TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffmann, Linda S A1 - Schmidt, Peter M A1 - Keim, Yvonne A1 - Hoffmann, Carsten A1 - Schmidt, Harald H H W A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter T1 - Fluorescence Dequenching Makes Haem-Free Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Detectable in Living Cells JF - PLOS ONE N2 - In cardiovascular disease, the protective NO/sGC/cGMP signalling-pathway is impaired due to a decreased pool of NO-sensitive haem-containing sGC accompanied by a reciprocal increase in NO-insensitive haem-free sGC. However, no direct method to detect cellular haem-free sGC other than its activation by the new therapeutic class of haem mimetics, such as BAY 58-2667, is available. Here we show that fluorescence dequenching, based on the interaction of the optical active prosthetic haem group and the attached biarsenical fluorophor FlAsH can be used to detect changes in cellular sGC haem status. The partly overlap of the emission spectrum of haem and FlAsH allows energy transfer from the fluorophore to the haem which reduces the intensity of FlAsH fluorescence. Loss of the prosthetic group, e. g. by oxidative stress or by replacement with the haem mimetic BAY 58-2667, prevented the energy transfer resulting in increased fluorescence. Haem loss was corroborated by an observed decrease in NO-induced sGC activity, reduced sGC protein levels, and an increased effect of BAY 58-2667. The use of a haem-free sGC mutant and a biarsenical dye that was not quenched by haem as controls further validated that the increase in fluorescence was due to the loss of the prosthetic haem group. The present approach is based on the cellular expression of an engineered sGC variant limiting is applicability to recombinant expression systems. Nevertheless, it allows to monitor sGC's redox regulation in living cells and future enhancements might be able to extend this approach to in vivo conditions. KW - spontaneously hypersensitive-rats KW - nitric-oxide KW - down-regulation KW - energy-transfer KW - cyclic-gmp KW - protein KW - activation KW - identification KW - in-vivo KW - no Y1 - 2011 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-139631 VL - 6 IS - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zlamy, Manuela A1 - Almanzar, Giovanni A1 - Parson, Walther A1 - Schmidt, Christian A1 - Leierer, Johannes A1 - Weinberger, Birgit A1 - Jeller, Verena A1 - Unsinn, Karin A1 - Eyrich, Matthias A1 - Würzner, Reinhard A1 - Prelog, Martina T1 - Efforts of the human immune system to maintain the peripheral CD8+ T cell compartment after childhood thymectomy JF - Immunity & Ageing N2 - Background Homeostatic mechanisms to maintain the T cell compartment diversity indicate an ongoing process of thymic activity and peripheral T cell renewal during human life. These processes are expected to be accelerated after childhood thymectomy and by the influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) inducing a prematurely aged immune system. The study aimed to investigate proportional changes and replicative history of CD8+ T cells, of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) and CD103+ T cells (mostly gut-experienced) and the role of Interleukin-(IL)-7 and IL-7 receptor (CD127)-expressing T cells in thymectomized patients compared to young and old healthy controls. Results Decreased proportions of naive and CD31 + CD8+ T cells were demonstrated after thymectomy, with higher proliferative activity of CD127-expressing T cells and significantly shorter relative telomere lengths (RTLs) and lower T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). Increased circulating CD103+ T cells and a skewed T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire were found after thymectomy similar to elderly persons. Naive T cells were influenced by age at thymectomy and further decreased by CMV. Conclusions After childhood thymectomy, the immune system demonstrated constant efforts of the peripheral CD8+ T cell compartment to maintain homeostasis. Supposedly it tries to fill the void of RTEs by peripheral T cell proliferation, by at least partly IL-7-mediated mechanisms and by proportional increase of circulating CD103+ T cells, reminiscent of immune aging in elderly. Although other findings were less significant compared to healthy elderly, early thymectomy demonstrated immunological alterations of CD8+ T cells which mimic features of premature immunosenescence in humans. KW - thymectomy KW - naive T cells KW - TRECs KW - TCR diversity KW - CMV KW - CD8 KW - telomeres Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146497 VL - 13 IS - 3 ER - TY - THES A1 - Schmidt, Johannes T1 - Die Beteiligung der Peroxisomen-Proliferator-aktivierten Rezeptoren α und γ am zweiten Fenster der Desfluran-induzierten Präkonditionierung T1 - Participation of the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors α and γ in the second window of desflurane-induced preconditioning N2 - Der perioperative Myokardinfarkt ist eine der Hauptursachen perioperativer Morbidität und Mortalität, wobei bis zu 40% der Patienten an einem akuten Ereignis versterben. Eine der Hauptaufgaben der anästhesiologischen Forschung besteht daher in der Entwicklung neuer, verbesserter Strategien sowohl in der Erkennung und Prophylaxe als auch in der Therapie perioperativer Myokardischämien. In einer wegweisenden Studie zeigten Kersten et al. 1997 erstmals einen kardioprotektiven Effekt für volatile Anästhetika: Die Verabreichung von Isofluran vor der Induktion eines Ischämie-Reperfusions-Schadens (I/R-Schaden) führte zu einer signifikanten Reduktion der resultierenden Infarktgröße. Diese kardioprotektiven Eigenschaften wurden in der Folge auch für andere volatile Anästhetika aufgezeigt, ebenso wie die Induktion eines zweiten Fensters der Präkonditionierung (SWOP) beginnend 24h post-donum. Essentielle molekulare Mechanismen der protektiven Signalkaskade sind hierbei u.a. eine gesteigerte Synthese von Prostaglandinen sowie die erhöhte Produktion von Stickstoffmonoxid (NO). Vergleichbare NO-abhängige, kardioprotektive Wirkungen zeigen sich ebenso für Agonisten der Peroxysomen-Proliferator-aktivierten Rezeptoren (PPAR) α und γ. Die PPAR sind Transkriptionsfaktoren, die nach Liganden-vermittelter Aktivierung (u.a. 15d-Prostaglandin J2, 15d-PGJ2) ihre Wirkungen entfalten. Daher testeten wir die Hypothese, dass das zweite Fenster der Desfluran-induzierten Präkonditionierung durch eine erhöhte Produktion von 15d-PGJ2 mit der nachfolgenden Aktivierung von PPAR α und γ vermittelt wird. Die Experimente wurden in einem etablierten in-vivo Herzinfarktmodell des Kaninchens durchgeführt. Männliche weiße Neuseeland-Kaninchen wurden randomisiert 6 Gruppen zugeteilt. Alle Tiere erhielten eine 30-minütige Okklusion der linken Koronararterie (KAO) gefolgt von einer 3-stündigen Reperfusion. Zwei Gruppen erhielten entweder Desfluran (1.0 MAC, DES) oder Raumluft (Kontrolle, KON) 24h vor KAO. In weiteren Gruppen erhielten die Tiere den PPARα-Antagonisten GW6471 oder den PPARγ-Antagonisten GW9662, jeweils alleine (GW6471 bzw. GW9662) oder in Kombination mit vorheriger Desfluranapplikation (DES+GW6471 bzw. DES+GW9662). Die Infarktgröße (IS/AAR) wurde nach Bestimmung des Ischämieareals (AAR) und des Infarktareals (IS) gravimetrisch nach TTC-Färbung ermittelt. Sechs identische Gruppen wurden instrumentiert zur Entnahme des Herzens und anschließender Analyse der PPAR-DNA-Bindungsaktivität sowie der Gewebekonzentrationen von 15d-PGJ2 und NO mittels spezifischer Assays. Als Ergebnis zeigte sich eine signifikant reduzierte Herzinfarktgröße (DES 42,2±3,1%* vs. KON 61,8±2,8%; *p<0,05) 24h nach der Applikation des volatilen Anästhetikums. Dieser kardioprotektive Phänotyp war begleitet von einer erhöhten PPAR-DNA-Bindungsaktivität (DES 289,9±33RLU* vs. KON 102,9±18RLU, *p<0,05), als auch erhöhten Gewebskonzentrationen von 15d-PGJ2 (DES 224,4±10,2pg/ml* vs. KON 116,9±14,2pg/ml) und NO (DES 14,9±0,7μM* vs. KON 5,4±0,7μM). Unter spezifischer pharmakologischer Blockade von PPARα oder PPARγ kam es zum Verlust dieser protektiven Effekte, wobei sowohl die Infarktgrößenreduktion (DES+GW6471 60,0±2,8% bzw. DES+GW9662 56,5±2,9%), als auch die Elevation der PPAR-DNA-Bindungsaktivität (DES+GW6471 128,1±20,9RLU bzw. DES+GW9662 91,2±31RLU) und der myokardialen NO Konzentrationen (DES+GW6471 5,7±0,3μM bzw. DES+GW9662 5,9±0,9μM) aufgehoben wurde. Unbeeinflusst von der Blockade der PPAR blieb der durch Desfluran erhöhte 15d-PGJ2-Spiegel (DES+GW6471 199,5±8,1pg/ml* und DES+GW9662 179,0±11,7pg/ml*; p<0,05 vs. KON). Insgesamt zeigen die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit, dass das zweite Fenster der Desfluran-induzierten Präkonditionierung durch die Aktivierung der PPARα und γ vermittelt wird. Die Applikation von Desfluran scheint hierbei durch die erhöhte Produktion von 15d-PGJ2 eine Signalkaskade in Gang zu setzen, welche nicht nur in der Aktivierung von PPARα und PPARγ resultiert, sondern ebenso durch die konsekutiv erhöhte myokardiale Verfügbarkeit von NO die Kardioprotektion vermittelt. N2 - The perioperative myocardial infarction is one of the main causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Up to 40% of the patients suffer death from an acute cardiac event. Therefore, one of the aims in anesthesiologic research is the development of new and improved strategies in the recognition, prevention and treatment of perioperative myocardial ischemia. A ground-breaking study was published by Kersten et al. in 1997, demonstrating a cardioprotective effect of volatile anesthetics. The administration of Isoflurane before inducing an Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury led to a significant reduction of the resulting myocardial infarct size. Consecutively, different volatile anesthetics proved to yield cardioprotective qualities and to additionally induce a second window of cardioprotection (SWOP), beginning 24h post administration. In this case, essential molecular mechanisms of the protective signaling cascade are an increased synthesis of prostaglandins as well as an augmented production of nitrous oxide (NO). Agonists of the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) α and γ develop similar NO-dependent cardioprotective effects. These PPAR belong to the family of transcription factors and unfold their actions after activation by a ligand, e.g. 15d-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2). So we tested the hypothesis, that the second window of desflurane-induced cardioprotection is mediated by the augmented production of 15d-PGJ2 and the consecutive activation of PPAR α and γ. The experiments were carried out using an established in-vivo model of myocardial infarction of the rabbit. Male New-Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into six groups. All animals received a 30-minute occlusion of the left coronary artery (CAO) followed by a 3-hour reperfusion. Two groups either received Desflurane (1.0 MAC, DES) or air (Control, CON), respectively, 24 hours before CAO. The residual four groups received the PPARα-antagonist GW6471 or the PPARγ-antagonist GW9662 in combination with preliminary application of either Desflurane (DES+GW6471 and DES+GW9662) or air (GW6471 and GW9662). After identification of the area-at-risk (AAR) and the area of infarction (IS) via TTC-staining (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) the infarct size as percentage of the AAR (IS/AAR) could be gravimetrically determined. Six identical groups were instrumented for rapid excision of the heart and subsequent analysis of the PPAR-DNA-binding-activity and the tissue concentrations of 15d-PGJ2 and NO. Application of Desflurane resulted in a significant reduced infarct size (DES 42.2±3.1%* vs. CON 61.8±2.8%, *p<0.05). This cardioprotective effect was accompanied by an increased PPAR-DNA-binding-activity (DES 289.9±33RLU* vs. CON 102.9±18RLU, *p<0.05) as well as increased concentration of 15d-PGJ2 (DES 224.4±10.2pg/ml* CON vs. 116.9±14.2pg/ml, *p<0.05) and NO (DES 14.9±0.7μM* vs. CON 5.4±0.7μM, *p<0.05). The specific pharmacological inhibition of PPARα and PPARγ lead to the abrogation of the protective effects concerning the IS (DES+GW6471 60.0±2.8% and DES+GW9662 56.5±2.9%, respectively) as well as the PPAR-DNA-binding-activity (DES+GW6471 128.1±20.9RLU and DES+GW9662 91.2±31RLU, respectively) and the myocardial concentration of NO (DES+GW6471 5.7±0.3μM and DES+GW9662 5.9±0.9μM, respectively). Unaffected by the inhibition, the level of 15d-PGJ2 maintained its desflurane-induced elevation (DES+GW6471 199.5±8.1pg/ml* and DES+GW9662 179.0±11.7pg/ml*, *p<0.05 vs. CON). In summary, the results of the experiments demonstrate that the second window of desflurane-induced preconditioning is mediated by the activation of the PPAR α and γ. Via the augmented production of NO, Desflurane seems to elicit a signaling cascade resulting not only in activation of the PPAR α and γ but also in the subsequent elevation of myocardial NO-content which lastly mediates the cardioprotection. KW - Präkonditionierung KW - Desfluran KW - Myokardprotektion KW - Peroxisomen-Proliferator-aktivierter Rezeptor KW - preconditioning KW - desflurane KW - cardioprotection KW - peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor Y1 - 2011 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-57320 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Radermacher, Kim A. A1 - Wingler, Kirstin A1 - Kleikers, Pamela A1 - Altenhöfer, Sebastian A1 - Hermans, Johannes J. R. A1 - Kleinschnitz, Christoph A1 - Schmidt, Harald H. H. W. T1 - The 1027th target candidate in stroke: Will NADPH oxidase hold up? JF - Experimental and Translational Stroke Medicine N2 - As recently reviewed, 1026 neuroprotective drug candidates in stroke research have all failed on their road towards validation and clinical translation, reasons being quality issues in preclinical research and publication bias. Quality control guidelines for preclinical stroke studies have now been established. However, sufficient understanding of the underlying mechanisms of neuronal death after stroke that could be possibly translated into new therapies is lacking. One exception is the hypothesis that cellular death is mediated by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is defined as an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from different possible enzymatic sources. Among these, NADPH oxidases (NOX1-5) stand out as they represent the only known enzyme family that has no other function than to produce ROS. Based on data from different NOX knockout mouse models in ischemic stroke, the most relevant isoform appears to be NOX4. Here we discuss the state-of-the-art of this target with respect to stroke and open questions that need to be addressed on the path towards clinical translation. KW - NADPH oxidases (NOX) KW - stroke therapy KW - oxidative stress Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-124197 VL - 4 IS - 11 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hohenauer, Tobias A1 - Berking, Carola A1 - Schmidt, Andreas A1 - Haferkamp, Sebastian A1 - Senft, Daniela A1 - Kammerbauer, Claudia A1 - Fraschka, Sabine A1 - Graf, Saskia Anna A1 - Irmler, Martin A1 - Beckers, Johannes A1 - Flaig, Michael A1 - Aigner, Achim A1 - Höbel, Sabrina A1 - Hoffmann, Franziska A1 - Hermeking, Heiko A1 - Rothenfusser, Simon A1 - Endres, Stefan A1 - Ruzicka, Thomas A1 - Besch, Robert T1 - The neural crest transcription factor Brn3a is expressed in melanoma and required for cell cycle progression and survival JF - EMBO Molecular Medicine N2 - Pigment cells and neuronal cells both are derived from the neural crest. Here, we describe the Pit-Oct-Unc (POU) domain transcription factor Brn3a, normally involved in neuronal development, to be frequently expressed in melanoma, but not in melanocytes and nevi. RNAi-mediated silencing of Brn3a strongly reduced the viability of melanoma cell lines and decreased tumour growth in vivo. In melanoma cell lines, inhibition of Brn3a caused DNA double-strand breaks as evidenced by Mre11/Rad50-containing nuclear foci. Activated DNA damage signalling caused stabilization of the tumour suppressor p53, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. When Brn3a was ectopically expressed in primary melanocytes and fibroblasts, anchorage-independent growth was increased. In tumourigenic melanocytes and fibroblasts, Brn3a accelerated tumour growth in vivo. Furthermore, Brn3a cooperated with proliferation pathways such as oncogenic BRAF, by reducing oncogene-induced senescence in non-malignant melanocytes. Together, these results identify Brn3a as a new factor in melanoma that is essential for melanoma cell survival and that promotes melanocytic transformation and tumourigenesis. KW - oncogene-induced senescence KW - BRN-3A KW - DNA KW - DNA damage KW - tumourigenesis KW - P53 KW - in-vitro KW - neural crest factors KW - family KW - apoptosis KW - melanoma KW - BRAF mutations KW - domain Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-122193 SN - 1757-4676 VL - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Basset, Yves A1 - Cizek, Lukas A1 - Cuénoud, Philippe A1 - Didham, Raphael K. A1 - Novotny, Vojtech A1 - Ødegaard, Frode A1 - Roslin, Tomas A1 - Tishechkin, Alexey K. A1 - Schmidl, Jürgen A1 - Winchester, Neville N. A1 - Roubik, David W. A1 - Aberlenc, Henri-Pierre A1 - Bail, Johannes A1 - Barrios, Hector A1 - Bridle, Jonathan R. A1 - Castaño-Meneses, Gabriela A1 - Corbara, Bruno A1 - Curletti, Gianfranco A1 - da Rocha, Wesley Duarte A1 - De Bakker, Domir A1 - Delabie, Jacques H. C. A1 - Dejean, Alain A1 - Fagan, Laura L. A1 - Floren, Andreas A1 - Kitching, Roger L. A1 - Medianero, Enrique A1 - de Oliveira, Evandro Gama A1 - Orivel, Jerome A1 - Pollet, Marc A1 - Rapp, Mathieu A1 - Ribeiro, Servio P. A1 - Roisin, Yves A1 - Schmidt, Jesper B. A1 - Sørensen, Line A1 - Lewinsohn, Thomas M. A1 - Leponce, Maurice T1 - Arthropod Distribution in a Tropical Rainforest: Tackling a Four Dimensional Puzzle JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Quantifying the spatio-temporal distribution of arthropods in tropical rainforests represents a first step towards scrutinizing the global distribution of biodiversity on Earth. To date most studies have focused on narrow taxonomic groups or lack a design that allows partitioning of the components of diversity. Here, we consider an exceptionally large dataset (113,952 individuals representing 5,858 species), obtained from the San Lorenzo forest in Panama, where the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa was surveyed using 14 protocols targeting the soil, litter, understory, lower and upper canopy habitats, replicated across seasons in 2003 and 2004. This dataset is used to explore the relative influence of horizontal, vertical and seasonal drivers of arthropod distribution in this forest. We considered arthropod abundance, observed and estimated species richness, additive decomposition of species richness, multiplicative partitioning of species diversity, variation in species composition, species turnover and guild structure as components of diversity. At the scale of our study (2km of distance, 40m in height and 400 days), the effects related to the vertical and seasonal dimensions were most important. Most adult arthropods were collected from the soil/litter or the upper canopy and species richness was highest in the canopy. We compared the distribution of arthropods and trees within our study system. Effects related to the seasonal dimension were stronger for arthropods than for trees. We conclude that: (1) models of beta diversity developed for tropical trees are unlikely to be applicable to tropical arthropods; (2) it is imperative that estimates of global biodiversity derived from mass collecting of arthropods in tropical rainforests embrace the strong vertical and seasonal partitioning observed here; and (3) given the high species turnover observed between seasons, global climate change may have severe consequences for rainforest arthropods. KW - trees KW - species richness KW - beta-diveristy KW - strategy KW - turnover KW - similarity KW - biodiversity KW - specialization KW - herbivorous insects KW - assemblages Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-136393 VL - 10 IS - 12 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jakuscheit, Axel A1 - Schaefer, Nina A1 - Roedig, Johannes A1 - Luedemann, Martin A1 - Hertzberg-Boelch, Sebastian Philipp von A1 - Weissenberger, Manuel A1 - Schmidt, Karsten A1 - Holzapfel, Boris Michael A1 - Rudert, Maximilian T1 - Modifiable individual risks of perioperative blood transfusions and acute postoperative complications in total hip and knee arthroplasty JF - Journal of Personalized Medicine N2 - Background: The primary aim of this study was to identify modifiable patient-related predictors of blood transfusions and perioperative complications in total hip and knee arthroplasty. Individual predictor-adjusted risks can be used to define preoperative treatment thresholds. Methods: We performed this retrospective monocentric study in orthopaedic patients who underwent primary total knee or hip arthroplasty. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the predictive value of patient-related characteristics. Predictor-adjusted individual risks of blood transfusions and the occurrence of any perioperative adverse event were calculated for potentially modifiable risk factors. Results: 3754 patients were included in this study. The overall blood transfusion and complication rates were 4.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Haemoglobin concentration (Hb, p < 0.001), low body mass index (BMI, p < 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, p = 0.004) were the strongest potentially modifiable predictors of a blood transfusion. EGFR (p = 0.001) was the strongest potentially modifiable predictor of a complication. Predictor-adjusted risks of blood transfusions and acute postoperative complications were calculated for Hb and eGFR. Hb = 12.5 g/dL, BMI = 17.6 kg/m\(^2\), and eGFR = 54 min/mL were associated, respectively, with a 10% risk of a blood transfusion, eGFR = 59 mL/min was associated with a 10% risk of a complication. Conclusion: The individual risks for blood transfusions and acute postoperative complications are strongly increased in patients with a low preoperative Hb, low BMI or low eGFR. We recommend aiming at a preoperative Hb ≥ 13g/dL, an eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min and to avoid a low BMI. Future studies must show if a preoperative increase of eGFR and BMI is feasible and truly beneficial. KW - patient blood management KW - total joint arthroplasty KW - haemoglobin KW - perioperative management Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-250290 SN - 2075-4426 VL - 11 IS - 11 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prelog, Martina A1 - Hilligardt, Deborah A1 - Schmidt, Christian A. A1 - Przybylski, Grzegorz K. A1 - Leierer, Johannes A1 - Almanzar, Giovanni A1 - El Hajj, Nady A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Arolt, Volker A1 - Zwanzger, Peter A1 - Haaf, Thomas A1 - Domschke, Katharina T1 - Hypermethylation of FOXP3 Promoter and Premature Aging of the Immune System in Female Patients with Panic Disorder? JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Immunological abnormalities associated with pathological conditions, such as higher infection rates, inflammatory diseases, cancer or cardiovascular events are common in patients with panic disorder. In the present study, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs), Forkhead-Box-Protein P3 gene (FOXP3) methylation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and relative telomere lengths (RTLs) were investigated in a total and subsamples of 131 patients with panic disorder as compared to 131 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in order to test for a potential dysfunction and premature aging of the immune system in anxiety disorders. Significantly lower TRECs (p = 0.004) as well as significant hypermethylation of the FOXP3 promoter region (p = 0.005) were observed in female (but not in male) patients with panic disorder as compared to healthy controls. No difference in relative telomere length was discerned between patients and controls, but significantly shorter telomeres in females, smokers and older persons within the patient group. The presently observed reduced TRECs in panic disorder patients and FOXP3 hypermethylation in female patients with panic disorder potentially reflect impaired thymus and immunosuppressive Treg function, which might partly account for the known increased morbidity and mortality of anxiety disorders conferred by e.g. cancer and cardiovascular disorders. KW - DNA methylation KW - antidepressants KW - regulatory T cells KW - panic disorder KW - treatment guidelines KW - telomere length KW - inflammatory diseases KW - anxiety disorders Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179684 VL - 11 IS - 6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wagner-Drouet, Eva A1 - Teschner, Daniel A1 - Wolschke, Christine A1 - Schäfer-Eckart, Kerstin A1 - Gärtner, Johannes A1 - Mielke, Stephan A1 - Schreder, Martin A1 - Kobbe, Guido A1 - Hilgendorf, Inken A1 - Klein, Stefan A1 - Verbeek, Mareike A1 - Ditschkowski, Markus A1 - Koch, Martina A1 - Lindemann, Monika A1 - Schmidt, Traudel A1 - Rascle, Anne A1 - Barabas, Sascha A1 - Deml, Ludwig A1 - Wagner, Ralf A1 - Wolff, Daniel T1 - Comparison of cytomegalovirus-specific immune cell response to proteins versus peptides using an IFN-γ ELISpot assay after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation JF - Diagnostics N2 - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Measuring CMV-specific cellular immunity may improve the risk stratification and management of patients. IFN-γ ELISpot assays, based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CMV pp65 and IE-1 proteins or peptides, have been validated in clinical settings. However, it remains unclear to which extend the T-cell response to synthetic peptides reflect that mediated by full-length proteins processed by antigen-presenting cells. We compared the stimulating ability of pp65 and IE-1 proteins and corresponding overlapping peptides in 16 HSCT recipients using a standardized IFN-γ ELISpot assay. Paired qualitative test results showed an overall 74.4% concordance. Discordant results were mainly due to low-response tests, with one exception. One patient with early CMV reactivation and graft-versus-host disease, sustained CMV DNAemia and high CD8\(^+\) counts showed successive negative protein-based ELISpot results but a high and sustained response to IE-1 peptides. Our results suggest that the response to exogenous proteins, which involves their uptake and processing by antigen-presenting cells, more closely reflects the physiological response to CMV infection, while the response to exogenous peptides may lead to artificial in vitro T-cell responses, especially in strongly immunosuppressed patients. KW - CMV KW - CMV-specific cellular immunity KW - hematopoietic stem cell transplantation KW - recall antigen KW - peptide KW - immune monitoring KW - IFN-γ ELISpot KW - T cells KW - antigen processing and presentation KW - immunosuppression Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228843 SN - 2075-4418 VL - 11 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Enno A1 - Sticherling, Michael A1 - Sárdy, Miklós A1 - Eming, Rüdiger A1 - Goebeler, Matthias A1 - Hertl, Michael A1 - Hofmann, Silke C. A1 - Hunzelmann, Nicolas A1 - Kern, Johannes S. A1 - Kramer, Harald A1 - Nast, Alexander A1 - Orzechowski, Hans‐Dieter A1 - Pfeiffer, Christiane A1 - Schuster, Volker A1 - Sitaru, Cassian A1 - Zidane, Miriam A1 - Zillikens, Detlef A1 - Worm, Margitta T1 - S2k guidelines for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris/foliaceus and bullous pemphigoid: 2019 update JF - JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft KW - pemphigus vulgaris KW - pemphigus foliaceus KW - S2k guidelines Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-217806 VL - 18 IS - 5 SP - 516 EP - 526 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Uhler, Johannes A1 - Redlich, Sarah A1 - Zhang, Jie A1 - Hothorn, Torsten A1 - Tobisch, Cynthia A1 - Ewald, Jörg A1 - Thorn, Simon A1 - Seibold, Sebastian A1 - Mitesser, Oliver A1 - Morinère, Jérôme A1 - Bozicevic, Vedran A1 - Benjamin, Caryl S. A1 - Englmeier, Jana A1 - Fricke, Ute A1 - Ganuza, Cristina A1 - Haensel, Maria A1 - Riebl, Rebekka A1 - Rojas-Botero, Sandra A1 - Rummler, Thomas A1 - Uphus, Lars A1 - Schmidt, Stefan A1 - Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf A1 - Müller, Jörg T1 - Relationships of insect biomass and richness with land use along a climate gradient JF - Nature Communications N2 - Recently reported insect declines have raised both political and social concern. Although the declines have been attributed to land use and climate change, supporting evidence suffers from low taxonomic resolution, short time series, a focus on local scales, and the collinearity of the identified drivers. In this study, we conducted a systematic assessment of insect populations in southern Germany, which showed that differences in insect biomass and richness are highly context dependent. We found the largest difference in biomass between semi-natural and urban environments (-42%), whereas differences in total richness (-29%) and the richness of threatened species (-56%) were largest from semi-natural to agricultural environments. These results point to urbanization and agriculture as major drivers of decline. We also found that richness and biomass increase monotonously with increasing temperature, independent of habitat. The contrasting patterns of insect biomass and richness question the use of these indicators as mutual surrogates. Our study provides support for the implementation of more comprehensive measures aimed at habitat restoration in order to halt insect declines. KW - biodiversity KW - ecology Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265058 VL - 12 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Goos, Carina A1 - Dejung, Mario A1 - Wehman, Ann M. A1 - M-Natus, Elisabeth A1 - Schmidt, Johannes A1 - Sunter, Jack A1 - Engstler, Markus A1 - Butter, Falk A1 - Kramer, Susanne T1 - Trypanosomes can initiate nuclear export co-transcriptionally JF - Nucleic Acids Research N2 - The nuclear envelope serves as important messenger RNA (mRNA) surveillance system. In yeast and human, several control systems act in parallel to prevent nuclear export of unprocessed mRNAs. Trypanosomes lack homologues to most of the involved proteins and their nuclear mRNA metabolism is non-conventional exemplified by polycistronic transcription and mRNA processing by trans-splicing. We here visualized nuclear export in trypanosomes by intra- and intermolecular multi-colour single molecule FISH. We found that, in striking contrast to other eukaryotes, the initiation of nuclear export requires neither the completion of transcription nor splicing. Nevertheless, we show that unspliced mRNAs are mostly prevented from reaching the nucleus-distant cytoplasm and instead accumulate at the nuclear periphery in cytoplasmic nuclear periphery granules (NPGs). Further characterization of NPGs by electron microscopy and proteomics revealed that the granules are located at the cytoplasmic site of the nuclear pores and contain most cytoplasmic RNA-binding proteins but none of the major translation initiation factors, consistent with a function in preventing faulty mRNAs from reaching translation. Our data indicate that trypanosomes regulate the completion of nuclear export, rather than the initiation. Nuclear export control remains poorly understood, in any organism, and the described way of control may not be restricted to trypanosomes. KW - molecular biology KW - nuclear export KW - trypanosomes KW - mRNA KW - nuclear envelope Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177709 VL - 47 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herrmann, Johannes A1 - Lotz, Christopher A1 - Karagiannidis, Christian A1 - Weber-Carstens, Steffen A1 - Kluge, Stefan A1 - Putensen, Christian A1 - Wehrfritz, Andreas A1 - Schmidt, Karsten A1 - Ellerkmann, Richard K. A1 - Oswald, Daniel A1 - Lotz, Gösta A1 - Zotzmann, Viviane A1 - Moerer, Onnen A1 - Kühn, Christian A1 - Kochanek, Matthias A1 - Muellenbach, Ralf A1 - Gaertner, Matthias A1 - Fichtner, Falk A1 - Brettner, Florian A1 - Findeisen, Michael A1 - Heim, Markus A1 - Lahmer, Tobias A1 - Rosenow, Felix A1 - Haake, Nils A1 - Lepper, Philipp M. A1 - Rosenberger, Peter A1 - Braune, Stephan A1 - Kohls, Mirjam A1 - Heuschmann, Peter A1 - Meybohm, Patrick T1 - Key characteristics impacting survival of COVID-19 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation JF - Critical Care N2 - Background Severe COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) often requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Recent German health insurance data revealed low ICU survival rates. Patient characteristics and experience of the ECMO center may determine intensive care unit (ICU) survival. The current study aimed to identify factors affecting ICU survival of COVID-19 ECMO patients. Methods 673 COVID-19 ARDS ECMO patients treated in 26 centers between January 1st 2020 and March 22nd 2021 were included. Data on clinical characteristics, adjunct therapies, complications, and outcome were documented. Block wise logistic regression analysis was applied to identify variables associated with ICU-survival. Results Most patients were between 50 and 70 years of age. PaO\(_{2}\)/FiO\(_{2}\) ratio prior to ECMO was 72 mmHg (IQR: 58–99). ICU survival was 31.4%. Survival was significantly lower during the 2nd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A subgroup of 284 (42%) patients fulfilling modified EOLIA criteria had a higher survival (38%) (p = 0.0014, OR 0.64 (CI 0.41–0.99)). Survival differed between low, intermediate, and high-volume centers with 20%, 30%, and 38%, respectively (p = 0.0024). Treatment in high volume centers resulted in an odds ratio of 0.55 (CI 0.28–1.02) compared to low volume centers. Additional factors associated with survival were younger age, shorter time between intubation and ECMO initiation, BMI > 35 (compared to < 25), absence of renal replacement therapy or major bleeding/thromboembolic events. Conclusions Structural and patient-related factors, including age, comorbidities and ECMO case volume, determined the survival of COVID-19 ECMO. These factors combined with a more liberal ECMO indication during the 2nd wave may explain the reasonably overall low survival rate. Careful selection of patients and treatment in high volume ECMO centers was associated with higher odds of ICU survival. KW - Covid-19 KW - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) KW - intensive care unit Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-299686 VL - 26 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herrmann, Johannes A1 - Müller, Kerstin A1 - Notz, Quirin A1 - Hübsch, Martha A1 - Haas, Kirsten A1 - Horn, Anna A1 - Schmidt, Julia A1 - Heuschmann, Peter A1 - Maschmann, Jens A1 - Frosch, Matthias A1 - Deckert, Jürgen A1 - Einsele, Hermann A1 - Ertl, Georg A1 - Frantz, Stefan A1 - Meybohm, Patrick A1 - Lotz, Christopher T1 - Prospective single-center study of health-related quality of life after COVID-19 in ICU and non-ICU patients JF - Scientific Reports N2 - Long-term sequelae in hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may result in limited quality of life. The current study aimed to determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after COVID-19 hospitalization in non-intensive care unit (ICU) and ICU patients. This is a single-center study at the University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Germany. Patients eligible were hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2020. Patients were interviewed 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge. Questionnaires included the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L), patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the generalized anxiety disorder 7 scale (GAD-7), FACIT fatigue scale, perceived stress scale (PSS-10) and posttraumatic symptom scale 10 (PTSS-10). 85 patients were included in the study. The EQ5D-5L-Index significantly differed between non-ICU (0.78 ± 0.33 and 0.84 ± 0.23) and ICU (0.71 ± 0.27; 0.74 ± 0.2) patients after 3- and 12-months. Of non-ICU 87% and 80% of ICU survivors lived at home without support after 12 months. One-third of ICU and half of the non-ICU patients returned to work. A higher percentage of ICU patients was limited in their activities of daily living compared to non-ICU patients. Depression and fatigue were present in one fifth of the ICU patients. Stress levels remained high with only 24% of non-ICU and 3% of ICU patients (p = 0.0186) having low perceived stress. Posttraumatic symptoms were present in 5% of non-ICU and 10% of ICU patients. HRQoL is limited in COVID-19 ICU patients 3- and 12-months post COVID-19 hospitalization, with significantly less improvement at 12-months compared to non-ICU patients. Mental disorders were common highlighting the complexity of post-COVID-19 symptoms as well as the necessity to educate patients and primary care providers about monitoring mental well-being post COVID-19. KW - health care KW - public health KW - quality of life Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357174 VL - 13 ER -