TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kotlyar, Mischa J.
A1  - Krebs, Markus
A1  - Solimando, Antonio Giovanni
A1  - Marquardt, André
A1  - Burger, Maximilian
A1  - Kübler, Hubert
A1  - Bargou, Ralf
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Otto, Wolfgang
A1  - Breyer, Johannes
A1  - Vergho, Daniel C.
A1  - Kneitz, Burkhard
A1  - Kalogirou, Charis
T1  - Critical evaluation of a microRNA-based risk classifier predicting cancer-specific survival in renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus of the inferior vena cava
JF  - Cancers
N2  - (1) Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava (ccRCC\(^{IVC}\)) represents a clinical high-risk setting. However, there is substantial heterogeneity within this patient subgroup regarding survival outcomes. Previously, members of our group developed a microRNA(miR)-based risk classifier — containing miR-21-5p, miR-126-3p and miR-221-3p expression — which significantly predicted the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of ccRCC\(^{IVC}\) patients. (2) Methods: Examining a single-center cohort of tumor tissue from n = 56 patients with ccRCC\(^{IVC}\), we measured the expression levels of miR-21, miR-126, and miR-221 using qRT-PCR. The prognostic impact of clinicopathological parameters and miR expression were investigated via single-variable and multivariable Cox regression. Referring to the previously established risk classifier, we performed Kaplan–Meier analyses for single miR expression levels and the combined risk classifier. Cut-off values and weights within the risk classifier were taken from the previous study. (3) Results: miR-21 and miR-126 expression were significantly associated with lymphonodal status at the time of surgery, the development of metastasis during follow-up, and cancer-related death. In Kaplan–Meier analyses, miR-21 and miR-126 significantly impacted CSS in our cohort. Moreover, applying the miR-based risk classifier significantly stratified ccRCC\(^{IVC}\) according to CSS. (4) Conclusions: In our retrospective analysis, we successfully validated the miR-based risk classifier within an independent ccRCC\(^{IVC}\) cohort.
KW  - kidney cancer
KW  - RCC
KW  - venous infiltration
KW  - biomarker
KW  - miR
KW  - risk stratification
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311040
SN  - 2072-6694
VL  - 15
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, J. G.
A1  - Krenn, V.
A1  - Schindler, C.
A1  - Czub, S.
A1  - Stahl-Henning, C.
A1  - Coulibaly, C.
A1  - Hunsmann, G.
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Kerkau, T.
A1  - Rethwilm, A.
A1  - ter Meulen, V.
A1  - Müller-Hermelink, H. K.
T1  - Alterations of Thymus Cortical Epithelium and Interdigitating Dendritic Cells but No Increase of Thymocyte Cell Death in the Early Course of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
JF  - American Journal of Pathology
N2  - The role of the thymus in the pathogenesis of simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was investigated in 18 juvenile rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The thymus was infected from the first week post-SIVmac inoculation, but the amount of virus-positive cells was very low « 1 in 1 04 T cells) as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. First morphological alteration was a narrowing of the cortex at 12 and 24 wpi. Morphometry revealed no increase of pyknotic T cells but a decrease of the proliferation rate andflow cytometry showed a reduction of the immature \(CD4^+/CD8^+\) double-positive T cells. Ultrastructural analysis revealed vacuolization, shrinkage, andfinally cytolysis of the cortical epithelial cells and the interdigitating dendritic cells. Immunofluorescence staining exhibited a widespread loss of cortical epithelial cells. This damage to the thymic microenvironment could explain the breakdown of the intrathymic T cell proliferation. It preceded fully developed simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is therefore considered to play a major role in its pathogenesis.
Y1  - 1993
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128250
VL  - 143
IS  - 3
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, J. G.
A1  - Krenn, V.
A1  - Schindler, C.
A1  - Czub, S.
A1  - Stahl-Henning, C.
A1  - Coulibaly, C.
A1  - Hunsmann, G.
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Kerkau, Thomas
A1  - Rethwilm, Axel
A1  - terMeulen, Volker
T1  - Alterations of thymus cortical epithelium and interdigitating dendritic cells but no increase of thymocyte cell death in the early course of simian immunodeficiency virus infection
N2  - No abstract available
Y1  - 1993
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32583
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, J.
A1  - Krenn, V.
A1  - Czub, S.
A1  - Schindler, C.
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Kerkau, T.
A1  - Stahl-Henning, C.
A1  - Coulibaly, C.
A1  - Hunsmann, G.
A1  - Rethwilm, Axel
A1  - ter Meulen, Volker
A1  - Müller-Hermelink, H. K.
T1  - The thymus in SIV infection
N2  - no abstract available
KW  - HIV-Infektion
KW  - Tierversuch
KW  - Tiermodell
KW  - Retroviren-Infektion
KW  - Kongress
KW  - Hamburg
Y1  - 1993
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-80265
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, JG
A1  - Stahl-Hennig, C.
A1  - Rethwilm, Axel
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Kerkau, T.
A1  - Schmauser, B.
A1  - Schindler, C.
A1  - Krenn, V.
A1  - terMeulen, V.
A1  - Müller-Hermelink, HK
T1  - Morphologische Untersuchungen von Lymphknoten und Thymusin der Frühphase der SIV-Infektion bei Rhesus-Affen
T1  - Morphological alterations of lymph nodes and thymus during the early course of SIV infection of rhesus monkeys
N2  - Rhesus monkeys (M. mulatta) were i.v. infected with SIV mac251. Three phases of lymph node changes were observed. 1: physiological follicular hyperplasia (3 and 6 weeks p.i.). 2: Alterations of germinal centers: loss of follicular mande zone, fragmentation or sclerosis (12 and 24 weeks p.i.). 3: Partial depletion of T-lymphocytes, accumulation of plasma cells, increased numbers of syncytial giant cells, hemophgocytosis in the sinuses (ab out 1 year p.i.). The thymus of the juvenile animals showed first changes 12 and 24 weeks after infection with focalloss of immature (and Ki-67 positive) cortical thymocytes, leading to severe accidental involution of the thymuses one year after infection and reduced numbers of Hassalls corpuscles. These investigations show the value of this animal model for the study of morphology and pathogenesis of AIDS.
KW  - Virologie
Y1  - 1991
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-80210
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, J. G.
A1  - Stahl-Hennig, Christiane
A1  - Rethwilm, Axel
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Kerkau, Thomas
A1  - Schmauser, B.
A1  - Schindler, C
A1  - Krenn, V.
A1  - terMeulen, V.
A1  - Müller-Hermelink, H.K.
T1  - Morphologische Untersuchungen von Lymphknoten und Thymusin der Frühphase der SIV-Infektion bei Rhesus-Affen
T1  - Morpholoical alterations of lymph nodes and thymus during the early course of SIV infection of rhesus monkeys
N2  - Rhesus monkeys (M. mulatta) were i. v. infected with SIV mac251. Three phases of lymph node changes were observed. 1: physiological follicular hyperplasia (3 and 6 weeks p.i.). 2: Alterations of germinal centers: loss of follicular mantle zone, fragmentation or sclerosis (12 and 24 weeks p.i.). 3: Partial depletion of T-lymphocytes, accumulation of plasma cells, increased numbers of syncytial giant cells, hemophgocytosis in the sinuses (about 1 year p.i.). The thymus of the juvenile animals showed first changes 12 and 24 weeks after infection with focalloss of immature (and Ki-67 positive) cortical thymocytes, leading to severe accidental involution of the thymuses one year after infection and reduced numbers of Hassalls corpuscles. These investigations show the value of this animal model for the study of morphology and pathogenesis of AIDS.
KW  - Affenimmundefizienzvirus
Y1  - 1991
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-47183
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Mishra, Rasmi R.
A1  - Chalopin, Domitille
A1  - Postlethwait, John
A1  - Warren, Wesley C.
A1  - Walther, Ronald B.
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - Germ cell and tumor associated piRNAs in the medaka and \(Xiphophorus\) melanoma models
JF  - BMC Genomics
N2  - Background
A growing number of studies report an abnormal expression of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and the piRNA processing enzyme Piwi in many cancers. Whether this finding is an epiphenomenon of the chaotic molecular biology of the fast dividing, neoplastically transformed cells or is functionally relevant to tumorigenesisis is difficult to discern at present. To better understand the role of piRNAs in cancer development small laboratory fish models can make a valuable contribution. However, little is known about piRNAs in somatic and neoplastic tissues of fish.

Results
To identify piRNA clusters that might be involved in melanoma pathogenesis, we use several transgenic lines of medaka, and platyfish/swordtail hybrids, which develop various types of melanoma. In these tumors Piwi, is expressed at different levels, depending on tumor type. To quantify piRNA levels, whole piRNA populations of testes and melanomas of different histotypes were sequenced. Because no reference piRNA cluster set for medaka or Xiphophorus was yet available we developed a software pipeline to detect piRNA clusters in our samples and clusters were selected that were enriched in one or more samples. We found several loci to be overexpressed or down-regulated in different melanoma subtypes as compared to hyperpigmented skin. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed a clear distinction between testes, low-grade and high-grade malignant melanoma in medaka.

Conclusions
Our data imply that dysregulation of piRNA expression may be associated with development of melanoma. Our results also reinforce the importance of fish as a suitable model system to study the role of piRNAs in tumorigenesis.
KW  - small RNA-sequencing
KW  - melanoma
KW  - piRNA
KW  - fish model
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146028
VL  - 17
IS  - 357
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Morton, Charles O.
A1  - Varga, John J.
A1  - Hornbach, Anke
A1  - Mezger, Markus
A1  - Sennefelder, Helga
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Kurzai, Oliver
A1  - Krappmann, Sven
A1  - Einsele, Hermann
A1  - Nierman, William C.
A1  - Rogers, Thomas R.
A1  - Loeffler, Juergen
T1  - The Temporal Dynamics of Differential Gene Expression in Aspergillus fumigatus Interacting with Human Immature Dendritic Cells In Vitro
N2  - No abstract avDendritic cells (DC) are the most important antigen presenting cells and play a pivotal role in host immunity to infectious agents by acting as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Monocyte-derived immature DCs (iDC) were infected with viable resting conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af293) for 12 hours at an MOI of 5; cells were sampled every three hours. RNA was extracted from both organisms at each time point and hybridised to microarrays. iDC cell death increased at 6 h in the presence of A. fumigatus which coincided with fungal germ tube emergence; .80% of conidia were associated with iDC. Over the time course A. fumigatus differentially regulated 210 genes, FunCat analysis indicated significant up-regulation of genes involved in fermentation, drug transport, pathogenesis and response to oxidative stress. Genes related to cytotoxicity were differentially regulated but the gliotoxin biosynthesis genes were down regulated over the time course, while Aspf1 was up-regulated at 9 h and 12 h. There was an up-regulation of genes in the subtelomeric regions of the genome as the interaction progressed. The genes up-regulated by iDC in the presence of A. fumigatus indicated that they were producing a pro-inflammatory response which was consistent with previous transcriptome studies of iDC interacting with A. fumigatus germ tubes. This study shows that A. fumigatus adapts to phagocytosis by iDCs by utilising genes that allow it to survive the interaction rather than just up-regulation of specific virulence genes.
KW  - Dendritische Zelle
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68958
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kerkau, T.
A1  - Gernert, S.
A1  - Kneitz, C.
A1  - Schimpl, A.
T1  - Mechanism of MHC class I downregulation in HIV infected cells
N2  - HIV infection of CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes leads to a loss of MHC dass I molecules on the surface of the infected cells as detectable by monodonal antibody staining and flow cytometry. Incubation of the infected cells at 26 oe or treatment at 37 oe with peptides leads to upregulation of MHC dass I to levels equal to those found on uninfected cells cultured und er the same conditions. The data suggest that, after HIV infection, the mechanisms responsible for peptide generation, peptide transport and thus stable association between peptides and MHC dass I molecules are severely affected.
KW  - HIV
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-56849
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Leikam, C
A1  - Hufnagel, AL
A1  - Otto, C
A1  - Murphy, DJ
A1  - Mühling, B
A1  - Kneitz, S
A1  - Nanda, I
A1  - Schmid, M
A1  - Wagner, TU
A1  - Haferkamp, S
A1  - Bröcker, E-B
A1  - Schartl, M
A1  - Meierjohann, S
T1  - In vitro evidence for senescent multinucleated melanocytes as a source for tumor-initiating cells
JF  - Cell Death and Disease
N2  - Oncogenic signaling in melanocytes results in oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), a stable cell-cycle arrest frequently characterized by a bi-or multinuclear phenotype that is considered as a barrier to cancer progression. However, the long-sustained conviction that senescence is a truly irreversible process has recently been challenged. Still, it is not known whether cells driven into OIS can progress to cancer and thereby pose a potential threat. Here, we show that prolonged expression of the melanoma oncogene N-RAS\(^{61K}\) in pigment cells overcomes OIS by triggering the emergence of tumor-initiating mononucleated stem-like cells from senescent cells. This progeny is dedifferentiated, highly proliferative, anoikis-resistant and induces fast growing, metastatic tumors. Our data describe that differentiated cells, which are driven into senescence by an oncogene, use this senescence state as trigger for tumor transformation, giving rise to highly aggressive tumor-initiating cells. These observations provide the first experimental in vitro evidence for the evasion of OIS on the cellular level and ensuing transformation.
KW  - reactive oxygen
KW  - human melanoma
KW  - MITF
KW  - cancer
KW  - skin
KW  - DNA damage
KW  - kappa-B
KW  - oncogene-induced senescence
KW  - cellular senescence
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-148718
VL  - 6
IS  - e1711
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jessen, Christina
A1  - Kreß, Julia K. C.
A1  - Baluapuri, Apoorva
A1  - Hufnagel, Anita
A1  - Schmitz, Werner
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Roth, Sabine
A1  - Marquardt, André
A1  - Appenzeller, Silke
A1  - Ade, Casten P.
A1  - Glutsch, Valerie
A1  - Wobser, Marion
A1  - Friedmann-Angeli, José Pedro
A1  - Mosteo, Laura
A1  - Goding, Colin R.
A1  - Schilling, Bastian
A1  - Geissinger, Eva
A1  - Wolf, Elmar
A1  - Meierjohann, Svenja
T1  - The transcription factor NRF2 enhances melanoma malignancy by blocking differentiation and inducing COX2 expression
JF  - Oncogene
N2  - The transcription factor NRF2 is the major mediator of oxidative stress responses and is closely connected to therapy resistance in tumors harboring activating mutations in the NRF2 pathway. In melanoma, such mutations are rare, and it is unclear to what extent melanomas rely on NRF2. Here we show that NRF2 suppresses the activity of the melanocyte lineage marker MITF in melanoma, thereby reducing the expression of pigmentation markers. Intriguingly, we furthermore identified NRF2 as key regulator of immune-modulating genes, linking oxidative stress with the induction of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in an ATF4-dependent manner. COX2 is critical for the secretion of prostaglandin E2 and was strongly induced by H\(_2\)O\(_2\) or TNFα only in presence of NRF2. Induction of MITF and depletion of COX2 and PGE2 were also observed in NRF2-deleted melanoma cells in vivo. Furthermore, genes corresponding to the innate immune response such as RSAD2 and IFIH1 were strongly elevated in absence of NRF2 and coincided with immune evasion parameters in human melanoma datasets. Even in vitro, NRF2 activation or prostaglandin E2 supplementation blunted the induction of the innate immune response in melanoma cells. Transcriptome analyses from lung adenocarcinomas indicate that the observed link between NRF2 and the innate immune response is not restricted to melanoma.
KW  - NRF2
KW  - melanoma malignancy
KW  - COX2 expression
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-235064
SN  - 0950-9232
VL  - 39
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Maurus, K.
A1  - Kosnopfel, C.
A1  - Kneitz, H.
A1  - Appenzeller, S.
A1  - Schrama, D.
A1  - Glutsch, V.
A1  - Roth, S.
A1  - Gerhard-Hartmann, E.
A1  - Rosenfeldt, M.
A1  - Möhrmann, L.
A1  - Fröhlich, M.
A1  - Hübschmann, D.
A1  - Stenzinger, A.
A1  - Glimm, H.
A1  - Fröhling, S.
A1  - Goebeler, M.
A1  - Rosenwald, A.
A1  - Kutzner, H.
A1  - Schilling, B.
T1  - Cutaneous epithelioid haemangiomas show somatic mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway
JF  - British Journal of Dermatology
N2  - Background
Epithelioid haemangioma (EH) arising from the skin is a benign vascular tumour with marked inflammatory cell infiltration, which exhibits a high tendency to persist and frequently recurs after resection. So far, the underlying pathogenesis is largely elusive.

Objectives
To identify genetic alterations by next-generation sequencing and/or droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) in cutaneous EH.

Methods
DNA and RNA from an EH lesion of an index patient were subjected to whole-genome and RNA sequencing. Multiplex PCR-based panel sequencing of genomic DNA isolated from archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue of 18 patients with cutaneous EH was performed. ddPCR was used to confirm mutations.

Results
We identified somatic mutations in genes of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (MAP2K1 and KRAS) in cutaneous EH biopsies. By ddPCR we could confirm the recurrent presence of activating, low-frequency mutations affecting MAP2K1. In total, nine out of 18 patients analysed showed activating MAPK pathway mutations, which were mutually exclusive. Comparative analysis of tissue areas enriched for lymphatic infiltrate or aberrant endothelial cells, respectively, revealed an association of these mutations with the presence of endothelial cells.

Conclusions
Taken together, our data suggest that EH shows somatic mutations in genes of the MAPK pathway which might contribute to the formation of this benign tumour.
KW  - protein kinase pathway
KW  - Background Epithelioid haemangioma
KW  - somatic mutations
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258333
VL  - 186
IS  - 3
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Glutsch, Valerie
A1  - Kneitz, Hermann
A1  - Gesierich, Anja
A1  - Goebeler, Matthias
A1  - Haferkamp, Sebastian
A1  - Becker, Jürgen C.
A1  - Ugurel, Selma
A1  - Schilling, Bastian
T1  - Activity of ipilimumab plus nivolumab in avelumab-refractory Merkel cell carcinoma
JF  - Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
N2  - Background
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous malignancy with poor prognosis. In Europe, approved systemic therapies are limited to the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab. For avelumab-refractory patients, efficient and safe treatment options are lacking.
Methods
At three different sites in Germany, clinical and molecular data of patients with metastatic MCC being refractory to the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab and who were later on treated with combined IPI/NIVO were retrospectively collected and evaluated.
Results
Five patients treated at three different academic sites in Germany were enrolled. Three out of five patients investigated for this report responded to combined IPI/NIVO according to RECIST 1.1. Combined immunotherapy was well tolerated without any grade II or III immune-related adverse events. Two out of three responders to IPI/NIVO received platinum-based chemotherapy in between avelumab and combined immunotherapy.
Conclusion
In this small retrospective study, we observed a high response rate and durable responses to subsequent combined immunotherapy with IPI/NIVO in avelumab-refractory metastatic MCC patients. In conclusion, our data suggest a promising activity of second- or third-line PD-1- plus CTLA-4-blockade in patients with anti-PD-L1-refractory MCC.
KW  - ipilimumab
KW  - Merkel cell carcinoma
KW  - resistance
KW  - avelumab
KW  - nivolumab
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265635
SN  - 14320851
VL  - 70
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Martinez-Bengochea, A. L.
A1  - Kneitz, S.
A1  - Herpin, A.
A1  - Nobrega, R. H.
A1  - Adolfi, M. C.
A1  - Schartl, M.
T1  - Sexual development dysgenesis in interspecific hybrids of Medaka fish
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Fish are amongst vertebrates the group with the highest diversity of known sex-determining genes. Particularly, the genus Oryzias is a suitable taxon to understand how different sex determination genetic networks evolved in closely related species. Two closely related species, O. latipes and O. curvinotus, do not only share the same XX/XY sex chromosome system, but also the same male sex-determining gene, dmrt1bY. We performed whole mRNA transcriptomes and morphology analyses of the gonads of hybrids resulting from reciprocal crosses between O. latipes and O. curvinotus. XY male hybrids, presenting meiotic arrest and no production of sperm were sterile, and about 30% of the XY hybrids underwent male-to-female sex reversal. Both XX and XY hybrid females exhibited reduced fertility and developed ovotestis while aging. Transcriptome data showed that male-related genes are upregulated in the XX and XY female hybrids. The transcriptomes of both types of female and of the male gonads are characterized by upregulation of meiosis and germ cell differentiation genes. Differences in the parental species in the downstream pathways of sexual development could explain sex reversal, sterility, and the development of intersex gonads in the hybrids. We hypothesize that male-to-female sex reversal may be connected to a different development time between species at which dmrt1bY expression starts. Our results provide molecular clues for the proximate mechanisms of hybrid incompatibility and Haldane’s rule.
KW  - sexual development dysgenesis
KW  - Medaka fish
KW  - sex-determining genes.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-300295
VL  - 12
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Volkoff, Helene
A1  - Adolfi, Mateus
A1  - Schmidt, Cornelia
A1  - Fischer, Petra
A1  - Minx, Patrick
A1  - Tomlinson, Chad
A1  - Meyer, Axel
A1  - Warren, Wesley C.
T1  - The piranha genome provides molecular insight associated to its unique feeding behavior
JF  - Genome Biology and Evolution
N2  - The piranha enjoys notoriety due to its infamous predatory behavior but much is still not understood about its evolutionary origins and the underlying molecular mechanisms for its unusual feeding biology. We sequenced and assembled the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) genome to aid future phenotypic and genetic investigations. The assembled draft genome is similar to other related fishes in repeat composition and gene count. Our evaluation of genes under positive selection suggests candidates for adaptations of piranhas’ feeding behavior in neural functions, behavior, and regulation of energy metabolism. In the fasted brain, we find genes differentially expressed that are involved in lipid metabolism and appetite regulation as well as genes that may control the aggression/boldness behavior of hungry piranhas. Our first analysis of the piranha genome offers new insight and resources for the study of piranha biology and for feeding motivation and starvation in other organisms.
KW  - whole-genome sequencing
KW  - genome annotation
KW  - comparative genomics
KW  - RNA-seq transcriptome
KW  - energy homeostasis
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202218
VL  - 11
IS  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Adolfi, Mateus C.
A1  - Du, Kang
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Cabau, Cédric
A1  - Zahm, Margot
A1  - Klopp, Christophe
A1  - Feron, Romain
A1  - Paixão, Rômulo V.
A1  - Varela, Eduardo S.
A1  - de Almeida, Fernanda L.
A1  - de Oliveira, Marcos A.
A1  - Nóbrega, Rafael H.
A1  - Lopez-Roques, Céline
A1  - Iampietro, Carole
A1  - Lluch, Jérôme
A1  - Kloas, Werner
A1  - Wuertz, Sven
A1  - Schaefer, Fabian
A1  - Stöck, Matthias
A1  - Guiguen, Yann
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - A duplicated copy of id2b is an unusual sex-determining candidate gene on the Y chromosome of arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Arapaima gigas is one of the largest freshwater fish species of high ecological and economic importance. Overfishing and habitat destruction are severe threats to the remaining wild populations. By incorporating a chromosomal Hi-C contact map, we improved the arapaima genome assembly to chromosome-level, revealing an unexpected high degree of chromosome rearrangements during evolution of the bonytongues (Osteoglossiformes). Combining this new assembly with pool-sequencing of male and female genomes, we identified id2bbY, a duplicated copy of the inhibitor of DNA binding 2b (id2b) gene on the Y chromosome as candidate male sex-determining gene. A PCR-test for id2bbY was developed, demonstrating that this gene is a reliable male-specific marker for genotyping. Expression analyses showed that this gene is expressed in juvenile male gonads. Its paralog, id2ba, exhibits a male-biased expression in immature gonads. Transcriptome analyses and protein structure predictions confirm id2bbY as a prime candidate for the master sex-determiner. Acting through the TGF beta signaling pathway, id2bbY from arapaima would provide the first evidence for a link of this family of transcriptional regulators to sex determination. Our study broadens our current understanding about the evolution of sex determination genetic networks and provide a tool for improving arapaima aquaculture for commercial and conservation purposes.
KW  - evolutionary genetics
KW  - genetic markers
KW  - genome
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265672
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Adolfi, Mateus C.
A1  - Herpin, Amaury
A1  - Martinez-Bengochea, Anabel
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Regensburger, Martina
A1  - Grunwald, David J.
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - Crosstalk Between Retinoic Acid and Sex-Related Genes Controls Germ Cell Fate and Gametogenesis in Medaka
JF  - Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
N2  - Sex determination (SD) is a highly diverse and complex mechanism. In vertebrates, one of the first morphological differences between the sexes is the timing of initiation of the first meiosis, where its initiation occurs first in female and later in male. Thus, SD is intimately related to the responsiveness of the germ cells to undergo meiosis in a sex-specific manner. In some vertebrates, it has been reported that the timing for meiosis entry would be under control of retinoic acid (RA), through activation of Stra8. In this study, we used a fish model species for sex determination and lacking the stra8 gene, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), to investigate the connection between RA and the sex determination pathway. Exogenous RA treatments act as a stress factor inhibiting germ cell differentiation probably by activation of dmrt1a and amh. Disruption of the RA degrading enzyme gene cyp26a1 induced precocious meiosis and oogenesis in embryos/hatchlings of female and even some males. Transcriptome analyzes of cyp26a1–/–adult gonads revealed upregulation of genes related to germ cell differentiation and meiosis, in both ovaries and testes. Our findings show that germ cells respond to RA in a stra8 independent model species. The responsiveness to RA is conferred by sex-related genes, restricting its action to the sex differentiation period in both sexes.
KW  - sex determination
KW  - retinoic acid
KW  - meiosis
KW  - gametogenesis
KW  - medaka
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222669
SN  - 2296-634X
VL  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Glutsch, Valerie
A1  - Schummer, Patrick
A1  - Kneitz, Hermann
A1  - Gesierich, Anja
A1  - Goebeler, Matthias
A1  - Klein, Detlef
A1  - Posch, Christian
A1  - Gebhardt, Christoffer
A1  - Haferkamp, Sebastian
A1  - Zimmer, Lisa
A1  - Becker, Jürgen C
A1  - Leiter, Ulrike
A1  - Weichenthal, Michael
A1  - Schadendorf, Dirk
A1  - Ugurel, Selma
A1  - Schilling, Bastian
T1  - Ipilimumab plus nivolumab in avelumab-refractory Merkel cell carcinoma: a multicenter study of the prospective skin cancer registry ADOREG
JF  - Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
N2  - Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation. Immune checkpoint inhibition has significantly improved treatment outcomes in metastatic disease with response rates to programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibition of up to 62%. However, primary and secondary resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition remains a so far unsolved clinical challenge since effective and safe treatment options for these patients are lacking.Fourteen patients with advanced (non-resectable stage III or stage IV, Union international contre le cancer 2017) Merkel cell carcinoma with primary resistance to the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab receiving subsequent therapy (second or later line) with ipilimumab plus nivolumab (IPI/NIVO) were identified in the prospective multicenter skin cancer registry ADOREG. Five of these 14 patients were reported previously and were included in this analysis with additional follow-up. Overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events were analyzed.All 14 patients received avelumab as first-line treatment. Thereof, 12 patients had shown primary resistance with progressive disease in the first tumor assessment, while two patients had initially experienced a short-lived stabilization (stable disease). Six patients had at least one systemic treatment in between avelumab and IPI/NIVO. In total, 7 patients responded to IPI/NIVO (overall response rate 50%), and response was ongoing in 4 responders at last follow-up. After a median follow-up of 18.85 months, median PFS was 5.07 months (95% CI 2.43—not available (NA)), and median OS was not reached. PFS rates at 12 months and 24 months were 42.9% and 26.8 %, respectively. The OS rate at 36 months was 64.3%. Only 3 (21%) patients did not receive all 4 cycles of IPI/NIVO due to immune-related adverse events.In this multicenter evaluation, we observed high response rates, a durable benefit and promising OS rates after treatment with later-line combined IPI/NIVO. In conclusion, our patient cohort supports our prior findings with an encouraging activity of second-line or later-line IPI/NIVO in patients with anti-PD-L1-refractory Merkel cell carcinoma.
KW  - Skin Neoplasms
KW  - CTLA-4 Antigen
KW  - Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
KW  - B7-H1 Antigen
KW  - Drug Therapy, Combination
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-304613
SN  - 2051-1426
VL  - 10
IS  - 11
ER  -