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H Ksiezak-Reding

Publications and source records attributed to H Ksiezak-Reding.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Epitope expression and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in corticobasal degeneration: differentiation from progressive supranuclear palsy.

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a rare, progressive neurological disorder characterized by widespread neuronal and glial accumulation of abnormal tau protein. Using immunohistochemistry we analyzed tau epitope expression and phosphorylation state in CBD and compared them to cytoskeletal changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Epitopes spanning the entire length of the tau protein were present in CBD inclusions. An antibody against the alternatively spliced exon 3 did not recognize cytoskeletal lesions in CBD, but did in AD and PSP. Tau epitopes from each region of the molecule were present in cytoskeletal inclusions in CBD, including gray matter astrocytic plaques, gray and white matter threads, and oligodendroglial inclusions. As in AD, tau from CBD was highly phosphorylated. Antibodies that recognized phosphorylated tau epitopes reacted with material from CBD in a highly phosphatase-dependent manner. Again, all types of inclusions contained phosphorylated epitopes. We conclude that abnormal tau protein in CBD comprises the entire tau molecule and is highly phosphorylated, but is distinguished from AD and PSP by the paucity of epitopes contained in the alternatively spliced exon 3.

Aged↗

Tau immunoreactivity and SDS solubility of two populations of paired helical filaments that differ in morphology.

To further understand the processes that lead to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles from paired helical filaments (PHF) in Alzheimer brains, we studied two morphologically distinct fractions of PHF separated on sucrose density gradient. In a fraction with mostly short and non-aggregated PHF, the majority of filaments could be solubilized in SDS. In a fraction containing primarily PHF aggregated into clusters or bundles, sometimes resembling neurofibrillary tangles, filaments were less soluble in SDS. Immunogold labelling with a panel of tau-immunoreactive antibodies demonstrated that N-terminal epitopes of tau were preserved in the short filaments, but were reduced or absent in aggregated filaments. In contrast, C-terminal epitopes were present in both fractions. Furthermore, the accessibility of the microtubule-binding domain to immunolabelling was markedly impaired in short and non-aggregated filaments compared to aggregated filaments. These results are consistent with proteolytic degradation of the N-terminal epitopes and preservation of the C-terminal epitopes and the microtubule-binding domain of tau in the aggregated filaments. Partial proteolysis may be involved in the generation of aggregated PHF in neurofibrillary tangles.

Aged↗

Ultrastructure and biochemical composition of paired helical filaments in corticobasal degeneration.

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with extensive cytoskeletal abnormalities. These include tau-positive neuropil threads and grains, ballooned or swollen neurons, neurofibrillary tangles, and glial inclusions. Given the presence of tau-positive structures in CBD, we investigated whether abnormalities in tau proteins associated with CBD were similar to those in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fractions of abnormal tau proteins were isolated as Sarkosyl-insoluble pellets. By electron microscopic examination, the fraction from CBD contained twisted filaments that differed from paired helical filaments of AD. In CBD, filaments were shorter in length, rarely longer than 400 nm, 10 to 20% wider in the maximum and minimum widths (26 to 28 nm and 13 to 14 nm, respectively), and the periodic twist (169 to 202 nm) was twice as long as that in AD. Immunogold labeling with a panel of tau-reactive antibodies (Alz 50, Tau 14, AH-1, E-11, PHF-1, and Tau 46) showed no apparent differences in the pattern of tau immunoreactivity between filaments of CBD and AD. Western blots revealed that polypeptides of abnormal tau were present in both fractions; however, only two polypeptides (68 and 64 kd) were present in CBD as compared with three (68, 64, and 60 kd) in AD. Both of these polypeptides were reactive with additional antibodies (E-9, Tau-1 after dephosphorylation, AT8, and NP8). Only one polypeptide (68 kd) bound an antibody to adult-specific tau sequence encoded by exon 2, but neither was reactive with antibodies to adult-specific sequences encoded by exons 3 and 10. The results suggest that abnormalities in the number and heterogeneity of isoforms of tau may be one of the factors contributing to ultrastructural differences in pathological filaments of CBD and AD.

Aged↗

Phosphate analysis and dephosphorylation of modified tau associated with paired helical filaments.

We performed phosphate analysis of tau proteins isolated from normal human brain, tau proteins associated with paired helical filaments (PHF-tau), and Alzheimer tau not associated with PHF. These tau fractions were of high purity. Normal and Alzheimer tau were purified by heat treatment, acid extraction and calmodulin-affinity chromatography with or without HPLC. Fractions containing primarily PHF-tau polypeptides of 60, 64 and 68 kDa and their degraded fragments were purified either on a sucrose density gradient as filaments (PHF) or by heat treatment and acid extraction as amorphous proteins (PHF-tau). PHF and PHF-tau were found to contain 6-8 mol phosphate/mol protein while normal and Alzheimer tau proteins contained 1.9 and 2.6 mol phosphate/mol protein, respectively. Upon 2-h incubation with alkaline phosphatase, PHF lost two of the phosphate groups without apparent changes in the stability and morphology of PHF. The released phosphate originated from the N-terminal half of PHF-tau as determined by immunoblotting with antibodies to epitopes blocked by phosphorylation. Tau-1 and E-2, and by a prominent shift in the electrophoretic mobility of some fragments of PHF-tau. The shift in mobility was not observed with the C-terminal fragments of 25-26 kDa, which retained the epitope to Tau 46. The results suggest that the phosphorylation sites not affected by phosphatase may be located in the 25-26 kDa C-terminal region of PHF-tau and may play a role in structural stability of PHF.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Immunocytochemistry of neurofibrillary tangles with antibodies to subregions of tau protein: identification of hidden and cleaved tau epitopes and a new phosphorylation site.

Antibodies to multiple epitopes spanning the length of the tau molecule were used to study Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) using immunocytochemical methods and several different methods of fixation and tissue processing, including staining of vibratome sections, hydrated autoclaving of paraffin sections and immunofluorescence of NFT isolated from fresh brain tissue. Smears and sections were pretreated with trypsin and/or phosphatase to further characterize antibody binding. In tissue fixed briefly in periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde, tau immunoreactivity was detected in astrocytes, but only a few tau epitopes were detected in NFT with this fixation method. In contrast, all tau epitopes were detected in NFT in tissue fixed in formaldehyde for prolonged periods of time. In the hippocampus, the number of NFT detected in the dentate fascia was in proportion to the duration of dementia, as we previously noted. Dentate fascia NFT were intracellular (i-NFT) and were reactive with antibodies recognizing epitopes in both the carboxy- and amino-terminal regions of tau, but not the microtubule-binding domain of tau, suggesting that microtubule-binding domain epitopes are hidden in i-NFT. In contrast, NFT in the subiculum and layer II of the parahippocampal cortex were mostly extracellular (e-NFT), especially in severe cases of long duration. e-NFT were immunoreactive with antibodies to the microtubule-binding domain, but only weakly reactive with antibodies to carboxy- or amino-terminal epitopes, suggesting that e-NFT may contain fragments of tau. In both isolated NFT and NFT in sections, amino-terminal epitopes, including the Alz-50 epitope, were sensitive to trypsin proteolysis, which suggests that the lack of staining of e-NFT by antibodies to the amino-terminal regions of tau is due to proteolysis. Antibodies reactive with amino-terminal epitopes also stained fewer NFT following hydrated autoclaving, while those reacting with the carboxy half of tau stained more NFT after hydrated autoclaving. Thus, although carboxy-terminal regions are not detected in e-NFT, they are probably masked, rather than proteolytically cleaved, since they can be revealed by hydrated autoclaving. Finally, phosphatase treatment of isolated NFT revealed enhanced immunostaining not only with Tau-1, as in previous studies demonstrating abnormal phosphorylation of tau proteins in NFT, but also with an antibody to exon 2, which reveals yet another phosphorylation site in tau of NFT.

Aged↗

Abnormal tau proteins from Alzheimer's disease brains. Purification and amino acid analysis.

Abnormal tau proteins (PHF-tau) were isolated from Alzheimer's disease brains by treatment of paired helical filament enriched-fractions with perchloric acid and boiling of the acid precipitable fraction with beta-mercaptoethanol. These proteins were purified further by a second perchloric acid treatment. The purified PHF-tau proteins were soluble in buffers devoid of sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, they were similar to the abnormal tau extracted from paired helical filaments with sodium dodecyl sulfate, also named A68, in molecular mass (68, 64, and 60 kDa), isoelectric point (pI 5.5-6.5), reactivity with anti-tau antibodies, and in requirement for alkaline phosphatase treatment to bind the Tau-1 antibody. Compared to normal tau, the soluble PHF-tau contained 100% more glycine and 35% less lysine residue. The results suggest that besides phosphorylation other types of modification may be involved in differentiating PHF-tau from normal tau.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Structural stability of paired helical filaments requires microtubule-binding domains of tau: a model for self-association.

Highly purified and SDS-soluble paired helical filaments (PHFs) were immunogold labeled and immunoblotted with antibodies to tau: Tau 14 (N-terminal half), AH-1 (microtubule-binding domain), and Tau 46 (C-terminal end). The main component of PHFs was modified tau of 68, 64, and 60 kd, also called A68 or PHF-tau. Trypsin digestion reduced the maximum width of PHFs by 10%-20%, increased aggregation of filaments, and abolished the binding of Tau 14, but had no effect on the binding of AH-1. The smallest tau-reactive tryptic fragments were 13 and 7-8 kd, positive with AH-1, and negative with Tau 46. Our results and the model of Crowther and Wischik suggest that by self-association and anti-parallel arrangement of the microtubule-binding domains, PHF-tau forms the backbone of PHFs.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Ubiquitin-immunoreactive dystrophic neurites in Down's syndrome brains.

Ubiquitin-immunoreactivity was studied in Down's syndrome brains ranging in age from two days to sixty years. Numerous randomly distributed ubiquitin-immunoreactive dot-like structures in the white matter were shown to correspond to granular degeneration of myelin. Granular degeneration of myelin was first detected at age 21 and increased thereafter with age. Other larger and more coarsely granular ubiquitin-immunoreactive structures, most numerous in the middle and upper cortical layers, were consistent with dystrophic neurites. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the dystrophic neurites contained non-filamentous, membranous, dense bodies. In Down's syndrome, ubiquitin-immunoreactive dystrophic neurites were first detected at age six in the hippocampus, and were consistently more numerous in comparison to age-matched control subjects. In the presence of amyloid, either as diffuse or as compact deposits, ubiquitin-immunoreactive dystrophic neurites frequently formed aggregates consistent with senile plaques. Although apparently independent events, these data suggest that amyloid deposition is associated with local accentuation of ubiquitin-immunoreactive neuritic dystrophy. In addition, since dystrophic neurites appeared substantially earlier in the grey matter in Down's syndrome than in age-matched normals, this may be further evidence that selective aspects of aging are accelerated in Down's syndrome.

Adolescent↗

The N terminal region of human tau is present in Alzheimer's disease protein A68 and is incorporated into paired helical filaments.

Antibody (Ab) E-1 was raised to the amino terminus (19 to 33 amino acid residues) of human tau. It recognized Alzheimer's disease proteins A68 (MW 60, 64, 68 kd), labeled paired helical filaments, and had no reactivity with tau from rat, mouse, and bovine brains. The results indicate that the N terminus of tau is incorporated in A68 proteins and paired helical filaments and that human tau proteins contain species-specific amino acid sequences.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Ubiquitin immunoreactivity in kuru plaques in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Cerebellar kuru plaques in 2 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were studied immunohistochemically. Similar to cerebellar senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, many kuru plaques contained ubiquitin-positive, tau-negative small granular elements, presumably representing dystrophic neurites. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are involved in neuritic changes in cerebellar plaques in Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer's diseases despite differences of amyloid proteins in the plaques.

Aged↗

Mapping of the Alz 50 epitope in microtubule-associated proteins tau.

Alz 50 and seven other monoclonal antibodies have been shown to react with both tau and Alzheimer brain proteins of molecular mass 60-70 kDa. The location of some of the epitopes of these antibodies (Alz 50, Tau-2, NP14, Ab 636.7) on the tau molecule is unknown, whereas those of others (Tau 60, Tau 14, Tau-1, Tau 46) have recently been demonstrated in fetal human tau at amino acid residues 60-72, 83-120, 131-140, and 315-352. To determine the location of the unknown epitopes, human tau was digested with chymotrypsin and trypsin, and the bovine microtubule fraction was incubated with chymotrypsin. Comparison of the immunoblots of chymotryptic digested tau with those of untreated preparations showed that the Alz 50 epitope was more sensitive than other tau epitopes to proteolysis. Cleavage of a 3-4 kDa polypeptide from the periphery of tau was sufficient to remove the Alz 50 epitope, but not the epitopes of Tau 46 (C-end) or Tau 60 (N-end). The distribution of the Alz 50 epitope in endogenously degraded, chymotrypsin or trypsin digested tau fragments was different from that of the Tau 46 epitope known to be located within 38 residues from the C-terminus of the tau molecule. Based on these observations Alz 50 epitope was considered to be located within 3-4 kDa of the N-terminus of tau. A comparison of immunoblots of different tau-reactive antibodies showed similarities between Tau 60 and Tau-2, and between Tau 14, Tau-1, NP14, and Ab 636.7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Alzheimer disease proteins (A68) share epitopes with tau but show distinct biochemical properties.

Alz 50, a monoclonal antibody raised against Alzheimer brain homogenate, reacts with neurofibrillary tangles, microtubule-associated proteins tau, and Alzheimer brain proteins of molecular weight 70-60 kDa (A68). To study the relationship between A68 and normal human tau we compared the biochemical properties of these proteins and tested the reactivity of A68 with eight antibodies (Alz 50, Tau 60, Tau-2, Tau 14, Tau-1, Ab 636.7, NP14, Tau 46) that bind to various regions of tau molecule. On Western blots, all tau-reactive antibodies, except Tau-1, recognized A68. Pretreatment with alkaline phosphatase was required for the Tau-1 binding to A68. A68 consisted of three polypeptides of 68, 64, and 60 kDa, while tau contained 4-6 polypeptides of 50-65 kDa. A68 was less heterogenous than tau in the number of pI variants on two-dimensional gels. All A68 variants were more acidic (pI 5.5-6.5) than human tau (pI 6.5-8.5). Phosphatase treatment had only a minor effect on the pI and mobility of A68. Limited proteolysis of A68 with trypsin or chymotrypsin generated large fragments of 56-66 kDa (chymotrypsin) and 40-45 kDa (trypsin). While none of the fragments was recognized by Alz 50, the chymotryptic fragments were reactive with all the other tau antibodies, and the tryptic fragments were positive with five of the antibodies (Tau 14, Tau-1, Ab 636.7, NP14, and Tau 46). The peptide maps of A68 differed from that of tau in the number and the size of the peptide fragments. The differences in biochemical properties of these proteins and the sharing multiple epitopes suggest that A68 is a modified form of tau. The modification in part may be due to phosphorylation, although other changes rendering different isoelectrical properties and susceptibility to proteases need to be considered. The removal of the Alz 50 epitope by a cleavage of a 2-3 kDa fragment which does not contain the most C-terminal epitope (Tau 46) indicates that the Alz 50 epitope is located at the N-terminal periphery of the A68 molecule.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Modified Bielschowsky and immunocytochemical studies on cerebellar plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Senile plaques (SP) in the cerebellum of 23 cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD), three with widespread amyloid angiopathy, were studied with a modified Bielschowsky stain and immunocytochemical methods using antibodies to a beta-amyloid synthetic peptide (beta ASP), phosphorylated neurofilament proteins, ubiquitin, tau protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The four subtypes of SP (diffuse plaques, compact plaques, perivascular plaques, and subpial fibrillar deposits) that were observed with the modified Bielschowsky stain were also stained with antibodies to beta ASP. Many cerebellar SP contained ubiquitin-positive granular elements resembling dystrophic neurites. In contrast to neuritic elements in cerebral SP in AD, ubiquitin-positive elements in cerebellar SP were not labeled with antibodies to phosphorylated neurofilament or tau proteins. Various degrees of glial reaction were observed in all subtypes of SP except diffuse plaques. The absence of phosphorylated neurofilament and tau epitopes in neuritic elements in cerebellar SP is not surprising since paired helical filaments have not been seen in the cerebellum. Nevertheless, our results suggest that cerebellar SP are frequently associated with dystrophic neurites.

Aged↗

Ubiquitin immunoreactive structures in normal human brains. Distribution and developmental aspects.

Ubiquitin-immunoreactive structures in normal human brains ranging in age from 2 months to 91 years were studied with light and electron microscopy. Antibodies to ubiquitin immunostained structures in both neurons and glia. In the cerebrum, ubiquitin-immunoreactive, coarsely granular structures were most consistent with dystrophic neurites. They were most numerous in middle and upper cortical layers, especially lamina II of the entorhinal cortex and the cortical and accessory basal nuclei of the amygdala. Dystrophic neurites were first detected in brains of young adults, increased with age, and were numerous in the oldest brains. One of the normal elderly subjects had a small number of senile plaques with dystrophic neurites similar to those in the gray matter of the other brains, except for their location adjacent to amyloid deposits. With immunoelectron microscopy, dystrophic neurites were nonmyelinated neuronal processes containing dense, lamellar bodies, and finely granular material. White matter consistently had more immunoreactive structures than gray matter at all ages. The immunoreactive structures in white matter were smaller, less coarsely granular "dot-like" structures. With immunoelectron microscopy, dot-like structures were composed of dense inclusions within glial cells and focal swellings in myelin lamellae containing heterogeneous dense material. Only rarely were axons immunostained. Axonal spheroids in the basal ganglia, substantia nigra, and dorsal medulla were ubiquitin-immunoreactive. Spheroids were detected in these locations as early as the second decade, and they increased in number with age. A few dystrophic axons could be detected in spinal nerve roots of the oldest subjects. Other ubiquitin-immunoreactive structures included nuclei of small granular neurons, especially those in lamina II of the neocortex of the youngest brains; round cytoplasmic inclusions in tanycytes of all brains; and intranuclear Marinesco bodies in the substantia nigra and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in inferior olivary neurons in the oldest brains. These results demonstrate the spectrum of ubiquitinated structures in normal brains and suggest that progressive axonal dystrophy may be a more common age-related pathologic alteration of the brain than formerly recognized.

Adolescent↗

Diffuse Lewy body disease: light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry of senile plaques.

The nature of senile plaques (SP) in 27 cases of diffuse Lewy body disease (LBD) was investigated using immunocytochemistry and antibodies to beta amyloid protein synthetic peptides (BetaSP), ubiquitin (UBQ), paired helical filaments (PHF; Ab39) and a 68-kDa protein in Alzheimer brains (Alz50). Lewy bodies were present in widespread areas of the neocortex of all cases and were more easily detected with ubiquitin immunocytochemistry than with conventional stains. All cases had neocortical SP, but only six cases had neocortical neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). SP were very numerous in most cases and were usually "pale", "diffuse" or "very primitive" plaques with thioflavin S fluorescent microscopy. SP in diffuse LBD were immunostained with BetaSP. Several cases had extensive amyloid angiopathy that was also immunoreactive with BetaSP. SP in diffuse LBD were characterized by amyloid deposits with few or no neuritic elements that could be detected with thioflavin S, Bielschowsky's stain or double staining with BetaSP and Bodian's silver stain. They differed from plaques in Alzheimer's disease by lack of PHF-type neurites that could be stained with Ab39. In diffuse LBD, SP contained PHF-type neurites only in areas coexistent with NFT. Some SP had round, granular neurites that were immunoreactive with UBQ, but weakly argyrophilic with Bodian's stain and nonfluorescent with thioflavin S. Diffuse LBD lacked significant neuritic change in the neuropil that could be detected with UBQ, Ab39 and Alz50. The latter finding is a characteristic feature that distinguishes Alzheimer's disease from diffuse LBD.

Aged↗

A study of infantile motor neuron disease with neurofilament and ubiquitin immunocytochemistry.

We report a patient with infantile motor neuron disease who had pathologic findings consistent with multisystem degeneration. Although the muscle showed denervation atrophy and spinal anterior horn cells showed either atrophy or ballooning degeneration consistent with lower motor neuron disease, the infant was hypertonic and spastic. Degenerative changes were also detected in the dorsal root ganglia, cerebellum, and thalamus. Immunohistochemical studies showed a paucity of neurofilament (NF) staining in the corticospinal tract and accumulation of phosphorylated NF in ballooned neurons. Antibodies to ubiquitin immunostained ballooned neurons in the dorsal root ganglia, anterior horns, and thalamus. Accumulation of ubiquitinated and phosphorylated NF epitopes in degenerating neurons suggest that basic abnormalities in the neuronal cytoskeleton may be instrumental in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Female↗

Alz 50, a monoclonal antibody to Alzheimer's disease antigen, cross-reacts with tau proteins from bovine and normal human brain.

Microtubule-associated protein tau from bovine brain reacted on immunoblots and on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a monoclonal antibody, Alz 50, which has previously been found to bind to an Alzheimer disease-specific antigen. The apparent affinity of binding of Alz 50 to tau was 2.1 X 10(-9) M on competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and it was in the same range as for Tau-1 (0.5 X 10(-9) M), an antibody raised against purified bovine tau proteins. Immunoblotting of trypsin-digested tau revealed differences between Alz 50 and Tau-1 binding sites. The binding of both antibodies to tau was not affected by prior treatment with phosphatase, indicating that the cross-reactivity of Alz 50 with tau is due to the presence of phosphate-independent epitope. This epitope then differs from phosphate-dependent tau epitopes often shared with other cytoskeletal proteins. Alz 50 and Tau-1 binding sites were present in all isoelectric (pI 6-8) and molecular weight variants of tau. In contrast, phosphate-dependent epitopes recognized by another tau-reactive antibody (NP14) were found mostly in acidic tau variants. Similarly to tau proteins from bovine brain, tau-enriched preparations from normal human brain contained Alz 50 and Tau-1 reactive sites in all isoelectric (pI 6.5-8.5) and molecular weight variants. Our observation of Alz 50 cross-reactivity with tau suggests a relationship between tau and the novel protein identified recently in Alzheimer brains.

Animals↗

Immunochemical and biochemical characterization of tau proteins in normal and Alzheimer's disease brains with Alz 50 and Tau-1.

Microtubule-associated protein tau was characterized in 5 Alzheimer and 5 control brains using two monoclonal antibodies, Alz 50 and Tau-1. Quantitative analysis of immunoblots with the antibodies showed that both homogenate and supernatant fractions (12,000 x g) from Alzheimer brains contained 38-65% less tau immunoreactivity compared to normal brains. The reduction was found in all brain regions studied (frontal and temporal lobes and thalamus) and in both gray and white matter. In partially purified tau preparations, the yield of protein was lower in Alzheimer (by 35%) than in control brain. Incubation of brain proteins, transferred onto nitrocellulose paper, with alkaline phosphatase had either no effect or slightly increased the antibody binding to tau proteins from both brain tissues. Immunoblots of tau-enriched preparations subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed no major changes in the staining pattern of tau isoforms in Alzheimer samples except for a weaker reactivity of the basic isovariants as compared to non-Alzheimer samples. The elution volume of tau from Alzheimer brain supernatant on a Sepharose CL-6B column was similar to that from non-Alzheimer brain and equal to that of aldolase (Mr = 158,000). Our data suggest that most of tau proteins from both types of brain have similar biochemical properties. The reduction in tau reactivity in Alzheimer tissue may be due to a reduction in neuronal cell population or incorporation of soluble tau into stable structures such as neurofibrillary tangles, since the tangles have been shown to react with anti-tau antibodies.

Alzheimer Disease↗