TY - JOUR A1 - Fecher, David A1 - Hofmann, Elisabeth A1 - Buck, Andreas A1 - Bundschuh, Ralph A1 - Nietzer, Sarah A1 - Dandekar, Gudrun A1 - Walles, Thorsten A1 - Walles, Heike A1 - Lückerath, Katharina A1 - Steinke, Maria T1 - Human Organotypic Lung Tumor Models: Suitable For Preclinical \(^{18}\)F-FDG PET-Imaging JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Development of predictable in vitro tumor models is a challenging task due to the enormous complexity of tumors in vivo. The closer the resemblance of these models to human tumor characteristics, the more suitable they are for drug-development and –testing. In the present study, we generated a complex 3D lung tumor test system based on acellular rat lungs. A decellularization protocol was established preserving the architecture, important ECM components and the basement membrane of the lung. Human lung tumor cells cultured on the scaffold formed cluster and exhibited an up-regulation of the carcinoma-associated marker mucin1 as well as a reduced proliferation rate compared to respective 2D culture. Additionally, employing functional imaging with 2-deoxy-2-[\(^{18}\)F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) these tumor cell cluster could be detected and tracked over time. This approach allowed monitoring of a targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in the in vitro lung tumor model non-destructively. Surprisingly, FDG-PET assessment of single tumor cell cluster on the same scaffold exhibited differences in their response to therapy, indicating heterogeneity in the lung tumor model. In conclusion, our complex lung tumor test system features important characteristics of tumors and its microenvironment and allows monitoring of tumor growth and -metabolism in combination with functional imaging. In longitudinal studies, new therapeutic approaches and their long-term effects can be evaluated to adapt treatment regimes in future. KW - lung and intrathoracic tumors KW - trachea KW - adenocarcinoma of the lung KW - cancer treatment KW - secondary lung tumors KW - pulmonary imaging KW - extracellular matrix KW - collagens Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179678 VL - 11 IS - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Brendtke, Rico A1 - Wiehl, Michael A1 - Groeber, Florian A1 - Schwarz, Thomas A1 - Walles, Heike A1 - Hansmann, Jan T1 - Feasibility Study on a Microwave-Based Sensor for Measuring Hydration Level Using Human Skin Models JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis—hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a microwave-based sensor technology for the non-invasive measurement of the hydration status. Electromagnetic waves at high frequencies interact with molecules, especially water. Hence, if a sample contains free water molecules, this can be detected in a reflected microwave signal. To develop the sensor system, human three-dimensional skin equivalents were instituted as a standardized test platform mimicking reproducible exsiccosis scenarios. Therefore, skin equivalents with a specific hydration and density of matrix components were generated and microwave measurements were performed. Hydration-specific spectra allowed deriving the hydration state of the skin models. A further advantage of the skin equivalents was the characterization of the impact of distinct skin components on the measured signals to investigate mechanisms of signal generation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive microwave-based hydration sensor technology. The sensor bears potential to be integrated in a wearable medical device for personal health monitoring. KW - gels KW - microwave radiation KW - collagens KW - skin physiology KW - reflection KW - skin anatomy KW - epidermis KW - antennas Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179934 VL - 11 IS - 4 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Radakovic, D. A1 - Reboredo, J. A1 - Helm, M. A1 - Weigel, T. A1 - Schürlein, S. A1 - Kupczyk, E. A1 - Leyh, R. G. A1 - Walles, H. A1 - Hansmann, J. T1 - A multilayered electrospun graft as vascular access for hemodialysis JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Despite medical achievements, the number of patients with end-stage kidney disease keeps steadily raising, thereby entailing a high number of surgical and interventional procedures to establish and maintain arteriovenous vascular access for hemodialysis. Due to vascular disease, aneurysms or infection, the preferred access—an autogenous arteriovenous fistula—is not always available and appropriate. Moreover, when replacing small diameter blood vessels, synthetic vascular grafts possess well-known disadvantages. A continuous multilayered gradient electrospinning was used to produce vascular grafts made of collagen type I nanofibers on luminal and adventitial graft side, and poly-ɛ-caprolactone as medial layer. Therefore, a custom-made electrospinner with robust environmental control was developed. The morphology of electrospun grafts was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and measurement of mechanical properties. Human microvascular endothelial cells were cultured in the graft under static culture conditions and compared to cultures obtained from dynamic continuous flow bioreactors. Immunofluorescent analysis showed that endothelial cells form a continuous luminal layer and functional characteristics were confirmed by uptake of acetylated low-density-lipoprotein. Incorporation of vancomycin and gentamicin to the medial graft layer allowed antimicrobial inhibition without exhibiting an adverse impact on cell viability. Most striking a physiological hemocompatibility was achieved for the multilayered grafts. KW - collagens KW - polymers KW - vascular surgery KW - endothelial cells KW - cell cultures KW - blood KW - antibiotics KW - scanning electron microscopy Y1 - 2017 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159102 VL - 12 IS - 10 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wolf, Karen A1 - Braun, Attila A1 - Haining, Elizabeth J. A1 - Tseng, Yu-Lun A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Schuhmann, Michael K. A1 - Gotru, Sanjeev K. A1 - Chen, Wenchun A1 - Hermanns, Heike M. A1 - Stoll, Guido A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Nieswandt, Bernhard T1 - Partially Defective Store Operated Calcium Entry and Hem(ITAM) Signaling in Platelets of Serotonin Transporter Deficient Mice JF - PLoS One N2 - Background Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamin, 5-HT) is an indolamine platelet agonist, biochemically derived from tryptophan. 5-HT is secreted from the enterochromaffin cells into the gastrointestinal tract and blood. Blood 5-HT has been proposed to regulate hemostasis by acting as a vasoconstrictor and by triggering platelet signaling through 5-HT receptor 2A (5HTR2A). Although platelets do not synthetize 5-HT, they take 5-HT up from the blood and store it in their dense granules which are secreted upon platelet activation. Objective To identify the molecular composite of the 5-HT uptake system in platelets and elucidate the role of platelet released 5-HT in thrombosis and ischemic stroke. Methods: 5-HT transporter knockout mice (5Htt\(^{-/-}\)) were analyzed in different in vitro and in vivo assays and in a model of ischemic stroke. Results In 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) platelets, 5-HT uptake from the blood was completely abolished and agonist-induced Ca2+ influx through store operated Ca\(^{2+}\) entry (SOCE), integrin activation, degranulation and aggregation responses to glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) were reduced. These observed in vitro defects in 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) platelets could be normalized by the addition of exogenous 5-HT. Moreover, reduced 5-HT levels in the plasma, an increased bleeding time and the formation of unstable thrombi were observed ex vivo under flow and in vivo in the abdominal aorta and carotid artery of 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) mice. Surprisingly, in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model of ischemic stroke 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) mice showed nearly normal infarct volume and the neurological outcome was comparable to control mice. Conclusion Although secreted platelet 5-HT does not appear to play a crucial role in the development of reperfusion injury after stroke, it is essential to amplify the second phase of platelet activation through SOCE and plays an important role in thrombus stabilization. KW - platelets KW - serotonin KW - integrins KW - blood flow KW - collagens KW - platelet activation KW - platelet aggregation KW - ischemic stroke Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146399 VL - 11 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nieswandt, Bernhard A1 - Morowski, Martina A1 - Brachs, Sebastian A1 - Mielenz, Dirk A1 - Dütting, Sebastian T1 - The Adaptor Protein Swiprosin-1/EFhd2 Is Dispensable for Platelet Function in Mice N2 - Background Platelets are anuclear cell fragments derived from bone marrow megakaryocytes that safeguard vascular integrity, but may also cause pathological vessel occlusion. Reorganizations of the platelet cytoskeleton and agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+-mobilization are crucial for platelet hemostatic function. EF-hand domain containing 2 (EFhd2, Swiprosin-1) is a Ca2+-binding cytoskeletal adaptor protein involved in actin remodeling in different cell types, but its function in platelets is unknown. Objective Based on the described functions of EFhd2 in immune cells, we tested the hypothesis that EFhd2 is a crucial adaptor protein for platelet function acting as a regulator of Ca2+-mobilization and cytoskeletal rearrangements. Methods and Results We generated EFhd2-deficient mice and analyzed their platelets in vitro and in vivo. Efhd2-/- mice displayed normal platelet count and size, exhibited an unaltered in vivo life span and showed normal Ca2+-mobilization and activation/aggregation responses to classic agonists. Interestingly, upon stimulation of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-coupled receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI, Efhd2-/- platelets showed a slightly increased coagulant activity. Furthermore, absence of EFhd2 had no significant impact on integrin-mediated clot retraction, actomyosin rearrangements and spreading of activated platelets on fibrinogen. In vivo EFhd2-deficiency resulted in unaltered hemostatic function and unaffected arterial thrombus formation. Conclusion These results show that EFhd2 is not essential for platelet function in mice indicating that other cytoskeletal adaptors may functionally compensate its loss. KW - adaptor protein Swiprosin-1/EFhd2 KW - platelets KW - platelet activation KW - platelet aggregation KW - cytoskeleton KW - thrombin KW - blood KW - actins KW - collagens Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-113316 ER -