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Biomedical subjects

S Gärtner

Publications and source records attributed to S Gärtner.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE): lesion visualization on a 3 Tesla clinical whole-body system after intraperitoneal contrast injection.

PURPOSE: To investigate the intravital visibility of CNS lesions in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal correlate of multiple sclerosis, using a 3-Tesla (T) whole-body MR system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three healthy Dark Agouti (DA) rats and 16 DA rats with clinical signs of EAE were examined on a 3T whole body-system using a normal wrist coil. In total, 25 examinations were preformed using T2- and T1-weigthed images in transverse and sagittal orientation with a slice thickness of 2 mm or 1 mm (voxel size up to 0.2 x 0.2 x 1 mm). Sedation was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of ketamine and xylazine. In addition, T1-weighted images were obtained after the instillation of 1.0 ml of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) (0.5 mmol/ml) into the peritoneal cavity. RESULTS: T2- and T1-weighted images of the brain and spinal cord with high spatial and contrast resolution could be obtained in all animals. The anatomical details of the olfactory bulb glomeruli, cerebellum foliae, ventricles and corpus callosum were clearly visible. The EAE lesions presented as hyperintense areas in T2-weighted images and could be demonstrated in all clinically affected animals by MRI and histologically verified. In total, the 16 affected rats had 28 cerebral and 2 spinal cord lesions (range 1 to 4, median 2). Contrast enhancement was noted in 12 animals and ranked as severe in ten and moderate in two cases. No adverse effects were noted due to sedation or intraperitoneal contrast injection. CONCLUSIONS: The intravital demonstration of cerebral and spinal cord EAE lesions in rats is possible on a 3T whole-body MR scanner using a normal wrist coil. Intraperitoneal injection of ketamine/xylazine and contrast agent is an easy, safe and effective procedure in rats.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1999

Modulation of C3a activity: internalization of the human C3a receptor and its inhibition by C5a.

The C3a receptor (C3aR) is expressed on most human peripheral blood leukocytes with the exception of resting lymphocytes, implying a much higher pathophysiological relevance of the anaphylatoxin C3a as a proinflammatory mediator than previously thought. The response to this complement split product must be tightly regulated in situations with sustained complement activation to avoid deleterious effects caused by overactivated inflammatory cells. Receptor internalization, an important control mechanism described for G protein-coupled receptors, was investigated. Using rabbit polyclonal anti-serum directed against the C3aR second extracellular loop, a flow cytometry-based receptor internalization assay was developed. Within minutes of C3a addition to human granulocytes, C3aR almost completely disappeared from the cell surface. C3aR internalization could also be induced by PMA, an activator of protein kinase C. Similarly, monocytes, the human mast cell line HMC-1, and differentiated monocyte/macrophage-like U937-cells exhibited rapid agonist-dependent receptor internalization. Neither C5a nor FMLP stimulated any cross-internalization of the C3aR. On the contrary, costimulation of granulocytes with C5a, but not FMLP, drastically decreased C3aR internalization. This effect could be blocked by a C5aR-neutralizing mAb. HEK293-cells transfected with the C3aR, with or without Galpha16, a pertussis toxin-resistant G protein alpha subunit required for C3aR signal transduction in these cells, did not exhibit agonist-dependent C3aR internalization. Additionally, preincubation with pertussis toxin had no effect on C3a-induced internalization on PMNs. C3aR internalization is a rapid negative control mechanism and is influenced by the C5aR pathway.

Acids↗
PubMed1997

The C terminus of the human C5a receptor (CD88) is required for normal ligand-dependent receptor internalization.

The biological effects of the potent inflammatory mediator C5a, a complement split product, on human neutrophils and monocytes are limited by the rapid internalization of its specific receptor (C5aR, CD88). The C terminus of the C5aR is phosphorylated after stimulation with C5a of phorbol ester, and this phosphorylation might lead to receptor internalization. In this context, we have studied the effects on C5aR internalization of C5a, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, and pertussis toxin on rat basophilic RBL.2H3 cells stably transfected with the human wild-type or mutant C5aR. C5aR mutants lacked either part of the cytosolic C terminus, including suggested major phosphorylation sites, or a putative phosphorylation motif for protein kinase C in the third cytosolic loop. Additionally, agonist-induced internalization was analyzed on HEK293 cells co-transfected with C5aR and the pertussis toxin-resistant G protein alpha subunit, G alpha 16. Staurosporine-sensitive agonist-dependent C5aR internalization could be detected, suggesting that C5aR phosphorylation, most likely of the C terminus, participates in this type of internalization. In contrast, PMA-induced C5aR internalization seems to be independent of putative phosphorylation sites in either the truncated section of the C terminus or the third cytosolic loop. The phorbol ester-induced C5aR internalization may, therefore, be caused by an indirect and less specific effect of protein kinase C on the internalization machinery. Manipulation of the pertussis toxin-sensitive or -resistant G protein-dependent signal transduction had no effect on ligand-induced internalization.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning and characterization of a full-length complementary DNA encoding human acid ceramidase. Identification Of the first molecular lesion causing Farber disease.

Human acid ceramidase ((AC) N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5. 1.23) hydrolyzes the sphingolipid ceramide into sphingosine and free fatty acid. Ceramide is an essential component of all sphingolipids and an important cell-signaling molecule. Moreover, an inherited deficiency of AC activity leads to the lysosomal storage disorder known as Farber disease. Human AC was purified from urine, and 117 amino acid residues were determined by microsequencing. Degenerative oligonucleotide probes were then constructed and used to screen for human fibroblast and pituitary cDNA libraries. Several partial cDNA clones were obtained, and two of these were combined to construct a full-length cDNA containing a 17-base pair (bp) 5'-untranslated sequence, a 1185-bp open reading frame encoding 395 amino acids, a 1110-bp 3'-untranslated sequence, and an 18-bp poly(A) tail. Transient expression of the full-length cDNA in COS-1 cells led to a 10-fold increase in AC activity. In addition, biosynthetic studies carried out in the transfected cells demonstrated that 13-kDa (alpha) and 40-kDa (beta) AC subunits were derived from a common 55-kDa precursor encoded by the full-length cDNA. This protein pattern was identical to that seen in normal human skin fibroblasts. A homoallelic point mutation (T222K) was also identified in the AC gene of a patient suffering from Farber disease, further confirming the authenticity of the full-length cDNA.

Acid Ceramidase↗
PubMed1995

Nuclear localization of the human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp150 (ppUL32).

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) basic phosphoprotein pp150, encoded by the UL32 gene, together with the two other major phosphoproteins, pp65 (ppUL83) and pp71 (ppUL82) and several minor structural proteins, form the tegument around the viral nucleocapsid. Experiments were undertaken to locate the area of assembly of tegument proteins pp150 and pp65 and nucleocapsids in fibroblasts, in order to assess the functional role of these two structural proteins in HCMV morphogenesis. Whereas pp150 expression starts during the cytoplasmic maturation of HCMV, pp65 is expressed in the early and late phases of HCMV gene transcription. Western blot analysis of isolated cell fractions showed that pp150 is initially (48 h post-infection) localized in the nucleus, associated either with the nuclear membrane or with viral assembly regions, and later (72 h post-infection) in the cytoplasm. By indirect immunofluorescence, pp150 and pp65 could be detected in nuclear subcompartments and were strongly associated with the nuclear membrane. Using immunogold analysis by electron microscopy, pp65 was exclusively detected within the matrix of cytoplasmic and extracellular dense bodies and of dense body-like structures in the nucleoplasm. These were localized in close contact with hypertrophic nucleoli, in the proximity of developing nucleocapsids and in special patches at the inner nuclear membrane. Positive immunostaining of pp150 was observed at the surface of developing nucleocapsids concentrated within viral assembly regions in the nucleoplasm. Additionally, the tegument of cytoplasmic and extracellular virions was stained, whereas dense bodies or nuclear dense body-like structures did not react. Thus, the acquisition of the tegument protein pp150 seems to start in special nuclear subcompartments of the HCMV-infected fibroblasts.

Cell Fractionation↗
PubMed1990

Phase II study of pirarubicin (THP-adriamycin) in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Fourteen patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with one chemotherapy regimen received Pirarubicin at a dose of 70 mg/m2 at 3-week intervals. In 7 patients the dose had to be reduced, in 1 patient to 40 mg/m2 and in 6 patients to 50-60 mg/m2. There were 1 complete and 2 partial remissions. These objective responses were observed in soft tissue, lung and pleural areas and lasted 1+; 4+ and 5+ months. Grade 3 and 4 leukopenia was found in 42%, grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 2%, grade 3 nausea/vomiting in 29% of the cycles. Grade 1 and 2 alopecia occurred in 64% of the patients, the remaining 36% of the patients did not suffer from any alopecia. No cardiotoxic side effects were observed in 13 patients. In 1 patient with severe coronary heart disease extrasystoles and reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction occurred. Pirarubicin has antitumor activity in previously treated metastatic breast cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Isolation of a cDNA encoding the human GM2 activator protein.

The GM2 activator protein is a glycolipid-binding protein required for the lysosomal degradation of ganglioside GM2. A human fibroblast cDNA library was screened with mixtures of oligonucleotide probes corresponding to four different areas of the amino acid sequence. A putative clone (821 bp) which gave positive signals to all four probe mixtures was purified and sequenced. The sequence was colinear with the sequence of 160 amino acids of the mature GM2 activator protein. Availability of the cDNA clone should facilitate investigation into function of the GM2 activator protein and also into genetic abnormalities underlying GM2 gangliosidosis AB variant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Mutations in the cyclic AMP binding site of the cyclic AMP receptor protein of Escherichia coli.

Mutants in the cyclic AMP binding site of the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli have been constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. They have been phenotypically characterized and their ability to enhance the expression of catabolite-repressible operons has been tested. In addition, the binding of cyclic nucleotides to the mutants has been investigated. It is shown that the six mutants made fall into one of three classes: (i) those that bind cyclic AMP better than the wild type protein (Ser-62----Ala) and result in greater transcription enhancement; (ii) those that bind cyclic AMP similarly to wild type (Ser-83----Ala, Ser-83----Lys, Thr-127----Ala, Ser-129----Ala); and (iii) those that do not bind cyclic AMP at all (Arg-82----Leu). Implications of these findings with respect to present models of the cyclic nucleotide binding pocket of CRP are discussed.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1987

Site-directed mutants of the cAMP receptor protein--DNA binding of five mutant proteins.

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was employed to generate mutants of the cAMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli. The mutant proteins were purified to homogeneity and tested for stability and DNA binding. It is shown that mutations at the position of Arg180 abolish specific DNA binding, whereas those at the position Arg185 have very little effect. Both positions have previously been implicated as crucial for the specific interaction between CRP and DNA. The Ser128----Ala mutant shows a slight reduction in DNA binding affinity relative to wild-type. All mutants investigated show similar stability profiles to wild-type CRP with respect to thermolysin proteolysis as a function of temperature.

DNA↗
PubMed1983

Activator protein for the degradation of globotriaosylceramide by human alpha-galactosidase.

An activator protein which stimulates the degradation of globotriaosylceramide by human hepatic alpha-galactosidase (alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.22) was isolated from human liver and purified some 1300-fold. The purified activator was heat stable up to 95 degrees C, its molecular weight was estimated at 20,000 by gel filtration. Ampholyte displacement chromatography resolved the activating factor into two fractions with isoelectric points at pH 4.6 and pH 4.8, respectively, with otherwise identical properties. The protein did not stimulate the hydrolysis of the water-soluble 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-galactoside.

Chymotrypsin↗