Biomedical subjects

V Göbel

Publications and source records attributed to V Göbel.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Drosophila scavenger receptor CI is a pattern recognition receptor for bacteria.

One hallmark of innate immunity apparently conserved from primitive life forms through to humans is the ability of the host to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Since macrophage pattern recognition receptors are not well defined in Drosophila, we set out to identify such receptors. Our findings reveal that Drosophila macrophages express multiple pattern recognition receptors and that the Drosophila scavenger receptor, dSR-CI, is one such receptor capable of recognizing both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, but not yeast. Our data indicate that scavenger receptor bacterial recognition is conserved from insects to humans and may represent one of the most primitive forms of microbial recognition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Circulating haematopoietic progenitors during treatment of renal anaemia with recombinant human erythropoietin.

The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and interleukin 3 (IL3) on circulating haematopoietic progenitors consisting mainly of immature burst-forming-units-erythrocytes (BFU-E), was investigated in ten paediatric patients treated by regular haemodialysis. During a 30-week study rhEPO treatment resulted in a rise of median haemoglobin levels from 6.7 g/dl to > 10 g/dl in all patients. Before initiating rhEPO treatment the number of circulating BFU-E in chronic renal failure patients responded to grading doses of rhEPO in vitro similar to that in control children; however, the dose-response curves were not predictive for the in vivo response to rhEPO. After an initial rise in five patients BFU-E numbers declined by week 30 of rhEPO treatment. BFU-E numbers decreased to 35% of pretreatment values. The number of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells (GM-CFC) also decreased during rhEPO treatment. Addition of IL3 to the culture medium containing saturating concentrations of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor did not stimulate BFU-E numbers of patients before rhEPO treatment or those of controls. However, 2 weeks after start of rhEPO treatment IL3 increased the growth of patient's BFU-E in vitro to 220% of pretreatment levels, followed by a gradual decrease of stimulation until the end of observation. These findings indicate that: (1) long-term recruitment of circulating haematopoietic progenitors during rhEPO treatment is low in children with renal anaemia; (2) rhEPO sensitivity of circulating BFU-E is not predictive for the in vivo response; (3) rhEPO treatment results in enhanced sensitivity of BFU-E to IL3.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

A comparative structural characterization of the human NSCL-1 and NSCL-2 genes. Two basic helix-loop-helix genes expressed in the developing nervous system.

Human cDNA clones for NSCL-1 and NSCL-2, two basic domain helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes expressed predominantly in the developing nervous system, were obtained from a fetal brain cDNA library. The full-length transcripts and the genomic structures were determined. The cDNAs for the two genes encode predicted proteins of similar size (133 and 135 amino acids for NSCL-1 and NSCL-2, respectively) and structure. The carboxyl-terminal 75 amino acids of the two proteins contain the bHLH motif and differ from each other by only three conservative amino acid changes, while the amino-terminal portions are markedly divergent from each other. In addition to the similar protein structure, the genes have a similar genomic organization, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship. The 5'-regulatory regions of the two genes share some features (i.e. potential TATA, CCAAT, and GATA binding sites) but also differ significantly in their G+C content. NSCL-1 is relatively G+C-rich (63%) in the sequences upstream of transcription initiation and has multiple potential binding sites for transcription factors that bind to G+C-rich sequences (e.g. AP-2). NSCL-2 is relatively A+T-rich (63%) in this region and has a potential binding site for AP1. Studies of expression in normal tissues demonstrated expression of NSCL-1 and NSCL-2 in the developing central and peripheral nervous system, most likely in developing neurons. Additional Northern analysis studies in cell lines revealed expression of these genes in some cell lines derived from tumors with neural or neuroendocrine features such as neuroblastoma, PNET, and small cell lung cancer. NSCL-1 is expressed in a larger number of these cell lines. The differences in expression may parallel differences in developmental regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Molecular characterization of NSCL, a gene encoding a helix-loop-helix protein expressed in the developing nervous system.

We report here the molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of an additional member of the helix-loop-helix (HLH) family of transcription factors, NSCL. The NSCL gene was identified based on its hybridization to the previously described hemopoietic HLH gene, SCL. Murine NSCL cDNA clones were obtained from a day 11.5 mouse embryo cDNA library. The coding region is 399 base pairs and encodes a predicted protein of 14.8 kDa. The nucleotide sequence shows 71% identity and the amino acid sequence shows 61% identity to murine SCL in the HLH domain. The NSCL protein-coding region terminates six amino acids beyond the second amphipathic helix of the HLH domain. Expression of NSCL was detected in RNA from mouse embryos between 9.5 and 14.5 days postcoitus, with maximum levels of expression at 10.5-12 days. Examination of 12- and 13-day mouse embryos by in situ hybridization revealed expression of NSCL in the developing nervous system. The NSCL gene was mapped to murine chromosome 1. The very restricted pattern of NSCL expression suggests an important role for this HLH protein in neurological development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

NSCL-2: a basic domain helix-loop-helix gene expressed in early neurogenesis.

We have identified a new basic domain helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene, NSCL-2, which was cloned because of its homology to the previously described putative hematopoietic transcription factor, SCL. NSCL-2 has been identified in both human and murine DNA. NSCL-2 complementary DNA clones were obtained from an 11.5-day murine embryo library. The coding region is 405 base pairs and encodes a predicted protein of 15.6 kilodaltons. There is 74% homology at the nucleotide level with the coding region of the murine SCL and 27% protein homology. Unlike the majority of previously described bHLH genes, the NSCL-2 coding region ends only six amino acids beyond the second amphipathic helix of the HLH domain. The NSCL-2 gene shows a markedly restricted pattern of expression predominantly confined to murine embryos at days 11-13 of development, although low level expression can be detected in murine embryos flanking this time point. Examination of 11- and 12-day mouse embryos by tissue in situ hybridization reveals expression of NSCL-2 in the developing nervous system, most likely in developing neurons. The NSCL-2 gene maps to murine chromosome 3. The temporally and tissue restricted pattern of expression of this gene and its identification as a member of a family of transcription factors relevant to growth and development in a wide variety of species suggest a role for NSCL-2 in the development of the eukaryotic nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Prognostic significance of tumor volume in localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone in children and adolescents.

A total of 60 consecutive patients with localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone who were entered into the Cooperative Ewing's Sarcoma Study of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology from January 1981 until April 1985 were evaluable for tumor volume at diagnosis. The tumor volume was calculated from plain X-rays and CT scans as ellipsoidal or cylindrical depending on the tumor configuration and presence or absence of a soft tissue component. The 3-year disease-free survival rate according to Kaplan-Meier life table analysis was 78% for tumors with a volume less than 100 ml compared to 17% for tumors greater than or equal to 100 ml volume. These results were independent of the site of the tumor, though larger tumors were primarily located in central and proximal extremity sites. Maximal tumor extension was less precise than tumor volume in predicting prognosis. The ratio of tumor volume to body surface area, body length, or body weight did not increase the ability to separate prognostic groups compared to tumor volume. The better prognosis for patients following radical surgery seems to be in part due to a biased distribution of tumor volumes within local therapy groups, since more patients with smaller tumors had surgery for local control.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Microbial spectrum of blood and body cultures in febrile episodes of children under chemotherapy for treatment of malignant diseases.

One hundred thirty-five febrile episodes in 111 children with malignancies were reviewed. In 50 of 125 episodes blood cultures were positive; gram-positive bacteremia was detected in 40 episodes and gram-negative bacteremia in 10 episodes. The predominant gram-positive bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci, the predominant gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli. The possible role of coagulase-negative staphylococci in causing septicemia in immunocompromised hosts is discussed with conclusions that influence designing a primary antibiotic regimen to treat febrile episodes in leukopenic children.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study CESS 81 of the German Pediatric Oncology Society--analysis after 4 years].

In 1981 the cooperative Ewing's sarcoma study CESS 81 was initiated with initial 18-weeks-chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and adriamycin (VACA) followed by local therapy consisting of either radical surgery with complete resection of the involved bone or incomplete resection followed by radiation with 36 gy or radiotherapy only. Patients with radiation only for local therapy and extremity tumor sites are randomised for 46 gy vs 60 gy tumor dose. Following local therapy chemotherapy is continued for an additional 18 weeks. The actuarial results of 83 consecutive patients entered from 51 participating institutions from January 1, 1981, until November 15, 1984 are presented. 68/83 patients were off therapy and under observation for longer than one year following diagnosis. The longest follow-up was 41 months. On November 15, 1984, 39/68 (57%) patients were disease free. According to the site of the primary tumor patients with distal extremity lesions had a more favourable prognosis as compared to proximal extremity and central lesions. According to local therapy patients with radical surgery had a better prognosis as compared to those with resection followed by radiation and those with radiation only for local control. Analysis according to tumor volume revealed the strong interaction between tumor site, local therapy and tumor volume. According to life-table-analysis the disease free survival for patients with a tumor volume less than 100 ml was 75% after 41 months compared to 10% for patients with a tumor volume greater than or equal to 100 ml. The consequences of this analysis for a stratified treatment regimen for patients with primary Ewing's sarcoma of bone are discussed.

Adolescent↗