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R Meyermann

Publications and source records attributed to R Meyermann.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Selective potentiation of drug cytotoxicity by NSAID in human glioma cells: the role of COX-1 and MRP.

Here, we report that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) enhance the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin and vincristine in T98G human malignant glioma cells. The cytotoxicity of BCNU, cisplatin, VM26, camptothecin, and cytarabine is unaffected by NSAID. No free radical formation is induced by doxorubicin or vincristine in the absence or presence of NSAID. Doxorubicin and vincristine cytotoxicity in the absence or presence of NSAID are unaffected by free radical scavengers. Functional inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), such as dexamethasone and quinacrine, do not mimick the effects of NSAID. T98G cells, but not LN-18, LN-229, LN-308, or A172 glioma cells, express cyclooxygenase (COX-1) and NSAID do not modulate drug cytotoxicity in the other cell lines, except T98G. Thus, augmentation of doxorubicin and vincristine cytotoxicity by NSAID correlates with COX-1 expression. However, ectopic expression of COX-1 in LN-229 cells does not induce the phenotype of T98G cells, indicating that COX-1 inhibition does not mediate the effects of NSAID on drug cytotoxicity. In contrast, a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype due to expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) is most prominent in T98G cells and is amenable to modulation by indomethacin, suggesting that inhibition of MRP is at least in partly responsible for the potentiation of doxorubicin and vincristine cytotoxicity by NSAID.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1999

Effects of autoantigen and dexamethasone treatment on expression of endothelial-monocyte activating polypeptide II and allograft-inflammatory factor-1 by activated macrophages and microglial cells in lesions of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, neuritis and uveitis.

Endothelial-monocyte activating polypeptide II (EMAP II) and allograft-inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) are two proteins produced by activated monocytes and microglial cells. We now report expression of these factors during experimental therapy of rat neuroautoimmune diseases. Comparative analysis of two therapeutic strategies, treatment with high doses of recombinant autoantigens or with dexamethasone, revealed unexpected differences. High doses of autoantigen were most effective in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and neuritis (EAE and EAN), but less effective in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Low and high doses of dexamethasone treatment greatly reduced the severity of EAE, EAN and EAU at day 11, but a relapse was observed between days 21 and 26. Only rather limited expression of EMAP II and AIF-1 is seen in the normal central nervous system (CNS). This constitutive expression is not abolished by dexamethasone treatment. In inflammatory autoimmune lesions of the rat CNS, prominent AIF-1 and EMAP II staining was seen with macrophages and monocytes. In particular, parenchymal microglial cells were now activated to express AIF-1 and EMAP II. In accordance with prevention of neurological signs, histological observations revealed that accumulation of activated monocytes expressing EMAP II and AIF-1 in the CNS or peripheral nervous system and the massive expression of these factors by parenchymal microglial cells is inhibited by high doses of autoantigen. Dexamethasone prevented or abolished local expression of EMAP II and AIF-1 at days 10-16. However, an acute and severe relapse occurred in encephalomyelitis between days 20-26. In these cases, a smoldering expression of EMAP II and AIF-1 persisting long after cessation of neurological signs was observed. Thus, expression of EMAP II and AIF-1 by infiltrating activated macrophages is a marker of disease activity and expression of these factors could be used to demonstrate 'silent' lesions in the CNS and prolonged microglial cell activation. Apparently, AIF-1 and EMAP II immunoreactivity are tools to stage activation of monocytes and microglial cells in inflammatory lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Patterns of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 expression in human gliomas in vivo.

Cyclooxygenases (COX, prostaglandin endoperoxide synthases, PGG/H synthases) are potent mediators of inflammation. While COX-1 is constitutively expressed in a wide range of tissues, COX-2 is cytokine inducible. Although COX-1 expression is observed in normal tissue, enhanced COX-2 expression has been attributed a key role in the development of edema, impeding blood flow and immunomodulation observed in pathologically altered tissues. Here, we have analyzed the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in 50 gliomas and 10 control brains with no neuropathological alterations by immunohistochemistry; 22 glioblastoma multiforme, 9 anaplastic astrocytomas, 5 protoplasmic astrocytomas, 1 gemistocytic astrocytoma and 13 fibrillary astrocytomas were included in the study. Compared with control brains, accumulation of COX-1 was detected in 20-50% of all cells in both low- and high-grade gliomas. Double-labeling experiments revealed COX-1 expression in subsets of macrophages/microglial cells within the tumor parenchyma and in areas of infiltrative tumor growth. Of the COX-1-positive cells, 90% expressed MHC class II antigens. No COX-1 immunoreactivity was observed in tumor cells. COX-2-positive cells accumulated in tumor cells and in single macrophages/microglial cells in the immediate vicinity of necroses. Further studies are required to determine whether COX-2 is involved in the development of necrosis or, more likely, whether COX-2 is a part of the tumor tissue response to necrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Intracranial inflammatory tumors: a survey of their various etiologies by presentation of 5 cases.

Due to similar clinical and neuroradiological features, intracranial inflammatory tumors (IITs) are frequently misdiagnosed as brain neoplasms, from which they notably differ in respect to therapy and prognosis. In this article, five cases of such tumors are presented. Three of the patients with brain tumors (cases 3, 4 and 5) presented a history of 'pararheumatic' syndromes but no diagnosis of defined immunopathies. On the basis of radiological findings, all processes were classified as genuine brain neoplasms, but histology showed reactive inflammatory features. The possible etiologies of these 'tumors' are discussed on the basis of all clinical and histological data of the patients. The spectrum of diseases potentially leading to the manifestation of an IIT is reviewed. Additionally, the presentation of case 5, who developed a highly malignant B-cell-lymphoma 6 months after the removal of an IIT without any histological signs of atypia, shows that this differential diagnosis always has to be kept in mind.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

BCL-2 family protein expression in initial and recurrent glioblastomas: modulation by radiochemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro studies indicate a role of apoptosis regulatory proteins of the BCL-2 family in the resistance of glioblastoma multiforme to irradiation and chemotherapy. To date, no study has compared the expression of these proteins in initial and recurrent tumours. The differences of expression of BCL-2, BCL-X, BAX, and MCL-1 proteins of paired first resection and recurrence glioblastoma specimens were examined. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed in 37 cases of glioblastoma multiforme with paraffin embedded tissue from first resections and their recurrences in three treatment groups (15 radiochemotherapy, 15 irradiation, seven untreated). Ten high power fields were evaluated with an arbitrary score (< 5%=1, 5-50%=2, >50%=3), and cumulative scores for each antigen calculated. RESULTS: In the whole group, we found a significant up regulation of antiapoptotic BCL-2 (median cumulative score of 15 in the primary, 19 at recurrence; p<0.0001 in the Wilcoxon test), BCLX (median scores 20 and 25, respectively, p<0.0001), and MCL-1 (median scores 11 and 14, p=0.0395), and a significant down regulation of proapoptotic BAX (median scores 14 and 11, p<0.0001). In the subgroups, these trends were also found. No association between protein expression and treatment regimen was found, although significant changes were restricted to the subgroups that received adjuvant chemotherapy. No significant correlation with clinical prognosis was detected with the Kaplan-Meier method. CONCLUSIONS: In the development from initial to recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, the BCL-2 family rheostat shifts towards antiapoptotic adjustment in vivo. Importantly, the changes in BCL-2 family protein expression characterised here were also seen in the subgroup of patients who did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, suggesting that the changes of BCL-2 family protein expression result not only from radiochemotherapy but also reflect the natural course of disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

BCL-2 family protein expression in human malignant glioma: a clinical-pathological correlative study.

Malignant gliomas are rather refractory to current therapeutic approaches including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Acquired alterations in the pathways required for apoptotic cell death are thought to be responsible to the failure of glioma to respond to therapy. Here we have examined the expression of several proteins involved in the susceptibility to apoptosis in 20 human gliomas, including the BCL-2 family proteins BCL-2, BCL-X, BAX and MCL-1, as well as p53 and RB. Most gliomas expressed several BCL-2 family proteins. There was good correlation between expression of the functional antagonists, BCL-2/BCL-X and BAX, suggesting that changes in the BCL-2+BCL-X/BAX ratio are not responsible for the differential response of glioma patients to chemotherapy. The immunochemistry data were also analysed in regard to response to therapy and clinical outcome. All patients had cytoreductive surgery and received radiotherapy and nitrosourea-based adjuvant chemotherapy. There was no prominent association of outcome with the expression patterns of p53, RB, BCL-2, BCL-X or BAX. We find, however, that expression of the MCL-1 protein is associated with early tumour recurrence and shorter survival in this group of glioma patients. This preliminary observation will have to be confirmed in a larger independent sample of glioma patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Allograft-inflammatory factor-1 in rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, neuritis, and uveitis: expression by activated macrophages and microglial cells.

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is a Ca2+ binding peptide expressed predominantly by activated monocytes. In order to investigate the role of AIF-1 in autoimmune lesions of the rat nervous system, we have used a synthetic gene to express AIF-1 in E. coli and have produced monoclonal antibodies against AIF-1. AIF-1 was localized to monocytes/macrophages with rather selective staining of a minor rat monocyte subpopulation of lymphoid tissue. We then investigated expression of AIF-1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), neuritis (EAN), and uveitis (EAU). Within the local inflammatory lesions, infiltrating macrophages are prominently stained. In the diseased brain, AIF-1-positive microglial cells are not only found in the direct vicinity of the infiltrate, but widespread activation is seen in the parenchyma. This is the first demonstration that AIF-1 is present in autoimmune lesions. Immunostaining of microglial cells is noteworthy, as these cells are strategically placed regulatory elements of CNS immunosurveillance. Thus, AIF-1 might be a valuable marker to dissect the local monocyte heterogeneity in autoimmune disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Abundant minute myotubes in a patient who later developed centronuclear myopathy.

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a congenital myopathy which manifests itself as a severe neonatal (also termed myotubular myopathy), early-onset, or adult form. The histological pattern of each is marked by a considerable number of nuclei of muscle fibers being internally placed. Owing to their remote resemblance to myotubes, and their expression of developmentally regulated proteins, most authors now favor the concept that myogenesis is arrested or delayed in this disease. We here present two muscle biopsy specimens of a patient with early-onset CNM, taken at the age of 5 months and 14 years, respectively. The first biopsy sample contained internally placed nuclei in 7% of the muscle fibers, abundant minute myotubes, and hypertrophic muscle fibers. The second biopsy sample showed internally placed nuclei in 40% of the muscle fibers, and hypotrophic fibers. We suggest that the histological findings in early-onset CNM are the result of a complex dynamic process, which includes a delay in maturation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Widespread expression of MRP8 and MRP14 in human cerebral malaria by microglial cells.

Human cerebral malaria (CM) is an often fatal infection. The cascades of signaling events resulting in tissue trauma and coma are only slowly becoming unraveled. Here we report that microglial cells--sensitive cellular sensors of threats to the central nervous system--in CM express the myeloid-related proteins MRP8 (S100A8) and MRP14 (S100A9), Ca2+-binding sensor proteins of activated monocytes. Surprisingly, microglial activation was widespread throughout the brain in white and gray matter and not limited to areas of petechial bleedings or sequestration of infected erythrocytes. Further, apoptosis/necrosis is prominent in CM; not only leukocytes appeared apoptotic, neurons also appeared damaged and DNA fragmentation was revealed by in situ nick translation. Thus, a prominent feature of human CM is activation of microglia, and analysis of these reactive microglia might further promote our understanding of CM pathology and guide development of future therapeutic intervention of the local reactive processes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Humoral immune response to p53 in malignant glioma.

p53 immunoreactivity and humoral immune response to p53 were examined in 14 patients with malignant glioma, including 4 patients with leptomeningeal glioma cell dissemination. Twelve patients expressed p53 protein within the tumour tissue. p53 antibodies were detected in the serum in 2 of 14 patients but never in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Soluble p53 protein was detected neither in serum nor in CSF of the glioma patients. CSF levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, were elevated in the glioma patients, including those with a humoral response to p53. These preliminary findings raise the possibility of systemic humoral immune responses to antigens, including mutant p53, expressed by glioma cells in the central nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Multiple epitope labeling by the exclusive use of alkaline phosphatase conjugates in immunohistochemistry.

Here we demonstrate a simple and reliable multiple epitope labeling technique based exclusively on the alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme-linked visualization method. AP is functionally blocked by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which allows the repeated use of AP conjugates in immunohistochemistry with different substrates. We found that reactivation of AP function following EDTA incubation is dependent on EDTA concentration and incubation time. While incubation times of up to 2 h in 0.25 M EDTA, pH 6, exhibit a resumption of AP enzyme function, more than 2 h of incubation irreversibly blocks AP enzyme activity. Surprisingly, EDTA incubation also results in considerable but not complete inhibition of antibody crossreactivity during immunohistochemistry. Thus, this technique is suitable for single-layer, multiple-staining experiments with AP-linked primary antibodies or multilayer labeling with antibodies of various species for sequential staining rounds. We demonstrate the applicability of this technique in immunohistochemistry by double-labeling experiments using the monoclonal antibodies anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein, anti-leucocyte common antigen, anti-CD43/CD45RA (pan-human leucocyte), and antimigration inhibitory factor-related protein-8 in combination with an in situ nick translation assay to characterize differentiating antigens of apoptotic cells in human glioblastoma paraffin sections.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

Clinical presentation and therapeutic outcome in 26 patients with primary CNS lymphoma.

This retrospective study analyzes clinical features and therapeutic outcome in 26 immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Most patients presented with personality changes. PCNSL lesions were mainly iso- or hyperdense, enhancing lesions on CT scan, hypointensive on T1-, and hyperintensive on T2-weighted MRI. Multiple lesions were found in about 60% of patients. Nine of 11 patients receiving radiotherapy alone showed complete remission (CR). Median survival time after diagnosis (MST) was 13 months. Seven patients received intravenous and intrathecal methotrexate, radiotherapy, and postirradiation intravenous cytarabine. Six of these patients had CR and 5 patients are alive in CR after a median follow-up of 12 months. Five patients received various other radiochemotherapy regimens (MST 6 months), and 3 patients died before receiving any radio- or chemotherapy. Our preliminary treatment results show a tendency to improved survival with radiochemotherapy. This is consistent with pertinent data from the literature which favors radiochemotherapy for patients with PCNSL.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1998

Mosaicism for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A: onset in childhood suggests somatic reversion in early developmental stages.

A 1.5 Mb duplication on chromosome 17p11.2 is typical for the great majority of patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) disease. A female child of 4 years with clinical signs and symptoms of a demyelinating neuropathy was examined for the presence of this duplication. Analysis of MspI polymorphisms in DNA extracted from peripheral blood failed due to homozygosity for probes pVAW409R3a and pEW401HE. Also, no EcoRI/SacI 3.2 kb junction fragment or dosage difference with probe pLR7.8, characteristic of the CMT1A duplication, was found. However, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with the PMP22 specific probe c132G8 revealed in peripheral blood lymphocytes 60% of interphase nuclei with CMT1A duplication indicating the probability of mosaicism. In interphase nuclei extracted from nerve tissue the duplication was detectable in 88%, in muscle tissue in 72% of the analyzed nuclei. This suggests the presence of a somatic CMT1A duplication mosaicism that can only be reliably detected by FISH. The early onset and severity of the phenotype indicates that the hypothesized somatic reversion is probably fixed to early developmental stages.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1998

Coronavirus infection and demyelination. Development of inflammatory lesions in Lewis rats.

Coronavirus infections of rodents can cause diseases of the central nervous system characterised by inflammatory demyelination. The lesions mimick in many aspects the pathology of multiple sclerosis in humans and of other neurological diseases. As an animal model for demyelination, we studied the MHV-JHM induced encephalomyelitis of Lewis rats. The pathomorphological analysis revealed patterns of lesions which developed in stages. Infected oligodendrocytes were first destroyed by necrosis. Later stages were characterized by demyelinated plaques. In the center of plaques, no virus antigen was found and oligodendrocytes were mainly destroyed by apoptosis. At the edge of plaques, virus antigen was expressed in parallel to infiltrations consisting of lymphocytes and macrophages. The prevailing mechanisms leading to demyelination may change individually and during defined stages of the disease. The transcriptional expression of chemoattractants and other mediators of inflammation was studied by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Virus induced inflammatory demyelination was accompanied by high expression of a relatively novel cytokine, the endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide II (EMAP II). By immunocytochemistry, EMAP II was detected in parenchymal microglia located both within the lesions and in unaffected areas. Furthermore, the level of transcriptional expression of the regulatory calcium binding S100 proteins MRP8, MRP14 and CP10 was associated with inflammatory demyelination and expression of IFN gamma, IL-2, TNF alpha, and iNOS.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Expression of the S-100 proteins MRP-8 and -14 in ischemic brain lesions.

So far, microglial activation in cerebral ischemia has only been studied in different animal models. We have investigated the activation of microglial cells in human cerebral ischemia. As a marker for the activation of these "brain macrophages," we have used the macrophage inhibitor factor-related-proteins MRP-8 and MRP-14, which belong to the calcium binding S-100 protein family. The proteins can be detected on microglial cells in bacterial encephalitis and Alzheimer's disease but have so far not been studied in non-inflammatory diseases, in which microglial activation also occurs. Antibodies against MRP-8 and -14 detected ramified microglial cells within the first 3 days after cerebral infarction. Labeled cells were found selectively in the periinfarctional area. To support the notion that these cells belong to the locally activated resident microglial population, we studied their proliferation rate by staining the Ki-67 antigen with the antibody MIB-1. Double-labeling clearly showed that in the early phase of cerebral infarction microglial cells in the periinfarctional area express MRP-8 and -14 and also proliferate. Surprisingly, MRPs are expressed no longer than 3 days post infarction. This indicates that the activation of the resident microglia is an early step of tissue reaction after cerebral infarction. Additionally, we found evidence that microglial cells contribute to the population of phagocytes only during the first 3 days post infarction. The majority of lipid phagocytes found in the later stages are obviously recruited from the blood-borne macrophage pool.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Localization of endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAP II), a novel proinflammatory cytokine, to lesions of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, neuritis and uveitis: expression by monocytes and activated microglial cells.

Endothelial-Monocyte-Activating Polypeptide II (EMAP II) is a proinflammatory cytokine and chemoattractant of macrophages. In order to investigate the role of EMAP II in autoimmune lesions of the rat nervous system, we have used a synthetic gene to express EMAP II in E. coli and have produced monoclonal antibodies against EMAP II. Monoclonal antibodies are suited to demonstrate EMAP II in ELISAs, Western blots, and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. EMAP II was localized to monocytes/macrophages with rather selective staining of a minor rat monocyte subpopulation of lymphoid tissues such as spleen, lymph nodes or follicles of the gut. In the normal brain, cells of the perivascular but not parenchymal microglia were stained. We then investigated expression of EMAP II during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), neuritis (EAN), and uveitis (EAU). Within the local inflammatory lesions infiltrating macrophages are prominently stained. In the diseased brain, EMAP II-positive microglial cells are not only found in the direct vicinity of the inflammatory infiltrate, but widespread activation is seen in the parenchyma. This is the first demonstration that EMAP II is present in autoimmune lesions. Immunostaining of microglial cells is noteworthy, as these cells are strategically placed regulatory elements of CNS immunosurveillance. EMAP II might be a factor regulating monocyte chemoattraction, endothelial cell activation and a regulator of microglial cell reactivity in autoimmune inflammation of the central nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Peritumoural brain oedema in intracranial meningiomas: influence of tumour size, location and histology.

Peritumoural brain oedema was examined retrospectively in 175 patients with 179 intracranial meningiomas. The influence of tumour size, location and histology were investigated. Tumour volume and localization, and the presence of peritumoural brain oedema (PTBOe) were determined by computed tomography (CT). The oedema-tumour volume ratio was defined as Oedema Index (Oel). All patients underwent microsurgical removal of the tumour. Surgically resected meningiomas were classified histopathologically based on criteria of the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification. A close relationship was found between the tumour size and the incidence of peritumoural oedema: with increasing size of the tumour the incidence of oedema also rises, the oedema index, however decreases. Frontobasal and temporobasal meningiomas showed a significant increase in the oedema incidence and the mean oedema index. If major parts of the surface of meningiomas were adjacent to subarachnoid cisterns only a slight tendency for the development of oedema was observed. WHO-III-meningiomas showed a significantly higher oedema incidence (61.1% vs. 94.4%; p < 0.004) and mean oedema index (Oel = 2.7 vs. 3.7; p < 0.0009) than WHO-I-meningiomas. Brain tissue was affected in 59 cases. 19 meningiomas with infiltration into adjacent brain parenchyma revealed a statistically significant increase in oedema incidence (94.7% vs. 51.7%; p < 0.0003) and mean oedema index (Oel = 3.9 vs. Oel = 2.2; p < 0.0001) when compared to tumours without any brain tissue involvement in the histopathological specimens. Tumours with large volume, fronto-temporo-basal location and anaplastic histology were not only associated with the highest incidence of oedema formation but also presented with an overproportionate infiltrative growth. Thus, a disruption of the arachnoid or a true brain infiltration may be an essential factor for the development of a PTBOe.

Adult↗