@article{TauscherNakagawaVoelkeretal.2018,
  author    = {Tauscher, Sabine and Nakagawa, Hitoshi and V{\"o}lker, Katharina and Werner, Franziska and Krebes, Lisa and Potapenko, Tamara and Doose, S{\"o}ren and Birkenfeld, Andreas L. and Baba, Hideo A. and Kuhn, Michaela},
  title     = {β Cell-specific deletion of guanylyl cyclase A, the receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide, accelerates obesity-induced glucose intolerance in mice},
  series = {Cardiovascular Diabetology},
  volume    = {17},
  journal   = {Cardiovascular Diabetology},
  number    = {103},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12933-018-0747-3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176322},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Background: The cardiac hormones atrial (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) moderate arterial blood pressure and improve energy metabolism as well as insulin sensitivity via their shared cGMP-producing guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor. Obesity is associated with impaired NP/GC-A/cGMP signaling, which possibly contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and its cardiometabolic complications. In vitro, synthetic ANP, via GC-A, stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release from cultured pancreatic islets and β-cell proliferation. However, the relevance for systemic glucose homeostasis in vivo is not known. To dissect whether the endogenous cardiac hormones modulate the secretory function and/or proliferation of β-cells under (patho)physiological conditions in vivo, here we generated a novel genetic mouse model with selective disruption of the GC-A receptor in β-cells. Methods: Mice with a floxed GC-A gene were bred to Rip-CreTG mice, thereby deleting GC-A selectively in β-cells (β GC-A KO). Weight gain, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were monitored in normal diet (ND)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. β-cell size and number were measured by immunofluorescence-based islet morphometry. Results: In vitro, the insulinotropic and proliferative actions of ANP were abolished in islets isolated from β GC-A KO mice. Concordantly, in vivo, infusion of BNP mildly enhanced baseline plasma insulin levels and glucose-induced insulin secretion in control mice. This effect of exogenous BNP was abolished in β GC-A KO mice, corroborating the efficient inactivation of the GC-A receptor in β-cells. Despite this under physiological, ND conditions, fasted and fed insulin levels, glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose tolerance and β-cell morphology were similar in β GC-A KO mice and control littermates. However, HFD-fed β GC-A KO animals had accelerated glucose intolerance and diminished adaptative β-cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our studies of β GC-A KO mice demonstrate that the cardiac hormones ANP and BNP do not modulate β-cell's growth and secretory functions under physiological, normal dietary conditions. However, endogenous NP/GC-A signaling improves the initial adaptative response of β-cells to HFD-induced obesity. Impaired β-cell NP/GC-A signaling in obese individuals might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchaefferKuehnSchmittetal.2013,
  author    = {Schaeffer, Evelin L. and K{\"u}hn, Franziska and Schmitt, Angelika and Gattaz, Wagner F. and Gruber, Oliver and Schneider-Axmann, Thomas and Falkai, Peter and Schmitt, Andrea},
  title     = {Increased cell proliferation in the rat anterior cingulate cortex following neonatal hypoxia: relevance to schizophrenia},
  series = {Journal of Neural Transmission},
  volume    = {120},
  journal   = {Journal of Neural Transmission},
  number    = {1},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00702-012-0859-y},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125890},
  pages     = {187-195},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {As a consequence of obstetric complications, neonatal hypoxia has been discussed as an environmental factor in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the biological consequences of hypoxia are unclear. The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that the onset of abnormal brain development and neuropathology occurs perinatally, whereas symptoms of the disease appear in early adulthood. In our animal model of chronic neonatal hypoxia, we have detected behavioral alterations resembling those known from schizophrenia. Disturbances in cell proliferation possibly contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease. In the present study, we used postnatal rats to investigate cell proliferation in several brain areas following neonatal hypoxia. Rats were repeatedly exposed to hypoxia (89 \% N2, 11 \% O2) from postnatal day (PD) 4-8. We then evaluated cell proliferation on PD 13 and 39, respectively. These investigations were performed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), caudate-putamen (CPU), dentate gyrus, and subventricular zone. Rats exposed to hypoxia exhibited increased cell proliferation in the ACC at PD 13, normalizing at PD 39. In other brain regions, no alterations have been detected. Additionally, hypoxia-treated rats showed decreased CPU volume at PD 13. The results of the present study on the one hand support the assumption of chronic hypoxia influencing transient cell proliferation in the ACC, and on the other hand reveal normalization during ageing.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WolterAizezersFenneletal.2012,
  author    = {Wolter, Steffen and Aizezers, Janis and Fennel, Franziska and Seidel, Marcus and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and K{\"u}hn, Oliver and Lochbrunner, Stefan},
  title     = {Size-dependent exciton dynamics in one-dimensional perylene bisimide aggregates},
  series = {New Journal of Physics},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {New Journal of Physics},
  number    = {105027},
  doi       = {10.1088/1367-2630/14/10/105027},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-135190},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {The size-dependent exciton dynamics of one-dimensional aggregates of substituted perylene bisimides are studied by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations as a function of the excitation density and the temperature in the range of 25-90 degrees C. For low temperatures, the aggregates can be treated as infinite chains and the dynamics is dominated by diffusion-driven exciton-exciton annihilation. With increasing temperature the aggregates dissociate into small fragments consisting of very few monomers. This scenario is also supported by the time-dependent anisotropy deduced from polarization-dependent experiments.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WernerKojonazarovGassneretal.2016,
  author    = {Werner, Franziska and Kojonazarov, Baktybek and Gaßner, Birgit and Abeßer, Marco and Schuh, Kai and V{\"o}lker, Katharina and Baba, Hideo A. and Dahal, Bhola K. and Schermuly, Ralph T. and Kuhn, Michaela},
  title     = {Endothelial actions of atrial natriuretic peptide prevent pulmonary hypertension in mice},
  series = {Basic Research in Cardiology},
  volume    = {111},
  journal   = {Basic Research in Cardiology},
  number    = {2},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00395-016-0541-x},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-190664},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) regulates systemic and pulmonary arterial blood pressure by activation of its cyclic GMP-producing guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor. In the lung, these hypotensive effects were mainly attributed to smooth muscle-mediated vasodilatation. It is unknown whether pulmonary endothelial cells participate in the homeostatic actions of ANP. Therefore, we analyzed GC-A/cGMP signalling in lung endothelial cells and the cause and functional impact of lung endothelial GC-A dysfunction. Western blot and cGMP determinations showed that cultured human and murine pulmonary endothelial cells exhibit prominent GC-A expression and activity which were markedly blunted by hypoxia, a condition known to trigger pulmonary hypertension (PH). To elucidate the consequences of impaired endothelial ANP signalling, we studied mice with genetic endothelial cell-restricted ablation of the GC-A receptor (EC GC-A KO). Notably, EC GC-A KO mice exhibit PH already under resting, normoxic conditions, with enhanced muscularization of small arteries and perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. These alterations were aggravated on exposure of mice to chronic hypoxia. Lung endothelial GC-A dysfunction was associated with enhanced expression of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and increased pulmonary levels of Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II/AT(1)-blockade with losartan reversed pulmonary vascular remodelling and perivascular inflammation of EC GC-A KO mice, and prevented their increment by chronic hypoxia. This experimental study indicates that endothelial effects of ANP are critical to prevent pulmonary vascular remodelling and PH. Chronic endothelial ANP/GC-A dysfunction, e.g. provoked by hypoxia, is associated with activation of the ACE-angiotensin pathway in the lung and PH.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RossowVeitlVorlovaetal.2018,
  author    = {Rossow, Leonie and Veitl, Simona and Vorlov{\´a}, Sandra and Wax, Jacqueline K. and Kuhn, Anja E. and Maltzahn, Verena and Upcin, Berin and Karl, Franziska and Hoffmann, Helene and G{\"a}tzner, Sabine and Kallius, Matthias and Nandigama, Rajender and Scheld, Daniela and Irmak, Ster and Herterich, Sabine and Zernecke, Alma and Erg{\"u}n, S{\"u}leyman and Henke, Erik},
  title     = {LOX-catalyzed collagen stabilization is a proximal cause for intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy},
  series = {Oncogene},
  volume    = {37},
  journal   = {Oncogene},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41388-018-0320-2},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227008},
  pages     = {4921-4940},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The potential of altering the tumor ECM to improve drug response remains fairly unexplored. To identify targets for modification of the ECM aiming to improve drug response and overcome resistance, we analyzed expression data sets from pre-treatment patient cohorts. Cross-evaluation identified a subset of chemoresistant tumors characterized by increased expression of collagens and collagen-stabilizing enzymes. We demonstrate that strong collagen expression and stabilization sets off a vicious circle of self-propagating hypoxia, malignant signaling, and aberrant angiogenesis that can be broken by an appropriate auxiliary intervention: Interfering with collagen stabilization by inhibition of lysyl oxidases significantly enhanced response to chemotherapy in various tumor models, even in metastatic disease. Inhibition of collagen stabilization by itself can reduce or enhance tumor growth depending on the tumor type. The mechanistical basis for this behavior is the dependence of the individual tumor on nutritional supply on one hand and on high tissue stiffness for FAK signaling on the other.},
  language  = {en}
}