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Sonstige beteiligte Institutionen
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) (7)
- Universitätsklinikum Münster (3)
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg (2)
- Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (ZINF) Würzburg (2)
- Bio-Imaging Center Würzburg (1)
- Biomedical Center Munich, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (1)
- CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - the development agency of the Brazilian Federal Government (1)
- CBIO, University of Cape Town, South Africa (1)
- Carl-Ludwig-Institut für Physiologie, Universität Leipzig (1)
- Chair of Experimental Biomedicine I (1)
Stimulatory or superagonistic (SA) CD28-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are potent polyclonal activators of regulatory T cells and have proven highly effective as treatment in a wide range of rodent models for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In these models, a preferential activation of regulatory T cells was observed by in vivo administration of CD28SA. In stark contrast, human volunteers receiving TGN1412, a humanized CD28-specific mAb, experienced a life-threatening cytokine release syndrome during the first-in-man trial. Preclinical tests employing human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) failed to announce the rapid cytokine release measured in the human volunteers in response to TGN1412. The aim of this thesis project was to find an explanation of why standard PBMC assays failed to predict the unexpected TGN1412-induced "cytokine storm" observed in human volunteers. CD28 superagonists can activate T cells without T cell receptor (TCR) ligation. They do depend, however, on “tonic” TCR signals received by MHC scanning, signals that they amplify. PBMC do not receive these signals in the circulation. Short-term in vitro preculture of human PBMC at a high cell density (HDC) resulted in massive cytokine release during subsequent TGN1412 stimulation. Restoration of reactivity was cell-contact dependent, associated with TCR polarization and tyrosine-phosphorylation, and blocked by HLA-specific mAb. In HDC, both CD4 T cells and monocytes functionally mature in a mutually dependent fashion. However, only CD4 memory T-cells proliferate upon TGN1412 stimulation, and were identified as the main source of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, responses to other T-cell activating agents were also enhanced if PBMC were first allowed to interact under tissue-like conditions. A new in vitro protocol is provided that returns circulating T-cells to a tissue-like status where they respond to TGN1412 stimulation, and it might represent a more reliable preclinical in vitro test for both activating and inhibitory immunomodulatory drugs. Finally, the surprising observation was made that the IgG1 “sibling” of TGN1412, which is of the poorly Fc receptor-binding IgG4 isotype, has a much lower stimulatory activity. We could exclude steric hindrance as an explanation and provide evidence for removal of TGN1112 from the T-cell surface by trans-endocytosis.
b-adrenergic receptors (b-ARs) participate strongly in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and human heart failure. Stimulation of b-adrenergic receptors with catecholamines as well as cardiac overexpression of b1-ARs or of Gas-proteins in transgenic mice induces cardiac hypertrophy. However, direct activation of their downstream targets, such as adenylyl cyclase (AC) or protein kinase A do not promote a significant degree of cardiac hypertrophy. These findings suggest that additional events may occur and that these events require Gas-protein activation. A hypertrophic pathway involving Gaq-protein coupled receptors has recently been described. Upon activation of Gaq-coupled receptors Gbg-subunits are released from Gaq and bind directly to the activated Raf/Mek/Erk cascade. Direct interaction between bg-subunits and activated Erk1/2 leads to an additional autophosphorylation of Erk2 at threonine 188, which mediates cardiac hypertrophy. Murine hearts, as well as isolated cardiomyocytes present an increase in Erk2Thr188-phosphorylation upon b-AR activation. Similarly overexpression of phosphorylation deficient Erk2 mutants (Erk2T188S and Erk2T188A) reduces b-AR mediated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Increase in left ventricular wall thickness, fibrosis and up-regulation of natriuretic peptide synthesis, which are physiological features for cardiac hypertrophy, are strongly inhibited in transgenic mice with a cardiac expression of Erk2T188S after two weeks of sustained isoproterenol treatment. It could further be shown in this work that b-AR mediated cardiac hypertrophy requires two distinct pathways initiated by Gs-protein activation: the canonical phosphorylation of Erk1/2 via adenylyl cyclase and the direct interaction of released bg-subunits with activated Erk1/2. Coincidence of both events leads to Erk2Thr188-phosphorylation, which activates then different transcription factors responsible for cardiac hypertrophy. Sequestration of bg-subunits by overexpression of the C-terminus of GRK2 bark-ct and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase efficiently reduced the hypertrophic response to isoproterenol, whereas direct activation of AC by forskolin failed to induce Erk2Thr188-phosphorylation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. These findings may help to develop new therapeutic strategies for the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and maladaptive remodeling of the heart.
Platelet activation and aggregation are essential to limit posttraumatic blood loss at sites of vascular injury, but also contribute to arterial thrombosis, leading to myocardial infarction and stroke. Thrombus formation is the result of well-defined molecular events, including agonist-induced elevation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and series of cytoskeletal rearrangements. With the help of genetically modified mice, the work presented in this thesis identified novel mechanisms underlying the process of platelet activation in hemostasis and thrombosis. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) through Orai1 was previously shown to be the main Ca2+ influx pathway in murine platelets. The residual Ca2+ entry in the Orai1 deficient platelets suggested a role for additional non-store-operated Ca2+ (non-SOC) and receptor operated Ca2+ entry (ROCE) in maintaining platelet calcium homeostasis. Canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6), which is expressed in both human and murine platelets, has been attributed to be involved in SOCE as well as in diacylglycerol (DAG)-triggered ROCE. In the first part of the study, the function of TRPC6 in platelet Ca2+ signaling and activation was analyzed by using the TRPC6 knockout mice. In vitro agonist induced Ca2+ responses and in vivo platelet function were unaltered in Trpc6-/- mice. However, Trpc6-/- mice displayed a completely abolished DAG mediated Ca2+-influx but a normal SOCE. These findings identified TRPC6 as the major DAG operated ROC channel in murine platelets, but DAG mediated ROCE has no major functional relevance for hemostasis and thrombosis. In the second part of the thesis, the involvement of the PDLIM family member CLP36 in the signaling pathway of the major platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI was investigated. The GPVI/FcR-chain complex initiates platelet activation through a series of tyrosine phosphorylation events downstream of the FcR-chain-associated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). GPVI signaling has to be tightly regulated to prevent uncontrolled intravascular platelet activation, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study reports the adaptor protein CLP36 as a major inhibitor of GPVI-ITAM signaling in platelets. Platelets from mice expressing a truncated form of CLP36, (Clp36ΔLIM) and platelets from mice lacking the entire protein (Clp36-/-) displayed profound hyper-activation in response to GPVI-specific agonists, whereas GPCR signaling pathways remained unaffected. These alterations translated into accelerated thrombus formation and enhanced pro-coagulant activity of Clp36ΔLIM platelets and a pro-thrombotic phenotype in vivo. These studies revealed an unexpected inhibitory function of CLP36 in GPVI-ITAM signaling and established it as a key regulator of arterial thrombosis.
Objective: Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) provide a muscle independent interaction channel making them particularly valuable for individuals with severe motor impairment. Thus, different BCI systems and applications have been proposed as assistive technology (AT) solutions for such patients. The most prominent system for communication utilizes event-related potentials (ERP) obtained from the electroencephalogram (EEG) to allow for communication on a character-by-character basis. Yet in their current state of technology, daily life use cases of such systems are rare. In addition to the high EEG preparation effort, one of the main reasons is the low information throughput compared to other existing AT solutions. Furthermore, when testing BCI systems in patients, a performance drop is usually observed compared to healthy users. Patients often display a low signal-to-noise ratio of the recorded EEG and detection of brain responses may be aggravated due to internally (e.g. spasm) or externally induced artifacts (e.g. from ventilation devices). Consequently, practical BCI systems need to cope with mani-fold inter-individual differences. Whilst these high demands lead to increasing complexity of the technology, daily life use of BCI systems requires straightforward setup including an easy-to-use graphical user interface that nonprofessionals can handle without expert support. Research questions of this thesis: This dissertation project aimed at bringing forward BCI technology toward a possible integration into end-users' daily life. Four basic research questions were addressed: (1) Can we identify performance predictors so that we can provide users with individual BCI solutions without the need of multiple, demanding testing sessions? (2) Can we provide complex BCI technology in an automated, user-friendly and easy-to-use manner, so that BCIs can be used without expert support at end-users' homes? (3) How can we account for and improve the low information transfer rates as compared to other existing assistive technology solutions? (4) How can we prevent the performance drop often seen when bringing BCI technology that was tested in healthy users to those with severe motor impairment? Results and discussion: (1) Heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of inhibitory control (i.e. the ability to allocate attention resources and inhibit distracting stimuli) was significantly related to ERP-BCI performance and accounted for almost 26% of variance. HRV is easy to assess from short heartbeat recordings and may thus serve as a performance predictor for ERP-BCIs. Due to missing software solutions for appropriate processing of artifacts in heartbeat data (electrocardiogram and inter-beat interval data), our own tool was developed that is available free of charge. To date, more than 100 researchers worldwide have requested the tool. Recently, a new version was developed and released together with a website (www.artiifact.de). (2) Furthermore, a study of this thesis demonstrated that BCI technology can be incorporated into easy-to-use software, including auto-calibration and predictive text entry. Naïve, healthy nonprofessionals were able to control the software without expert support and successfully spelled words using the auto-calibrated BCI. They reported that software handling was straightforward and that they would be able to explain the system to others. However, future research is required to study transfer of the results to patient samples. (3) The commonly used ERP-BCI paradigm was significantly improved. Instead of simply highlighting visually displayed characters as is usually done, pictures of famous faces were used as stimulus material. As a result, specific brain potentials involved in face recognition and face processing were elicited. The event-related EEG thus displayed an increased signal-to-noise ratio, which facilitated the detection of ERPs extremely well. Consequently, BCI performance was significantly increased. (4) The good results of this new face-flashing paradigm achieved with healthy participants transferred well to users with neurodegenerative disease. Using a face paradigm boosted information throughput. Importantly, two users who were highly inefficient with the commonly used paradigm displayed high accuracy when exposed to the face paradigm. The increased signal-to-noise ratio of the recorded EEG thus helped them to overcome their BCI inefficiency. Significance: The presented work at hand (1) successfully identified a physiological predictor of ERP-BCI performance, (2) proved the technology ready to be operated by naïve nonprofessionals without expert support, (3) significantly improved the commonly used spelling paradigm and (4) thereby displayed a way to effectively prevent BCI inefficiency in patients with neurodegenerative disease. Additionally, missing software solutions for appropriate handling of artifacts in heartbeat data encouraged development of our own software tool that is available to the research community free of charge. In sum, this thesis significantly improved current BCI technology and enhanced our understanding of physiological correlates of BCI performance.
Der Hitzeschock-Transkriptionsfaktor 1 (HSF1) als neues potenzielles Ziel im Multiplen Myelom
(2013)
Die evolutionär hoch konservierte Hitzeschock-Antwort (heat shock stress response, HSR) ermöglicht Zellen sich an Stresssituationen anzupassen und so dem programmierten Zelltod zu entgehen. Die Regulation der HSR unterliegt dem Hitzeschock-Transkriptionsfaktor 1 (HSF1), der nach einem Stress-Impuls umgehend die Synthese der Hitzeschock-Proteine (HSP) initiiert. Als molekulare Chaperone assistieren die HSP bei der Faltung und den intrazellulären Transport ihrer Klientenproteine und erhalten so die lebensnotwendigen zellulären Funktionen aufrecht. Während das HSF1/HSP-System vorteilhaft für normale Zellen ist, kann es aber auch den Prozess der malignen Transformation unterstützen. In verschiedenen Tumorentitäten wurde eine Abhängigkeit der malignen Zellen von HSP, vereinzelt auch von HSF1, beschrieben. Im multiplen Myelom (MM) stabilisieren HSP u.a. Klientenproteine in einem komplexen onkogenen Signalnetzwerk und erhalten so eine aberrante Signalweiterleitung aufrecht. Wegen dieser wichtigen Funktion ist die Inhibition der HSP (insbesondere HSP90) bereits ein therapeutischer Ansatzpunkt, der jedoch im MM noch nicht zu dem erhofften Erfolg führte. Darüber hinaus wurde beobachtet, dass es zu einer Induktion der HSP nach einer Behandlung mit neuen, antitumoralen Medikamenten (Proteasom-, HDAC- und HSP90-Inhibitoren) kommt. Diese kompensatorische Hochregulation der HSP ist assoziiert mit einem Resistenzverhalten gegenüber der Therapie und ist somit unerwünscht. Die bisherigen Untersuchungen legen aber auch nahe, dass HSF1 selbst eine wichtige Funktion bei der malignen Transformation einnimmt. So wurde gezeigt, dass der funktionelle Verlust von HSF1 vor der onkogenen Ras oder mutierten Trp53 getriebenen Tumorigenese schützt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden daher die Expression von HSF1, seine Rolle in der HSP-Regulierung und den Beitrag zum Überleben und Resistenzen in MM-Zellen analysiert. Untersuchungen der HSF1-Expression in Knochenmarkbiopsien von Myelompatienten und in Myelomzelllinien zeigten, dass in ca. 50 % der untersuchten Biopsien und Zelllinien eine hohe HSF1-Expression vorhanden ist. Sowohl der shRNA-vermitteltem Knockdown von HSF1 als auch die pharmakologische Inhibition mit Triptolid induzierten Apoptose in MM-Zellen. Durch Microarrayanalysen nach shRNA-vermitteltem Knockdown und der anschließenden Verifikation über Western Blot konnte gezeigt werden, dass nach der HSF1-Depletion zahlreiche HSP (HSP90, HSP70, HSP40 and HSP27) vermindert exprimiert wurden. Einzelne Knockdown Experimente der HSP40 und HSP27 führten zu moderaten Zellsterben, so dass geschlussfolgert werden kann, dass die gleichzeitige Minderung multipler HSP, durch die Depletion von HSF1, zu einem summierten starken apoptotischen Effekt führt. In weiteren Studien stellte sich heraus, dass in MM-Zellen, trotz des deregulierten Systems und der aberrant hohen Expression der HSP, eine Stressantwort ausgelöst werden kann. Dies konnte durch den „klassischen“ Hitzschock und durch die Behandlung mit pharmakologischen Inhibitoren von HSP90 und des Proteasoms erreicht werden. Diese unerwünschte Reaktion auf Therapeutika wird vermutlich durch einen kompensatorischen Zellrettungsmechanismus ausgelöst, der zu Resistenzen gegenüber der Behandlung führen kann. Durch die Inhibition von HSF1 mit Triptolid und durch shRNA-vermitteltem Knockdown, konnte diese zelluläre Antwort unterbunden werden. Darüber hinaus führte die pharmakologische Inhibition von HSF1 in Kombination mit HSP90 (mit NVP-AUY922) oder Proteasom-Inhibition (mit Bortezomib) zu einem verstärkten apoptotischen Effekt in MM-Zellen. Zusammenfassend deuten diese Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass HSF1 essenziell für die Regulation der HSP im MM ist. Darüber hinaus kann die Inhibition von HSF1, besonders in Kombination mit HSP90- oder Proteasom-Inhibition, eine neue hoffnungsvolle Therapieoption für Myelompatienten darstellen.
The superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) regulates numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. Hence GPCRs are of significant interest for pharmacological therapy. Embedded into cytoplasmic membranes, GPCRs represent the core of large signaling complexes, which are critical for transduction of exogenous stimuli towards activation of downstream signaling pathways. As a member of the GPCR family B, the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR) activates adenylyl cyclases, phospholipases C β as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling pathways, thereby mediating endocrine and paracrine effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), respectively. This regulates, calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism and bone development. Paradoxically, PTH is able to induce both catabolic and anabolic bone metabolism. The anabolic effect of PTH is successfully applied in the therapy of severe osteoporosis. Domination of anabolic or catabolic bone-metabolism is entailed by temporal and cell-type specific determinants. The molecular bases are presumably differential arrangements of adaptor proteins within large signaling complexes that may lead to differential activation of signaling pathways, thereby regulating physiological effects. The molecular mechanisms are largely unclear; thus, there is significant interest in revealing a better understanding of PTHR-related adaptor proteins. To identify novel adaptor proteins which direct PTHR signaling pathways, a proteomic screening approach was developed. In this screening, vav2, a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for small GTPases which regulates cytoskeleton reorganization, was found to interact with intracellular domains of PTHR. Evidence is provided that vav2 impairs PTH-mediated phospholipase C β (PLCβ) signaling pathways by competitive interactions with G protein αq subunits. Vice versa, PTH was shown to regulate phosphorylation and subsequent GEF activity of vav2. These findings may thus shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of PTH on bone metabolism by PLC-signaling, cell migration and cytoskeleton organization. In addition to the understanding of intracellular molecular signaling processes, screening for ligands is a fundamental and demanding prerequisite for modern drug development. To this end, ligand binding assays represent a fundamental technique. As a substitution for expensive and potentially harmful radioligand binding, fluorescence-based ligand-binding assays for PTHR were developed in this work. Based on time-resolved fluorescence, several assay variants were established to facilitate drug development for the PTHR.
Der Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met Polymorphismus (rs4680) ist am Abbau von Dopamin und Noradrenalin im menschlichen Gehirn beteiligt. In bisherigen Studien konnte gezeigt werden, dass das Met-Allel mit einer erhöhten Reaktivität auf negative Stimuli assoziiert ist. Auf Basis der Tonischen/ Phasischen Dopaminhypothese wird postuliert, dass diese erhöhte Reaktivität auf negative Reize durch defizitäre Disengagementprozesse verursacht sein könnte. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es daher, diese theoretische Annahme mithilfe von Blickbewegungsmessungen zu überprüfen und zu untersuchen, ob die erhöhte Reaktivität sich auch in verlängerten Disengagementlatenzen von negativen Reizen widerspiegelt. Es wurden dafür drei Studien durchgeführt, in denen eine adaptierte Version der emotionalen Antisakkadenaufgabe in Verbindung mit einer Blickbewegungsmessung eingesetzt wurde. In der zweiten Studie wurde zusätzlich eine EEG-Messung durchgeführt. Außerdem wurde in der dritten Studie die Aufmerksamkeitslokation manipuliert. In der ersten und zweiten Studie zeigte sich nicht wie erwartet ein linearer Effekt in Relation zum COMT Val158Met Polymorphismus, sondern ein Heterosiseffekt. Dieser Effekt zeigte sich nur in der einfacheren Prosakkadenbedingung. In der ersten Studie wurde der Heterosiseffekt bei negativen Reizen gefunden, wohingegen in der zweiten Studie der Heterosiseffekt nur in einer EEG- Komponente, der Early Posterior Negativity (EPN), aber sowohl bei positiven als auch negativen Reizen gefunden wurde. In der dritten Studie zeigte sich kein Genotypeffekt. Es wird vermutet, dass der COMT Effekt in der emotionalen Verarbeitung aufgabenspezifisch sein könnte und daher, neben linearen Zusammenhängen, unter bestimmten Umständen auch ein Heterosiseffekt auftreten kann. Die Ergebnisse sollten nicht auf eine männliche Stichprobe generalisiert werden, da in allen Studien lediglich weibliche Versuchspersonen teilnahmen.
Serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the regulation of emotions as well as in its pathological states, such as anxiety disorders and depression. Mice with targeted deletion of genes encoding various mediators of central serotonergic neurotransmission therefore provides a powerful tool in understanding contributions of such mediators to homeostatic mechanisms as well as to the development of human emotional disorders. Within this thesis a battery of electrophysiological recordings were conducted in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and the hippocampus of two murine knockout lines with deficient serotonergic systems. Serotonin transporter knockout mice (5-Htt KO), which lack protein responsible for reuptake of 5-HT from the extracellular space and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 knockout (Tph2 KO) mice, which lack the gene encoding the neuronal 5-HT-synthesising enzyme. First, 5-HT1A receptor-mediated autoinhibition of serotonergic neuron firing in the DRN was assessed using the loose-seal cell-attached configuration. Stimulation of 5-HT1A receptors by a selective agonist, R-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (R-8-OH-DPAT), showed a mild sensitisation and a marked desensitisation of these receptors in Tph2 KO and 5-Htt KO mice, respectively. While application of tryptophan, a precursor of 5-HT and a substrate of Tph2, did not cause autoinhibition in Tph2 KO mice due to the lack of endogenously produced 5-HT, data from 5-Htt KO mice as well as heterozygous mice of both KO mice lines demonstrated the presence of autoinhibitory mechanisms as normal as seen in wildtype (WT) controls. When the Tph2-dependent step in the 5-HT synthesis pathway was bypassed by application of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonergic neurons of both Tph2 KO and 5-Htt KO mice showed decrease in firing rates at lower concentrations of 5-HTP than in WT controls. Elevated responsiveness of serotonergic neurons from Tph2 KO mice correspond to mild sensitisation of 5-HT1A receptors, while responses from 5-Htt KO mice suggest that excess levels of extracellular 5-HT, created by the lack of 5-Htt, stimulates 5-HT1A receptors strong enough to overcome desensitisation of these receptors. Second, the whole-cell patch clamp recording data from serotonergic neurons in the DRN showed no differences in basic electrophysiological properties between Tph2 KO and WT mice, except lower membrane resistances of neurons from KO mice. Moreover, the whole-cell patch clamp recording from CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus of 5-Htt KO mice showed increased conductance both at a steady state and at action potential generation. Lastly, magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by the Schaffer collateral/commissural pathway stimulation in the ventral hippocampus showed no differences among Tph2 KO, 5-Htt KO, and WT counterparts. Taken together, lack and excess of extracellular 5-HT caused sensitisation and desensitisation of autoinhibitory 5-HT1A receptors, respectively. However, this may not directly translate to the level of autoinhibitory regulation of serotonergic neuron firing when these receptors are stimulated by endogenously synthesised 5-HT. In general, KO mice studied here showed an astonishing level of resilience to genetic manipulations of the central serotonergic system, maintaining overall electrophysiological properties and normal LTP inducibility. This may further suggest existence of as-yet-unknown compensatory mechanisms buffering potential alterations induced by genetic manipulations.
Nitrogen-regulated pathogenesis describes the expression of virulence attributes as direct response to the quantity and quality of an available nitrogen source. As consequence of nitrogen availability, the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans changes its morphology and secretes aspartic proteases [SAPs], both well characterized virulence attributes. C. albicans, contrarily to its normally non-pathogenic relative Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is able to utilize proteins, which are considered as abundant and important nitrogen source within the human host. To assimilate complex proteinaceous matter, extracellular proteolysis is followed by uptake of the degradation products through dedicated peptide transporters (di-/tripeptide transporters [PTRs] and oligopeptide transporters [OPTs]). The expression of both traits is transcriptionally controlled by Stp1 - the global regulator of protein utilization - in C. albicans. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the regulation of virulence attributes of the pathogenic fungus C. albicans by nitrogen availability in more detail. Within a genome wide binding profile of Stp1, during growth with proteins, more than 600 Stp1 target genes were identified, thereby confirming its role in the usage of proteins, but also other nitrogenous compounds as nitrogen source. Moreover, the revealed targets suggest an involvement of Stp1 in the general adaption to nutrient availability as well as in the environmental stress response. With the focus on protein utilization and nitrogen-regulated pathogenesis, the regulation of the major secreted aspartic protease Sap2 - additionally one of the prime examples of allelic heterogeneity in C. albicans - was investigated in detail. Thereby, the heterogezygous SAP2 promoter helped to identify an unintended genomic alteration as the true cause of a growth defect of a C. albicans mutant. Additionally, the promoter region, which was responsible for the differential activation of the SAP2 alleles, was delimited. Furthermore, general Sap2 induction was demonstrated to be mediated by distinct cis-acting elements that are required for a high or a low activity of SAP2 expression. For the utilization of proteins as nitrogen source it is also crucial to take up the peptides that are produced by extracellular proteolysis. Therefore, the function and importance of specific peptide transporters was investigated in C. albicans mutants, unable to use peptides as nitrogen source (opt1Δ/Δ opt2Δ/Δ opt3Δ/Δ opt4Δ/Δ opt5Δ/Δ ptr2Δ/Δ ptr22Δ/Δ septuple null mutants). The overexpression of individual transporters in these mutants revealed differential substrate specificities and expanded the specificity of the OPTs to dipeptides, a completely new facet of these transporters. The peptide-uptake deficient mutants were further used to elucidate, whether indeed proteins and peptides are an important in vivo nitrogen source for C. albicans. It was found that during competitive colonization of the mouse intestine these mutants exhibited wild-type fitness, indicating that neither proteins nor peptides are primary nitrogen sources required to efficiently support growth of C. albicans in the mouse gut. Adequate availability of the preferred nitrogen source ammonium represses the utilization of proteins and other alternative nitrogen sources, but also the expression of virulence attributes, like Sap secretion and nitrogen-starvation induced filamentation. In order to discriminate, whether ammonium availability is externally sensed or determined inside the cell by C. albicans, the response to exterior ammonium concentrations of ammonium-uptake deficient mutants (mep1Δ/Δ mep2Δ/Δ null mutants) was investigated. This study showed that presence of an otherwise suppressing ammonium concentration did not inhibit Sap2 proteases secretion and arginine-induced filamentation in these mutants. Conclusively, ammonium availability is primarily determined inside the cell in order to control the expression of virulence traits. In sum, the present work contributes to the current understanding of how C. albicans regulates expression of virulence-associated traits in response to the presence of available nitrogen sources - especially proteins and peptides - in order to adapt its lifestyle within a human host.
Toleranz gegenüber Selbstantigenen in den peripheren Geweben kann durch CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatorische T-Zellen (Tregs) vermittelt werden. Diese Zellen entstehen entweder in Folge der thymischen T-Zellselektion (natürlich vorkommende Tregs, nTreg) oder durch Konversion aus naiven T-Zellen in den peripheren lymphatischen Organen (induzierte Tregs, iTregs). Im Vorfeld der Arbeit war bereits bekannt, dass Dendritische Zellen (DZ) eine wichtige Rolle bei der Generierung von iTreg spielen. Allerdings bestand weitestgehend Unklarheit darüber, welche DZ in welchem Reifungszustand dazu in der Lage sind, iTregs gegen peripher-exprimierte Selbstantigene zu induzieren. Steady-state migratorische DZ (ssmDZ) gelten in dieser Hinsicht als potentielle Kandidaten, da bekannt ist, dass diese DZ bereits unter homöostatischen Bedingungen Selbstantigene aus peripheren Geweben in die drainierenden Lymphknoten transportieren und dort T-Zellen präsentieren können. Ein Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war daher, den Phänotyp und die tolerogene Kapazität der ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten näher zu untersuchen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass ssmDZ einen semireifen MHC IIint CD40hi CD80/CD86int CCR7+ Phänotyp aufweisen und in vitro mit Hilfe von endogenem TGF-β iTregs induzieren können. Darüber hinaus belegt diese Arbeit zusammen mit weiteren Daten aus unserer Arbeitsgruppe, dass ssmDZ in transgenen K5mOVA-Mäusen zellassoziertes epidermales OVA aus der Haut in die drainierenden Lymphknoten transportieren und dort an CD4+ OVA-spezifische TZR-transgene OT-II T-Zellen präsentieren können. Innerhalb der ssmDZ konnten die Langerin+ dermalen DZ als die DZ-Subpopulation eingegrenzt werden, die für die Konversion von naiven OT-II T-Zellen in CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ iTregs verantwortlich war. Ferner zeigte sich, dass CD103 nicht als Marker für ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten herangezogen werden kann. Ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit war, herauszufinden, welchen Einfluss der Transkriptionsfaktor RelB auf die partielle Reifung und Migration der ssmDZ hat. RelB ist ein Mitglied der NF-κB-Familie und wird mit der Reifung von DZ in Verbindung gebracht. Erste Experimente zeigten eine nukleäre Translokation von RelB in ssmDZ sowie eine verringerte Frequenz dieser DZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten von relB+/- Mäusen und Mäusen mit einer Defizienz für den RelB-Bindungspartner p52. Allerdings konnte bei Mäusen mit einer DZ-spezifischen RelB-Inaktivierung (RelBDCko Mäuse) eine erhöhte Frequenz an ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten festgestellt, die nicht auf einer Zunahme an DZ in der Haut der Tiere zurückzuführen war. Diese Ergebnisse legen einerseits die Vermutung nahe, dass es sich bei den beobachteten Effekte in den relB+/- Mäusen um DZ-extrinsische Auswirkungen auf die ssmDZ handelt. Andererseits scheint RelB unter homöostatischen Bedingungen die Erhaltung und Migration der ssmDZ eher negativ zu beeinflussen. Weitere durchflusszytometrische Analysen wiesen zudem darauf hin, dass RelB in ssmDZ die Expression von Reifungsmarkern nur partiell reguliert. So konnte auf den ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten von RelBDCko Mäusen eine erhöhte Expression von CD40 beobachtet werden, während andere Reifungsmarker wie MHC II, CD80 und CD86 nicht signifikant in ihrer Expression betroffen waren. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde zudem untersucht, wie sich eine RelB-Defizienz in DZ auf die Homöostase und Induktion von Tregs auswirkt. Die hierzu analysierten RelBDCko Mäuse wiesen eine erhöhte Frequenz und absolute Zellzahl an Tregs in allen untersuchten lymphatischen Organen (hautdrainierende Lymphknoten, Milz und Thymus) auf. Darüber hinaus war in diesen Organen auch eine verstärkte Proliferation der Tregs gegenüber den Kontrolltieren festzustellen. Weitere Untersuchungen zeigten, dass die Proliferation der Tregs in RelBDCko Mäusen in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten sogar stärker ausfiel als in der Milz. RelB scheint somit die tolerogene Kapazität der DZ zur Regulation der Treg-Expansion im Thymus und in der Peripherie zu beeinflussen. Unter Verwendung von neutralisierenden αIL-2-Antikörpern konnte zudem belegt werden, dass die periphere Proliferation der Tregs in den RelBDCko Mäusen von IL-2 abhängig ist. Damit einhergehend zeigten erste Vorversuche eine erhöhte IL-2-Produktion in den peripheren lymphatischen Organen von RelBDCko Mäusen. Zusammenfassend legen die Daten dieser Arbeit den Schluss nahe, dass ssmDZ in den hautdrainierenden Lymphknoten in der Lage sind, Toleranz durch Induktion von iTregs gegen epidermale Selbstantigene zu induzieren. Untersuchungen an neuartigen Mäusen mit einer konditionalen RelB-Inaktivierung spezifisch in DZ deuten darauf hin, dass die Migration und Reifung von ssmDZ partiell durch RelB reguliert wird. Da Tregs eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Erhaltung der peripheren Toleranz einnehmen, ist die Beobachtung, dass eine RelB-Defizienz in allen DZ zu einer verstärkten Treg-Proliferation und somit zu einer veränderten Treg-Homöostase führt, ein intererssanter Ausgangspunkt für weitere Untersuchungen.
Der Hefepilz Candida albicans gehört zu den opportunistischen Infektionserregern. Er ist Teil der natürlichen Mikroflora der Schleimhäute des Gastrointestinal- und Urogenitaltraktes des Menschen. Bei Störungen des natürlichen Gleichgewichts dieser Flora kann es zu oberflächlichen Mykosen, z. B. der oropharyngealen Candidiasis (Mundsoor), kommen. Besonders immunsupprimierte Patienten, wie AIDS-Patienten, leiden häufig unter immer wiederkehrenden Infektionen, die mitunter auch zu schwerwiegenden Infektionsverläufen, bis hin zu lebensbedrohlichen systemischen Mykosen führen können. Zur Therapie solcher Erkrankungen werden oft Ergosterolbiosyntheseinhibitoren, wie Fluconazol, eingesetzt. Besonders bei wiederkehrenden Infektionen und wiederholender Therapie ist C. albicans in der Lage, gegen diese häufig verabreichten Antimykotika Resistenzen zu entwickeln. Hierbei spielen Zink-Cluster-Transkriptionsfaktoren eine zentrale Rolle. Zink-Cluster-Proteine gehören zu einer pilzspezifischen Familie von Transkriptionsfaktoren, die ein großes Spektrum an zellulären Prozessen regulieren. Die gut charakterisierten Regulatoren Upc2, Tac1 und Mrr1 gehören zu den Zink-Cluster-Transkriptionsfaktoren, die maßgeblich zur Resistenzentwicklung von C. albicans beitragen. Upc2 kontrolliert die Expression vieler Ergosterolbiosynthesegene, besonders die von ERG11, welches für die Zielstruktur des gängigen Antimykotikums Fluconazol kodiert. Tac1 und Mrr1 hingegen regulieren die Expression von Multidrug-Effluxpumpen, den ABC-Transportern CDR1 und CDR2 bzw. dem Major Facilitator MDR1. Gain-of-function-Mutationen in diesen Transkriptionsfaktoren resultieren in einer konstitutiven Überexpression ihrer Zielgene und sind verantwortlich für die Resistenz vieler klinischer Isolate. In dieser Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass die Fusion von Mrr1 mit der Gal4-Aktivierungsdomäne von Saccharomyces cerevisiae zu einem konstitutiv aktiven Hybridtranskriptionsfaktor führte, der eine MDR1-Überexpression bewirkte und Fluconazolresistenz vermittelte. Dieses Hybridprotein vermittelte sogar eine höhere Resistenz als ein Mrr1 mit natürlich vorkommenden gain-of-function-Mutationen. Analoge Fusionen mit Tac1 und Upc2 resultierten ebenfalls in einer konstitutiven Aktivierung dieser Transkriptionsfaktoren, die einen starken Anstieg der Fluconazolresistenz zur Folge hatte. Daraus ergab sich die Schlussfolgerung, dass dies eine generelle Methode sein könnte, die Zink-Cluster-Transkriptionsfaktoren künstlich zu aktivieren und so ihre biologischen Funktionen zu offenbaren, ohne die genauen Bedingungen für ihre Aktivität zu kennen. Deshalb wurde auf der Basis dieser Strategie eine Bibliothek von C.-albicans-Stämmen konstruiert, in der alle 82 putativen Zink-Cluster-Transkriptionsfaktoren in dieser möglicherweise hyperaktiven Form exprimiert werden. Untersuchungen dieser Bibliothek offenbarten neue Transkriptionsfaktoren, die Fluconazolresistenz vermittelten, aber auch noch unbekannte Regulatoren der Morphogenese und andere Phänotypen konnten beobachtet werden. Um einen tieferen Einblick in die Funktionsweise zu bekommen, wurden die Transkriptionsprofile der vier Transkriptionsfaktoren ermittelt, die in ihrer hyperaktiven Form die höchste Fluconazolresistenz bewirkten. Dabei stellte sich heraus, dass die zwei künstlich aktivierten (*) Regulatoren ZCF34* und ZNC1* die Expression der wichtigsten Multidrug-Effluxpumpe CDR1 stark hochregulierten. Der Transkriptionsfaktor mit dem vorläufigen Namen ZCF34 konnte im Verlauf dieser Arbeit als ein wichtiger Regulator für die CDR1-Expression identifiziert werden. Er ist sowohl an der Aktivierung der Expression von CDR1 beteiligt als auch für die basale CDR1-Promotoraktivität notwendig. Aus diesem Grund wurde er in MRR2 (multidrug resistance regulator 2) umbenannt. Mit der Entdeckung eines neuen Regulators der wichtigsten Multidrug-Effluxpumpe von C. albicans wurde ein wichtiger Beitrag zum Verständnis der Regulation solcher Transporter geleistet. Die Überexpression dieser Pumpen ist einer der häufigsten Resistenzmechanismen in C. albicans. Auf diesem Wege kann Resistenz gegen strukturell völlig unterschiedliche Antimykotika bewirkt werden. Somit stellen sowohl diese Effluxpumpen, als auch deren Regulatoren mögliche Angriffsziele für die Entwicklung neuer oder Weiterentwicklung bereits vorhandener Antimykotika dar.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) endophenotypes as a link between phenotype and genotype were the focus of the present work. Candidate endophenotypes were investigated via neuropsychological tasks during the simultaneous recording of a 21-channel electroencephalogram. Since endophenotypes are assumed to more closely reflect genetic variation, the influence of ADHD-associated genes Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), the dopamine transporter (DAT, SLC6A3) and Latrophilin-3 (LPHN3) was analysed. Response inhibition was assessed with a cued Continuous Performance Test, for working memory we used an n-back task, sensory gating was measured via the paired clicks paradigm and response time variability (RTV) was quantified by the standard deviation of reaction times. The sample comprised medicated (N=36) and unmedicated (N=42) ADHD patients and matched control children and adolescents (N=41). The electrophysiological correlate of response inhibition was the centroid location during response execution and inhibition, and the degree of anteriorization (NGA). Sensory gating reflects the attenuation of the P50 response to the second of two auditory stimuli presented in short succession. Working memory was examined during target and non-target trials, reflecting specific information processing stages: early sensory processing (P100 and N100), selection of material (P150), memory retrieval (N300), event categorization (P300) and updating of working memory content (P450). Performance was quantified in terms of omission errors reflecting inattention and false alarms reflecting impulsivity, as well as speed and variability of reactions. Unmedicated ADHD patients had more omission errors and more variable reaction times, pointing to difficulties with attention and state regulation. NGA did not prove an optimal endophenotype candidate, since it was not yet developed in approximately half of the examined children and adolescents. It was independent of diagnosis; however ADHD risk alleles for DAT conferred lower NGA as well as more variable reaction times across groups. DAT genotype interacted with diagnosis on the level of centroid location, however, it did not manifest in performance deficits. In the case of sensory gating, homozygosity for the DAT allele associated with ADHD (10R) conferred impairment. ADHD was only relevant in participants without genetic risk, where patients without medication struggled most with suppression. In the working memory task, DAT modulated the timing of material selection in interaction with cognitive load and diagnosis: under high load unmedicated patients showed delayed responses, while under low load risk carriers on medication had faster responses than controls. Early processing and event-categorization were stronger in unmedicated ADHD with risk genotype, but dampened without risk. An interesting trend emerged for LPHN3, where carrying all risk variants was associated with higher NGA in ADHD patients irrespective of medication. This warrants further study, as the haplotype also exerts a positive influence on sensory gating specifically in patients. At the same time within the genetic risk group, unmedicated patients had the weakest NGA. However, the LPHN3 risk haplotype effected more posterior Go centroids, putatively facilitating response execution, which is supported by a higher number of false alarms. When inhibition was required, the risk variants led to more posterior centroids in unmedicated compared to medicated patients as well as controls, speaking to differences in inhibition-related brain activation. While as expected the risk haplotype led to compromised gating in unmedicated ADHD, this was reversed in healthy controls where the haplotype was acting in a protective manner with enhanced filtering. During working memory operations, the risk haplotype showed stronger N300 responses suggesting investment of more resources. While COMT did not exert an influence on NGA directly, carriers of the risk allele (met) had more posterior centroids both during response execution and inhibition, and displayed more variable responses in addition to being more prone to false alarms. Unmedicated patients produced smaller P300 during successful execution of responses than controls in absence of the risk allele, while with risk they had shorter latencies and presumably tend towards premature reactions. Additionally, it brought out impairments in sensory gating, thus making unmedicated patients less able to filter out irrelevant information, while they were able to compensate with the protective genotype. The influence of COMT on sensory gating seems to be specific for ADHD, as this gene was of no consequence in healthy controls. In the working memory task, met was beneficial for updating as reflected by P450 amplitude. In ADHD irrespective of medication COMT did not change P450 strength, but for controls this effect was observed.
The seed coat is the barrier controlling exchange of solutes between the plant embryo and its environment. This exchange is of importance for example in the uptake of germination inhibitors or in the uptake of agrochemicals applied as seed treatment. A thorough understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying solute permeation across the seed coat would help to improve the effectiveness of seed treatment formulations. In seed treatment formulations, additives can be used to enhance or decrease mobility or uptake of the active ingredient (AI). In the present study the seed coat barrier properties and the seed coat permeation process was examined with the model species Pisum sativum and with a set of model solutes. The lipophilic fraction of the seed coat was analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and it was found that the total lipophilic compartment of the seed coat represents 0.61 % of the weight of a swollen seed coat. The seed is covered by a lipophilic cuticle. The seed coat coverage with cuticular waxes is ten to 18-fold lower than wax coverage of pea leaves, though. In order to examine sorption of solutes in the small lipophilic compartment of the seed coat, seed coat/water partition coefficients were determined. These cover a much smaller range than the corresponding n-octanol/water partition coefficients. The lipophilic sorption compartment as calculated from the seed coat/water partition coefficient data is smaller than the analysed total lipophilic compartment of the seed coat since not all of the lipid components can act as sorption compartment. During seed swelling, the pea seed nearly doubles its weight. The uptake of water is driven by the very low water potential of the dry seed and controlled by the seed coat hydraulic conductivity both of which increase during seed swelling. Depending on the available form of water, water uptake can take place by diffusion from air humidity or by mass flow from liquid water. Water uptake by a seed in moist sand takes place by a combination of both uptake mechanisms. The basic transport mechanism underlying solute permeation of seed coats was analysed by steady-state experiments with a newly devised experimental setup. The permeance P for permeation of the set of model compounds across isolated seed coat halves ranged from 3.34 x 10-8 m s-1 for abamectin to 18.9 x 10-8 m s-1 for caffeine. It was found that solute permeation across the seed coat takes aqueous pathways. This was concluded from the facts that molar volume instead of lipophilicity of the solutes determine permeation and that the temperature effect on permeation is very small. This is in contrast to typical leaf and fruit cuticular uptake where lipophilic pathways dominate. Solute uptake across the seed coat can take place by two different mechanisms both of which take aqueous pathways. Uptake can be by diffusion and in the presence of a bulk flow of water driven by a water potential difference also by solvent drag. The presence of the solvent drag uptake mechanism shows that the aqueous pathways form an aqueous continuum across the seed coat. These findings indicate that the seed coat covering cuticle does not form a continuous barrier enclosing the seed. In order to examine solute uptake across the seed coat under conditions close to a situation taking place in the field, the process of uptake of a seed treatment AI in the field was simulated. In the situation of a treated seed in the field, the seed treatment residue dissolves and then the AI can move either into the surrounding soil or across the seed coat into the seed. Uptake across the seed coat can take place either by diffusion or during seed swelling by the solvent drag mechanism. Since the seed treatment residue depletes over time, non-steady-state uptake takes place. To simulate these processes, laboratory scale seed treatment methods were established to produce treated seeds and isolated treated seed coat halves. Experimental setups for non-steady-state uptake experiments were established with whole treated seeds and with isolated treated seed coat halves as simplified screening tool. By modelling of the AI uptake as a first-order process the rate constant k and the final relative uptake amount Mt→∞ M0-1 were obtained. With k and Mt→∞ M0-1 a quantification and comparison of the uptake curves was possible. Both in the experiments with whole treated seeds and with isolated treated seed coats, uptake of metalaxyl-M was much faster than uptake of sedaxane. In the uptake of a seed treatment AI, not only the solute's molar volume but also its water solubility determine uptake. The solute's water solubility is important for dissolution of the AI from the seed treatment residue and thus determines availability of the AI for uptake. Water solubility also controls the possible concentration in solution and thus the driving force for diffusive uptake. Furthermore, the AI amount taken up by solvent drag is determined by concentration in the inflowing water and thus by water solubility. In the experiments with whole treated seeds the additive effects on uptake were smaller than in the experiments with isolated treated seed coats or not significant. Adigor functions as an emulsifier and can lead to a slight increase of AI mobilisation from the seed treatment residue. NeoCryl A-2099 can cause a slowed down release of the AI from the seed treatment residue. The effects of both additives were smaller than the effect caused by different AI physico-chemical properties. Therefore, the most important factor determining uptake of a seed treatment AI are the AI's physico-chemical properties, especially its water solubility.
Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer with very limited treatment options. Upon appearance of metastases chemotherapeutics are used to either kill or slow down the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis or senescence, respectively. With melanomas originating from melanocytes, it is vital to elucidate the mechanisms that distinguish senescence induction from proliferation and tumourigenicity. Xmrk (Xiphophorus melanoma receptor kinase), the fish orthologue of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), causes highly aggressive melanoma in fish. Using an inducible variant, HERmrk, I showed that high receptor levels result in melanocyte senescence, whereas low and medium expression allows for cell proliferation and tumourigenicity. Mechanistically, HERmrk leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which trigger a DNA damage response. Consequently, multinucleated, senescent cells develop by both endomitosis and fusion. Furthermore, oncogenic N‐RAS (N-‐RAS61K) induces a similar multinucleated phenotype in melanocytes. In addition, I found that both overexpression of C‐MYC and the knockdown of miz‐1 (Myc‐interacting zinc finger protein 1) diminished HERmrk‐induced senescence entry. C‐MYC prevent ROS induction, DNA damage and senescence, while acting synergistically with HERmrk in conveying tumourigenic features to melanocytes. Further analyses identified cystathionase (CTH) as a novel target gene of Myc and Miz-1 crucial for senescence prevention. CTH encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of cysteine from methionine, thereby allowing for increased ROS detoxification. Even though senescence was thought to be irreversible and hence tumour protective, I demonstrated that prolonged expression of the melanoma oncogene N‐RAS61K in pigment cells overcomes initial OIS by triggering the emergence of tumour‐initiating, mononucleated stem‐like cells from multinucleated senescent cells. This progeny is dedifferentiated, highly proliferative, anoikis‐resistant and induces fast‐growing, metastatic tumours upon transplantation into nude mice. Our data demonstrate that induction of OIS is not only a cellular failsafe mechanism, but also carries the potential to provide a source for highly aggressive, tumour‐initiating cells.
Investigation on Distinct Roles of Smad Proteins in Mediating Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Signals
(2011)
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily and play important roles in numerous biological events in the development of almost all multi-cellular organisms. Dysregulated BMP signaling is the underlying causes of numerous heritable and non-heritable human diseases including cancer. The vast range of biological responses induced by BMPs converges on three closely related Smad proteins that convey intracellular signals from BMP receptors to the nucleus. The specificity of BMP signaling has been intensively investigated at the level of ligand-receptor interactions, but how the different Smad proteins contribute to differential signals elicited by BMPs remains unclear. In this work, we investigated the BMP/Smad signaling in different aspects. In search for an appropriate fluorescence reporter in zebrafish, we compared different photo-switchable proteins and found EosFP the best candidate this model system for its fast maturation and fluorescence intensity. We modified and created appropriate vectors enabling Tol2-transposon based trangenesis in zebrafish, with which transgenic zebrafish lines were generated. We combined fluorescence protein tagging with high resolution microscopy and investigate the dynamics of Smad proteins in model system zebrafish. We observed that Smad5 undergoes nucleo-translocation as BMP signal transmitter during zebrafish gastrulation. We explored the Smad involvement during myogenic-to-osteogenic conversion of C2C12 cell line induced by BMP4. We created transient loss-of-function of Smads by siRNA-mediated knockdowns and analyzed the effects on these coupled yet distinct procedures by quantitative real-time PCR and terminal marker staining. We found that different Smad-complex stoichiometry might be responsible for distinct cellular signals elicited by BMPs.
Platelet activation and adhesion results in thrombus formation that is essential for normal hemostasis, but can also cause irreversible vessel occlusion leading to myocardial infarction or stroke. The C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) was recently identified to be expressed on the platelet surface, however, a role for this receptor in hemostasis and thrombosis had not been demonstrated. In the current study, the involvement of CLEC-2 in platelet function and thrombus formation was investigated using mice as a model system. In the first part of the thesis, it was found that treatment of mice with a newly generated monoclonal antibody against murine CLEC-2 (INU1) led to the complete and highly specific loss of the receptor in circulating platelets (a process termed “immunodepletion”). CLEC-2-deficient platelets were completely unresponsive to the CLEC-2-specific agonist rhodocytin, whereas activation induced by all other tested agonists was unaltered. This selective defect translated into severely decreased platelet aggregate formation under flow ex vivo; and in vivo thrombosis models revealed impaired stabilization of formed thrombi with enhanced embolization. Consequently, CLEC-2 deficiency profoundly protected mice from occlusive arterial thrombus formation. Furthermore, variable bleeding times in INU1-treated mice indicated a moderate hemostatic defect. This reveals for the first time that CLEC-2 significantly contributes to thrombus stability in vitro and in vivo and plays a crucial role in hemostasis and arterial thrombosis. Thus, CLEC-2 represents a potential novel anti-thrombotic target that can be functionally inactivated in vivo. This in vivo down-regulation of platelet surface receptors might be a promising approach for future anti-thrombotic therapy. The second part of the work investigated the effect of double-immunodepletion of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)- and hemITAM-coupled receptors, platelet glycoprotein (GP) VI and CLEC-2, on hemostasis and thrombosis using a combination of the GPVI- and CLEC-2-specific antibodies, JAQ1 and INU1, respectively. Isolated targeting of either GPVI or CLEC-2 in vivo did not affect expression or function of the respective other receptor. However, simultaneous treatment with both antibodies resulted in the sustained loss of GPVI and CLEC-2 signaling in platelets, while leaving other activation pathways intact. In contrast to single deficiency of either receptor, GPVI/CLEC-2 double-deficient mice displayed a dramatic hemostatic defect. Furthermore, this treatment resulted in profound impairment of arterial thrombus formation that far exceeded the effects seen in single-depleted animals. Importantly, similar results were obtained in Gp6-/- mice that were depleted of CLEC-2 by INU1-treatment, demonstrating that this severe bleeding phenotype was not caused by secondary effects of combined antibody treatment. These data suggest that GPVI and CLEC-2 can be independently or simultaneously down-regulated in platelets in vivo and reveal an unexpected functional redundancy of the two receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis. Since GPVI and CLEC-2 have intensively been discussed as potential anti-thrombotic targets, these results may have important implications for the development of novel, yet save anti-GPVI or anti-CLEC-2-based therapies.
Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) is an immune syndrome associated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) that is mediated by alloreactive donor T cells attacking the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and skin of the host. Early diagnosis remains problematic and to date mainly relies on clinical symptoms and histopathology. Previously, different groups demonstrated that in order to cause aGvHD, alloreactive T cells require the expression of appropriate homing receptors to efficiently migrate from their priming sites to their target tissues. Therefore, the development of a predictive test based on the homing receptor expression profile of peripheral blood T cells seems attractive to identify patients at risk before the onset of aGvHD. The aim of this study was to analyze migrating alloreactive donor T cell kinetics in the peripheral blood early after allo-HCT in a murine model across minor histocompatibility antigens (miHAg) followed by a precise characterization of the homing receptor expression profile of migrating donor lymphocytes in order to identify suitable predictive markers. Combining daily bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and flow cytometry (FC) allowed defining two weeks of massive alloreactive donor T cell migration before clinical aGvHD symptoms became apparent. Peripheral blood donor T lymphocytes highly up-regulated the homing markers α4β7 integrin, and P- and E-selectin-ligand at peak time points of cell migration. The combination with the activation markers CD25 and CD69 and low expression levels of L-selectin allowed alloreactive donor T cell definition. Based on this migration phase we postulated a potential diagnostic window to precisely identify alloreactive donor T cells upon their homing receptor expression profile. Consequently, targeted pre-emptive treatment with rapamycin starting at the earliest detection time point of alloreactive donor T cells in the peripheral blood (day+6) significantly prolonged survival of treated mice. Based on this data, we propose a potential diagnostic window for alloreactive cell detection based on their homing receptor expression profile for a timely and effective therapeutic intervention before the clinical manifestation of aGvHD.
Optical in vivo imaging methods have advanced the fields of stem cell transplantation, graft-versus–host disease and graft-versus-tumor responses. Two well known optical methods, based on the transmission of light through the test animal are bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and fluorescence imaging (FLI). Both methods allow whole body in vivo imaging of the same animal over an extended time span where the cell distribution and proliferation can be visualized. BLI has the advantages of producing almost no unspecific background signals and no necessity for external excitation light. Hence, BLI is a highly sensitive and reliable detection method. Yet, the BLI reporter luciferase is not applicable with common microscopy techniques, therefore abolishing this method for cellular resolution imaging. FLI in turn, presents the appealing possibility to use one fluorescent reporter for whole body imaging as well as cellular resolution applying microscopy techniques. The absorption of light occurs mainly due to melanin and hemoglobin in wavelengths up to 650 nm. Therefore, the wavelength range beyond 650 nm may allow sensitive optical imaging even in deep tissues. For this reason, significant efforts are undertaken to isolate or develop genetically enhanced fluorescent proteins (FP) in this spectral range. “Katushka” also called FP635 has an emission close to this favorable spectrum and is reported as one of the brightest far-red FPs. Our experiments also clearly showed the superiority of BLI for whole body imaging over FLI. Based on these results we applied the superior BLI technique for the establishment of a pre-clinical multiple myeloma (MM) mouse model. MM is a B-cell disease, where malignant plasma cells clonally expand in the bone marrow (BM) of older people, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Chromosomal abnormalities, considered a hallmark of MM, are present in nearly all patients and may accumulate or change during disease progression. The diagnosis of MM is based on clinical symptoms, including the CRAB criteria: increased serum calcium levels, renal insufficiency, anemia, and bone lesions (osteolytic lesions or osteoporosis with compression fractures). Other clinical symptoms include hyperviscosity, amyloidosis, and recurrent bacterial infections. Additionally, patients commonly exhibit more than 30% clonal BM plasma cells and the presence of monoclonal protein is detected in serum and/or urine. With current standard therapies, MM remains incurable and patients diagnosed with MM between 2001 and 2007 had a 5-year relative survival rate of only 41%. Therefore, the development of new drugs or immune cell-based therapies is desirable and necessary. To this end we developed the MOPC-315 cell line based syngeneic MM mouse model. MOPC-315 cells were labeled with luciferase for in vivo detection by BLI. We validated the non-invasively obtained BLI data with histopathology, measurement of idiotype IgA serum levels and flow cytometry. All methods affirmed the reliability of the in vivo BLI data for this model. We found that this orthotopic MM model reflects several key features of the human disease. MOPC-315 cells homed efficiently to the BM compartment including subsequent proliferation. Additionally, cells disseminated to distant skeletal parts, leading to the typical multifocal MM growth. Osteolytic lesions and bone remodeling was also detected. We found evidence that the cell line had retained plasticity seen by dynamic receptor expression regulation in different compartments such as the BM and the spleen.
Introduction: Colon cancer is one of the major human malignancies worldwide, and much effort has been applied to understand the process of colon carcinogenesis, as well as the role of potential treatments and co-therapeutical agents against it. A growing body of evidence suggests that the use of fluoxetine (FLX), an antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be associated with a reduced colon cancer risk. However, controversial opinions have been published and an identification of the mechanisms of the activity of FLX on colon cells would help in the clarification of this controversy. Objectives: Using several in vitro and in vivo-based methods and analyses, we aimed to verify whether FLX has antioxidant, pro-oxidant or DNA-damaging potential in standard toxicological assays; to check whether and how FLX could prevent and reduce colon preneoplastic lesions; to ascertain whether FLX has any oncostatic potential against colon tumors; and, to investigate whether FLX activity could be comparable with a known and current applied chemotherapeutic agent against colon cancer. Results: FLX did not have any antioxidant potential in our experiments. Although it did not induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation or DNA-damage in fibroblast and colon tumor cell lines, FLX reduced dysplasia and proliferation in two different carcinogen models. Further, a significant decrease in colon stromal reactivity and angiogenesis was found in both carcinogen-induced preneoplasia models. In a xenograft model of colon cancer, FLX shrank tumors, reduced tumor proliferation, arrested cancer cells at the G0/G1 cell-cycle phase, and took ROS generation under control. Such effects were detected together with an intracellular acidification and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in FLX-treated cells. Modulating mitochondrial respiratory chain, HIF-1 expression and Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, FLX was found to reduce colon tumors similar to the widely used chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluoracil activity. Conclusion: Our collective data suggest that FLX is a remarkable chemopreventive and oncostatic agent against colon preneoplastic lesions and tumors, acting without DNA-damage or ROS generation.
Die komplexe Pathogenese von Angst und insbesondere der Panikstörung wird sowohl von genetischen Faktoren wie dem Adenosin A2A Rezeptorgen (ADORA2A) 1976T/C Polymorphismus (rs5751876) als auch von neuropsychologischen Faktoren wie einer verzerrten Emotionsverarbeitung und Defiziten in der frühen Informationsverarbeitung beeinflusst. Ziel der vorliegenden doppelblinden, Placebo-kontrollierten Studie war, ein mehrstufiges pathogenetisches Angstmodell zu etablieren, in dem der Einfluss von 300 mg Koffeinzitrat – einem Antagonisten am Adenosin A2A Rezeptor – versus Placebo 1) auf den emotionspotenzierten Startlereflex (negative, neutrale und positive Bilder aus dem International Affective Picture System (IAPS) sowie zusätzlich panikspezifisches Bildmaterial) an 115 gesunden Probanden (m = 57, w = 58) und 2) auf die frühe Informationsverarbeitung (Prepulse-Modifikation (PPM)-Paradigma mit Interstimulus Intervallen (ISI) von 60, 120, 240, 480 und 2000 ms) an vorwiegend derselben Stichprobe von 114 gesunden Probanden (m = 57, w = 57) getestet wurde. Die Probanden wurden dabei für die genetische ADORA2A 1976T/C Variante stratifiziert und mittels des Angstsensitivitäts-Index (ASI) für Angstsensitivität (AS) charakterisiert. Zusätzlich zum erwarteten Haupteffekt der Bildkategorien (höchste Startlemagnituden für negative, niedrigste für positive Bilder) konnte eine Genotyp X Intervention Interaktion auf die Bildkategorien beobachtet werden: Sowohl Trägerschaft des ADORA2A 1976TT Risikogenotyps unter Placebo als auch der Konsum von Koffein bei ADORA2A 1976CC/CT Nicht-Risikogenotypträgerschaft stellten ein Risiko für eine ähnliche, d.h. undifferenzierte physiologische Erregung in Antwort auf negative und neutrale Reize und damit womöglich für eine erhöhte Angstbereitschaft dar. In Übereinstimmung mit dem hypothetisierten multifaktoriellen Risikomodell potenzierte Koffein in Synergie mit dem ADORA2A 1976TT Risikogenotyp die Startlereaktion spezifisch für negative emotionale Reize. Dieser Effekt wurde maßgeblich durch eine hohe Angstsensitivität verursacht. Die höchsten Startlemagnituden nach Koffeineinnahme bei negativen Bildern zeigten sich insbesondere in der weiblichen Stichprobe. Bei panikspezifischen Bildern führte Koffein bei ADORA2A 1976CC/CT Nicht-Risikogenotypträgern dazu, dass im Vergleich zu Placebo weniger zwischen negativen und Panikbildern unterschieden wurde. Bei ADORA2A 1976TT Risikogenotypträgern ergaben sich bzgl. der panikspezifischen Bilder weder unter Koffein- noch unter Placebobedingungen Unterschiede. Bezüglich der frühen Informationsverarbeitung konnte eine Vierfachinteraktion zwischen Genotyp, Intervention, Geschlecht und ISI beobachtet werden. Eine Stratifikation nach ISI ergab, dass die Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) nach Koffeineinnahme für das ISI von 120 ms und von 240 ms bei weiblichen ADORA2A 1976TT Risikogenotypträgern im Vergleich zu männlichen ADORA2A 1976TT Homozygoten eingeschränkt war, während es keine signifikanten Effekte bei ADORA2A 1976CC/CT Nicht-Risikogenotypträgern oder in der Placebogruppe gab. Nur bei hoch ängstlichen Probanden konnte ein signifikanter Interventionseffekt mit verminderter Prepulse Fazilitation (PPF; ISI von 2000 ms) unter Koffein beobachtet werden. Unsere Ergebnisse weisen auf ein komplexes, mehrstufiges und potenziell geschlechtsspezifisches pathogenetisches Angstmodell hin, bei dem genetische und biochemische Faktoren interaktiv das Risiko für defizitäre emotionale Verarbeitungsprozesse und somit möglicherweise auch für Angststörungen erhöhen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen weiterhin, dass weibliche ADORA2A 1976TT Homozygote unter Koffein eine eingeschränkte Fähigkeit haben, irrelevante sensorische Informationen zu filtern, was die Rolle des adenosinergen Systems bei der Pathogenese von Angst zusätzlich stützt. Durch die Definition von multifaktoriellen Risikoprofilen für Angst und insbesondere die Panikstörung, wie in der vorliegenden Arbeit exemplarisch demonstriert, können in Zukunft Fortschritte in der individuellen Primär- und Sekundärprävention erzielt werden.
Upon synthesis, nascent polypeptide chains are subject to major rearrangements of their side chains to obtain an energetically more favorable conformation in a process called folding. About one third of all cellular proteins pass through the secretory pathway and undergo oxidative folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). During oxidative folding, the conformational rearrangements are accompanied by the formation of disulfide bonds – covalent bonds between cysteine side chains that form upon oxidation. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) assists in the folding of substrates by catalyzing the oxidation of pairs of cysteine residues and the isomerization of disulfide bonds as well as by acting as chaperones. In addition to PDI itself, a family of related ER-resident proteins has formed. All PDI family members share the thioredoxin fold in at least one of their domains and exhibit a subset of the PDI activities. Despite many studies, the role of most PDI family members remains unclear. The project presented in this thesis was aimed to establish tools for the biochemical characterization of single members of the PDI family and their role in the folding process. A combination of fluorescence based assays was developed to selectively study single functions of PDI family members and relate their properties of either catalysis of oxidation or catalysis of isomerization or chaperone activity to the rest of the protein family. A binding assay using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was established to complement the activity assays. Using ITC we could show for the first time that members of the PDI family can distinguish between folded and unfolded proteins selectively binding the latter. The unique information provided by this method also revealed a two-site binding of unfolded proteins by PDI itself. In addition to the functional characterization, experiments were conducted to further investigate the oligomeric state of PDI. We could show that the equilibrium between structurally different states of PDI is heavily influenced by the redox state of the protein and its environment. This new data could help to further our understanding of the interplay between oxidases like PDI and their regenerative enzymes like Ero1, which may be governed by structural changes in response to the change in redox status. Another structural approach was the screening of all investigated PDI family members for suitable crystallization conditions. As a result of this screening we could obtain protein crystals of human ERp27 and were able to solve the structure of this protein with X-ray crystallography. The structure gives insight into the mechanisms of substrate binding domains within the PDI family and helps to understand the interaction of ERp27 with the redox active ERp57. In collaboration with the group of Heike Hermanns we could further show the physiological importance of this interaction under oxidative stress. In conclusion, the project presented in this thesis provides novel tools for an extensive analysis of the activities of single PDI family members as well as a useful set of methods to characterize novel oxidoreductases and chaperones. The initial results obtained with the our novel methods are very promising. At the same time, the structural approach of this project could successfully solve the structure of a PDI family member and give information about the interplay within the PDI family.
Die MRT des Herzens wird aufgrund hoher Reproduzierbarkeit und geringer Variabilität als Referenzstandard für die Bestimmung der kardialen Funktion betrachtet. Auch in der präklinischen Forschung bietet die MRT eine ausgezeichnete Charakterisierung der kardialen Funktion und ermöglicht eine exzellente Analyse modellierter Krankheitsbilder. In beiden Fällen besteht jedoch weiterhin Optimierungsbedarf. Die klinische Herz-MRT stellt ein aufwendiges Verfahren mit relativ langer Messzeit dar und ist dadurch mit hohen Untersuchungskosten verbunden. In der präklinischen Kleintierbildgebung müssen zum Erreichen der notwendigen höheren Orts- und Zeitauflösung ebenfalls lange Aufnahmezeiten in Kauf genommen werden. Um die kardiale MRT dort routinemäßig in großen Studienkollektiven anwenden zu können, ist eine schnellere Bildgebung essentiell. Neben einer Verbesserung der Tomographen-Hardware und der Optimierung von Bildgebungssequenzen standen im letzten Jahrzehnt vermehrt informationstheoretische Ansätze zur Beschleunigung der MR-Datenakquisition im Fokus der Entwicklung. Während zu Beginn des Jahrtausends die Parallele Bildgebung (PI) einen Forschungsschwerpunkt repräsentierte, spielte sich in den letzten fünf Jahren vermehrt die von Donoho und Candès eingeführte Compressed Sensing (CS) Theorie in den Vordergrund. Diese ermöglicht eine Signalrekonstruktion aus unvollständig gemessenen Koeffizienten einer linearen Messung (z.B. Fouriermessung) unter Ausnutzung der Sparsität des Signals in einer beliebigen Transformationsbasis. Da sich die MRT hervorragend für den Einsatz von CS eignet, wurde die Technik in der Forschung bereits vielfach angewendet. Die zur Rekonstruktion unterabgetasteter Aufnahmen nötigen CS-Algorithmen haben jedoch eine signifikante Veränderung des Bildgebungsprozesses der MRT zur Folge. Konnte dieser zuvor in guter Näherung als linear und stationär betrachtet werden, so repräsentiert die CS-Rekonstruktion eine nichtlineare und nichtstationäre Transformation. Objektinformation wird nicht mehr ortsunabhängig und proportional zur Intensität in die Abbildung transportiert. Das Bild ist viel mehr das Ergebnis eines Optimierungsprozesses, der sowohl die Konsistenz gegenüber der unterabgetasteten Messung als auch die Sparsität des Signals maximiert. Der erste Teil dieser Dissertation beschreibt eine Methode, die eine objektive Einschätzung der Bildqualität CS-rekonstruierter MR-Bilder ermöglicht. Die CS-Beschleunigung verspricht eine Verkürzung der Messzeit ohne Verlust an Bildqualität, wobei letztere bisher größtenteils qualitativ bzw. quantitativ nur unzureichend beurteilt wurde. Konnte der Bildgebungsprozess der klassischen MRT (linear und stationär) durch die Bestimmung einer Punktspreizfunktion (PSF) robust und effektiv validiert und optimiert werden, erlauben die CS-Algorithmen aufgrund ihres nichtlinearen und nichtstationären Verhaltens ohne Weiteres keine äquivalente Analyse. Um dennoch eine entsprechende Evaluierung des CS-Bildgebungsprozesses zu ermöglichen, wurde die Anwendung einer lokalen Punktspreizfunktion (LPSF) für den in der Folge verwendeten Iterative Soft Thresholding Algorithmus untersucht. Die LPSF berücksichtigt die Ortsabhängigkeit der CS-Rekonstruktion und muss daher für jeden Ort (Pixel) eines Bildes bestimmt werden. Darüber hinaus wurde die LPSF im linearen Bereich der CS-Transformation ermittelt. Dazu wurde das zu bewertende Bild nach Anwenden einer kleinen lokalen Störung rekonstruiert. Die Breite des Hauptmaximums der LPSF wurde schließlich verwendet, um ortsaufgelöste Auflösungsstudien durchzuführen. Es wurde sowohl der Einfluss typischer Unterabtastschemata für CS als auch der Einsatz diskreter Gradienten zur Sparsifizierung eines Phantombildes untersucht. Anschließend wurde die Prozedur zur Bestimmung der räumlichen und zeitlichen Auflösung in der Herzbildgebung getestet. In allen Beispielen ermöglichte das vorgeschlagene Verfahren eine solide und objektive Analyse der Bildauflösung CS-rekonstruierter Aufnahmen. Wurde zuvor meist ausschließlich auf Vergleiche mit einer vollständig abgetasteten Referenz zur Qualitätsbeurteilung zurückgegriffen, so stellt die vorgestellte Auflösungsbestimmung einen Schritt in Richtung einer standardisierten Bildanalyse bei der Verwendung der Beschleunigung mittels CS dar. Die Analyse der Abtastmuster zeigte, dass auch bei der Anwendung von CS die Berücksichtigung der nominell höchsten Frequenzen k_max unerlässlich ist. Frühere Publikationen schlagen Abtastfolgen mit einer teils starken Gewichtung der Messpunkte zum k-Raum-Zentrum hin vor. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit relativieren ein derartiges Vorgehen, da zumindest bei den durchgeführten Untersuchungen ein Auflösungsverlust bei analoger Vorgehensweise zu verzeichnen war. Ebenso zeigten sich dynamische Aufnahmen, die unter Verwendung des x-f-Raums als sparse Basis rekonstruiert wurden, durchaus anfällig für zeitliches Blurring. Dieses resultiert aus der Unterdrückung hoher zeitlicher Frequenzen und konnte durch die ortsaufgelösten Auflösungskarten sichtbar gemacht werden. Neben der Auflösung ist für eine umfassende Analyse der Bildqualität auch die Untersuchung potentieller Aliasing-Artefakte sowie des Signal-zu-Rausch-Verhältnisses (SNR) notwendig. Während Aliasing mit Hilfe der Einträge der LPSF außerhalb des Hauptmaximums untersucht werden kann, wurde in Kap. 5 eine Modifikation der Multi-Replika-Methode von Robson et al. zur Rauschanalyse bei Verwendung nichtlinearer Algorithmen vorgestellt. Unter Einbeziehung aller genannten Qualitätsparameter ist eine robuste Bewertung der Bildqualität auch bei einer Verwendung von CS möglich. Die differenzierte Evaluierung ebnet den Weg hin zu einem objektiven Vergleich neuer Entwicklungen mit bisherigen Standard-Techniken und kann dadurch den Einzug von CS in die klinische Anwendung vorantreiben. Nach den theoretischen Betrachtungen der Bildqualität behandelt die Dissertation die erstmalige Anwendung von CS zur Beschleunigung der funktionellen Herzdiagnostik in der präklinischen MR-Kleintierbildgebung. Diese Studien wurden in Zusammenarbeit mit der British Heart Foundation Experimental Magnetic Resonance Unit (BMRU) der University of Oxford durchgeführt. Die Algorithmen für eine Beschleunigung mittels der CS-Theorie wurden anhand der dort am 9,4T Tomographen gemessenen (unterabgetasteten) Datensätze entwickelt und optimiert. Zunächst wurde eine Beschleunigung ausschließlich mittels CS untersucht. Dazu wurde die segmentierte, EKG- und Atemgetriggerte kartesische Cine-Aufnahme in Phasenkodierrichtung unterabgetastet und mittels CS rekonstruiert. Die sparse Darstellung wurde durch Ermitteln zeitlicher Differenzbilder für jede Herzphase erhalten. Durch Variation der Abtastmuster in der zeitlichen Dimension konnte ein vollständig abgetastetes zeitliches Mittelbild bestimmt werden, das anschließend von jedem einzelnen Herzphasenbild subtrahiert wurde. In einer Validierungsphase wurden an der Maus vollständig aufgenommene Cine-Akquisitionen retrospektiv unterabgetastet, um die maximal mögliche Beschleunigung mittels CS zu ermitteln. Es wurden u.a. funktionelle Herz-Parameter für jede Gruppe des jeweiligen Beschleunigungsfaktors bestimmt und mittels einer statistischen Analyse verglichen. Die Gesamtheit aller Ergebnisse zeigte die Möglichkeit einer dreifachen Beschleunigung ohne eine Degradierung der Genauigkeit der Methode auf. Die ermittelte Maximalbeschleunigung wurde in einer unterabgetastet gemessenen Bilderserie mit anschließender CS-Rekonstruktion validiert. Die Abtastschemata wurden dazu mit Hilfe der Transformations-Punktspreizfunktion weiter optimiert. In einer Erweiterung der Studie wurde zum Zweck einer noch höheren Beschleunigung die CS-Technik mit der PI kombiniert. Erneut fand eine Unterabtastung der Phasenkodierrichtung einer kartesischen Trajektorie statt. Die Messungen erfolgten mit einer 8-Kanal-Mäusespule an einem 9,4T Tomographen. Um das Potential beider Beschleunigungstechniken auszunutzen, wurden die Methoden CS und PI in serieller Weise implementiert. Für die PI-Beschleunigung wurde der vollständig abgetastete k-Raum zunächst gleichmäßig unterabgetastet. Auf dem resultierenden Untergitter wurde zusätzlich eine Unterabtastung nach Pseudo-Zufallszahlen durchgeführt, um eine Beschleunigung mittels CS zu ermöglichen. Die entwickelte Rekonstruktion erfolgte ebenfalls seriell. Zunächst wurde mittels CS das äquidistante Untergitter rekonstruiert, um anschließend mittels GRAPPA die noch fehlenden Daten zu berechnen. Um eine zusätzliche Messung zur Kalibrierung der GRAPPA-Faktoren zu umgehen, wurde das äquidistant unterabgetastete Untergitter von Herzphase zu Herzphase um je einen Phasenkodierschritt weitergeschoben. Dieses Vorgehen erlaubt die Ermittlung eines vollständig abgetasteten k-Raums mit einer geringeren zeitlichen Auflösung, der die notwendige Bestimmung der Wichtungsfaktoren ermöglicht. Folgende Kombinationen von Beschleunigungsfaktoren wurden mittels retrospektiver Unterabtastung eines vollständig aufgenommenen Datensatzes untersucht: R_CS x R_PI = 2 x 2, 2 x 3, 3 x 2 und 3 x 3. Die Analyse des Bildrauschens, des systematischen Fehlers und der Auflösung führte zu dem Schluss, dass eine sechsfache Beschleunigung mit Hilfe der hybriden Rekonstruktionstechnik möglich ist. Während mit steigender CS-Beschleunigung der systematische Fehler leicht anstieg, führte ein höherer PI-Beschleunigungsfaktor zu einer leichten Verstärkung des statistischen Fehlers. Der statistische Fehler zeigte jedoch ebenfalls eine Verringerung bei steigender Beschleunigung mittels CS. Die Fehler waren allerdings stets auf einem Niveau, das durchaus auch Beschleunigungen bis R_CS x R_PI =3 x 3 zulässt. Die LPSF-Analyse zeigte einen Verlust der räumlichen Auflösung von ca. 50 % bei R=6 sowie einen mittleren Verlust von 64 % bei R=9. Offensichtlich ging die ebenfalls beobachtete Minimierung des Bildrauschens durch den CS-Algorithmus im Falle der relativ stark verrauschten Kleintieraufnahmen zu Lasten der Bildauflösung. Die mit zunehmender Beschleunigung stärker geblurrten Grenzen zwischen Blutpool und Myokardgewebe erschweren die Segmentierung und stellen eine mögliche Fehlerquelle dar. Unter Beachtung aller Ergebnisse ist eine sechsfache Beschleunigung (R_CS x R_PI = 2 x 3, 3 x 2) vertretbar. Die Hinzunahme der PI ermöglicht somit im Vergleich zur alleinigen Verwendung von CS eine weitere Beschleunigung um einen Faktor von zwei. Zusammenfassend ermöglicht der Einsatz von CS in der präklinischen funktionellen Herzbildgebung am Kleintier eine deutliche Reduktion der Messzeit. Bereits ohne Vorhandensein von Mehrkanalspulen kann die notwendige Datenmenge ohne signifikante Beeinflussung der Messergebnisse auf ein Drittel reduziert werden. Ist der Einsatz von Spulenarrays möglich, kann die mit PI mögliche dreifache Beschleunigung um einen weiteren Faktor zwei mittels CS auf R=6 erweitert werden. Dementsprechend kann CS einen wesentlichen Beitrag dazu leisten, dass das Potential Herz-MRT am Kleintier in großen Studienkollektiven effektiver abgerufen werden kann. Im letzten Teil der Arbeit wurde eine Technik für die funktionelle klinische MR-Herzbildgebung entwickelt. Hier wurde eine Beschleunigung mittels CS verwendet, um die Aufnahme des gesamten Herzens innerhalb eines Atemstillstandes des Patienten zu ermöglichen. Bei der derzeitigen Standardmethode werden üblicherweise 10-15 2D-Schichten des Herzens akquiriert, wobei jede einzelne Aufnahme einen Atemstillstand des Patienten erfordert. Für die notwendige Beschleunigung wurde eine unterabgetastete 3D-Trajektorie verwendet. Durch Phasenkodierung einer Richtung sowie radiale Projektionen in den beiden anderen Dimensionen konnte eine effiziente Aufnahme unterhalb des Nyquist-Kriteriums erreicht werden. Die Sparsifizierung erfolgte, wie bereits in der beschriebenen präklinischen Anwendung, durch die Subtraktion eines zeitlichen Mittelbildes. In einer Simulation anhand eines retrospektiv unterabgetasteten Datensatzes konnte die theoretische Funktionalität der Rekonstruktionstechnik bei einer Beschleunigung bezüglich der Nyquist-Abtastung von R ~ 10 validiert werden. Die Unterschiede zum vollständig abgetasteten Datensatz waren vernachlässigbar klein, so dass die vorgeschlagene Abtastfolge am Tomographen implementiert wurde. Mit dieser Sequenz wurde anschließend eine funktionelle Bilderserie an einem gesunden Probanden mit vollständiger Herzabdeckung innerhalb eines Atemstopps aufgenommen. Fehlende Daten wurden analog zur Simulation mit Hilfe des vorgeschlagenen Algorithmus rekonstruiert. Im Vergleich zur Simulation ergaben sich aufgrund des Schichtprofils der 3D-Slab-Anregung zusätzliche Aliasing-Artefakte in den äußeren Partitionen. Die für radiale Aufnahmen typischen Streifenartefakte waren im rekonstruierten Bild, wenn auch mit sehr geringer Amplitude, noch erkennbar. Davon abgesehen wurde die Dynamik jedoch über das gesamte Herz hinweg gut dargestellt. Der hohe Kontrast zwischen Myokard und Blutpool bescheinigt den Bildern eine hervorragende Eignung für die Bestimmung funktioneller Herzparameter mittels einer Segmentierung. Zusammengefasst erlaubt die entwickelte Methode aufgrund der drastischen Reduktion der notwendigen Atemstopps des Patienten einen deutlich erhöhten Patientenkomfort sowie einen schnelleren Durchsatz aufgrund der verkürzten Messzeit.
Platelet activation induces cytoskeletal rearrangements involving a change from discoid to spheric shape, secretion, and eventually adhesion and spreading on immobilized ligands. Small GTPases of the Rho family, such as Rac1 and Cdc42, are known to be involved in these processes by facilitating the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia, respectively. This thesis focuses on the role Rac1 and Cdc42 for platelet function and formation from their precursor cells, the megakaryocytes (MKs), using conditional knock-out mice. In the first part of the work, the involvement of Rac1 in the activation of the enzyme phospholipase (PL) C2 in the signaling pathway of the major platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI was investigated. It was found that Rac1 is essential for PLC2 activation independently of tyrosine phosphorylation of the enzyme, resulting in a specific platelet activation defect downstream of GPVI, whereas signaling of other activating receptors remains unaffected. Since Rac1-deficient mice were protected from arterial thrombosis in two different in vivo models, the GTPase might serve as a potential target for the development of new drugs for the treatment and prophylaxis of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. The second part of the thesis deals with the first characterization of MK- and platelet-specific Cdc42 knock-out mice. Cdc42-deficient mice displayed mild thrombo-cytopenia and platelet production from mutant MKs was markedly reduced. Unexpectedly, Cdc42-deficient platelets showed increased granule content and release upon activation, leading to accelerated thrombus formation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Cdc42 was not generally required for filopodia formation upon platelet activation. Thus, these results indicate that Cdc42, unlike Rac1, is involved in multiple signaling pathways essential for proper platelet formation and function. Finally, the outcome of combined deletion of Rac1 and Cdc42 was studied. In contrast to single deficiency of either GTPase, platelet production from double-deficient MKs was virtually abrogated, resulting in dramatic macrothrombocytopenia in the animals. Formed platelets were largely non-functional leading to a severe hemostatic defect and defective thrombus formation in double-deficient mice in vivo. These results demonstrate for the first time a functional redundancy of Rac1 and Cdc42 in the hematopoietic system.
Das Y-Box-bindende Protein 1 (YB-1) ist ein Vertreter der hochkonservierten Familie eukaryotischer Kälteschockproteine und ein DNA/RNA-bindendes Protein. In Abhängigkeit von seiner Lokalisation übernimmt es Aufgaben bei der DNA-Transkription oder mRNA-Translation. YB-1 ist ein potentielles Onkogen beim Multiplen Myelom (MM), dass in primären MM-Zellen exprimiert ist. Für die funktionellen Untersuchungen von YB-1 in der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden humane Myelomzelllinien (HMZL) verwendet, die als in vitro Modell dieser malignen B Zell-Erkrankung dienen. Aufgrund der potentiellen Expression von YB-1 im Zellkern und/oder Zytoplasma von HMZL, wurde zunächst die Lokalisation des Proteins bestimmt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass YB 1 in den HMZL ausschließlich im Zytoplasma lokalisiert ist. Eine Translokation von YB-1 in den Nukleus kann durch die Serin-Phosphorylierung (Aminosäure 102) in der Kälteschockdomäne induziert werden. Die analysierten Myelomzelllinien zeigen jedoch kein nukleäres YB 1 und keine S102-Phosphorylierung. Diese Ergebnisse stützen die These, dass die Regulation der mRNA-Translation im Zytoplasma die vorherrschende Funktion von YB-1 beim MM ist. YB-1 könnte über diesen Mechanismus seine anti-apoptotische Wirkung vermitteln und die MM-Zellen vor genotoxischem Stress schützen. Um YB-1-regulierte mRNAs zu identifizieren wurden YB 1-Immunpräzipitationen mit zwei HMZL, einer Maus-Plasmozytomzelllinie und einem primären Maus-Plasmazelltumor durchgeführt. Zu den YB-1-gebundenen mRNAs gehören Translationsfaktoren und ribosomale Proteine, die eine starke Beteiligung von YB-1 beim RNA-Metabolismus bestätigen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden spezifisch zwei mRNA-Kandidaten untersucht, die für den malignen Phänotyp von MM-Zellen wichtig sein können: das translationell kontrollierte Tumorprotein TCTP und MYC. Sowohl TCTP als auch MYC wurden bereits in Zusammenhang mit der Proliferation und Apoptose-Resistenz von malignen Zellen beschrieben. Die immunhistochemische Untersuchung der Knochenmarkbiopsien von MM-Patienten ergab eine gute Ko-Expression von YB-1 und TCTP in intramedullären MM-Zellen, während MYC erst in extramedullärem MM-Tumormaterial verstärkt mit der hohen YB 1-Expression korreliert. Die funktionellen Analysen der Arbeit haben gezeigt, dass YB 1 für die Translation der TCTP- und MYC-mRNA essentiell ist. Es kontrolliert die Verteilung dieser mRNAs zwischen translationell aktiven und inaktiven messenger Ribonukleoprotein-Partikeln. Die shRNA-vermittelte Reduktion von YB-1 führte zur Hemmung der TCTP- und MYC-Translation in der Phase der Initiation. Um den Einfluss der Kandidaten auf das Überleben der HMZL zu untersuchen, wurden proteinspezifische Knockdown-Experimente durchgeführt. Beim shRNA-vermittelten TCTP-Knockdown konnten keine Auswirkungen auf die Proliferation oder Viabilität von MM-Zellen beobachtet werden. Im Gegensatz dazu ist MYC für das Überleben und Wachstum der HMZL ausschlaggebend, denn der MYC-Knockdown induzierte Apoptose. Wie beim YB 1-Knockdown war ein Anstieg der Caspase-Aktivität und der Zusammenbruch des mitochondrialen Membranpotentials in den HMZL nachweisbar. Da es beim MYC-Knockdown gleichzeitig zur einer Reduktion der YB 1-Protein- und mRNA-Expression kam, wurde der Einfluss von MYC auf die Transkription des YB-1-Gens untersucht. Mit Hilfe von embryonalen Mausfibroblasten, die ein induzierbares MYC als Transgen besitzen, konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Aktivierung von MYC mit einer Zunahme der YB-1-mRNA einher geht. YB-1 ist somit ein direktes Zielgen des Transkriptionsfaktors MYC. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit haben zum ersten Mal ein gegenseitiges regulatorisches Netzwerk aufgezeigt, in dem YB 1 transkriptionell durch MYC reguliert wird und YB-1 für die Translation der MYC-mRNA essentiell ist. Die Ko-Expression beider Proteine trägt zum Wachstum und Überleben von malignen Plasmazellen bei.
Effective T cell immunity was believed to occur by mature DC, whereas tolerogenicity was attributed strictly to immature DC phenotypes. However, intermediate DC maturation stages were identified conditioned by inflammatory mediators like TNF. Furthermore, the T cell tolerance mechanisms are dependent on distinct modes and intensities of co-stimulation. Therefore, in this study it was addressed how distinct DC maturation signatures instruct CD4+ T cell tolerance mechanisms. DC acquire antigens from apoptotic cells for self-peptide-MHC presentation and functionally adapt presumed tolerogenic DC phenotypes. Here, immature murine bone-marrow derived DC representing both inflammatory and conventional DC subsets adapted a maturationresistant DC signature upon apoptotic cell recognition but no additional tolerogenic features. Immature DC instruct CD4+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in a TGF-β prone micro-environment or generate anergic CD4+ T cells hampered in the TCR-induced proliferation and IL-2 secretion. Secondary stimulation of such anergic CD4+ T cells by immature DC increased primarily IL-10 production and conferred regulatory function. These IL-10+ regulatory T cells expressed high levels of CTLA-4, which is potently induced by immature DC in particular. Data in this work showed that anergic T cells can be re-programmed to become IL-10+ regulatory T cells upon ligation of CTLA-4 and CD28 signalling cascades by B7 costimulatory ligands on immature DC. In contrast, semi-mature DC phenotypes conditioned by the inflammatory mediator TNF prevented autoimmune disorders by induction of IL-10+ Th2 responses as demonstrated previously. Here, it was shown that TNF as an endogenous maturation stimulus and pathogenic Trypanosoma brucei variant-specific surface glycoproteins (VSG) induced highly similar DC gene expression signatures which instructed default effector Th2 responses. Repetitive administration of the differentially conditioned semi-mature DC effectively skewed T cell immunity to IL-10+ Th2 cells, mediating immune deviation and suppression. Collectively, the data presented in this work provide novel insights how immature and partially mature DC phenotypes generate T cell tolerance mechanisms in vitro, which has important implications for the design of effective DC-targeted vaccines. Unravelling the DC maturation signatures is central to the long-standing quest to break tolerance mimicked by malignant tumours or re-establish immune homeostasis in allergic or autoimmune disorders.
Imprinted genes play important roles in brain development. As the neural developmental capabilities of human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (hpESCs) with only a maternal genome were not assessed in great detail, hence here the potential of hpESCs to differentiate into various neural subtypes was determined. In addition DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes upon neural differentiation was also investigated. The results demonstrated that hpESC-derived neural stem cells (hpNSCs) showed expression of NSC markers Sox1, Nestin, Pax6, and Musashi1 (MS1), the silencing of pluripotency genes (Oct4, Nanog) and the absence of activation of neural crest (Snai2, FoxD3) and mesodermal (Acta1) markers. Moreover, confocal images of hpNSC cultures exhibited ubiquitous expression of NSC markers Nestin, Sox1, Sox2 and Vimentin. Differentiating hpNSCs for 28 days generated neural subtypes with neural cell type-specific morphology and expression of neuronal and glial markers, including Tuj1, NeuN, Map2, GFAP, O4, Tau, Synapsin1 and GABA. hpNSCs also responded to region-specific differentiation signals and differentiated into regional phenotypes such as midbrain dopaminergic- and motoneuron-type cells. hpESC-derived neurons showed typical neuronal Na+/K+ currents in voltage clamp mode, elicited multiple action potentials with a maximum frequency of 30 Hz. Cell depicted a typical neuron-like current pattern that responded to selective pharmacological blockers of sodium (tetrodotoxin) and potassium (tetraethylammonium) channels. Furthermore, in hpESCs and hpNSCs the majority of CpGs of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) KvDMR1 were methylated whereas DMR1 (H19/Igf2 locus) showed partial or complete absence of CpG methylation, which is consistent with a parthenogenetic (PG) origin. Upon differentiation parent-of-origin-specific gene expression was maintained in hpESCs and hpNSCs as demonstrated by imprinted gene expression analyses. Together this shows that despite the lack of a paternal genome, hpNSCs are proficient in differentiating into glial- and neuron-type cells, which exhibit electrical activity similar to newly formed neurons. Moreover, maternal-specific gene expression and imprinting-specific DNA-methylation are largely maintained upon neural differentiation. hpESCs are a means to generate histocompatible and disease allele-free ESCs. Additionally, hpESCs are a unique model to study the influence of imprinting on neurogenesis.
Die Unterscheidung zwischen körpereigenen und körperfremden Strukturen ist eine grundlegende Herausforderung der spezifischen Immunantwort. Pathologische Veränderungen dieser Abgrenzung können zu schwerwiegenden Autoimmunerkrankungen wie beispielsweise Diabetes Mellitus, Rheumatischer Arthritis oder Multipler Sklerose führen. Um unerwünschte (Auto-) Immunreaktionen zu verhindern, existieren verschiedene Formen von peripheren Toleranzmechanismen, die durch viele Transkriptionsfaktoren wie z. B. ICER (inducible cAMP early repressor), NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) und Foxp3 (forkhead box protein p3) kontrolliert werden. Foxp3+ regulatorische T-Zellen (Tregs) sind spezialisierte immun-suppressive Lymphozyten, welche die Aktivierung anderer Immunzellen unterdrücken können. Einer der möglichen Mechanismen ist der Transfer zyklischen Adenosin-Monophosphats (cAMP) von Tregs in konventionelle T- und B-Lymphozyten. Die erhöhte intrazelluläre Konzentration an cAMP führt in Effektorzellen zur Induktion und Kerntranslokation von ICER. Der transkriptionelle Repressor ICER supprimiert die Expression vieler NFAT-regulierter Gene und hemmt darüber hinaus die Induktion der NFATc1/αA-Isoform selbst. Diese Isoform wird speziell in pro-inflammatorischen Effektorzellen hochreguliert und ist maßgeblich an deren spezifischem transkriptionellen Programm beteiligt. Foxp3 ist ein zentraler Faktor für die Bildung und Funktion sowohl Thymus-generierter nTregs als auch peripher (TGFβ-) induzierter iTregs. Die Kontrolle des Foxp3-Gens wird in iTregs – überraschenderweise aber nicht in nTregs – durch NFAT-Faktoren reguliert. Allerdings hemmt Foxp3 durch eine negative Rückkopplung wiederum die Induktion und Aktivität von NFATc1/αA. Dies stellt somit ein weiteres Regulativ dar, wobei Foxp3 nicht nur die Plastizität, sondern auch die Funktion von immun-suppressiven T-Zellen steuert. Zusätzlich regulieren die verschiedenen NFAT-Faktoren auch die Antigen präsentierenden dendritischen Zellen (DCs). Während NFATc1 und NFATc2 die Differenzierung und Proliferation von DCs beeinflussen, reguliert NFATc3 deren Zytokinexpression und steuert indirekt auch die nachfolgende T-Zell-Immunantwort. Die Kontrolle der Genregulation in Immunzellen durch die Transkriptionsfaktoren ICER, NFAT und Foxp3 erfüllt somit spezifische Funktionen der Immunität, reguliert aber gleichzeitig wichtige Aspekte der peripheren Toleranz, um schädliche (Auto-) Immunreaktionen zu verhindern.
Die asexuellen Sporen von Aspergillus fumigatus sind ubiquitär verbreitete Luftkeime. Als Saprophyt ist dieser opportunistisch humanpathogene Pilz darauf spezialisiert, polymere Substanzen aus dem umgebenden Milieu zu zersetzen, um daraus die von ihm benötigten Nährstoffe zu generieren und aufzunehmen. Die Fähigkeit, verschiedene Stickstoff- und Kohlenstoffquellen zu verwerten, trägt dabei zu seiner Virulenz bei und hierbei scheint die extrazelluläre Proteolyse eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen. Sekretierte Proteasen, die das umgebende Gewebe während einer Infektion mit A. fumigatus erschließen, könnten somit zu dessen Pathogenität beitragen. Dementsprechend sollte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die Bedeutung einer Regulation der extrazellulären proteolytischen Aktivität von A. fumigatus für dessen Virulenz untersucht werden. Dies geschah durch Untersuchungen eines konservierten Transkriptionsfaktors, PrtT. Dabei stellte sich heraus, dass PrtT die Expression der drei Hauptproteasen von A. fumigatus, Alp, Mep und Pep stark beeinflusst, in einem murinen Tiermodell der pulmonaren Aspergillose scheint dieser Regulator jedoch keine Rolle für die Pathogenität von A. fumigatus zu spielen. Um einen weiteren Aspekt des pilzlichen Aminosäurestoffwechsels zu beleuchten, wurde die Biosynthese der aromatischen Aminosäuren als mögliche Virulenzdeterminate untersucht. Für den Menschen sind diese Aminosäuren essentiell, weshalb dieser Syntheseweg ein mögliches Ziel für antimykotische Substanzen darstellen könnte. Es konnten mehrere für A. fumigatus essentielle Komponenten des Shikimatweges identifiziert werden, des Weiteren wurden Deletionsmutanten in den Genen aroC und trpA, die für die Chorismatmutase bzw. Anthranilatsynthase der Biosynthese von Phenylalanin und Tyrosin bzw. Tryptophan kodieren, erzeugt und phänotypisch charakterisiert. Deren Untersuchung in einem alternativen Tiermodell der Aspergillose zeigte eine deutlich attenuierte Virulenz. Diese Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, wie wichtig die Biosynthese der aromatischen Aminosäuren für das Wachstum von A. fumigatus ist, und dass ein Eingriff in diesen Syntheseweg eine lohnende Strategie zur Entwicklung neuer Antimykotika sein könnte. Die hier präsentierten Ergebnisse unterstreichen die für den Schimmelpilz A. fumigatus typische Redundanz bezüglich extrazellulärer proteolytischer Enzyme und dass diese nur bedingt hinsichtlich ihres Virulenzbeitrags untersucht werden können. Im Gegensatz hierzu lassen sich bestimmte Stoffwechselwege, die oftmals durch einzigartige Genprodukte katalysiert werden, unter Umständen besser als unspezifische aber vielversprechende Virulenzdeterminanten identifizieren.
XPD is a 5‘-3‘ helicase of the superfamily 2. As part of the transcription factor IIH it functions in transcription initiation and nucleotide excision repair. This work focus on the role of XPD in nucleotide excision repair. NER is a DNA repair pathway unique for its broad substrate range. In placental mammals NER is the only repair mechanism able to remove lesions induced by UV-light. NER can be divided into four different steps that are conserved between pro- and eukaryotes. Step 1 consists of the initial damage recognition, during step 2 the putative damage is verified, in step 3 the verified damage is excised and in the 4th and final step the resulting gap in the DNA is refilled. XPD was shown to be involved in the damage verification step. It was possible to solve the first apo XPD structure by a MAD approach using only the endogenous iron from the iron sulfur cluster. Based on the apo XPD structure several questions arise: where is DNA bound? Where is DNA separated? How is damage verification achieved? What is the role of the FeS cluster? These questions were addressed in this work. Hypothesis driven structure based functional mutagenesis was employed and combined with detailed biochemical characterization of the variants. The variants were analyzed by thermal unfolding studies to exclude the possibility that the overall stability could be affected by the point mutation. DNA binding assays, ATPase assays and helicase assays were performed to delineate amino acid residues important for DNA binding, helicase activity and damage recognition. A structure of XPD containing a four base pair DNA fragment was solved by molecular replacement. This structure displays the polarity of the translocated strand with respect to the helicase framework. Moreover the properties of the FeS cluster were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance to get insights into the role of the FeS cluster. Furthermore XPD from Ferroplasma acidarmanus was investigated since it was shown that it is stalled at CPD containing lesions. The data provide the first detailed insight into the translocation mechanism of a SF2B helicase and reveal how polarity is achieved. This provides a basis for further anlayses understanding the combined action of the helicase and the 4Fe4S cluster to accomplish damage verification within the NER cascade.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Effective vaccination strategies are urgently needed because of the emergence of drug-resistant parasites and severe side effects of chemotherapy. The research group of Heidrun Moll previously established a DC-based vaccination strategy to induce complete and long-lasting immunity to experimental leishmaniasis using LmAg-loaded and CpG ODN-activated DC as a vaccine carrier. Prevention of tissue damages at the site of L. major inoculation can be achieved if the BALB/c mice were systemically given LmAg-loaded BMDC that had been exposed to CpG ODN. The interest in further exploring the role of IL-4 aroused as previous studies allowed establishing that IL-4 was involved in the redirection of the immune response towards a type 1 profile. Thus, wt BALB/c mice or DC-specific CD11ccreIL-4Rα-/lox BALB/c mice were given either wt or IL-4Rα-deficient LmAg-loaded BMDC exposed or not to CpG ODN prior to inoculation of 2 x 105 stationary phase L. major promastigotes into the BALB/c footpad. The results provide evidence that IL4/IL-4Rα-mediated signaling in the vaccinating DC is required to prevent tissue damages at the site of L. major inoculation, as properly conditioned wt DC but not IL-4Rα-deficient DC were able to confer resistance. Furthermore, uncontrolled L. major population size expansion was observed in the footpad and the footpad draining LN in CD11ccreIL-4Rα-/lox mice immunized with CpG ODN-exposed LmAg-loaded IL-4Rα-deficient DC, indicating the influence of IL-4R-mediated signaling in host DC to control parasite replication. In addition, no footpad damage was observed in BALB/c mice that were systemically immunized with LmAg-loaded wt DC doubly exposed to CpG ODN and recombinant IL-4. Discussing these findings allow the assumption that triggering the IL4/IL4Rα signaling pathway could be a precondition when designing vaccines aimed to prevent damaging processes in tissues hosting intracellular microorganisms.
Dendritic cell-based vaccination is a well established technique for preventive and therapeutic instruction of the immune system where conservative vaccine formulations fail to cure or prevent diseases, respectively. Efficiency of this technique already was demonstrated in infectious diseases as well as for cancer in animal or human studies. Well controlled manipulation and antigen-loading of immature DC is most beneficial to this technique. But, time-consuming and cost-extensive procedures for preparation of DC precursors, expansion and stimulation of DC and inpatient administration are big disadvantages regarding vaccine development for pandemic infectious diseases that occur mainly in underdeveloped countries. Therefore vaccines are needed that are pathogen-tailored and able to induce equal immune responses as their DC-based vaccine models. For vaccination against Leishmania parasites such a DC-based vaccine is feasible and its efficacy to induce protective Th1-based immune responses was already demonstrated in several animal studies. But, one of our own studies indicated supportive activity of host cells exceeding the allocation of T cells to become activated by transferred DC. IL-12, an important cytokine for the induction of Th1-related immune responses, has to be produced by host cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of BMDC-based vaccination with regard to simplification of the vaccine formulation. Key questions that have been addressed are: Which cells process the information that is transferred by the injected DC and what are the key components of this information? Further more, it was looked at whether altered vaccine formulations are able to induce protective immunity and whether they share equal molecular mechanisms. The current paradigm of BMDC-based vaccination proposes direct interaction of transferred BMDC with host T cells. These BMDC have to be antigen-loaded for stimulation via antigen-peptide-MHC molecule-complexes and they have to be activated for proper co-stimulation of T cells. Here, this study demonstrates that neither activation for co-stimulation nor direct interaction with adequate MHC molecules is needed for the induction of protective immunity against infection with Leishmania-parasites. Disrupted antigen-loaded BMDC are able to induce protective immunity in BALB/c mice without pre-stimulation via CpG ODN. Beyond, if BMDC were used with a different MHC-background than recipient mice then the vaccine still would be efficient in terms of reduction of footpad swelling and parasite load in draining lymph nodes. Even more, DC-specific features are no key component that leads to protective immunity as vaccination with disrupted antigen-loaded MΦ shows equal properties than before mentioned vaccine formulations. Further more, it was found that host DC play a major role in transforming the incoming signal, received from transferred antigen-loaded DC, into Th1-related stimuli and Leishmania-antigen-specific T cell activation. Suspensions of disrupted antigen-loaded DC resemble a combination of laid off soluble molecules together with exosome-like vesicles that formed after disruption of membranes. Here it was shown that separation of the membranous and soluble fractions and subsequent transfer into BALB/c mice will lead to protection of these mice against infection with L. major promastigotes only if the membranous fraction is used as vaccine. More, this vaccine formulation takes advantage of easy storage at -80°C with no need of fresh production. This clearly demonstrates that the immunity-inducing principle of disrupted DC-based vaccination lies within the membrane enclosed fraction. On a molecular level, disrupted antigen-loaded DC induce Th1-related cytokines during vaccination and as response on pathogen encounter. In vivo assays revealed IL-12 production and antigen-specific T cell proliferation among splenocytes that were stimulated with disrupted antigen-loaded DC. Splenocytes of accordingly vaccinated mice produce tremendous amounts of IFNγ after stimulation with Leishmania parasites. In summary, disrupted antigen-loaded BMDC fulfil all characteristics of DC-based vaccination against Leishmania major. But, while purification of membranes of antigen-loaded DC and subsequent transfer to BALB/c mice leads to control of the disease in the animal model, only slight levels of Th1-related cytokines are seen in the in vivo assays. Whether this points towards a loss of vaccine activity on unseen levels or unknown sites where Th1-related immunity is induced by both, complete solution and purified membranes, still has to be determined.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells and consequently to hyperglycemia. In the last 60 years, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing constantly and is predicted to continue rising. About 80% of the disease risk is attributable to the genetic variation. Thanks to genome wide association studies the number of known disease-associated polymorphisms climbed from five to 53 in the last 10 years. As these studies reveal possible candidate genes but not underlying mechanisms we strove to take the next step and explore the association of two genes suggested by these studies with type 1 diabetes. As a method of choice we decided to use lentiviral RNAi in non obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a widely-used model for type 1 diabetes, introducing a shRNA directed against the target message into the genome of this mouse strain via a lentivirus. This allowed us to study the partial loss-of-function of the target gene within the context of diabetes, directly seeing its effect on autoimmune mechanisms. In this thesis we examined two different genes in this manner, Ctla4 and Clec16a. A type 1 diabetes associated polymorphism in the CTLA4 gene had been found to alter the splicing ratio of its variants soluble CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) and full length CTLA-4, the associated allele producing less sCTLA-4 than the protective allele. We mimicked this effect by specifically targeting the sCtla4 mRNA via lentiviral RNAi in the NOD model. As a result we could confirm the reduction of sCTLA-4 to accelerate type 1 diabetes development. Furthermore we could show a function of sCTLA-4 in regulatory T cells, more specifically at least partly in their ability to modulate costimulation by antigen presenting cells. The second candidate gene, Clec16a was targeted with the shRNA in a way that was designed to knock down most splice variants. As the gene function and the effect of the associated SUMMARY 10 polymorphism was unknown, we reasoned this method to be feasible to investigate its role in type 1 diabetes. The knockdown of Clec16a in NOD mice resulted in an almost complete protection from diabetes development that could be attributed to T cells dysfunction. However, as expression patterns and a study of the Drospophila orthologue suggested a possible role of CLEC16A in antigen presentation we also examined antigen presenting cells in the thymus and periphery. Although we did not detect any effect of the knockdown on peripheral antigen presenting cells, thymic epithelial cells were clearly affected by the loss of CLEC16A, rendering them more activated and shifting the ratio of cortical to medullary epithelial cells in favor of cortical cells. We therefore suggest a role of CLEC16A in the selection of T cells, that needs, however, to be further investigated. In this thesis we provided a feasible and fast method to study function of genes and even of single splice variants within the NOD mouse model. We demonstrate its usefulness on two candidate genes associated with type 1 diabetes by confirming and unraveling the cause of their connection to the disease.
Based on genetic association and functional imaging studies, reduced function of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) has been shown to be critically involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety-disorders and depression. In order to elucidate the impact of a complete neuronal 5-HT deficiency, mice with a targeted inactivation of the gene encoding Tph2 were generated. Interestingly, survival of Tph2-/- mice, the formation of serotonergic neurons and the pathfinding of their projections was not impaired. Within this thesis, I investigated the influence of 5-HT deficiency on the γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) system. The GABAergic system is implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Therefore, measurement of GABA concentrations in different limbic brain regions was carried out. These measurements were combined with immunohistochemical estimation of GABAergic cell subpopulations in the dorsal hippocampus and amygdala. In Tph2-/- mice GABA concentrations were increased exclusively in the dorsal hippocampus. In heterozygous Tph2+/- mice concentrations of GABA were increased in the amygdala compared to Tph2-/- and wt control mice, while the reverse was found in the prefrontal cortex. The changes in GABA concentrations were accompanied by altered cell density of GABAergic neurons within the basolateral complex of the amygdala and parvalbumin (PV) neurons of the dorsal hippocampus and by adaptational changes of 5-HT receptors. Thus, adaptive changes during the development on the GABA system may reflect altered anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior in adulthood. Moreover, chronic mild stress (CMS) rescues the depressive-like effects induced by 5-HT deficiency. In contrast, 5-HT is important in mediating an increased innate anxiety-like behavior under CMS conditions. This is in line with a proposed dual role of 5-HT acting through different mechanisms on anxiety and depressive-like behavior, which is influenced by gene-environment interaction effects. Further research is needed to disentangle these complex networks in the future.
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) gehört zu den am besten untersuchten und charakterisierten probiotischen Bakterienstämmen. Seit Beginn des letzten Jahrhunderts wird er als Medikament eingesetzt, um verschiedene Darmerkrankungen wie z.B. Diarrhöe, entzündliche Darmerkrankungen und Verstopfung zu behandeln. Die Flagelle des EcN vermittelt Beweglichkeit und kann die Produktion von humanem β-Defensin 2 (hBD2) durch Epithelzellen induzieren. Somit ist dieses Organell direkt in die probiotische Funktion des EcN involviert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Flagellen anderer Bakterien, wie z.B. dem probiotischen Stamm Bacillus cereus CH oder den pathogenen Stämmen Pseudomonas aeruginosa und Clostridium difficile, die Adhäsion an intestinalen Mucus, welcher von Epithelzellen sekretiert wird, vermitteln. Allerdings blieb unklar, welcher Teil der Flagelle an welche Mucuskomponente bindet. Die Fähigkeit effizient an Wirtgewebe zu adhärieren wird als wichtiges Attribut eines probiotischen Stammes angesehen. Ex vivo Adhäsionsstudien mit Kryoschnitten humaner Darmbiopsien haben gezeigt, dass die Flagelle des EcN in die effiziente Adhäsion an humanes Darmgewebe involviert sein muss. Aus diesem Grund wurde in dieser Arbeit die Funktion der Flagelle des EcN als Adhäsin untersucht. Zunächst wurde die hyperflagellierte Variante EcN ATHF isoliert und durch verschiedene Experimente, z.B. Schwärmagartests und Elektronenmikroskopie, charakterisiert. Weitere ex vivo Adhäsionsstudien mit EcN ATHF zeigten eine höhere Adhäsionseffizienz dieser hyperflagellierten Variante und bestätigten damit die Rolle der Flagelle bei der effizienten Adhäsion von EcN an die Kryoschnitte der humanen Darmbiopsien. Interessanterweise fungierte die Flagelle in in vitro Studien mit den humanen Epithelzellen Caco-2 und T24 nicht als Adhäsin. Diese Unterschiede zwischen den in vitro und ex vivo Studien führten zu der Annahme, dass die Flagelle des EcN in vivo die Adhäsion an Mucus vermittelt, welcher von den Caco-2- und T24-Zellen nicht produziert wird, aber in den Kryoschnitten der Darmbiopsien nachgewiesen wurde. Diese Vermutung wurde durch in vitro Adhäsionsstudien mit der Mucin-produzierenden Epithelzelllinie LS174-T bestätigt, da die Flagellen für eine effektive Adhäsion an diese Zellen essentiell waren. Zudem reduzierte die Präinkubation flagellierter EcN-Stämme mit Mucin2 ihre Adhäsionseffizienz an Kryoschnitte humaner Darmbiopsien. Um die direkte Interaktion zwischen Flagellen des EcN Wildtyps und Mucus zu zeigen, wurde ein ELISA etabliert. Es konnte eine direkte konzentrationsabhängige Interaktion zwischen isolierten Flagellen des EcN Wildtyps und Mucin2, bzw. humanem Mucus (Kolon) beobachtet werden. Interessanterweise konnte keine Interaktion zwischen isolierten Flagellen des EcN Wildtyps und murinem Mucus (Duodenum, Ileum, Caecum, Colon) festgestellt werden. Dies weist darauf hin, dass die Mucuszusammensetzung zwischen verschiedenen Spezies variiert. Verschiedene Kohlenhydrate, welche bekannte Mucusbestandteile sind, wurden auf ihre Interaktion mit der Flagelle von EcN getestet und Gluconat wurde als ein Rezeptor identifiziert. Die Präinkubation isolierter Flagellen mit Gluconat reduzierte ihre Interaktion mit Mucin2, bzw. humanem Mucus signifikant. Zudem wurde die oberflächenexponierte Domäne D3 des Flagellins, der Hauptuntereinheit der Flagelle, als möglicher Interaktionspartner von Mucin2, bzw. humanem Mucus ausgeschlossen. Flagellen, die aus einer Domäne D3 Deletionsmutante isoliert wurden, zeigten sogar eine effizientere Bindung an Mucin2, bzw. humanen Mucus. Weiterhin konnte gezeigt werden, dass Änderungen des pH-Wertes signifikante Effekte auf die Interaktion zwischen Mucus und isolierten Flagellen hatten, vermutlich aufgrund von Konformationsänderungen. Zusammenfassend wurde in dieser Arbeit die Flagelle als neues und scheinbar wichtigstes Adhäsin in vivo für den probiotischen Stamm EcN identifiziert. Hierfür wurden sowohl eine hyperflagellierte Variante, eine ΔfliC Mutante, sowie der dazugehörige komplementierte Stamm verwendet. EcN ist zudem der erste probiotische Stamm für den eine direkte Bindung der Flagellen an humanen Mucus nachgewiesen werden konnte. Die Mucuskomponente Gluconat konnte dabei als wichtiger Rezeptor identifiziert werden. Da einige pathogene Bakterien ihre Flagelle zur Adhäsion an Wirtsgewebe nutzen, könnte dieses Organell EcN dazu befähigen, mit Pathogenen um die erfolgreiche Kolonisierung des Darms zu konkurrieren, was als wichtige Eigenschaft eines Probiotikums betrachtet wird.
Early-life stress has been shown to influence the development of the brain and to increase the risk for psychiatric disorders later in life. Furthermore, variation in the human serotonin transporter (5-HTT, SLC6A4) gene is suggested to exert a modulating effect on the association between early-life stress and the risk for depression. At the basis of these gene x environment (G x E) interactions, epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA-methylation, seem to represent the primary biological processes mediating early-life programming for stress susceptibility or resilience, respectively. The exact molecular mechanisms however remain to be elucidated, though. In the present study, we used two different stress paradigms to assess the molecular mechanisms mediating the relationship between early-life stress and disorders of emotion regulation later in life. First, a 5-Htt x prenatal stress (PS) paradigm was applied to investigate whether the effects of PS are dependent on the 5-Htt genotype. For this purpose, the effects of PS on cognition and anxiety- / depression-related behavior were examined using a maternal restraint stress paradigm of PS in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and heterozygous 5-Htt deficient (5-Htt+/-) mice. Additionally, in female offspring, a genome-wide hippocampal gene expression and DNA methylation profiling was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip® Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array and the AffymetrixGeneChip® Mouse Promoter 1.0R Array. Some of the resulting candidate genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Further, the gene expression of these genes was measured in other brain regions of the PS animals as well as in the hippocampus of offspring of another, 5-Htt x perinatal stress (PeS) paradigm, in which pregnant and lactating females were stressed by an olfactory cue indicating infanticide. To assess resilience to PS and PeS, correlation studies between gene expression and behaviour were performed based on an initial performance-based LIMMA analysis of the gene expression microarray. 5-Htt+/- offspring of the PS paradigm showed enhanced memory performance and signs of reduced anxiety as compared to WT offspring. In contrast, exposure of 5-Htt+/- mice to PS was associated with increased depression-like behavior, an effect that tended to be more pronounced in female offspring. Further, 5-Htt genotype, PS and their interaction differentially affected the expression and DNA methylation of numerous genes and related pathways within the female hippocampus. Specifically, MAPK and neurotrophin signaling were regulated by both the 5-Htt+/- genotype and PS exposure, whereas cytokine and Wnt signaling were affected in a 5-Htt genotype x PS manner, indicating a gene x environment interaction at the molecular level. The candidate genes of the expression array could be validated and their expression patterns were partly consistent in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Furthermore, the genotype effect of XIAP associated factor 1 (Xaf1) was also detected in the mice of the PeS paradigm. Concerning resilience, we found that the expression of growth hormone (Gh), prolactin (Prl) and fos-induced growth factor (Figf) were downregulated in WTPS mice that performed well in the forced swim test (FST). At the same time, the results indicated that Gh and Prl expression correlated positively with adrenal weight, whereas Figf expression correlated positively with basal corticosteron concentration, indicating an intricate relationship between depression-like behavior, hippocampal gene expression and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Correlation studies in the PeS animals revealed a link between Gh / Prl expression and anxiety-like behavior. In conclusion, our data suggest that although the 5-Htt+/- genotype shows clear adaptive capacity, 5-Htt+/- mice, particularly females, appear to be more vulnerable to developmental stress exposure when compared to WT offspring. Moreover, hippocampal gene expression and DNA methylation profiles suggest that distinct epigenetic mechanisms at the molecular level mediate the behavioral effects of the 5-Htt genotype, PS exposure, and their interaction. Further, resilience to early-life stress might be conferred by genes whose expression is linked to HPA axis function.
Der Tumornekrosefaktor (TNF) entfaltet seine vielfältigen biologischen Aktivitäten durch die Stimulation der beiden TNF-Rezeptoren TNFR1 und TNFR2. Die TNFR1-vermittelte Signaltransduktion ist in vielen Details gut verstanden, wohingegen die TNFR2-vermittelte Signaltransduktion bis heute kaum untersucht ist. Mit Hilfe einer in unserer Gruppe entwickelten hochaktiven TNFR2-spezifischen TNF-Variante sowie einer bereits länger bekannten TNFR1-spezifischen TNF-Variante wurde in dieser Arbeit die TNF-Signaltransduktion insbesondere im Mutiplen Myelom untersucht. Mit Hilfe der beiden TNF-Varianten konnte gezeigt werden, dass die alleinige Stimulation des TNFR2 die Aktivierung des alternativen NFkappaB-Signalweges vermittelt, wohingegen TNFR1 nicht dazu in der Lage ist. So zeigte sich im Einklang mit der inhibitorischen Funktion des Adapterproteins TRAF2 in der Signaltransduktion des alternativen NFkappaB-Signalweges, dass die TNFR2-Stimulation in einer TRAF2-Depletion resultiert. Dies führt weiterhin zur Akkumulation von NIK und der Prozessierung von p100 zu seiner aktiven Form p52, den klassischen biochemisch nachweisbaren Ereignissen der Aktivierung des alternativen NFkappaB-Signalweges. Aufgrund der Rolle des NFkappaB-Systems im Multiplen Myelom (MM) und der stimulierenden Wirkung des TNFR1 und TNFR2 auf das NFkappaB-System wurde die Expression und Funktion dieser beiden Rezeptoren auf Myelomzelllinien untersucht. Insbesondere wurde analysiert, welchen Effekt eine spezifische Stimulation der beiden TNF-Rezeptoren auf die apoptotische Sensitivität von Myelomzellen hat. Mit einer Ausnahme wiesen alle untersuchten Myelomzelllinien eine eindeutige TNFR2-Oberflächenexpression auf, die TNFR1-Expression hingegen war heterogen. Die TNFR1-Stimulation in den TNFR1-positiven Zelllinien zeigte keinen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die Zellviabilität. Allerdings resultierte eine Vorstimulation mit TNF in einer gesteigerten Sensitivität für den CD95L-induzierten Zelltod, schützte aber gleichzeitig vor der TRAIL-vermittelten Induktion der Apoptose. Der gegenläufige Effekt der TNF-Vorstimulation auf den CD95L- und TRAIL-induzierten Zelltod konnte auf die Hochregulation der CD95-Oberflächenexpression und der gesteigerten Expression des antiapoptotischen cFLIPLong-Proteins zurückgeführt werden. Beide Effekte basieren auf der TNF-induzierten Aktivierung des klassischen NFkappaB-Signalweges. Im CD95L-induzierten Zelltod überkompensierte die Induktion der CD95-Expression offensichtlich die Hochregulation von cFLIPLong und resultierte in gesteigertem Zelltod. Der TRAIL-induzierte Zelltod hingegen wurde durch die TNF-Vorstimulation abgeschwächt, da hier lediglich die durch den klassischen NFkappaB-Signalweg vermittelte gesteigerte Expression des antiapoptotischen cFLIPLong eine Rolle spielte. Desweiteren zeigten die Analysen in dieser Arbeit, dass die TNFR2-Stimulation zu einer Depletion von TRAF2 und z. B. in JJN3-Zellen zu einer Sensitivierung für den TNFR1-induzierten Zelltod führte. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigten in der Summe somit, dass das TNF-TNFR-Signaling durch verschiedene Mechanismen Einfluss auf den Ausgang der extrinsischen Apoptoseinduktion hat, und dass der Effekt von TNF auf das Überleben von MM-Zellen kontextabhängig ist.
RKIP reguliert Proteinkinasen der Signaltransduktionskaskaden von G Protein-gekoppelten Rezeptoren, der Raf/MEK/ERK-MAPK, des Transkriptionsfaktors NFκB und von GSK3β. Unklar war bisher, wie die spezifische Interaktion von RKIP mit seinen mannigfaltigen Interaktionspartnern ermöglicht und reguliert wird. Raf1 und GRK2 sind die einzigen bekannten direkten Interaktionspartner von RKIP und wurden deshalb gewählt, um die zugrundeliegenden molekularen Mechanismen dieser Interaktion genauer zu untersuchen. In dieser Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass RKIP nach PKC-vermittelter Phosphorylierung von Serin153 dimerisiert und dass diese Dimerisierung für die RKIP/Raf1-Dissoziation und die RKIP/GRK2-Interaktion essentiell ist. Co-Immunpräzipitationsexperimente mit einer phosphorylierungsdefizienten Mutante zeigten, dass für diese Dimerisierung die Phosphorylierung von beiden RKIP-Molekülen notwendig ist. Als Dimerinteraktionsfläche wurden die Aminosäuren 127-146 von RKIP identifiziert, da das Peptid RKIP127-146 die Dimerisierung von RKIP spezifisch und effizient hemmte. Um die Bedeutung dieser phosphorylierungsinduzierten Dimerisierung von RKIP für seine Interaktion mit Raf1 und GRK2 zu untersuchen, wurden eine phosphomimetische Mutante (RKIPSK153/7EE) und eine Mutante von RKIP generiert, welche bereits unphosphoryliert dimerisiert (RKIP∆143-6). Folgende Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die Dimerisierung von RKIP für die spezifische Interaktion mit Raf1 bzw. GRK2 entscheidend ist: (i) Die Dimerisierung von phosphoryliertem RKIP ging mit der Dissoziation von RKIP und Raf1 und der Assoziation von RKIP und GRK2 einher; (ii) die Mutanten RKIPSK153/7EE und RKIP∆143-6, die bereits in unstimulierten Zellen eine starke Dimerisierung zeigten, hatten eine höhere Affinität zu GRK2 als zu Raf1; (iii) die Hemmung der RKIP-Dimerisierung interferierte nur mit der RKIP/GKR2- aber nicht mit der RKIP/Raf1-Interaktion; (iv) in vitro und in Mausherzen konnte ein RKIP- und GRK2-immunreaktiver Komplex nachgewiesen werden; (v) Untersuchungen zur RKIP-vermittelten Hemmung der Kinaseaktivität von GRK2 und Raf implizierten, dass dimerisiertes RKIP nur die Aktivität von GRK2, nicht aber von Raf hemmt. Diese Arbeit zeigt, dass die phosphorylierungsinduzierte Dimerisierung von RKIP die spezifische Interaktion von RKIP mit Raf1 und GRK2 koordiniert. Die Aufklärung dieses Mechanismus erweitert unser Verständnis der spezifischen Interaktion von Kinasen mit ihren Regulatorproteinen.
PTPN22 encodes the lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase Lyp that can dephosphorylate Lck, ZAP-70 and Fyn to attenuate TCR signaling. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C1858T) causes a substitution from arginine (R) to tryptophan (W) at 620 residue (R620W). Lyp-620W has been confirmed as a susceptible allele in multiple autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Several independent studies proposed that the disease-associated allele is a gain-of-function variant. However, a recent report found that in human cells and a knockin mouse containing the R620W homolog that Ptpn22 protein degradation is accelerated, indicating Lyp-620W is a loss-of-function variant. Whether Lyp R620W is a gain- or loss-of-function variant remains controversial. To resolve this issue, we generated two lines (P2 and P4) of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice in which Ptpn22 can be inducibly silenced by RNAi. We found long term silencing of Ptpn22 increased spleen cellularity and regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers, replicating the effect of gene deletion reported in the knockout (KO) B6 mice. Notably, Ptpn22 silencing also increased the reactivity and apoptotic behavior of B lymphocytes, which is consistent with the reduced reactivity and apoptosis of human B cells carrying the alleged gain-of-function PTPN22 allele. Furthermore, loss of Ptpn22 protected P2 KD mice from spontaneous and Cyclophosphamide (CY) induced diabetes. Our data support the notion that Lyp-620W is a gain-of-function variant. Moreover, Lyp may be a valuable target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Die Anzahl neurologischer Erkrankungen bei denen Autoantikörper gegen zentralnervöse An-tigene bekannt sind, hat in den letzten Jahren deutlich zugenommen. Allerdings gibt es nur für wenige dieser Erkrankungen hinreichende experimentelle Belege für eine pathogene Wir-kung der Autoantikörper. Zwei dieser Erkrankungen wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit näher untersucht: die Juvenile Neuronale Zeroid-Lipofuszinose (JNCL) mit Autoantikörpern gegen die 65 kD Isoform der Glutamatdecarboxylase und das Stiff Person Syndrom (SPS) mit Auto-antikörpern gegen Amphiphysin. Die phänotypische Charakterisierung der cln3 knockout-Maus, einem Mausmodell für die JNCL, zeigte eine progressive Verschlechterung der motorischen und koordinativen Fä-higkeiten, eingeschränktes reizbedingtes Lernen und gesteigertes angstähnliches Verhalten. Diese Symptome ähneln denen der humanen Erkrankung. Elektrophysiologisch konnte eine Antikörper-induzierte zerebelläre Dysfunktion identifiziert werden, die einer verminderten lokalen GABAergen Hemmung zugeordnet wird. Eine Reduktion der Antiköperproduktion im Tiermodell durch eine Depletion der Plasmazellen durch den Proteseinhibitor Bortezomib hatte einen positiven Effekt auf die Krankheitsentwicklung. Im zweiten experimentellen Teil der Arbeit wurde der Einfluss von Autoantikörpern gegen Amphiphysin von Patienten mit SPS auf die synaptische Transmission untersucht. Es zeigte sich hierbei in Patch-Clamp Experimenten eine Störung der GABAergen Übertragung v.a. bei hochfrequenter Stimulation, was im Einklang mit dem vermuteten Antikörper-induzierten Endozytosedefekt steht. Passiver Transfer von humanen Autoantikörpern gegen Amphiphysin induzierte angst-ähnliches Verhalten in Ratten, einem weiteren Kernsymptom des SPS. Aktive Immunisierung gegen Amphiphysin und anschließende Öffnung der Blut-Hirn-Schranke in Mäusen führte zu einer subklinischen Veränderung der Reflexverarbeitung von Ia Afferenzen auf Motoneurone im Rückenmark der Mäuse. Insgesamt konnten in zwei Erkrankungen des ZNS autoimmune Mechanismen identifi-ziert werden, die zu einer Antikörper-induzierten Fehlregulation der zentralen synaptischen Transmission führen. Diese Ergebnisse können wegweisend sein auch für die Erforschung der Pathophysiologie anderer Antikörper-assoziierte Erkrankungen des ZNS.
Die Stimulation des CD95-Todesrezeptors durch seinen natürlichen membranständigen Li-ganden CD95L führt zur kontextabhängigen Aktivierung von sowohl apoptotischen als auch nicht-apoptotischen Signalwegen. Durch Proteolyse wird aus dem membranständigen CD95L löslicher trimerer CD95L freigesetzt. Die Bindung von löslichem trimerem CD95L an CD95 ist nicht ausreichend, um die CD95-Signaltransduktion effizient zu stimulieren. Die Fähigkeit von löslichen CD95L-Trimeren CD95-vermittelte Signalwege robust zu aktivieren kann jedoch durch Oligomerisierung und artifizielle Immobilisierung an eine Oberfläche drastisch gesteigert werden. In dieser Arbeit wurde zunächst bestätigt, dass nur oligomere CD95L-Varianten, die z.B. durch Antikörpervernetzung von N-terminal getaggten rekombinanten CD95L-Varianten oder durch eine gentechnisch erzwungene Hexamerisierung von CD95L-Molekülen erhalten wur-den, in der Lage sind, effizient apoptotische und nicht-apoptotische Signalwege zu aktivieren. Ferner zeigte sich dann, dass die Bindung von löslichen CD95L-Trimeren nicht ausreichend ist, um die Translokation von CD95-Molekülen in detergenzunlösliche „Lipid Raft“- Membrandomänen zu stimulieren. Die „Lipid Raft“-Translokation ist ein zentrales Ereignis bei der CD95-Aktivierung und vor allem für die Induktion der Apoptose bedeutsam. Dabei ist ein selbstverstärkender Prozess aus Caspase-8-Aktivierung und „Lipid Raft“-Assoziation des CD95 von Bedeutung. Um die Interaktion von CD95 und CD95L mit Hilfe von hoch sensitiven zellulären Bindungs-studien analysieren zu können, wurden in dieser Arbeit desweiteren CD95L-Fusionsproteine entwickelt und hergestellt, an welche N-terminal eine Gaussia princeps Luziferase (GpL)- Reporterdomäne gekoppelt ist. So konnte mit den GpL-CD95L-Fusionsproteinen gezeigt werden, dass die Oligomerisierung von CD95L-Trimeren keinen Effekt auf die Ligandenbele-gung des CD95 hat. Dies spricht dafür, dass die höhere spezifische Aktivität von oligomeri-sierten CD95L-Trimeren nicht auf einer Aviditäts-vermittelten Zunahme der apparenten Affi-nität beruht, sondern dies deutet darauf hin, dass die sekundäre Aggregation von sich initial bildenden trimeren CD95L-CD95-Komplexen eine entscheidende Rolle in der CD95-Aktivierung spielt. Durch Scatchard-Analysen zeigte sich ferner, dass trimerer CD95L mit mindestens zwei zellulären Bindungsstellen unterschiedlicher Affinität interagiert. Bindungs-studien mit löslichen monomeren und trimeren GpL-CD95-Rezeptoren an membranständigen CD95L, als auch Inhibitionsstudien ergaben, dass trimerer CD95 weitaus besser an CD95L bindet. Dies legt nahe, dass es sich bei den zuvor beobachteten hoch- und niederaffinen Bindungsstellen für CD95L um monomere bzw. prä-assemblierte CD95-Moleküle handelt. Die GpL-CD95L-Fusionsproteine wurden auch genutzt, um die CD95-Translokation in „Lipid Rafts“ zu analysieren. So wurde trimerer GpL-CD95L als „Tracer“ zur Markierung von inaktiven CD95-Molekülen eingesetzt. Nach Aktivierung der übrigen freien CD95-Moleküle mit hoch aktivem hexameren Fc-CD95L konnte eine Zunahme der inaktiven GpL-CD95L-markierten Rezeptoren in „Lipid Rafts“ beobachtet werden. Offensichtlich stimulieren also aktivierte CD95-Moleküle in „trans“ die Ko-Translokation inaktiver CD95-Rezeptoren in „Lipid Rafts“. Dies bestätigte sich auch in Experimenten mit Transfektanten, die einen chimären CD40-CD95-Rezeptor exprimieren. Letzterer ist nach Stimulation mit CD40L in der Lage, intrazellu-läre CD95-vermittelte Signalwege zu aktivieren. Die Aktivierung von CD95-assoziierten Sig-nalwegen durch Stimulation von endogenem CD95 in CD40-CD95-Transfektanten resultierte nun in der Ko-Translokation von unstimulierten CD40-CD95-Rezeptoren in „Lipid Rafts“. Vice versa zeigte sich die Ko-Translokation von endogenem CD95 nach spezifischer Aktivierung des chimären CD40-CD95-Rezeptors. Schlussendlich erwiesen sich eine funktionsfähige Todesdomäne und die Aktivierung der Caspase-8 als essentiell für die „Lipid Raft“-Assoziation von aktivierten CD95-Molekülen und auch für die durch diese Rezeptorspezies induzierte Ko-Translokation von inaktiven Rezeptoren in „Lipid Rafts“.
Dendritische Zellen (DCs) sind Antigen-präsentierende Zellen, die Pathogene erkennen und nach erfolgreicher Reifung spezifische adaptive Immunität induzieren. Die Infektion unreifer DCs durch Masernviren (MV) erfolgt CD150-abhängig und DC-SIGN-unterstützt. Infizierte DCs vermitteln wahrscheinlich den MV-Transport vom Respirationstrakt in sekundäre lym-phatische Gewebe, wo die MV-spezifische Immunität und die generalisierte Immunsuppressi-on initiiert werden sowie die MV-Transmission an T-Zellen stattfinden kann, die wesentlich für die Dissemination des Virus ist. Die MV-Infektion von iDCs initiierte deren Ausreifung begleitet von der moderaten Hochre-gulierung der CD150-Oberflächenexpression. Die Akkumulation viraler Proteine als auch die Freisetzung viraler Partikel waren in DCs im Vergleich zu Virus-produzierenden B-Zelllinie B95a beeinträchtigt. Diese Arbeit verglich die subzelluläre Verteilung der viralen Proteine in DCs und B95a-Zellen. In DC wiesen Matrix (M)-Proteine eine prominente Assoziation mit den Komponenten des Ribonukleoprotein (RNP)-Komplexes auf. Die ausgeprägte Relokali-sierung des Tetraspanins CD81 zu Phospho (P)-Protein-Kompartimenten und die Inhibition der räumliche Interaktion der untersuchten Tetraspanine waren spezifisch für B95a-Zellen. Weder in B95a-Zellen noch für DC konnte für MV ein virus-containing compartment (VCC) detektiert werden, das für HIV-1 zuvor beschrieben wurde. Um den zellulären Transport des M-Proteins in infizierten, lebenden DCs untersuchen zu können, wurde das Protein carboxyterminal mit dem Tetracystein (TC)-Tag fusioniert. Das M-TC Fusionsprotein zeigte alle untersuchten biologischen Eigenschaften des Wildtyp-Proteins bezüglich seiner subzellulären Verteilung, der Assoziation mit DRMs sowie der Generierung und Freisetzung von virus-like particles (VPLs). Innerhalb des Viruskontextes interferierte der TC-Tag allerdings stark mit der Virusreplikation bzw. Freisetzung. Durch die Verminderung der Partikelproduktion in DCs wird eine spezielle MV-Transmissionsstruktur für die effiziente Übertragung an T-Zellen benötigt. Die MV-Transmission an autologe T-Zellen basierte vorwiegend auf Infektion von DCs (cis-Infektion) und weniger auf DC-SIGN-gebundenen Virus (trans-Infektion). Die Interaktion zwischen dem MV-Glykoprotein H mit seinem Rezeptor CD150 war wichtig für die Transmission. Die Transmission von MV erfolgte hauptsächlich durch die Bildung von Kontaktflächen, entspre-chend den beschriebenen virologischen Synapsen, wo virale Proteine akkumulierten und CD150 aktinabhängig rekrutiert wurde, und seltener über aktinreiche Filopodien. Die HIV-VS Markerproteine ICAM-1, aktiviertes LFA-1, CD81, DC-SIGN und der phosphorylierte Ezrin / Radixin / Moesin (ERM)-Proteinkomplex polarisierten zur MV-VS. Moesin und der Substanz P Rezeptor (SPR), die Prozesse des MV-Eintritts oder der Aufnahme unterstützen, akkumulierten ebenfalls in den Transmissionsstrukturen. Zusammengefasst zeigte diese Arbeit, dass die gebildete Plattform für MV-Transmission (MV-VS) wichtige Gemeinsamkeiten mit der HIV-VS teilt. In der MV-VS akkumulierten Proteine, die Aktindynamiken regulieren, die die Konjugatstabilität verstärken und die die Membranfusion unterstützen, die einen effizienten Eintritt des MV in T-Zellen ermöglichen.
During the past years, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) was established as a commonly used molecular phylogenetic marker for the eukaryotes. Its fast evolving sequence is predestinated for the use in low-level phylogenetics. However, the ITS2 also consists of a very conserved secondary structure. This enables the discrimination between more distantly related species. The combination of both in a sequence-structure based analysis increases the resolution of the marker and enables even more robust tree reconstructions on a broader taxonomic range. But, performing such an analysis required the application of different programs and databases making the use of the ITS2 non trivial for the typical biologist. To overcome this hindrance, I have developed the ITS2 Workbench, a completely web-based tool for automated phylogenetic sequence-structure analyses using the ITS2 (http://its2.bioapps.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de). The development started with an optimization of length modelling topologies for Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), which were successfully applied on a secondary structure prediction model of the ITS2 marker. Here, structure is predicted by considering the sequences' composition in combination with the length distribution of different helical regions. Next, I integrated HMMs into the sequence-structure generation process for the delineation of the ITS2 within a given sequence. This re-implemented pipeline could more than double the number of structure predictions and reduce the runtime to a few days. Together with further optimizations of the homology modelling process I can now exhaustively predict secondary structures in several iterations. These modifications currently provide 380,000 annotated sequences including 288,000 structure predictions. To include these structures in the calculation of alignments and phylogenetic trees, I developed the R-package "treeforge". It generates sequence-structure alignments on up to four different coding alphabets. For the first time also structural bonds were considered in alignments, which required the estimation of new scoring matrices. Now, the reconstruction of Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood as well as Neighbour Joining trees on all four alphabets requires just a few lines of code. The package was used to resolve the controversial chlorophyceaen dataset and could be integrated into future versions of the ITS2 workbench. The platform is based on a modern, feature-rich Web 2.0 user interface equipped with the latest AJAX and Web-service technologies. It performs HMM-based sequence annotation, structure prediction by energy minimization or homology modelling, alignment calculation and tree reconstruction on a flexible data pool that repeats calculations according to data changes. Further, it provides sequence motif detection to control annotation and structure prediction and a sequence-structure based BLAST search, which facilitates the taxon sampling process. All features and the usage of the ITS2 workbench are explained in a video tutorial. However, the workbench bears some limitations regarding the size of datasets. This is caused mainly due to the immense computational power needed for such extensive calculations. To demonstrate the validity of the approach also for large-scale analyses, a fully automated reconstruction of the Chlorophyta (Green Algal) Tree of Life was performed. The successful application of the marker even on large datasets underlines the capabilities of ITS2 sequence-structure analysis and suggests its utilization on further datasets. The ITS2 workbench provides an excellent starting point for such endeavours.
Upon oncogenic stress, the tumor suppressor Arf can induce irreversible cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, depending on the oncogenic insult. In this study, it could be shown that Arf interacts with Myc and the Myc-associated zinc-finger protein Miz1 to facilitate repression of genes involved in cell adhesion. Formation of a DNA-binding Arf/Myc/Miz1 complex disrupts interaction of Miz1 with its coactivator nucleophosmin and induces local heterochromatinisation, causing cells to lose attachment and undergo anoikis. The assembly of the complex relies on Myc, which might explain why high Myc levels trigger apoptosis and not cell cycle arrest in the Arf response. This mechanism could play an important role in eliminating cells harboring an oncogenic mutation. Arf furthermore induces sumoylation of Miz1 at a specific lysine by repressing the desumoylating enzyme Senp3. A sumoylation-deficient mutant of Miz1 however does not show phenotypic differences under the chosen experimental conditions. Myc can also be modified by Sumo by multisumoylation at many different lysines, which is unaffected by Arf. The exact mechanism and effect of this modification however stays unsolved.
Single-molecule microscopy is one of the decisive methodologies that allows one to clarify cellular signaling in both spatial and temporal dimentions by tracking with nanometer precision the diffusion of individual microscopic particles coupled to relevant biological molecules. Trajectory analysis not only enables determination of the mechanisms that drive and constrain the particles motion but also to reveal crucial information about the molecule interaction, mobility, stoichiometry, all existing subpopulations and unique functions of particular molecules. Efficacy of this technique depends on two problematic issues the usage of the proper fluorophore and the type of biochemical attachment of the fluorophore to a biomolecule. The goal of this study was to evolve a highly specific labeling method suitable for single molecule tracking, internalization and trafficking studies that would attain a calculable 1:1 fluorophore-to-receptor stoichiometry. A covalent attachment of quantum dots to transmembrane receptors was successfully achieved with a techinque that amalgamates acyl carrier protein (ACP) system as a comparatively small linker and coenzyme A (CoA)-functionalized quantum dots. The necessity of optimization of the quantum dot usage for more precise calculation of the membrane protein stoichiometries in larger assemblies led to the further study in which methods maximizing the number of signals and the tracking times of diverse QD types were examined. Next, the optimized techniques were applied to analyze behavior of interleukin-5 β-common chain receptor (IL-5Rβc) receptors that are endogenously expressed at low level on living differentiated eosinophil-like HL-60 cells. Obtained data disclosed that perused receptors form stable and higher order oligomers. Additionally, the mobility analysis based on increased in number (>10%) uninterrupted 1000-step trajectories revealed two patterns of confined motion. Thereupon methods were developed that allow both, determination of stoichiometries of cell surface protein complexes and the acquisition of long trajectories for mobility analysis. Sequentially, the aforementioned methods were used to scrutinize on the mobility, internalization and recycling dynamics characterization of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCRs), the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR1) and several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a member of the TGF-beta superfamily of receptors. These receptors are two important representatives of two varied membrane receptor classes. BMPs activate SMAD- and non-SMAD pathways and as members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily are entailed in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, chemotaxis, and apoptosis. For effective ligand induced and ligand independent signaling, two types of transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, BMP type I and type II receptors (BMPRI and BMPRII, respectively) are engaged. Apparently, the lateral mobility profiles of BMPRI and BMPRII receptors differ markedly, which determinate specificity of the signal. Non-SMAD signaling and subsequent osteoblastic differentiation of precursor cells particularly necessitate the confinement of the BMP type I receptor, resulting in the conclusion that receptor lateral mobility is a dominative mechanism to modulate SMAD versus non-SMAD signaling during differentiation. Confined motion was also predominantly observed in the studies devoted to, entailed in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and in bone remodeling, the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR1), in which stimulation with five peptide ligands, specific fragments of PTH: hPTH(1–34), hPTHrP(107–111)NH2; PTH(1–14); PTH(1–28) G1R19, bPTH(3–34), first four belonging to PTH agonist group and the last to the antagonist one, were tested in the wide concentration range on living COS-1 and AD293 cells. Next to the mobility, defining the internalization and recycling rates of the PTHR1 receptor maintained in this investigation one of the crucial questions. Internalization, in general, allows to diminish the magnitude of the receptor-mediated G protein signals (desensitization), receptor resensitization via recycling, degradation (down-regulation), and coupling to other signaling pathways (e.g. MAP kinases). Determinants of the internalization process are one of the most addressed in recent studies as key factors for clearer understanding of the process and linking it with biological responses evoked by the signal transduction. The internalization of the PTH-receptor complex occurs via the clathrin-coated pit pathway involving β-arrestin2 and is initiated through the agonist occupancy of the PTHR1 leading to activation of adenylyl cyclase (via Gs), and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase Cβ (via Gq). Taken together, this work embodies complex study of the interleukin-5 β-common chain receptor (IL-5Rβc) receptors, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and the parathyroid hormone receptor with the application of single-molecule microscopy with the newly attained ACP-quantum dot labeling method and standard techniques.
Plant-derived natural products and their analogs continue to play an important role in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of human diseases. Potentially promising representatives of secondary metabolites are the naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, which show a broad range of activities against protozoan pathogens, such as plasmodia, leishmania, and trypanosoma. Due to the increasing resistance of those pathogens against current therapies, highly potent novel agents are still urgently needed. Thus, it is worthy to discover new naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids hopefully with pronounced bioactivities by isolation from plants or by synthesis. The naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids are biosynthetically related to another class of plant-derived products, the naphthoquinones, some of which have been recently found to display excellent anti-multiple myeloma activities without showing any cytotoxicities on normal blood cells. Multiple myeloma still remains incurable, although remissions may be induced with co-opted therapeutic treatments. Therefore, more potent naphthoquinones are urgently required, and can be obtained by isolation from plants or by synthesis. In detail, the results in this thesis are listed as follows: 1) Isolation and characterization of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from the stems of a Chinese Ancistrocladus tectorius species. Nine new naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, named ancistectorine A1 (60), N-methylancistectorine A1 (61), ancistectorine A2 (62a), 5-epi-ancistectorine A2 (62b), 4'-O-demethylancistectorine A2 (63), ancistectorine A3 (64), ancistectorine B1 (65), ancistectorine C1 (66), and 5-epi-ancistrolikokine D (67) were isolated from the Chinese A. tectorius and fully characterized by chemical, spectroscopic, and chiroptical methods. Furthermore, the in vitro anti-infectious activities of 60-62 and 63-66 have been tested. Three of the metabolites, 61, 62a, and 62b, exhibited strong antiplasmodial activities against the strain K1 of P. falciparum without showing significant cytotoxicities. With IC50 values of 0.08, 0.07, and 0.03 μM, respectively, they were 37 times more active than the standard chloroquine (IC50 = 0.26 μM). Moreover, these three compounds displayed high antiplasmodial selectivity indexes ranging from 100 to 3300. According to the TDR/WHO guidelines, they could be considered as lead compounds. In addition, seven alkaloids, 69-74 (structures not shown here), were isolated from A. tectorius that were known, but new to the plant, together with another fourteen known compounds (of these, only the structures of the three main alkaloids, 5a, 5b, and 78 are shown here), which had been previously found in the plant. The three metabolites ancistrocladine (5a), hamatine (5b), and (+)-ancistrocline (78) were found to show no or moderate activities against the MM cell lines. 2) Isolation and characterization of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from the root bark of a new, botanically yet undescribed Congolese Ancistrocladus species. An unprecedented dimeric Dioncophyllaceae-type naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid, jozimine A2 (84), as first recognized by G. Bauckmann from an as yet undescribed Ancistrocladus species, was purified and characterized as part of this thesis. Its full structural assignment was achieved by spectroscopic and chiroptical methods, and further confirmed by an X-ray diffraction analysis, which had never succeeded for any other dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids before. Structurally, the dimer is composed of two identical 4'-O-demethyldioncophylline A halves, coupled through a sterically hindered central axis at C-3',3'' of the two naphthalene moieties. Pharmacologically, jozimine A2 (84) showed an extraordinary antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 1.4 nM) against the strain NF54 of P. falciparum. Beside jozimine A2 (85), another new alkaloid, 6-O-demethylancistrobrevine C (84), and four known ones, ancistrocladine (5a), hamatine (5b), ancistrobrevine C (86), and dioncophylline A (6) were isolated from the Ancistrocladus species, the latter in a large quantity (~500 mg), showing that the plant produces Ancistrocladaceae-type, mixed-Ancistrocladaceae/Dioncophyllaceae-type, and Dioncophyllaceae-type naphthyl- isoquinoline alkaloids. Remarkably, it is one of the very few plants, like A. abbreviatus, and A. barteri, that simultaneously contain typical representatives of all the above three classes of alkaloids. 3) Semi-synthesis of jozimine A2 (85), 3'-epi-85, jozimine A3 (93) and other alkaloids from dioncophylline A (6). The dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, jozimine A2 (85) and 3'-epi-85, constitute rewarding synthetic targets for a comparative analysis of their antiplasmodial activities and for a further confirmation of the assigned absolute configurations of the isolated natural product of 85. They were semi-synthesized in a four-step reaction sequence from dioncophylline A (6) in cooperation with T. Büttner. The key step was a biomimetic phenol-oxidative dimerization at C-3' of the N,O-dibenzylated derivative of 89 by utilizing Pb(OAc)4. This is the first time that the synthesis of such an extremely sterically hindered (four ortho-substituents) naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid – with three consecutive biaryl axes! – has been successfully achieved. A novel dimeric naphthylisoquinoline, jozimine A3 (93), bearing a 6',6''-central biaryl axis, was semi-synthesized from 5'-O-demethyldioncophylline A (90) by a similar biomimetic phenol-oxidative coupling reaction as a key step, by employing Ag2O. HPLC analysis with synthetic reference material of 3'-epi-85 and 93 for co-elution revealed that these two alkaloids clearly are not present in the crude extract of the Ancistrocladus species from which jozimine A2 (85) was isolated. This evidences that jozimine A2 (85) is very specifically biosynthesized by the plant with a high regio- and stereoslectivity. Remarkably, the two synthetic novel dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids 3'-epi-85 and 93 were found to display very good antiplasmodial activities, albeit weaker than that of the natural and semi-synthetic product 85. Additionally, the two compounds 3'-epi-85 and 93 possessed high or moderate selectivity indexes, which were much lower than that of 85. However, they can still be considered as new lead structures. Two unprecedented oxidative products of dioncophylline A, the diastereomeric dioncotetralones A (94a) and B (94b), were synthesized from dioncophylline A (6) in a one-step reaction. Remarkably, the aromatic properties in the “naphthalene” and the “isoquinoline” rings of 94a and 94b are partially lost and the “biaryl” axis has become a C,C-double bond, so that the two halves are nearly co-planar to each other, which has never been found among any natural or synthetic naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid. Their full structural characterization was accomplished by spectroscopic methods and quantum-chemical CD calculations (done by Y. Hemberger). The presumed reaction mechanism was proposed in this thesis. In addition, one of the two compounds, 94a, exhibited a highly antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.09 μM) with low cytotoxicity, and thus, can be considered as a new promising lead structure. Its 2'-epi-isomer, 94b, was inactive, evidencing a significant effect of chirality on the bioactivity. Of a number of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids tested against the multiple-myeloma cell lines, the three compounds, dioncophylline A (6), 4'-O-demethyldioncophylline A (89), and 5'-O-demethyldioncophylline A (90) showed excellent activities, even much stronger than dioncoquinones B (10), C (102), the epoxide 175, or the standard drug melphalan. 4) Isolation and characterization of bioactive naphthoquinones from cell cultures of Triphyophyllum peltatum. Three new naphthoquinones, dioncoquinones C (102), D (103), and E (104), the known 8-hydroxydroserone (105), which is new to this plant, and one new naphthol dimer, triphoquinol A (107), were isolated from cell cultures of T. peltatum in cooperation with A. Irmer. Dioncoquinone C (102) showed an excellent activity against the MM cells, very similar to that of the previously found dioncoquinone B (10), without showing any inhibitory effect on normal cells. The other three naphthoquinones, 103105, were inactive or only weakly active. 5) Establishment of a new strategy for a synthetic access to dioncoquinones B (10) and C (102) on a large scale for in vivo experiments and for the synthesis of their analogs for first SAR studies. Before the synthesis of dioncoquinone B (10) described in this thesis, two synthetic pathways had previously been established in our group. The third approach described here involved the preparation of the joint synthetic intermediate 42 with the previous two routes. The tertiary benzamide 135 was ortho-deprotonated by using s-BuLi/TMEDA, followed by transmetallation with MgBr2▪2Et2O, and reaction with 2-methylallyl bromide (139). It resulted in the formation of ortho-allyl benzamide 140, which was cyclized by using methyl lithium to afford the naphthol 42. This strategy proved to be the best among the established three approaches with regard to its very low number of steps and high yields. By starting with 136, this third strategy yielded the related bioactive natural product, dioncoquinone C (102), which was accessed by total synthesis for the first time. To identify the pharmacophore of the antitumoral naphthoquinones, a library of dioncoquinone B (10) and C (102) analogs were synthesized for in vitro testing. Among the numerous naphthoquinones tested, the synthetic 7-O-demethyldioncoquinone C (or 7-O-hydroxyldioncoquinone B) (145), constitutes another promising basic structure to develop a new anti-MM agent. Furthermore, preliminary SAR results evidence that the three hydroxy functions at C-3, C-5, and C-6 are essential for the biological properties as exemplarily shown through the compounds 10, 102, and 145. All other mixed OH/OMe- or completely OMe-substituted structures were entirely inactive. By a serendipity the expoxide 175 was found to display the best anti-MM activity of all the tested isolated metabolites from T. peltatum, the synthesized naphthoquinones, and their synthetic intermediates. Toxic effects of 175 on normal cells were not observed, in contrast to the high toxicities of all other epoxides. Thus, the anti-MM activity of 175 is of high selectivity. The preliminary SAR studies revealed that the 6-OMe group in 175 is required, thus differed with the above described naphthoquinones (where 6-OH is a requisite in 10, 102, and 145), which evidenced potentially different modes of action for these two classes of compounds. 6) The first attempted total synthesis of the new naturally occurring triphoquinone (187a), which was recently isolated from the root cultures of T. peltatum in our group. A novel naphthoquinone-naphthalene dimer, 187a (structure shown in Chapter 10), was isolated in small quantities from the root cultures of T. peltatum. Thus, its total synthesis was attempted for obtaining sufficient amounts for selected biotestings. The key step was planned to prepare the extremely sterically hindered (four ortho-substituents) binaphthalene 188 by a coupling reaction between the two 2-methylnaphthalene derivatives. Test reactions involving a system of two simplified 2-methylnaphthylboron species and 2-methylnaphthyl bromide proved the Buchwald ligand as most promising. The optimized conditions were then applied to the two true - highly oxygenated - coupling substrates, between the 2-methylnaphthylboron derivatives 210, 211, 213, or 214 and the 2-methylnaphthyl iodides (or bromides) 215 (206), 215 (206), 212 (205), or 212 (205), respectively. Unfortunately, this crucial step failed although various bases and solvent systems were tested. This could be due to the high electron density of the two coupling substrates, both bearing strongly OMOM/OMe-donating function groups. Therefore, a more powerful catalyst system or an alternative synthetic strategy must be explored for the total synthesis of 187a. 7) Phytochemical investigation of the Streptomyces strain RV-15 derived from a marine sponge. Cyclodysidins A-D (216-219), four new cyclic lipopeptides with a- and ß-amino acids, were isolated from the Streptomyces strain RV15 derived from a marine sponge by Dr. U. Abdelmohsen. Their structures were established as cyclo-(ß-AFA-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Asn-Ser-Thr) by spectroscopic analysis using 2D NMR techniques and CID-MS/MS in the course of this thesis. In conclusion, the present work contributes to the discovery of novel antiplasmodial naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids and antitumoral naphthoquinones, which will pave the way for future studies on these two classes of compounds.
Autoimmune diseases, unwanted overshooting immune responses against self antigens, are due to an imbalance in immunity and tolerance. Although negatively impacting cancer prognosis, myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), with their potent suppressive capabilities, might be applicable in a more beneficial light when applied in to autoimmunity. As previous shown MDSC have protective roles in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) (Zhu et al., 2007), the established inducible mouse model for the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS). This decrease in disease severity indicates in vitro generated immature myeloid cells (IMC) from bone marrow (BM) as precursors of MDSC are promising candidates for cellular therapy. Important to any cellular therapy by adoptive transfer, the major questions regarding IMC efficacy was addressed within the thesis. This thesis attempts to elucidate how IMC operate in EAE. This thesis defines the factors within the autoimmune microenvironment that lead to the activation of MDSC, where IMC home once delivered in vivo, and the protective mechanisms BMIMC employ. To emulate BM cells when they first enter circulation through the blood, IMC were injected intravenously (i.v.). IMC are protective with no regard to the various routes delivered (i.v., i.p.). They protect to a lesser extent when pre-activated before injection. IMC suppress by causing a delay and/or by decreasing the severity of the disease via a mechanism yet determined. To understand the migration pattern of IMC after i.v. injection, in vivo kinetics experiments employing bioluminescence imaging were performed. This techinique allows for whole in vivo mouse imaging daily, allowing the tracking of cell migration over days within a single mouse. During steady-state, BMIMC circulate and appear to accumulate in the spleen by day 4 after injection, whereas they alternatively home to inflammatory sites (immunization site), draining lymph nodes, and the spleen within mice with low grade EAE. Visualization of CMDiI-labelled BMIMC by fluorescence microscopy could locate IMC injected cells outside the white pulp, as they were colocalizing in the regions stained with CD169 or outside, but not within the follicles of spleens on day 4. Consistant with these findings, the attempt to analyze the phenotype of these cells by flow cytometry was problematic as these cells seem to adhere strongly to collagen also indicating the cells are located in the collagenous area of the marginal zone and the red pulp.To determine factors influencing MDSC activation, we utilized different stimuli through a high throughput method detecting release of nitric oxide (NO). Extracts from yeast, fungi, and bacteria were observed to activate MDSC to produce nitric oxide. Surprisingly, material mimicking viral DNA (CpG) and RNA (poly I:C), and several self glycolipids, could not activate the MDSC to produce NO. Upon attempts to understand synergistic effects between microbial pathogens and host cytokines, IFNg was determined to boost the signal of pathogen stimuli, whereas IL17, another cytokine which causes pathology during EAE, and IFNb, a drug used in therapy to treat MS, did not cause any additional effects. Activation of MDSC was determined by the microbial pathogens components LPS, curdlan, and zymosan, to induce upregulation of B7H1 on the cell surface. MDSC did not increase any co-stimulatory markers, such as CD40, CD80, CD86, CD70, or the co-inhibitory marker, PDL2. On day 1 after EAE induction, endogenous MDSC populations when stimulated showed an increase in B7H1 expression and a downregulation of CD80. After further analysis, these cells were concluded to be mostly granulocytic cells (Ly6G+). As the B7H1 ligand PD1 is upregulated in chronic diseases and correlates to an exhausted phenotype, the PD1 : B7H1 interaction was a good candidate for the mechanism our cells may employ for their suppressive capacity. To investigate this interaction, fixed BM-IMC deficient in B7H1 were incubated with restimulated memory T cells. IMC deficient in B7H1 resulted in a significant loss of T cell suppression, as compared to the wildtype control BMIMC. To assess this interaction in vivo, we injected wildtype (WT) and B7H1-/- IMC into mice followed by induction of EAE to assess whether B7H1 mediated this suppression. The lack of B7H1 did not alter their suppressive capacity under these conditions, contrary to other findings which have described this interaction to be important in their suppressive capacity when administered post EAE induction (Ioannou et al., 2012). Interestingly, EAE mice pre-treated with IMC had similar amounts of cytokine production in the CNS after restimulation. Spleens from IMC injected mice had increased amounts of Arg-1 suggesting suppression is via oxidation or recruitment by soluble mediators may lead to this protection. We speculate this may inhibit T cell reactivation in the CNS.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death all over the world. Malnutrition and toxic contaminations of food with substances such as mycotoxins have been thought to account for a high percentage of cancers. However, human diet can deliver both mutagens and components that decrease the cancer risk. Genomic damage could be reduced by food components through different mechanisms such as scavenging of reactive oxygen species. In the first part of this study we tried to investigate the effects of patulin and resveratrol on DNA stability in V79 cells. Patulin is a mycotoxin, which is frequently found in spoiled apples and other fruits. The WHO has established a safety level of 50 µg/L, which is indeed not observed by all manufacturers. The acute toxicity of patulin in high concentrations is well known, however its potential carcinogenicity is still a matter of debate. Therefore we wanted to investigate further steps in the mechanism of patulin-induced genotoxicity. Patulin caused the formation of micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges in a dose-dependent manner. Further analysis revealed that patulin induced both kinetochore-negative and positive micronuclei. Time course of incubation indicate a new mechanism for patulin-induced nucleoplasmic bridge formation. We hypothized a mechanism via cross-linking of DNA, which was confirmed by a modified version of comet assay. Incubations of cells with patulin led to an increased number of multinucleated cells and multipolar mitoses. Cell cytometry revealed a G2 arrest by patulin, which might explain the amplification of centrosomes and patulin-induced aneuploidy. Patulin cause a dose-dependent DNA damage in comet assay which was influenced by the cellular GSH content. However, an induction of oxidative stress was just seen with higher concentrations of patulin. Levels of cellular glutathione were increased after 24 h incubation indicating an adaptive response to patulin-induced stress. There is growing interest in polyphenols such as resveratrol which have shown many positive effects on human health. The beneficial properties are partially attributed to their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Co-incubation of V79 cells with patulin and 10 µM of the antioxidant resveratrol led to a slight reduction of micronucleus frequency compared to cells which were just treated with patulin. However, in higher concentrations resveratrol themselves caused the formation of micronuclei in V79 cells. Kinetochore analysis indicated only clastogenic properties for resveratrol but no disturbance of mitosis. The antioxidant properties of resveratrol were shown in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. However, in cellular system resveratrol in higher concentrations revealed also prooxidative properties, as shown in 2,7-dichlordihydrofluorescein (DCF) assay. The increased level of glutathione after resveratrol treatment might reflect an adaptive response to resveratrol-induced oxidative stress. For the second part of this thesis we investigated the effects of an anthocyanin-rich grape extract on hypertensive Ren-2 rats. Ren-2 rats are an accepted genetically modified rat model for the investigation of hypertension and increased oxidative stress. We divided 23 female Ren-2 rats into three groups. One group was fed with an anthocyanin-rich Dacapo grape extract, one group was treated with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril and the third group was kept without medication during the experiment. After one week untreated group showed a clear increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the ramipril treated rats. This was in part attenuated in the animals fed with anthocyanin-rich Dacapo grape extract. Effects on blood pressure were also reflected in an increased thirst of untreated and extract fed animals. Comet assay with cells of kidney and liver revealed a slight protective impact of Dacapo extract on DNA damage compared to the other groups. Similar results were obtained after evaluation of ɣ-H2AX-staining of kidney and heart sections. However, in the small intestine oppositional effects were seen, indicating an increased number of double strand breaks probably due to the high local concentration of polyphenols after oral ingestion. Antioxidative properties of the extract were shown in FRAP assay. However, this effect was not reflected in an increased antioxidative capacity in serum or a protective impact in the dihydroethidium (DHE) assay. The extract showed protective effects on DNA damage in comet assay and ɣ-H2AX-staining, but was not able to reduce hypertension back to the control level of ramipril treated animals. High local concentrations could also result in an increased damage of the affected tissue. Therefore, the administration of such concentrated compounds should be handled with care.
The sexual phase of Plasmodium falciparum begins with the differentiation of intraerythrocytic sexual stages, termed gametocytes, in the human host. Mature gametocytes circulate in the peripheral blood and are taken up by the mosquito during the blood meal. These stages are essential for the spread of the malaria disease and form gametes in the mosquito midgut within minutes. A highly conserved family of six secreted proteins has been identified in Plasmodium falciparum. They comprise multiple adhesive domains and are termed PfCCp1 through PfCCp5, and PfFNPA. It was revealed in this work that PfCCp multi-domain adhesion proteins form protein complexes in gametocytes and on the surface of newly emerged macrogametes by adhesion domain-mediated binding. Co-Immunoprecipitation assays with activated gametocyte lysates show interactions between PfCCp proteins and indicate surface association via Pfs230 and Pfs25. Pfs230 is connected with the plasma membrane of the parasite by its interaction partner Pfs48/45. This protein is linked to the plasma membrane by a GPI anchor and presumably retains the multi-protein complex on the surface of newly emerged macrogametes in the mosquito midgut. A WD40 domain containing protein was identified to be part of this protein complex. It might serve as platform for the assembly of the multi protein complex or mediate the interplay among proteins, as suggested from known functions of the WD40 domain repeats. During egress from the host erythrocyte, the emerging gametes become vulnerable to factors of the human complement, which is taken up with the blood meal. In this thesis it was found that the complement system is active for about one hour post feeding. Macrogametes defend against complement-mediated lysis by co-opting the human complement regulators Factor H and FHL-1 from the blood-meal. These serum proteins bind via its SCR domains 5-7 to the surface of macrogametes. Once bound, they trigger complement inactivation of the alternative pathway, which prevents induction of complement lysis on the surface of the malaria parasite. Antibodies against Factor H are able to impair the sexual development in vitro and are able to block transmission to the mosquito. Interaction studies on endogenous proteins and immobilized recombinant proteins revealed the PfGAP50 protein as binding partner of Factor H and FHL-1. This protein was hitherto described as a glideosome-associated protein in invasive parasite stages, but has not yet been characterized in gametes. First localization studies indicate a relocation of PfGAP50 from the inner membrane complex to the surface of macrogametes. Malaria still persists as one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. Investigations on the essential transmissive stages, gametocytes and gametes of Plasmodium falciparum, stood in the background of research for a long time. This work deciphered details on protein interactions on the surface of the malaria parasite and provides first information about coactions between the parasite and the human complement in the mosquito midgut.
When there is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidants (glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase etc.) the oxidative stress is increased and results in the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA. Although oxidation of lipids and proteins may also accumulates with age, only DNA oxidation leads to altered genomic information. As one pathway for increased ROS production, many endogenous and exogenous substances activate NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzyme and produce ROS. p47phox is a cytosolic organizer protein which plays an important role in NOX activation. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an example for an endogenous compound which causes ROS through NOX activation. Rosuvastatin is an example for a drug with antioxidative capacity (upregulation of endogenous antioxidants). It is a lipid lowering drug which also reduces an elevated level of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Commonly, oxidative stress is elevated in ageing and age related diseases (eg. Parkinson’s disease (PD)). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of NOX derived ROS induced oxidative DNA damage and the influence of ROS in ageing and age related diseases, using different in vitro and in vivo models.
There is evidence that pheromones are communicative signals in animals. However, the existence and function of human pheromones are still under discussion. During the last years several substances have been labeled as putative human pheromones and especially 4,16–androstadien-3-one (androstadienone), found in male and female sweat, became subject of intense investigation. In contrast to common odors androstadienone presumably modulates human physiological and psychological reactions. Data suggest that androstadienone might influence the processing of visual cues, specifically faces or affective stimuli, via projections from the fusiform gyrus and the amygdala. Moreover, attentional processes may be modulated, which is supported by explicit and implicit behavioral data. This thesis includes three experimental studies examining effects of androstadienone exposure on behavioral and cortical reactions to visual and emotional stimuli. The main hypotheses were that androstadienone might influence human behavior to and perception of visual cues. The first study sought to clarify androstadienone effects on attention-related reactions as well as on behavioral tendencies. Motoric approach-avoidance reactions in response to happy and angry facial expressions were investigated in 30 women and 32 men. Participants either inhaled androstadienone or a control solution, without knowing the real content, while performing the following task: they had to push away or to pull towards them a joystick as fast as possible in reaction to either an angry or a happy cartoon face, which was presented on a computer screen. Results showed that androstadienone modulated the participant´s task performance by accelerating the reaction speed compared to the control compound. Faster reactions were observed particularly when reacting to angry faces but not when reacting to happy faces. This might be explained by the finding that human body odors, the source of androstadienone, were found to activate the human fear system, i.e. modulating fear-related attentional processes. Therefore, the quicker reaction towards angry faces with exposure to androstadienone could be due to an enhanced allocation of attentional resources towards fear-related cues like angry faces. Results also showed that androstadienone enhanced men´s approach tendency towards faces independent of emotional expressions. This observation might be explained by androstadienone´s former shown ability to improve attractiveness ratings of other persons. In this regard, the endogenous odor might enhance evaluations of faces in men and, thus, might improve their willingness to approach social stimuli. In contrast to men, women already showed in the control condition higher approach tendency towards faces. Therefore, androstadienone might rather maintain than enhance the approach score in women. In the second study event-related brain potentials (ERPs) triggered by social and non-social visual stimuli were investigated by means of electroencephalography. In a double-blind between-subjects design 51 women participated. Twenty-eight women inhaled androstadienone, whereas 23 women inhaled a control solution. Four different picture categories, i.e. real faces, pictures with couples, pictures with social and non-social scenes, each including three different valence categories, i.e. positive, negative and neutral, should clarify the stimulus type or context androstadienone is acting on. The androstadienone compared to the control odor did not influence brain responses significantly. Explorative analyses, however, suggested that androstadienone influences the processing of faces. While in the control group angry faces elicited larger P300 amplitudes than happy faces, the androstadienone group showed similar P300 amplitudes concerning all emotional expressions. This observation tentatively indicates that the endogenous odor might indeed affect the neuronal responses to emotional facial stimuli, especially late components reflecting evaluative processes. However, this observation has to be verified and further investigated, in particular whether androstadienone caused reduced responses to angry faces or enhanced responses to happy faces. The third study investigated androstadienone effects on face processing especially in men. ERPs elicited by happy, angry and neutral cartoon faces, which were presented on a computer screen, were measured while 16 men, not knowing the applicated odor, inhaled either androstadienone or a control solution. Exposure to androstadienone significantly increased later neuronal responses, the P300 amplitude. This belated component of the ERP reflects attention allocation and evaluative processes towards important stimuli. Therefore, androstadienone might facilitate central nervous face processing by enhancing attention towards these stimuli. In sum, the current results corroborate the notion of androstadienone as an active social chemosignal. In minute amounts and not detectable as an odor it influenced cortical and motoric reactions. Therefore, it might be concluded that androstadienone indeed affects cognitive functions like attentional processes and in turn affects our behavior. The current results further support the notion that androstadienone acts like a human modulator pheromone, namely modulating ongoing behavior or a psychological reaction to a particular context, changing stimulus sensitivity, salience and sensory-motor integration. However, these conclusions remain tentative until further replication takes place, best in ecologically valid environments. Furthermore, one has to keep in mind that the current studies could not replicate several previous findings and could not verify some hypotheses assuming communicative effects of androstadienone. Thus, the main assumption of this thesis that androstadienone is an active chemosignal is still challenged. Also, whether the term “pheromone” is indeed suitable to label androstadienone remains open.