Refine
Has Fulltext
- yes (13)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (13)
Year of publication
Document Type
- Doctoral Thesis (7)
- Journal article (6)
Keywords
- liver (13) (remove)
Institute
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie (3)
- Institut für diagnostische und interventionelle Radiologie (Institut für Röntgendiagnostik) (3)
- Institut für Humangenetik (2)
- Graduate School of Life Sciences (1)
- Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie (1)
- Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie (1)
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II (1)
- Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum (1)
- Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (1)
EU-Project number / Contract (GA) number
- 678119 (1)
Investigation of processes that contribute to the maintenance of genomic stability is one crucial factor in the attempt to understand mechanisms that facilitate ageing. The DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair mechanisms are crucial to safeguard the integrity of DNA and to prevent accumulation of persistent DNA damage. Among them, base excision repair (BER) plays a decisive role. BER is the major repair pathway for small oxidative base modifications and apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites. We established a highly sensitive non-radioactive assay to measure BER incision activity in murine liver samples. Incision activity can be assessed towards the three DNA lesions 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), 5-hydroxy-2'-deoxyuracil (5-OHdU), and an AP site analogue. We applied the established assay to murine livers of adult and old mice of both sexes. Furthermore, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) was assessed, which is an important determinant in DDR and BER. Additionally, DNA damage levels were measured to examine the overall damage levels. No impact of ageing on the investigated endpoints in liver tissue were found. However, animal sex seems to be a significant impact factor, as evident by sex-dependent alterations in all endpoints investigated. Moreover, our results revealed interrelationships between the investigated endpoints indicative for the synergetic mode of action of the cellular DNA integrity maintaining machinery.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde eine Eignung des Bolus Tracking beim 4-Phasen Spiral CT insbesondere zur Ermittlung einer optimalen Frühphase des hepatobiliären Systems nachgewiesen. Die optimale Frühphase wurde definiert bei 20%-30% Leberenhancement im Vergleich zur portalvenösen Phase. 250 Untersuchungen des Abdomens wurden an einem Spiral CT mit identischem Tischvorschub und Schichtdicke durchgeführt, wobei 200 Patienten mit Bolus Tracking und 50 Patienten mit Standardverfahren untersucht wurden. Die Startverzögerung der Frühphase beim Standardverfahren betrug 25 Sekunden und bei allen 250 Untersuchungen wurde für die portalvenöse Phase ein Delay von 60 Sekunden nach Start der arteriellen Phase gewählt. Zu Beginn der Studie wurden 150 Untersuchungen mit Bolus Tracking untersucht, dabei wurden die Patienten randomisiert auf 6 verschiedene Protokolle mit Schwellenwerten von 50 HE, 75 HE und 100 HE bei Startverzögerungen von 5 und 10 Sekunden aufgeteilt. Es ergab sich ein signifikanter Vorteil für das Protokoll mit einem Schwellenwert von 75 HE und 10 Sekunden Startverzögerung. Weitere 50 Untersuchungen bei einem Schwellenwert von 75 HE und einer Startverzögerung von 10 Sekunden wurden mit 50 Patienten mit Standardverfahren verglichen. Hier zeigte sich kein signifikanter Unterschied Bolus Tracking versus Standardverfahren bei jedoch einem tendenziellen Vorteil des Bolus Tracking.
Evaluation of 1H-NMR and GC/MS-based metabonomics for the assessment of liver and kidney toxicity
(2009)
For the assessment of metabonomics techniques for the early, non-invasive detection of toxicity, the nephrotoxins gentamicin (s.c. administration of 0, 60 and 120 mg/kg bw 2x daily for 8 days), ochratoxin A (p.o. administration of 0, 21, 70 and 210 µg/kg bw 5 days/week for 90 days) and aristolochic acid (p.o. administration of 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg/kg bw for 12 days) were administered to rats and urine samples were analyzed with 1H-NMR and GC/MS. Urine samples from the InnoMed PredTox project were analyzed as well, thereby focusing on 1H-NMR analysis and bile duct necrosis as histopathological endpoint. 1H-NMR analysis used water supression with the following protocol: 1 M phosphate buffer, D2O as shift lock reagent, D4-trimethylsilylpropionic acid as chemical shift reference, noesygppr1d pulse sequence (Bruker). For multivariate data analysis, spectral intensity was binned into 0.04 ppm wide bins. GC/MS analysis of urine was carried out after protein precipitation with methanol, drying, derivatization with methoxyamine hydrochloride in pyridine and with methyl(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide on a DB5-MS column using EI ionization. The chromatograms were prepared for multivariate data analysis using the R-program based peak picking and alignment software XCMS version 2.4.0. Principal component analysis (PCA) to detect and visualize time-point and dose-dependent differences between treated animals and controls and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) for identification of potential molecular markers of toxicity was carried out using SIMCA P+ 11.5 1H-NMR-based markers were identified and quantified with the Chenomx NMR Suite, GC/MS based markers were identified using the NIST Mass Spectral Database and by co-elution with authentic reference standards. PCA of urinary metabolite profiles was able to differentiate treated animals from controls at the same time as histopathology. An advantage over classical clinical chemistry parameters regarding sensitivity could be observed in some cases. Metabonomic analysis with GC/MS and 1H-NMR revealed alterations in the urinary profile of treated animals 1 day after start of treatment with gentamicin, correlating with changes in clinical chemistry parameters and histopathology. Decreased urinary excretion of citrate, 2-oxoglutarate, hippurate, trigonelline and 3-indoxylsulfate increased excretion of 5-oxoproline, lactate, alanine and glucose were observed. Ochratoxin A treatment caused decreased excretion of citrate, 2-oxoglutarate and hippurate and and increased excretion of glucose, myo-inositol, N,N-dimethylglycine, glycine, alanine and lactate as early as 2 weeks after start of treatment with 210µg OTA/kg bw, correlating with changes in clinical chemistry parameters and histopathology. Integration of histopathology scores increased confidence in the molecular markers discovered. Aristolochic acid treatment resulted in decreased urinary excretion of citrate, 2-oxoglutarate, hippurate and creatinine as well as increased excretion of 5-oxoproline, N,N-dimethylglycine, pseudouridine and uric acid. No alterations in clinical chemistry parameters or histopathology were noted.Decreased excretion of hippurate indicates alterations in the gut microflora, an effect that is expected as pharmacological action of the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin and that can also be explained by the p.o. administration of xenobiotica. Decreased Krebs cycle intermediates (citrate and 2-oxoglutarate) and increased lactate is associated with altered energy metabolism. Increased pseudouridine excretion is associated with cell proliferation and was observed with aristolochic acid and ochratoxin A, for which proliferative processes were observed with histopathology. 5-oxoproline and N,N-dimethylglycine can be associated with oxidative stress. Glucose, a marker of renal damage in clinical chemistry, was observed for all three nephrotoxins studied. Single study analysis with PCA of GC/MS chromatograms and 1H-NMR spectra of urine from 3 studies conducted within the InnoMed PredTox project showing bile duct necrosis revealed alterations in urinary profiles with the onset of changes in clinical chemistry and histopathology. Alterations were mainly decreased Krebs cycle intermediates and changes in the aromatic gut flora metabolites, an effect that may result as a secondary effect from altered bile flow. In conclusion, metabonomics techniques are able to detect toxic lesions at the same time as histopathology and clinical chemistry. The metabolites found to be altered are common to most toxicities and are not organ-specific. A mechanistic link to the observed toxicity has to be established in order to avoid confounders such as body weight loss, pharmacological effects etc. For pattern recognition purposes, large databases are necessary.
Die 31-P-Magnetresonanz-Spektroskopie (31-P-MRS) ist eine nicht-invasive Methode, welche einen direkten Einblick in den Phospholipid-Haushalt der menschlichen Leber erlaubt. Mit der 31-P-MR-Spektroskopie wurden Spektren von 10 Patienten mit Leberzirrhose sowie von 13 gesunden Probanden in Kombination mit dem Lokalisationsverfahren 3D-CSI und dem Nachbearbeitungsprogramm SLOOP (Spectral Localization with Optimal Pointspread Funktion) gewonnen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie ergaben signifikante Unterschiede in den Absolutkonzentrationen der Phospholipide zwischen Patienten mit Leberzirrhose und lebergesunden Probanden.
Background
Liver steatosis is often observed in chronic HCV infection and associated to genotype or comorbidities. NAFLD is an important risk factor for end-stage liver disease. We aimed to analyse the course of NAFLD as a concomitant disease in a cohort of HCV patients.
Methods
The German Hepatitis C-Registry is a national multicenter real-world cohort. In the current analysis, 8789 HCV patients were included and separated based on the presence of steatosis on ultrasound and/or histology. Fibrosis progression was assessed by transient elastography (TE), ultrasound or non-invasive surrogate scores.
Results
At the time of study inclusion 12.3% (n = 962) of HCV patients presented with steatosis (+S) (higher rate in GT-3). Diabetes mellitus was more frequent in GT-1 patients. HCV patients without steatosis (-S) had a slightly higher rate of fibrosis progression (FP) over time (30.3%) in contrast to HCV patients +S (26%). This effect was mainly observed in GT-3 patients (34.4% vs. 20.6%). A larger decrease of ALT, AST and GGT from baseline to FU-1 (4–24 weeks after EOT) was found in HCV patients (without FP) +S compared to -S. HCV patients -S and with FP presented more often metabolic comorbidities with a significantly higher BMI (+0.58kg/m\(^{2}\)) compared to patients -S without FP. This was particularly pronounced in patients with abnormal ALT.
Conclusion
Clinically diagnosed steatosis in HCV patients does not seem to contribute to significant FP in this unique cohort. The low prevalence of steatosis could reflect a lower awareness of fatty liver in HCV patients, as patients -S and with FP presented more metabolic risk factors.
Immortalized hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) established from mouse, rat, and humans are valuable in vitro models for the biomedical investigation of liver biology. These cell lines are homogenous, thereby providing consistent and reproducible results. They grow more robustly than primary HSCs and provide an unlimited supply of proteins or nucleic acids for biochemical studies. Moreover, they can overcome ethical concerns associated with the use of animal and human tissue and allow for fostering of the 3R principle of replacement, reduction, and refinement proposed in 1959 by William M. S. Russell and Rex L. Burch. Nevertheless, working with continuous cell lines also has some disadvantages. In particular, there are ample examples in which genetic drift and cell misidentification has led to invalid data. Therefore, many journals and granting agencies now recommend proper cell line authentication. We herein describe the genetic characterization of the rat HSC line HSC-T6, which was introduced as a new in vitro model for the study of retinoid metabolism. The consensus chromosome markers, outlined primarily through multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY), demonstrate that apart from the large derivative chromosome 1 (RNO1), at least two additional chromosomes (RNO4 and RNO7) are found to be in three copies in all metaphases. Additionally, we have defined a short tandem repeat (STR) profile for HSC-T6, including 31 species-specific markers. The typical features of these cells have been further determined by electron microscopy, Western blotting, and Rhodamine-Phalloidin staining. Finally, we have analyzed the transcriptome of HSC-T6 cells by mRNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq) using next generation sequencing (NGS).
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are also known as lipocytes, fat-storing cells, perisinusoidal cells, or Ito cells. These liver-specific mesenchymal cells represent about 5% to 8% of all liver cells, playing a key role in maintaining the microenvironment of the hepatic sinusoid. Upon chronic liver injury or in primary culture, these cells become activated and transdifferentiate into a contractile phenotype, i.e., the myofibroblast, capable of producing and secreting large quantities of extracellular matrix compounds. Based on their central role in the initiation and progression of chronic liver diseases, cultured HSCs are valuable in vitro tools to study molecular and cellular aspects of liver diseases. However, the isolation of these cells requires special equipment, trained personnel, and in some cases needs approval from respective authorities. To overcome these limitations, several immortalized HSC lines were established. One of these cell lines is CFSC, which was originally established from cirrhotic rat livers induced by carbon tetrachloride. First introduced in 1991, this cell line and derivatives thereof (i.e., CFSC-2G, CFSC-3H, CFSC-5H, and CFSC-8B) are now used in many laboratories as an established in vitro HSC model. We here describe molecular features that are suitable for cell authentication. Importantly, chromosome banding and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY) analysis demonstrate that the CFSC-2G genome has accumulated extensive chromosome rearrangements and most chromosomes exist in multiple copies producing a pseudo-triploid karyotype. Furthermore, our study documents a defined short tandem repeat (STR) profile including 31 species-specific markers, and a list of genes expressed in CFSC-2G established by bulk mRNA next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Furan was recently found to be present in a variety of food items that undergo heat treatment. It is known to act as a potent hepatotoxin and liver carcinogen in rodents. In a 2-year bioassay, chronic furan administration to rats was shown to cause hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas and very high incidences of cholangiocarcinomas even at the lowest furan dose tested (2.0 mg/kg bw). However, the mechanisms of furan-induced tumor formation are poorly understood. Furan is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, predominantly CYP2E1, to its major metabolite cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA). BDA is thought to be the key mediator of furan toxicity and carcinogenicity and was shown to react with cellular nucleophiles such as nucleosides and amino acid residues in vitro. It is well known that covalent protein binding may lead to cytotoxicity, but the cellular mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Since covalent binding of reactive intermediates to a target protein may result in loss of protein function and subsequent damage to the cell, the aim of this study was to identify furan target proteins to establish their role in the pathogenesis of furan-associated liver toxicity and carcinogenicity. In order to identify target proteins of furan reactive metabolites, male F344/N rats were administered [3,4-14C]-furan. Liquid scintillation counting of protein extracts revealed a dose-dependent increase of radioactivity covalently bound to liver proteins. After separation of the liver protein extracts by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and subsequent detection of radioactive spots by fluorography, target proteins of reactive furan intermediates were identified by mass spectrometry and database search via Mascot. A total of 61 putative target proteins were consistently found to be adducted in 3 furan-treated rats. The identified proteins represent - among others - enzymes, transport proteins, structural proteins and chaperones. Pathway mapping tools revealed that target proteins are predominantly located in the cytosol and mitochondria and participate in glucose metabolism, mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acids, and amino acid degradation. These findings together with the fact that ATP synthase β subunit was also identified as a putative target protein strongly suggest that binding of furan reactive metabolites to proteins may result in mitochondrial injury, impaired cellular energy production, and altered redox state, which may contribute to cell death. Moreover, several proteins involved in the regulation of redox homeostasis represent putative furan target proteins. Loss of function of these proteins by covalent binding of furan reactive metabolites may impair cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress, which may also result in cell death. Besides the potential malfunction of whole pathways due to loss of functions of several participating proteins, loss of function of individual proteins which are involved in various cellular processes such as transport processes across the mitochondrial membranes, cell signaling, DNA methylation, blood coagulation, and bile acid transport may also contribute to furan-induced cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Covalent binding of reactive metabolites to cellular proteins may result in accumulation of high amounts of unfolded or damaged proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In response to this ER stress, the cell can activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to repair or degrade damaged proteins. To address whether binding of furan reactive metabolites to cellular proteins triggers activation of the UPR, semiquantitative PCR and TaqMan® real-time PCR were performed. In the case of UPR activation, semiquantitative PCR should show enhanced splicing of X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) mRNA (transcription factor and key regulator of the UPR) and TaqMan® real-time PCR should determine an increased expression of UPR target genes. However, our data showed no evidence for activation of the UPR in the livers of rats treated either with a single hepatotoxic dose or with a known carcinogenic dose for 4 weeks. This suggests either that furan administration does not induce ER stress through accumulation of damaged proteins or that activation of the UPR is disrupted. Consistent with the latter, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), identified as a target protein in our study, represents an important mediator involved in activation of the UPR whose inhibition was shown to impair induction of the UPR. Thus, adduct formation and inactivation of GRP78 by furan metabolites may disturb activation of the UPR. In addition to impaired activation of UPR, protein repair and degradation functions may be altered, because several proteins involved in these processes also represent target proteins of furan and thus may show impaired functionality. Taken together...
Hepatic activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms by diacylglycerol (DAG) promotes insulin resistance and contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The closely related protein kinase D (PKD) isoforms act as effectors for DAG and PKC. Here, we showed that PKD3 was the predominant PKD isoform expressed in hepatocytes and was activated by lipid overload. PKD3 suppressed the activity of downstream insulin effectors including the kinase AKT and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and 2 (mTORC1 and mTORC2). Hepatic deletion of PKD3 in mice improved insulin-induced glucose tolerance. However, increased insulin signaling in the absence of PKD3 promoted lipogenesis mediated by SREBP (sterol regulatory element-binding protein) and consequently increased triglyceride and cholesterol content in the livers of PKD3-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet. Conversely, hepatic-specific overexpression of a constitutively active PKD3 mutant suppressed insulin-induced signaling and caused insulin resistance. Our results indicate that PKD3 provides feedback on hepatic lipid production and suppresses insulin signaling. Therefore, manipulation of PKD3 activity could be used to decrease hepatic lipid content or improve hepatic insulin sensitivity.
Ziel: Versuch der Definition von Lebertumoren mit quantitativem dynamischem kontrast-verstärktem Ultraschall anhand der Beurteilung der Vaskularisation, wash-in, wash-out über einen definierten Zeitraum. Korrelation mit histologischen Befunden. Patienten und Methode: 42 Leberläsionen in 39 Patienten wurden mittels „Contrast Harmonic Imaging“ (CHI) über einen Zeitraum von 2 min nach einer Bolusinjektion von 10 ml Levovist® (300mg/ml, Schering AG, Berlin) untersucht. Die Untersuchungen wurden an einem Sonoline Elegra® (Siemens AG, Erlangen) mit einem frequenzvariablen 3,5 MHz Schallkopf durchgeführt. Das Kontrastmittelverhalten der Leberläsionen wurde durch eine speziell für Ultraschallkontrastmittel entwickelte Software (Axius™ ACQ (Siemens, Issaquah, WA)) quantifiziert. Repräsentative ROI wurden in das Zentrum der Läsion, über die gesamte Läsion, in normales Leberparenchym, sowie in repräsentative Lebergefäße (Leberarterie, Lebervene, Portalvene) gelegt. Die Kontrastmittelaufnahme der Leberläsionen wurde unterteilt in arteriell, portal-venös oder venös. Des Weiteren erfolgte eine Unterteilung in hypovaskular, isovaskular und hypervaskular im Vergleich zum normalen Leberparenchym. Zusätzlich wurde das Kontrastmittelverhalten innerhalb der Läsion beurteilt und unterteilt in zentrifugal, zentripetal, peripher und komplett. Alle Leberläsionen wurden vor und nach Kontrastmittelgabe von vier im Ultraschall, CT und MRT erfahrenen Radiologen ausgewertet ohne Kenntnis der Patientendaten oder des histologischen Ergebnis. Das Diagnosekriterium maligne wurde mittels einer ROC-Analyse ausgewertet. Zusätzlich wurden die durchschnittliche Sensitivität, Spezifität, sowie der positive und negative Vorhersagewert berechnet. Ergebnisse: Von 36 Raumforderungen lagen histologische Befunde vor. Histologisch ergaben sich 29 maligne Läsionen (HCC, n=11; CCC n=1; Lymphom, n=1, Metastasen, n=16) und 7 benigne Läsionen (Hämangiom, n=1; FNH, n=4, Adenom n=2). 4 FNH´s und 1 Hämangiom waren durch NUK, MRT und durch Langzeitkontrollen bestätigt. Die Auswertung der ROC-Analyse in Bezug auf das Kriterium maligne schwankte vor Kontrastmittelgabe zwischen 0,43 und 0,62 (Durchschnitt 0,57) und nach Kontrastmittelgabe zwischen 0,7 und 0,8 (Durchschnitt 0,75). Die durchschnittlichen Werte für die Sensitivität, Spezifität, negativer und positiver Vorhersagewert betrugen vor Kontrastmittelgabe 66%, 26%, 45% und 73% nach Kontrastmittelgabe 83%, 49%, 65% und 82%. Diskussion: Die Quantifizierung der verstärkten Gefäßdarstellung in Lebertumoren nach Bolus-Applikation eines Ultraschallkontrastmittels verbessert die Zuordnung zu einem malignen Prozess im Vergleich zum nativen Ultraschall. Um zuverlässigere Diagnosen stellen zu können ist eine Verbesserung der Auswertesoftware sowie die Berücksichtigung der neuen Generation von Ultraschallkontrastmitteln notwendig.