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Electrophilic oxylipins trigger a heat-shock-like response in the absence of heat through the canonical heat-shock transcription factor A1, thereby helping to cope with stresses associated with protein damage.Abiotic and biotic stresses are often characterized by an induction of reactive electrophile species (RES) such as the jasmonate 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) or the structurally related phytoprostanes. Previously, RES oxylipins have been shown massively to induce heat-shock-response (HSR) genes including HSP101 chaperones. Moreover, jasmonates have been reported to play a role in basal thermotolerance. We show that representative HSR marker genes are strongly induced by RES oxylipins through the four master regulator transcription factors HSFA1a, b, d, and e essential for short-term adaptation to heat stress in Arabidopsis. When compared with Arabidopsis seedlings treated at the optimal acclimation temperature of 37 A degrees C, the exogenous application of RES oxylipins at 20 A degrees C induced a much weaker induction of HSP101 at both the gene and protein expression levels which, however, was not sufficient to confer short-term acquired thermotolerance. Moreover, jasmonate-deficient mutant lines displayed a wild-type-like HSR and were not compromised in acquiring thermotolerance. Hence, the OPDA- and RES oxylipin-induced HSR is not sufficient to protect seedlings from severe heat stress but may help plants to cope better with stresses associated with protein unfolding by inducing a battery of chaperones in the absence of heat.
The impact of imatinib dose on response rates and survival in older patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase has not been studied well. We analyzed data from the German CML-Study IV, a randomized five-arm treatment optimization study in newly diagnosed BCR-ABL-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. Patients randomized to imatinib 400 mg/day (IM400) or imatinib 800 mg/day (IM800) and stratified according to age (≥65 years vs. <65 years) were compared regarding dose, response, adverse events, rates of progression, and survival. The full 800 mg dose was given after a 6-week run-in period with imatinib 400 mg/day. The dose could then be reduced according to tolerability. A total of 828 patients were randomized to IM400 or IM800. Seven hundred eighty-four patients were evaluable (IM400, 382; IM800, 402). One hundred ten patients (29 %) on IM400 and 83 (21 %) on IM800 were ≥65 years. The median dose per day was lower for patients ≥65 years on IM800, with the highest median dose in the first year (466 mg/day for patients ≥65 years vs. 630 mg/day for patients <65 years). Older patients on IM800 achieved major molecular remission and deep molecular remission as fast as younger patients, in contrast to standard dose imatinib with which older patients achieved remissions much later than younger patients. Grades 3 and 4 adverse events were similar in both age groups. Five-year relative survival for older patients was comparable to that of younger patients. We suggest that the optimal dose for older patients is higher than 400 mg/day. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00055874
The vast majority of chronic myeloid leukemia patients express a BCR-ABL1 fusion gene mRNA encoding a 210 kDa tyrosine kinase which promotes leukemic transformation. A possible differential impact of the corresponding BCR-ABL1 transcript variants e13a2 ("b2a2") and e14a2 ("b3a2") on disease phenotype and outcome is still a subject of debate. A total of 1105 newly diagnosed imatinib-treated patients were analyzed according to transcript type at diagnosis (e13a2, n=451; e14a2, n=496; e13a2+e14a2, n=158). No differences regarding age, sex, or Euro risk score were observed. A significant difference was found between e13a2 and e14a2 when comparing white blood cells (88 vs. 65 x 10(9)/L, respectively; P<0.001) and platelets (296 vs. 430 x 109/L, respectively; P<0.001) at diagnosis, indicating a distinct disease phenotype. No significant difference was observed regarding other hematologic features, including spleen size and hematologic adverse events, during imatinib-based therapies. Cumulative molecular response was inferior in e13a2 patients (P=0.002 for major molecular response; P<0.001 for MR4). No difference was observed with regard to cytogenetic response and overall survival. In conclusion, e13a2 and e14a2 chronic myeloid leukemia seem to represent distinct biological entities. However, clinical outcome under imatinib treatment was comparable and no risk prediction can be made according to e13a2 versus e14a2 BCR-ABL1 transcript type at diagnosis. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 00055874)
Abstimmbare Halbleiterlaser und schmalbandige Laserarrays mit verteilter lateraler Rückkopplung
(2003)
Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden zwei verschiedene Typen von Halbleiterlasern mit verteilter Rückkopplung (DFB-Laser) entwickelt. Die Laser basieren auf Rippenwellenleitern und verfügen zusätzlich über ein dazu senkrecht orientiertes Metallgitter. Der evaneszente Teil der im Rippenwellenleiter geführten Lichtwelle überlappt mit dem Gitter. Durch diese periodische Variation des effektiven Brechungsindex wird die verteilte Rückkopplung gewährleistet, was eine longitudinal monomodige Laseremission zur Folge hat. Beiden Lasertypen ist gemeinsam, dass der Herstellungsprozess auf einem vom Materialsystem unabhängigen Konzept basiert. Diese Tatsache ist von besonderem Interesse, da so entsprechende Laser für unterschiedlichste Wellenlängenbereiche gefertigt werden können, ohne hierfür neue Herstellungsverfahren zu entwickeln. Den ersten Schwerpunkt der Arbeit bilden Untersuchungen zu sog. abstimmbaren Lasern, deren Emissionswellenlänge innerhalb eines relativ großen Bereichs quasikontinuierlich einstellbar ist. Der Abstimmmechanismus kann mit dem Vernier-Prinzip erklärt werden. Der Laser besteht hierbei aus zwei gekoppelten Segmenten, die jeweils über eine Reihe von Moden (Modenkamm) verfügen. Der Abstand der Moden innerhalb eines Segments ist konstant, wohingegen die Modenabstände der beiden Segmente leicht unterschiedlich sind. Die Emissionswellenlänge des Lasers ist bestimmt durch den Überlapp zweier Moden aus den beiden Segmenten, wobei die Modenkämme so ausgelegt sind, dass gleichzeitig maximal ein Modenpaar überlappt. Eine kleine relative Verschiebung der beiden Modenkämme führt zu einer vergleichsweise großen Verschiebung der Emissionswellenlänge auf Grund des veränderten Überlapps. Die Modenkämme wurden durch spezielle DFB-Gitter, sog. binary superimposed gratings (BSG), realisiert, die, anders als bei konventionellen DFB-Lasern, für mehrere Bragg-Wellenlängen konstruktive Interferenz zulassen und erstmalig bei DFB-Lasern eingesetzt wurden. BSGs zeichnen sich durch sehr gute optische Eigenschaften bei gleichzeitig einfacher Herstellung aus. Zum Abstimmen der Wellenlänge wurde der Brechungsindex des Lasers gezielt durch den Injektionsstrom bzw. die Bauteiltemperatur verändert. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit konnten abstimmbare Laser auf unterschiedlichen Materialsystemen (InGaAs/GaAs, GaInNAs/GaAs, InGaAsP/InP) hergestellt werden. Der maximale diskrete Abstimmbereich beträgt 38 nm bzw. 8,9 THz und ist durch die Breite des Verstärkungsspektrums limitiert. Quasikontinuierlich konnte ein Abstimmbereich von 15 nm bzw. 3,9 THz erreicht werden. Die typische minimale Seitenmodenunterdrückung (SMSR) beträgt 30 bis 35 dB. Durch Hinzufügen eines dritten Segments ohne Gitter konnte die Ausgangsleistung unabhängig von der Wellenlänge konstant gehalten werden. Den zweiten Schwerpunkt der Arbeit bildet die Entwicklung von DFB-Laser-Arrays mit dem Ziel, longitudinal monomodige Laser mit hoher Ausgangsleistung zu erhalten. Die DFB-Laser-Arrays basieren auf dem oben beschriebenen Prinzip von DFB-Lasern mit lateralem Metallgitter und verfügen über mehrere Rippenwellenleiter, die im lateralen Abstand von wenigen Mikrometern angeordnet sind. Für große Abstände zwischen den einzelnen Lasern des Arrays (Elemente) emittieren diese, weitgehend unabhängig von einander, jeweils longitudinal monomodiges Licht (quasimonochromatische Emission). Die spektrale Breite beträgt hierbei typischerweise 50 bis 70 GHz. Für kleine Elementabstände koppeln die einzelnen Lichtwellen miteinander, was zu einer mit einem konventionellen DFB-Laser vergleichbaren Linienbreite führt. Während die ungekoppelten Arrays über ein gaußförmiges Fernfeld verfügen, ergibt sich für die gekoppelten Arrays ein Interferenzmuster, das stark von verschiedenen Laserparametern (wie z. B. dem Elementabstand) abhängt. Bei InGaAs/GaAs basierenden Arrays (Wellenlänge ca. 980 nm) ergibt sich für DFB-Laser-Arrays mit vier Elementen eine Ausgangsleistung von ca. 200 mW pro Facette, die durch die Wärmeabfuhr begrenzt wird. Trotz der starken thermischen Limitierung (die Laser waren nicht aufgebaut) konnte die 3,5-fache Ausgangsleistung eines Referenzlasers erzielt werden. Bei InGaSb/GaSb basierenden Arrays mit vier Elementen (Wellenlänge ca. 2,0 µm) konnte eine Ausgangsleistung von ca. 30 mW pro Facette erreicht werden, was dem 3,3-fachen eines Referenzlasers entspricht. Die Verwendung von DFB-Laser-Arrays führt folglich zu einer signifikanten Leistungssteigerung, die sich durch geeignete Maßnahmen (Facettenvergütung, Montage, Skalierung) noch weiter erhöhen ließe.
Salt stress is a major abiotic stress, responsible for declining agricultural productivity. Roots are regarded as hubs for salt detoxification, however, leaf salt concentrations may exceed those of roots. How mature leaves manage acute sodium chloride (NaCl) stress is mostly unknown.
To analyze the mechanisms for NaCl redistribution in leaves, salt was infiltrated into intact tobacco leaves. It initiated pronounced osmotically‐driven leaf movements. Leaf downward movement caused by hydro‐passive turgor loss reached a maximum within 2 h.
Salt‐driven cellular water release was accompanied by a transient change in membrane depolarization but not an increase in cytosolic calcium ion (Ca\(^{2+}\)) level. Nonetheless, only half an hour later, the leaves had completely regained turgor. This recovery phase was characterized by an increase in mesophyll cell plasma membrane hydrogen ion (H\(^{+}\)) pumping, a salt uptake‐dependent cytosolic alkalization, and a return of the apoplast osmolality to pre‐stress levels. Although, transcript numbers of abscisic acid‐ and Salt Overly Sensitive pathway elements remained unchanged, salt adaptation depended on the vacuolar H\(^{+}\)/Na\(^{+}\)‐exchanger NHX1.
Altogether, tobacco leaves can detoxify sodium ions (Na\(^{+}\)) rapidly even under massive salt loads, based on pre‐established posttranslational settings and NHX1 cation/H+ antiport activity. Unlike roots, signaling and processing of salt stress in tobacco leaves does not depend on Ca\(^{2+}\) signaling.
Major molecular remission (MMR) is an important therapy goal in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). So far, MMR is not a failure criterion according to ELN management recommendation leading to uncertainties when to change therapy in CML patients not reaching MMR after 12 months. At monthly landmarks, for different molecular remission status Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated for patients registered to CML study IV who were divided in a learning and a validation sample. The minimum HR for MMR was found at 2.5 years with 0.28 (compared to patients without remission). In the validation sample, a significant advantage for progression-free survival (PFS) for patients in MMR could be detected (p-value 0.007). The optimal time to predict PFS in patients with MMR could be validated in an independent sample at 2.5 years. With our model we provide a suggestion when to define lack of MMR as therapy failure and thus treatment change should be considered. The optimal response time for 1% BCR-ABL at about 12-15 months was confirmed and for deep molecular remission no specific time point was detected. Nevertheless, it was demonstrated that the earlier the MMR is achieved the higher is the chance to attain deep molecular response later.
Within the EURO-SKI trial, 132 chronic phase CML patients discontinued imatinib treatment. RNA was isolated from peripheral blood in order to analyze the expression of MDR1, ABCG2 and OCT1. ABCG2 was predictive for treatment-free remission in Cox regression analysis. High transcript levels of the ABCG2 efflux transporter (>4.5 parts per thousand) were associated with a twofold higher risk of relapse. Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can safely be discontinued in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with sustained deep molecular response. ABCG2 (breast cancer resistance protein), OCT1 (organic cation transporter 1), and ABCB1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) gene products are known to play a crucial role in acquired pharmacogenetic TKI resistance. Their influence on treatment-free remission (TFR) has not yet been investigated. Materials and Methods: RNA was isolated on the last day of TKI intake from peripheral blood leukocytes of 132 chronic phase CML patients who discontinued TKI treatment within the European Stop Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Study trial. Plasmid standards were designed including subgenic inserts of OCT1, ABCG2, and ABCB1 together with GUSB as reference gene. For expression analyses, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used. Multiple Cox regression analysis was performed. In addition, gene expression cutoffs for patient risk stratification were investigated. Results: The TFR rate of 132 patients, 12 months after TKI discontinuation, was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%-62%). ABCG2 expression (parts per thousand) was retained as the only significant variable (P=.02; hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07) in multiple Cox regression analysis. Only for the ABCG2 efflux transporter, a significant cutoff was found (P=.04). Patients with an ABCG2/GUSB transcript level >4.5 parts per thousand (n=93) showed a 12-month TFR rate of 47% (95% CI, 37%-57%), whereas patients with low ABCG2 expression (<= 4.5 parts per thousand; n=39) had a 12-month TFR rate of 72% (95% CI, 55%-82%). Conclusion: In this study, we investigated the effect of pharmacogenetics in the context of a CML treatment discontinuation trial. The transcript levels of the efflux transporter ABCG2 predicted TFR after TKI discontinuation. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Small bacterial regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of numerous metabolic pathways. In most of these studies, sRNA-dependent regulation of mRNAs or proteins of enzymes in metabolic pathways has been predicted to affect the metabolism of these bacteria. However, only in a very few cases has the role in metabolism been demonstrated. Here, we performed a combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis to define the regulon of the sibling sRNAs NgncR_162 and NgncR_163 (NgncR_162/163) and their impact on the metabolism of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These sRNAs have been reported to control genes of the citric acid and methylcitric acid cycles by posttranscriptional negative regulation. By transcriptome analysis, we now expand the NgncR_162/163 regulon by several new members and provide evidence that the sibling sRNAs act as both negative and positive regulators of target gene expression. Newly identified NgncR_162/163 targets are mostly involved in transport processes, especially in the uptake of glycine, phenylalanine, and branched-chain amino acids. NgncR_162/163 also play key roles in the control of serine-glycine metabolism and, hence, probably affect biosyntheses of nucleotides, vitamins, and other amino acids via the supply of one-carbon (C\(_1\)) units. Indeed, these roles were confirmed by metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis, which revealed a bipartite metabolic network with glucose degradation for the supply of anabolic pathways and the usage of amino acids via the citric acid cycle for energy metabolism. Thus, by combined deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and metabolomics, we significantly extended the regulon of NgncR_162/163 and demonstrated the role of NgncR_162/163 in the regulation of central metabolic pathways of the gonococcus.