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Biomedical subjects

W Schober

Publications and source records attributed to W Schober.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Leukotriene B4 receptor inhibitor LY293111 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human anaplastic large-cell lymphoma cells via JNK phosphorylation.

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a heterogeneous lymphoma category in which a subset of cases carry the t(2;5)(p23;q35) or variant translocations resulting in overexpression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). LY293111 (2-[2-propyl-3-[3-[2-ethyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-propoxy]-phenoxy] benzoic acid sodium salt) is a leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist, which was found to be safe and tolerable in Phase I clinical trials. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of LY293111 in ALCL cell lines. LY293111 inhibited proliferation of both ALK(+) and ALK(-) ALCL cell in a dose-dependent fashion and induced complete G(1)-S cell cycle arrest, which was accompanied by upregulation of p27 and downregulation of cyclin E. Pretreatment with LY293111 for 4 h resulted in profound inhibition of serum-induced phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated kinases-1 and 2 and Akt and a concomitant increase in the phosphorylation of the stress-activated kinase c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNK). Simultaneously, LY293111 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via activation of the intrinsic pathway, including early loss of mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cleavage of caspases-9, -3, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis. The phospho-JNK inhibitor SP600125 partially protected Sup-M2 cells from LY293111-induced apoptosis, PARP cleavage and ROS generation, suggesting a role for JNK in LY293111-induced cell death. These results warrant further studies of LY293111 in ALCL.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1999

Metabolic activation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene by human cytochrome P450 1A1 and P450 1B1 expressed in V79 Chinese hamster cells.

Metabolic activation of the strongly carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) and its trans-8,9-dihydrodiol (trans-8,9-diol) catalyzed by human cytochromes P450 (P450) 1A1 and 1B1 was investigated. DNA binding of DB[a,l]P in mammalian cell lines has previously been shown to be preferentially mediated by fjord region DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides (DB[a,l]PDE). In order to elucidate different capabilities of both P450 enzymes for metabolic activation of DB[a, l]P V79 Chinese hamster cells, stably expressing human P450s 1A1 or 1B1 have been exposed to the parent PAH or its racemic trans-8, 9-diol. For this purpose, synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol and its individual enantiomers have been achieved. Both human P450-expressing cell lines were capable of transforming DB[a,l]P to its fjord region DB[a, l]PDE, but the extent of metabolism to DB[a,l]PDE catalyzed by human P450 1B1 was higher compared to human P450 1A1 at all times measured. On the other hand, cytotoxicity studies performed with the same incubation systems emerged stronger effects by DB[a,l]P and its enantiomeric trans-11,12-diols in human P450 1A1-expressing cells. Both human P450 enzymes stereospecifically catalyzed the formation of the (-)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol with R,R-configuration, whereas only the human P450 1A1-expressing cells form small amounts of the K-region trans-8,9-diol with high excess of the (+)-(8R, 9R)-enantiomer. Application of trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol in metabolism studies revealed that this compound is converted by human P450s 1A1 and 1B1 to several diol phenols and bis-diols. However, and even at concentrations as high as 10 microM, in both cell lines the trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol showed no cytotoxicity at all, suggesting that an activation of DB[a,l]P via further oxidation of the K-region trans-8,9-diol plays a minor role.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Isolation of yeast mutants defective for localization of vacuolar vital dyes.

An application of flow cytometric sorting is used for isolation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants that mislocalize vacuolar vital dyes. This screen is based on the ability of a lipophilic styryl compound, N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(6-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)hexatrie nyl )pyridinium dibromide (FM4-64), to label endocytic intermediates from the plasma membrane to the vacuole membrane at 15 degreesC. Cells stained at 15 degreesC for both FM4-64 and carboxydichlorofluorescein diacetate (a vacuolar luminal vital stain), had a pronounced shift in red/green fluorescence from cells stained at 30 degrees or 38 degreesC. Flow cytometric selection based on this characteristic shift allowed the isolation of 16 mutants. These comprised 12 complementation groups, which we have designated SVL for styryl dye vacuolar localization. These groups were put into three classes. Class I mutants contain very large vacuoles; class II mutants have very fragmented vacuoles; and class III mutants show the strongest svl phenotype with punctate/diffuse FM4-64 staining. Limited genetic overlap was observed with previously isolated mutants, namely svl2/vps41, svl6/vps16, and svl7/fab1. The remaining svl mutants appear to represent novel genes, two of which showed temperature-sensitive vacuole staining morphology. Another mutant, svl8, displayed defects in uptake and sorting of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Our flow cytometric strategy may be useful for isolation of other mutants where mislocalization of fluorescent compounds can be detected.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMed1998

Prenatal diagnosis with use of fetal cells isolated from maternal blood: five-color fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis on flow-sorted cells for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, prenatal diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities requires invasive techniques such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling that carry small but finite risks of fetal loss. A noninvasive approach is to isolate fetal cells from maternal blood by flow sorting followed by genetic interphase analysis with fluorescence in situ hybridization. Because the ratio of fetal to maternal cells is relatively low after flow sorting and to detect 90% to 95% of fetal aneuploidies associated with serious birth defects, a 5-color fluorescent in situ hybridization strategy is necessary for simultaneous detection of chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21 in all flow-sorted nuclei recovered from a specimen. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal nucleated red blood cells were isolated from maternal blood in 40 cases (10.4 to 27.0 weeks' gestation) by flow cytometry on the basis of positive selection of CD71+ (transferrin receptor), CD45-, and LDS751 staining. Each case was evaluated for 5-color fluorescent in situ hybridization efficiency by determining the percentage of flow-sorted nuclei containing 8 hybridization signals for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21. RESULTS: A total of 42,312 flow-sorted nuclei from maternal blood samples were analyzed. In 5 of 16 (31%) cases with a male fetus, 0.16% of nuclei scored were identified as fetal by the presence of 1 signal each for chromosomes X and Y. Fetal trisomy 21 nuclei were accurately detected in 2 cases with a female fetus, each of which was subsequently confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Five-color interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis can be used to effectively analyze rare fetal aneuploid nuclei in enriched flow-sorted cells isolated from maternal blood.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of CD28 costimulation in human CD8+ T cells.

Optimal stimulation and prevention of anergy in T cells requires signaling through the CD28 molecule. During HIV disease progression, CD28 expression is lost, particularly on CD8+ T cells. Because alterations in cytokine production patterns occur during HIV infection, we determined whether CD8+ T cell phenotype or function was affected by cytokine environment. Treatment of CD8+ T cells with IL-4 decreased levels of both CD28 surface expression and message and increased CD8 expression. Furthermore, CD8+ T cells that had down-regulated CD28 had reduced proliferative capacity. The inhibitory effects of CD28 reduction could be compensated either by increased anti-CD3 or by exogenous IL-2, suggesting that the strength of T cell signaling necessary for the production of IL-2 and subsequent proliferation is negatively regulated by IL-4. CD8+ subpopulations with differential CD28 expression produced different patterns of cytokines, particularly IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, CD8+ T cells that had reduced CD28 levels but made their own IL-2 were able to proliferate in response to TCR stimulation. These results suggest that loss of CD28 expression and CD8 T cell function can be regulated by the cytokine environment, which may be altered during HIV disease progression. Whether the dysfunction of CD8+ T cells in HIV infection occurs by such a mechanism is the subject of future investigation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Rare event selection of fetal nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood by flow cytometry.

A noninvasive method of prenatal genetic diagnosis requires fetal cell selection from the maternal circulation that allows efficient recovery for analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We have solved several problems that negatively affect the isolation and FISH analysis of fetal nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) in the maternal circulation. The use of glycophorin A (Gly A) antibodies (Abs) for selection is problematic because all five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) tested caused agglutination of non-nRBCs, thereby changing both light scatter and fluorescence properties of cells by flow cytometry. Because the number of non-nRBCs is variable after Ficoll separation, isolation of nRBCs could be compromised severely by agglutination of nucleated cells with nonnucleated cells, causing them to shift light scatter and fluorescence properties. Several methods for the removal of unwanted maternal white blood cells with CD45 mAbs were also evaluated. Magnetic bead depletion was found to interfere with FISH detection because of residual bead debris after sorting. By contrast, removal of CD45+ cells by a panning technique eliminated this problem. Positive selection methods based on CD71, CD45, and LDS-751 staining and detection of fetal cells by gamma globin expression were also analyzed. Fetal cells were detected by FISH in 11 of 19 (CD71 selection) and in 13 of 15 (gamma selection) random pregnancies. These data support the possibility of a noninvasive method for isolation and analysis of fetal cells for prenatal diagnosis.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1995

Detection of low-grade mosaicism in fetal cells isolated from maternal blood.

Recovering and analysing fetal erythrocytes from maternal blood is being pursued for non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis. We report the observation of 46,XY/47,XXY mosaicism in fetal cells from a woman whose first-trimester chorionic villus sampling (CVS) initially showed only 46,XY. Only after exhaustive (500 cells) analysis were four XXY cells found in cultured villi.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

NADPH-diaphorase in the central nervous system of the larval lamprey (Lampetra planeri).

The distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the lamprey brain was studied by using reduced nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry to further elucidate the evolution of neurons synthesizing nitric oxide. Intense labeling of fibers and/or neurons was found in portions of the lamprey central nervous system, such as the olfactory system, the pineal organ, the habenular region, the nervus stato-acousticus (N. VIII), the brainstem, and the spinal cord, and also in the adenohypophysis. Labeled giant cells located at the floor of the 3rd and 4th ventricle were recognized as reticulospinal neurons. Mauthner and Müller cells were identified according to morphological criteria. Eight pairs of Müller cells and one pair of Mauthner cells were labeled by NADPH histochemistry. None of these cells had, as yet, been described to display NOS activity in any vertebrate. The massive staining of these cells and the apparent lack of labeling, e.g., in teleost fishes, may be a histochemical correlate to already known differences of functions served by these cells in different species. In addition, our results suggest that the nitric oxide (NO) system has appeared early in vertebrate evolution.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Anergy and apoptosis in CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected persons.

CD8+T cells from HIV-infected persons increase early in infection, display increased levels of activation Ags, and abnormal MHC-restricted, HIV-specific and nonspecific cytotoxicity abilities. Paradoxically, these cells are also unresponsive to T cell signaling in vitro and have decreased in vitro cloning potential. HIV-specific CTL precursors also are lost late in infection. A quantitative Southern blotting technique showed that CD8+ T cells from asymptomatic, HIV-infected persons have increased DNA fragmentation after overnight incubation. DNA fragmentation was reduced by an endonuclease inhibitor but not by cycloheximide, suggesting that a pre-apoptotic state exists in vivo. Partial inhibition of DNA fragmentation also could be induced by IL-2 addition. No consistent difference in fragmentation was observed among CD8+ subpopulations from HIV-infected individuals, although only CD8+ T cells that did not express activation Ags (DR-, CD28+, CD57- phenotype) showed reduced fragmentation when incubated in IL-2. A dramatic increase in CD8+, CD28- cells was observed in asymptomatic HIV-infected people. A subset of CD8+, CD28- cells in both controls and HIV-infected people do not proliferate to T cell signals, and these cells from controls demonstrate increased DNA fragmentation in vitro after 3 days of incubation, regardless of stimulation conditions. This suggests that the cells are end-stage cells. Taken together, the data suggest an increase in anergic or apoptotic CD8+ T cells in HIV-infected persons. Eventual depletion of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells may occur through a process of proliferation, anergy induction, and apoptosis.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1994

Development of the rabbit retina. V. The question of 'columnar units'.

A qualitative and quantitative description of the columnar units in the mammalian retina, and a discussion of their ontogeny and putative functions is given. Columnar arrangements of cells exist in the developing retina which can be observed by means of scanning electron microscopy. In the adult retina, each Müller cell ensheaths a columnar group of neuronal cells. Counting the number of cells in radial H/E stained sections at various developmental stages reveals a constant ratio of neuronal cells per Müller cell, independent of the developmental stage (after postnatal day 9), and independent of the retinal topography. Such groups of cells always consist of one Müller cell, 11 rod photoreceptor cells, about 2 bipolar cells, and 1 to 2 amacrine cells. Retinal ganglion cells, cone photoreceptor cells, and horizontal cells are more sparsely distributed in the retina than these units; since they are known to arise earlier in the ontogenesis than other cell types they are considered to exist independently of the columnar units. It is suggested that the units arise by migration of groups of preneurons along a common Müller (precursor) cell; these preneurons and the corresponding Müller cell may be clonally related. In the adult retina, such columns might constitute metabolic and functional units.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Long-term enhancement of evoked potentials in raccoon somatosensory cortex following co-activation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert complex and cutaneous receptors.

Long-term enhancement of the evoked potential was induced in the primary somatosensory cortex of anaesthetized raccoons after mechanical stimulation of the skin was paired with electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM). Sets of 4 pulses, 0.5 ms duration at 300 Hz were delivered at 2-s intervals to the basal forebrain 80 ms before the glabrous skin on the 4th digit of the contralateral forepaw was stimulated mechanically. The average waveform of 30 evoked potentials was separated into an initial positive, a negative and a second positive component. During pairing of the skin and NBM stimuli, the area under the initial positive component was smaller than before or after pairing. The negative and second positive waves were unchanged. One minute after pairing, the initial positive wave returned to control values and continued to increase until the end of the experiment 50 min later, at which time it was 300% above control. The negative and second positive waves increased after the pairing to between 130 and 200% and remained at that level for the duration of the experiment. The effective NBM site for stimulation was the area rich in cholinergic neurons corresponding to the NBM. In control animals, repeated stimulation of the skin or NBM alone, or their random, unpaired stimulation together, did not enhance the somatosensory evoked potential. The results suggest that the NBM input enhances the efficacy of cortical responses to cutaneous input and thus may play a role in cortical neuronal plasticity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Development of the rabbit retina. I. Size of eye and retina, and postnatal cell proliferation.

Measures of rabbit eyes and retinal wholemounts were used to evaluate the development of retinal area and shape. The retina is shown to have a horizontal axis about a third longer than the vertical axis just before birth, and to adopt an almost symmetrical shape during postnatal development to adulthood. In general, retinal thickness is shown to decrease after birth, but differently in particular retinal regions: the reduction is marked in the periphery, and less pronounced in the visual streak. As an exception, the myelinated region--after it becomes really myelinated, from 9 days p.p.--even increases in thickness. In all regions of the retina, the absolute and relative thickness of the nuclear layers decreases, whereas the relative thickness of plexiform and fibrous layers increases. Proliferation of cells within the rabbit retina was studied during the first three postnatal weeks. 3H-thymidine incorporation was used to demonstrate DNA synthesis autoradiographically in histological sections as well as in enzymatically isolated retinal cells. A first proliferation phase occurs in the neuroblastic cell layer and ceases shortly after birth in the retinal center, but lasts for about one week in the retinal periphery. We found, however, a few 3H-thymidine-labeled cells as late as in the third postnatal week. These late-labeled cells were found within the nerve fiber layer and in the inner plexiform layer. The latter cells were shown to express antigens detected by antibodies directed to the intermediate-sized filament protein vimentin, which are known to label Müller cells and neuroepithelial stem cells. This was confirmed in our preparation of enzymatically isolated cells; all cells with autoradiographically labeled nuclei revealed a characteristic elongated morphology typical for Müller radial glia (and also for early neuroepithelial stem cells). 3H-thymidine-labeled cells in the nerve fiber layer were most probably astrocytic. In analogy to the brain, we conclude that the mammalian retina undergoes a series of proliferation phases: first an early phase producing both neurons and glial cells, and then a late phase producing glial cells, e.g., in the nerve fiber layer. Most probably, the late phase within the inner nuclear layer is glial as well, i.e., consists of dividing Müller cells; it cannot be excluded, however, that there may remain some mitotically active stem cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[The projection of the locus coeruleus and the mesencephalic raphe nuclei to the hippocampal region of the rat: a study with horseradish peroxidase].

In this paper we have investigated in 20 Wistar rats the projection of the locus coeruleus (LC) and of the two mesencephalic raphe nuclei Ncl. raphe centralis superior (NCS) and Ncl. raphe dorsalis (NRD) to the hippocampus by using the HRP-technique. 1. The noradrenergic projection of the LC courses mainly ipsilaterally. On the contralateral side their are in the LC only a few labelled cells (about 10% of the labelled neurons on the ipsilateral side). On the ipsilateral side their is to observe an increasing of labelled cells in the rostro-caudal direction. Mainly in the caudo-dorsal region of the LC their are about 50% of the HRP-containing cells. The labelled cells belong to the medium-sized multipolar type, seldom they are fusiforme or ovoid. 2. In the NCS labelled cells are distributed throughout the whole nucleus but they are frequently to observe in the medium and caudal part near the midline. They belong to the multipolar and fusiforme cell type; labelled ovoid cells are rare. 3. The NRD contains labelled cells especially in the median and caudal part. The rostral part shows only a few HRP-containing cells. The labelled cells are mainly concentrated in the ventromedial NRD between the Fasciculi longitudinales mediales. The HRP-containing neurons are of multipolar, seldom of fusiforme or ovoid shape. In general, the number of labelled cells is higher in the LC than in the two raphe nuclei. After injection of HRP in the caudal part of the hippocampus or in the ventral hippocampus the number of labelled cells in the studied nuclei is lower than after injection into the rostral and medial part of the hippocampus. The results demonstrate that as well the noradrenergic as the serotonergic nuclei have an important connection with the hippocampus. The sources of this projection demonstrate a neurotopistic order. The functional importance of these connections is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[The brain of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) in stereotactic coordinates].

On the basis of Nissl-preparations the brain of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) has been mapped cytoarchitectonically. 17 frontal sections through the brain are illustrated with coordinates. Therewith exists a stereotaxic atlas of the raccoon brain and one can realize exactly experimental investigations in the different brain structures.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Expansion and thickness of the visual cortex of microphthalmic mice and healthy Wistar animals].

In connection with our studies about the development and the structure of the visual system of the brain of normal and genetically microphthalmic mice in this paper we have investigated the extend of the visual cortex and the thickness of the primary visual cortex (area Oc1). The most important results are: The size of the surface of the neocortex and of the areas Oc1 and Oc2m shows no significant differences between the normal and the microphthalmic mice. The whole thickness of area Oc1 is at day 20 in the microphthalmic mice significantly greater than in normal animals. In the microphthalmic mice lamina I, III and V are thicker than in normal mice. Lamina IV is in microphthalmic mice significantly thinner than in normal animals. The interpretation of these results is difficult because at PD 20 the cortex and his laminae are not full developed. But there are in the microphthalmic mice not such clear changes (reduction) on the cortical level as in the subcortical structures of the visual system. The reduction of the thickness of lamina IV maybe caused by a reduced projection from the lateral geniculate nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Characterization of the neurons of the basal forebrain complex in the rat: A Nissl- and Golgi impregnation study].

Nissl stained neurons were classified in some nuclei of the basal forebrain complex of the rat (Nc. septi medialis, MS; vertical limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band, vDB; horizontal limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band, hDB; Nc. preopticus magnocellularis, NPM; Substantia innominata, SI; Nc. basalis Meynert, NB). Several types of neurons are coexistent in each of these nuclei. They differ in soma size and shape, but also in their cytoplasmic and nuclear texture. We found three classes of neurons as well in the MS-vDB, as in the hDB and NPM, but five classes in the SI-NB complex. On the basis of these findings some conclusions were drawn regarding the cytoarchitecture of this region, as the demarcation of vDB and hDB and of hDB and NPM. The borderline between vDB and hDB was found to be undefinable in Nissl stained preparations, whereas the NPM is characterized by its high content of giant neurons in cotontrast the adjacent hDB. Additionally, we tried to identify the Nissl stained neurons on the basis of soma features with Golgi impregnated neurons. The daimpregnations of Golgi impregnated neurons enabled us to compare the width of the cytoplasm and the nuclear position of neurons stained after these methods. From the thirteen classes of neurons described in Golgi investigations, 8 were identified in Nissl stained sections through this region of the rat's forebrain.

Animals↗