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Fluorescence Dequenching Makes Haem-Free Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Detectable in Living Cells
(2011)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.