TY  - JOUR
A1  - Beck, Katherina
A1  - Ehmann, Nadine
A1  - Andlauer, Till F. M.
A1  - Ljaschenko, Dmitrij
A1  - Strecker, Katrin
A1  - Fischer, Matthias
A1  - Kittel, Robert J.
A1  - Raabe, Thomas
T1  - Loss of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome-associated gene RSK2 alters ERK activity, synaptic function and axonal transport in Drosophila motoneurons
JF  - Disease Models & Mechanisms
N2  - Plastic changes in synaptic properties are considered as fundamental for adaptive behaviors. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated signaling has been implicated in regulation of synaptic plasticity. Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) acts as a regulator and downstream effector of ERK. In the brain, RSK2 is predominantly expressed in regions required for learning and memory. Loss-of-function mutations in human RSK2 cause Coffin-Lowry syndrome, which is characterized by severe mental retardation and low IQ scores in affected males. Knockout of RSK2 in mice or the RSK ortholog in Drosophila results in a variety of learning and memory defects. However, overall brain structure in these animals is not affected, leaving open the question of the pathophysiological consequences. Using the fly neuromuscular system as a model for excitatory glutamatergic synapses, we show that removal of RSK function causes distinct defects in motoneurons and at the neuromuscular junction. Based on histochemical and electrophysiological analyses, we conclude that RSK is required for normal synaptic morphology and function. Furthermore, loss of RSK function interferes with ERK signaling at different levels. Elevated ERK activity was evident in the somata of motoneurons, whereas decreased ERK activity was observed in axons and the presynapse. In addition, we uncovered a novel function of RSK in anterograde axonal transport. Our results emphasize the importance of fine-tuning ERK activity in neuronal processes underlying higher brain functions. In this context, RSK acts as a modulator of ERK signaling.
KW  - mrsk2 KO mouse
KW  - S6KII RSK
KW  - transmission
KW  - neuromuscular junction
KW  - synapse
KW  - MAPK signaling
KW  - axonal transport
KW  - motoneuron
KW  - RSK
KW  - Drosophila
KW  - mechanisms
KW  - plasticity
KW  - protein kinase
KW  - signal transduction pathway
KW  - mitochondrial transport
KW  - glutamate receptor
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-145185
VL  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schoffer, Olaf
A1  - Schülein, Stefanie
A1  - Arand, Gerlinde
A1  - Arnholdt, Hans
A1  - Baaske, Dieter
A1  - Bargou, Ralf C.
A1  - Becker, Nikolaus
A1  - Beckmann, Matthias W.
A1  - Bodack, Yves
A1  - Böhme, Beatrix
A1  - Bozkurt, Tayfun
A1  - Breitsprecher, Regine
A1  - Buchali, Andre
A1  - Burger, Elke
A1  - Burger, Ulrike
A1  - Dommisch, Klaus
A1  - Elsner, Gudrun
A1  - Fernschild, Karin
A1  - Flintzer, Ulrike
A1  - Funke, Uwe
A1  - Gerken, Michael
A1  - Göbel, Hubert
A1  - Grobe, Norbert
A1  - Gumpp, Vera
A1  - Heinzerling, Lucie
A1  - Kempfer, Lana Raffaela
A1  - Kiani, Alexander
A1  - Klinkhammer-Schalke, Monika
A1  - Klöcking, Sabine
A1  - Kreibich, Ute
A1  - Knabner, Katrin
A1  - Kuhn, Peter
A1  - Lutze, Stine
A1  - Mäder, Uwe
A1  - Maisel, Tanja
A1  - Maschke, Jan
A1  - Middeke, Martin
A1  - Neubauer, Andreas
A1  - Niedostatek, Antje
A1  - Opazo-Saez, Anabelle
A1  - Peters, Christoph
A1  - Schell, Beatrice
A1  - Schenkirsch, Gerhard
A1  - Schmalenberg, Harald
A1  - Schmidt, Peter
A1  - Schneider, Constanze
A1  - Schubotz, Birgit
A1  - Seide, Anika
A1  - Strecker, Paul
A1  - Taubenheim, Sabine
A1  - Wackes, Matthias
A1  - Weiß, Steffen
A1  - Welke, Claudia
A1  - Werner, Carmen
A1  - Wittekind, Christian
A1  - Wulff, Jörg
A1  - Zettl, Heike
A1  - Klug, Stefanie J.
T1  - Tumour stage distribution and survival of malignant melanoma in Germany 2002-2011
JF  - BMC Cancer
N2  - Background

Over the past two decades, there has been a rising trend in malignant melanoma incidence worldwide. In 2008, Germany introduced a nationwide skin cancer screening program starting at age 35. The aims of this study were to analyse the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages over time, as well as demographic and regional differences in stage distribution and survival of melanoma patients.

Methods

Pooled data from 61 895 malignant melanoma patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2011 and documented in 28 German population-based and hospital-based clinical cancer registries were analysed using descriptive methods, joinpoint regression, logistic regression and relative survival.

Results

The number of annually documented cases increased by 53.2% between 2002 (N = 4 779) and 2011 (N = 7 320). There was a statistically significant continuous positive trend in the proportion of stage UICC I cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, compared to a negative trend for stage UICC II. No trends were found for stages UICC III and IV respectively. Age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.97–0.97), sex (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.11–1.25), date of diagnosis (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), ‘diagnosis during screening’ (OR 3.24, 95% CI 2.50–4.19) and place of residence (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16–1.30) had a statistically significant influence on the tumour stage at diagnosis. The overall 5-year relative survival for invasive cases was 83.4% (95% CI 82.8–83.9%).

Conclusions

No distinct changes in the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages among those aged 35 and older were seen that could be directly attributed to the introduction of skin cancer screening in 2008.
"
KW  - Malignant melanoma
KW  - TNM staging
KW  - Survival analysis
KW  - Skin cancer screening
KW  - Stage distribution
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164544
VL  - 16
IS  - 936
ER  -