TY - JOUR A1 - Scherzad, Agmal A1 - Hagen, Rudolf A1 - Hackenberg, Stephan T1 - Current Understanding of Nasal Epithelial Cell Mis-Differentiation JF - Journal of Inflammation Research N2 - The functional role of the respiratory epithelium is to generate a physical barrier. In addition, the epithelium supports the innate and acquired immune system through various cytokines and chemokines. However, epithelial cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases, some of which are mediated by increased permeability of the mucosal membrane or disturbed mucociliary transport. In addition, it has been shown that epithelial cells are involved in the development of inflammatory respiratory diseases. The following review article focuses on the aspects of epithelial mis-differentiation, in particular with respect to nasal mucosal barrier function, epithelial immunogenicity, nasal epithelial-mesenchymal transition and nasal microbiome. KW - nasal mucosal barrier function KW - tight junction KW - epithelial-mesenchymal transition KW - microbiome Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228562 VL - 12 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunzmann, S. A1 - Ngyuen, T. A1 - Stahl, A. A1 - Walz, J. M. A1 - Nentwich, M. M. A1 - Speer, C. P. A1 - Ruf, K. T1 - Necrotizing enterocolitis after intravitreal bevacizumab in an infant with Incontinentia Pigmenti – a case report JF - BMC Pediatrics N2 - Background Incontinentia Pigmenti is a rare disease affecting multiple organs. Fifty of patients show affection of the eye with retinopathy and possible amaurosis being the worst outcome. Treatment has commonly been panretinal laser coagulation but intravitreal application of bevacizumab as VEGF-inhibitor has shown to effectively suppress retinal neovascularization. Case presentation A six-week-old female infant with Incontinentia Pigmenti developed a foudroyant necrotizing enterocolitis shortly after intravitreal injection of bevazicumab due to a retinopathy with impending tractional detachment of the left eye. Since the onset of abdominal symptoms occurred immediately after the intravitreal application, a link between the two events seemed likely. Sequential analyses of the VEGF serum concentrations showed a massive suppression of endogenous VEGF with only a very slow recovery over weeks. Such a severe systemic adverse event has not been reported after intravitreal treatment with bevacizumab in an infant. Conclusion This case report shows a relevant systemic uptake of bevacizumab after intravitreal application as suppressed VEGF levels show. There seems to be a connection between suppressed VEGF levels and the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis. Therefore, treatment with bevacizumab should be carefully considered and further research is needed to assess this drug’s safety profile. KW - Necrotizing enterocolitis KW - Incontinentia pigmenti KW - Bevacizumab KW - Retinopathy KW - VEGF Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201024 VL - 19 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tarau, Ioana-Sandra A1 - Berlin, Andreas A1 - Curcio, Christine A. A1 - Ach, Thomas T1 - The cytoskeleton of the retinal pigment epithelium: from normal aging to age-related macular degeneration JF - International Journal of Molecular Science N2 - The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a unique epithelium, with major roles which are essential in the visual cycle and homeostasis of the outer retina. The RPE is a monolayer of polygonal and pigmented cells strategically placed between the neuroretina and Bruch membrane, adjacent to the fenestrated capillaries of the choriocapillaris. It shows strong apical (towards photoreceptors) to basal/basolateral (towards Bruch membrane) polarization. Multiple functions are bound to a complex structure of highly organized and polarized intracellular components: the cytoskeleton. A strong connection between the intracellular cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix is indispensable to maintaining the function of the RPE and thus, the photoreceptors. Impairments of these intracellular structures and the regular architecture they maintain often result in a disrupted cytoskeleton, which can be found in many retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review article will give an overview of current knowledge on the molecules and proteins involved in cytoskeleton formation in cells, including RPE and how the cytoskeleton is affected under stress conditions — especially in AMD. KW - retinal pigment epithelium KW - cytoskeleton KW - aging KW - age-related macular degeneration KW - actin KW - microfilament KW - microtubules KW - stress fiber Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201781 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 20 IS - 14 ER -