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Biomedical subjects

Friedrich Scheiflinger

Publications and source records attributed to Friedrich Scheiflinger.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nonneutralizing IgM and IgG antibodies to von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS-13) in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has been linked to severe deficiency of ADAMTS-13 activity caused by autoantibodies inhibitory to ADAMTS-13. We report data on a patient with confirmed TTP who had severely reduced ADAMTS-13 activity but showed no ADAMTS-13 inhibition in a widely used fluid phase activity assay. With a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using immobilized recombinant ADAMTS-13, we found high titers of IgM and IgG antibodies that bound to ADAMTS-13, but did not neutralize protease activity. These autoantibodies probably influenced the half-life of ADAMTS-13 or its binding to the endothelial cell surface, thereby compromising ADAMTS-13 activity in vivo. Given that ADAMTS-13 may interact physiologically with various receptors or ligands, the occurrence, distribution, and the epitope mapping of nonneutralizing antibodies will be an important area for future research.

ADAM Proteins↗

Consecutive analysis of bacterial PCR samples on a single electronic microarray.

For routine mass screening, the use of microarrays is hampered because one chip can only analyze one sample. 16S rRNA gene PCR products of several bacterial strains or mixtures thereof were consecutively loaded on a single electronic microarray and successfully analyzed using probes specific for the bacterial strains.

DNA, Bacterial↗

ADAMTS13 gene defects in two brothers with constitutional thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and normalization of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease activity by recombinant human ADAMTS13.

Genetic analysis of the ADAMTS13 locus identified six mutations in the ADAMTS13 genes of two brothers suffering from constitutional thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP): a stop codon leading to a truncated protein on the paternal ADAMTS13 allele and five amino acid exchanges on the maternal allele, three of which were single nucleotide polymorphisms. The other two mutations, not detected in 230 sequenced alleles of healthy control subjects, are, therefore, probably responsible, alone or as part of a combination, for the severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. We also investigated the feasibility of using recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13) for normalization of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (VWF-cp) activity in plasma of the two congenitally deficient patients. Addition of rADAMTS13 to their plasma restored the VWF-processing pattern to normal, suggesting the potential usefulness of rADAMTS13 for therapy and prophylaxis of familial TTP.

ADAM Proteins↗

Evaluation of the haemostatic potential of factor VIII-heparin cofactor II hybrid proteins in a mouse model.

We constructed factor VIII-heparin cofactor II (FVIII-HCII) hybrid molecules, which are more readily activated by thrombin in vitro than the respective wild-type molecules. The hybrid proteins were tested in a murine model of haemophilia A to investigate their haemostatic efficacy in vivo. Bleeding characteristics, measured using standard tail-tip cutting techniques, were total blood loss, bleeding time and survival rate. FVIII-HCII hybrids were found to be effective in preventing bleeding in FVIII knockout mice. While in vitro experiments showed that the chimaeric molecules had higher haemostatic functions than the wild-type proteins, the variables analysed in vivo were similar for both proteins.

Animals↗

Immunochemical detection of prion protein on dipsticks prepared with crystalline bacterial cell-surface layers.

BACKGROUND: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) represents a spectrum of diseases affecting humans and animals. A definitive diagnosis of TSEs is only possible by postmortem identification of pathologic prion protein in brain tissue that has been treated with protease. The pathologic protein is detected by Western blot analysis or ELISA methods. The bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis and occurrence of a new variant of CJD has increased demand for rapid and simple assays. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A dipstick assay has been developed for prion diagnosis based on a sandwich ELISA specific for prion protein, and crystalline bacterial cell-surface layers (S-layers) were used as an immobilization matrix. The usefulness of the dipstick assay was evaluated by determining the detection limit, comparison with other methods, and analysis of CJD samples. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the prion dipsticks was similar to that published for time-resolved fluorescence ELISA methods. After protease treatment, pathologic prion protein could be detected specifically. CONCLUSION: The dipstick assay is a sensitive and specific test useful for the detection of prion protein. The simplicity of the S-layer dipstick lends itself to a variety of potential applications including field diagnostics.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13).

Deficient von Willebrand factor (VWF) degradation has been associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). In hereditary TTP, the specific VWF-cleaving protease (VWF-cp) is absent or functionally defective, whereas in the nonfamilial, acquired form of TTP, an autoantibody inhibiting VWF-cp activity is found transiently in most patients. The gene encoding for VWF-cp has recently been identified as a member of the metalloprotease family and designated ADAMTS13, but the functional activity of the ADAMTS13 gene product has not been verified. To establish the functional activity of recombinant VWF-cp, we cloned the complete cDNA sequence in a eukaryotic expression vector and transiently expressed the encoded recombinant ADAMTS13 in HEK 293 cells. The expressed protein degraded VWF multimers and proteolytically cleaved VWF to the same fragments as those generated by plasma VWF-cp. Furthermore, recombinant ADAMTS13-mediated degradation of VWF multimers was entirely inhibited in the presence of plasma from a patient with acquired TTP. These data show that ADAMTS13 is responsible for the physiologic proteolytic degradation of VWF multimers.

ADAM Proteins↗