters. Despite polydipsia, which was characterized by a nearly doubled daily water uptake, the significantly elevated Na+ and Cl- levels and the resulting serum hyperosmolality could not be compensated in SPRED2 KOs. Since salt and water balance is primarily under hormonal control of aldosterone and AVP, we analyzed both hormone levels. While serum AVP was similar in WTs and KOs, even after experimental water deprivation and an extreme loss of body fluid, serum aldosterone was doubled in SPRED2 KO mice. Systematic investigation of contributing upstream hormone axes demonstrated that hyperaldosteronism developed independently of an overactivated Renin-Angiotensin system as indicated by halved serum Ang II levels in KO mice. However, aldosterone synthase expression in the adrenal gland was substantially augmented. Serum corticosterone, which is like aldosterone released from the adrenal cortex, was more than doubled in SPRED2 KOs, too. Similar to corticosterone, the production of aldosterone is at least in part under control of pituitary ACTH, which is further regulated by upstream hypothalamic CRH release. In fact, stress hormone secretion from this complete hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was upregulated because serum ACTH, the mid acting pituitary hormone, and hypothalamic CRH, the upstream hormonal inductor of HPA axis activity, were also elevated by 30% in SPRED2 KO mice. This was accompanied by an upregulated ERK activity in paraventricular nucleus-containing hypothalamic brain regions and by augmented hypothalamic CRH mRNA levels in our SPRED2 KO mice. In vitro studies using the hypothalamic cell line mHypoE-44 further demonstrated that both SPRED1 and SPRED2 were able to downregulate CRH promoter activity, CRH secretion, and Ets factor-dependent CRH transcription. This was in line with the presence of various Ets factor binding sites in the CRH promoter region, especially for Ets1.
Thus, this study shows for the first time that SPRED2-dependent inhibition of Ras/ERK/MAPK signaling by suppression of ERK activity leads to a downregulation of Ets1 factor-dependent transcription, which further results in inhibition of CRH promoter activity, CRH transcription, and CRH release from the hypothalamus. The consecutive hyperactivity of the complete HPA axis in our SPRED2 KO mice reflects an elevated endogenous stress response becoming manifest by excessive grooming behavior and self-inflicted skin lesions on the one hand; on the other hand, in combination with elevated aldosterone synthase expression, this upregulated HPA hormone release explains hyperaldosteronism and the associated salt and water imbalances. Both hyperaldosteronism and polydipsia very likely contribute further to the observed kidney damage.
Taken together, this study initially demonstrates that SPRED2 is essential for the appropriate regulation of HPA axis activity and of body homeostasis.
To further enlighten and compare consequences of SPRED2 deficiency in mice and particularly in humans, two follow-up studies investigating SPRED2 function especially in heart and brain, and a genetic screen to identify human SPRED2 loss-of-function mutations are already in progress.
SPRED-Proteine sind Inhibitoren des hochkonservierten und in allen Geweben verbreiteten Ras/ERK/MAPK-Signalwegs, welcher Proliferation, Differenzierung und das Wachstum von Zellen reguliert. Um physiologische Konsequenzen der SPRED2-Defizienz im lebenden Modellorganismus aufzuklären, haben wir SPRED2-KO-Mäuse mithilfe der „gene trap“-Methode generiert. Eine erste Studie zur phänotypischen Charakterisierung mit KO-Mäusen bis zu einem Alter von fünf Monaten identifizierte SPRED2 als Regulator der Chondrozytendifferenzierung und des Knochenwachstums. So bewirkt der Verlust der SPRED2-Proteinfunktion eine erhöhte FGFR-vermittelte ERK-Aktivität, was wiederum einen Hypochondroplasie-ähnlichen Minderwuchs verursacht. Allerdings offenbarten Langzeitbeobachtungen älterer KO-Mäuse einen im Allgemeinen sehr schlechten Gesundheitszustand und weitere facettenreiche Symptome, darunter exzessives Putzverhalten mit schweren, selbst zugefügten Wunden, einen abnorm hohen täglichen Wasserkonsum, klare morphologische Anzeichen einer Nierenschädigung und eine reduzierte Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit durch plötzlichen Tod. Ziel dieser Studie war es, basierend auf unseren Beobachtungen, einen Auslöser für diesen komplexen und vielseitigen Phänotyp zu finden.
Die beobachtete Nierendegeneration in unseren SPRED2-KO-Mäusen war auf eine Hydronephrose zurückzuführen, welche durch schwere Atrophie des Nierengewebes und Apoptose von Nierentubuluszellen gekennzeichnet war. Aufgrund des Nierenschadens haben wir Trinkverhalten und gängige Serumparameter analysiert. Trotz der Polydipsie, die sich durch eine nahezu verdoppelte tägliche Wasseraufnahme manifestierte, konnten signifikant erhöhte Na+- und Cl--Werte und die daraus resultierende Hyperosmolalität im Serum der SPRED2-KOs nicht kompensiert werden. Weil Salz- und Wasserhaushalt zum größten Teil unter der hormonellen Kontrolle von Aldosteron und ADH stehen, haben wir beide Hormonspiegel untersucht. Während die ADH-Werte im Serum von WT- und KO-Mäusen vergleichbar waren, insbesondere nach experimentellem Wasserentzug und einem extremen Verlust von Körperflüssigkeit, waren die Serumspiegel von Aldosteron in den SPRED2-KO-Mäusen verdoppelt. Die systematische Untersuchung übergeordneter regulatorischer Hormonachsen ergab, dass sich der Hyperaldosteronismus unabhängig von einer erhöhten Aktivität des Renin-Angiotensin-Systems entwickelte, da die Serum-Ang II-Spiegel in den SPRED2-KOs etwa um die Hälfte reduziert waren. Die Expression der Aldosteronsynthase in der Nebenniere war jedoch wesentlich erhöht. Für Kortikosteron, das wie Aldosteron von der Nebennierenrinde freigesetzt wird, konnten wir ebenfalls mehr als doppelt so hohe Werte im Serum der KO-Tiere detektieren. Die Aldosteron-Produktion steht, ähnlich wie bei Kortikosteron, zumindest teilweise unter der Kontrolle des hypophysären Hormons ACTH, dessen Sekretion wiederum übergeordnet durch die Freisetzung von CRH aus dem Hypothalamus geregelt wird. Tatsächlich war die Stresshormon-Sekretion entlang dieser gesamten Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennierenrinden-Achse erhöht, da Serum-ACTH, das mittlere, hypophysäre Hormon, und hypothalamisches CRH, der übergeordnete hormonelle Induktor der HPA-Achse, in den SPRED2-KOs auch um 30% erhöht waren. Zusätzlich waren die ERK-Aktivität ebenso wie die CRH-mRNA-Spiegel im paraventrikulären Nukleus des Hypothalamus in unseren SPRED2-KO-Mäusen deutlich höher. In vitro Studien mit der Hypothalamus-Zelllinie mHypoE-44 zeigten weiterhin, dass sowohl SPRED1 als auch SPRED2 die Aktivität des CRH-Promotors, die CRH-Sekretion und die Ets-Faktor-abhängige CRH-Transkription reduzieren können. Passend dazu enthält die CRH-Promotorregion zahlreiche verschiedene Bindungsstellen für Transkriptionsfaktoren der Ets-Familie, speziell für Ets1.
Somit zeigt diese Studie zum ersten Mal, dass die durch SPRED2-vermittelte Hemmung der Ras/ERK/MAPK-Signalkaskade mittels Unterdrückung der ERK-Aktivität zu einer Herunterregulation der Ets1-Faktor-abhängigen Transkription führt, was eine Hemmung der CRH-Promotoraktivität, der CRH-Transkription und der CRH-Freisetzung aus dem Hypothalamus zur Folge hat. Die daraus resultierende Hyperaktivität der gesamten HPA-Achse in unseren SPRED2-KO-Mäusen spiegelt eine erhöhte endogene Stress-Reaktion wider und äußert sich durch übermäßiges Putzverhalten und durch selbst zugefügte Hautläsionen auf der einen Seite; auf der anderen Seite erklärt dies, in Kombination mit der erhöhten Aldosteronsynthase-Expression, den Hyperaldosteronismus und das damit verbundene Ungleichgewicht in Salz- und Wasserhaushalt. Weiterhin tragen sowohl Hyperaldosteronismus als auch Polydipsie sehr wahrscheinlich zu den beobachteten Nierenschädigungen bei.
Zusammengefasst ist diese Studie ein erster Hinweis, dass SPRED2 wesentlich an der adäquaten Regulation der HPA-Achsen-Aktivität beteiligt ist und essentiell ist für die Aufrechterhaltung der Homöostase im Körper.
Um die Folgen von SPRED2-Defizienz in Mäusen und vor allem im Menschen weiter aufzuklären und zu vergleichen, erforschen wir in zwei Folgeprojekten die Funktion von SPRED2 speziell im Gehirn und im Herzen und führen parallel ein genetisches Screening zur Identifikation von funktionellen SPRED2-Mutationen im Menschen durch.
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-107355
X 126685
Melanie Ullrich
deu
swd
Renin-Angiotensin-System
deu
swd
Spred-Proteine
deu
swd
MAP-Kinase
deu
swd
Hypophysen-Zwischenhirn-System
deu
swd
Knockout <Molekulargenetik>
eng
uncontrolled
SPRED2
eng
uncontrolled
ERK
eng
uncontrolled
MAP Kinase Signaling
eng
uncontrolled
HPA Axis
eng
uncontrolled
Renin Angiotensin System
eng
uncontrolled
Knockout mouse
eng
uncontrolled
Spred Protein
deu
uncontrolled
Hypothalamisch-hypophysäre Achse
deu
uncontrolled
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosteron-System
deu
uncontrolled
MAP-Kinase
deu
uncontrolled
Gen-Knockout
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Physiologisches Institut
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/10735/Dissertation_Ullrich_Melanie.pdf