Meta-analyses of population-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in adults have recently led to the detection of new genetic loci for obesity. Here we aimed to discover additional obesity loci in extremely obese children and adolescents. We also investigated if these results generalize by estimating the effects of these obesity loci in adults and in population-based samples including both children and adults. We jointly analysed two GWAS of 2,258 individuals and followed-up the best, according to lowest p-values, 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from 21 genomic regions in 3,141 individuals. After this DISCOVERY step, we explored if the findings derived from the extremely obese children and adolescents (10 SNPs from 5 genomic regions) generalized to (i) the population level and (ii) to adults by genotyping another 31,182 individuals (GENERALIZATION step). Apart from previously identified FTO, MC4R, and TMEM18, we detected two new loci for obesity: one in SDCCAG8 (serologically defined colon cancer antigen 8 gene; p = 1.85610 x 10(-8) in the DISCOVERY step) and one between TNKS (tankyrase, TRF1-interacting ankyrin-related ADP-ribose polymerase gene) and MSRA (methionine sulfoxide reductase A gene; p = 4.84 x 10(-7)), the latter finding being limited to children and adolescents as demonstrated in the GENERALIZATION step. The odds ratios for early-onset obesity were estimated at similar to 1.10 per risk allele for both loci. Interestingly, the TNKS/MSRA locus has recently been found to be associated with adult waist circumference. In summary, we have completed a meta-analysis of two GWAS which both focus on extremely obese children and adolescents and replicated our findings in a large followed-up data set. We observed that genetic variants in or near FTO, MC4R, TMEM18, SDCCAG8, and TNKS/MSRA were robustly associated with early-onset obesity. We conclude that the currently known major common variants related to obesity overlap to a substantial degree between children and adults.

Myocardial perfusion MRI provides valuable insight into how coronary artery and microvascular diseases affect myocardial tissue. Stenosis in a coronary vessel leads to reduced maximum blood flow (MBF), but collaterals may secure the blood supply of the myocardium but with altered tracer kinetics. To date, quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion MRI has only been performed on a local level, largely ignoring the contextual information inherent in different myocardial segments. This paper proposes to quantify the spatial dependencies between the local kinetics via a Hierarchical Bayesian Model (HBM). In the proposed framework, all local systems are modelled simultaneously along with their dependencies, thus allowing more robust context-driven estimation of local kinetics. Detailed validation on both simulated and patient data is provided.

Viruses use cellular machinery to enter and infect cells. In this study we address the cell entry mechanisms of nonenveloped adenoviruses (Ads). We show that protein VI, an internal capsid protein, is rapidly exposed after cell surface attachment and internalization and remains partially associated with the capsid during intracellular transport. We found that a PPxY motif within protein VI recruits Nedd4 E3 ubiquitin ligases to bind and ubiquitylate protein VI. We further show that this PPxY motif is involved in rapid, microtubule-dependent intracellular movement of protein VI. Ads with a mutated PPxY motif can efficiently escape endosomes but are defective in microtubule-dependent trafficking toward the nucleus. Likewise, depletion of Nedd4 ligases attenuates nuclear accumulation of incoming Ad particles and infection. Our data provide the first evidence that virus-encoded PPxY motifs are required during virus entry, which may be of significance for several other pathogens.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unresolved health issue, and responsible for 15% of all deaths in Western countries. Epidemiologic evidence, as well as evidence from clinical trials, indicates that increasing intake and high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) protect from SCD and other major adverse cardiac events. Levels of EPA+DHA are best assessed by the Omega-3 Index, representing the red cell fatty acid content of EPA+DHA. Work is in progress that will further define the value of the Omega- 3 Index as a risk factor for SCD, other cardiac events, and as target for treatment with EPA+DHA.

The response characteristics of the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) in studies of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are only poorly understood, and the change in walk distance that constitutes the minimum important difference (MID) over time is unknown.

Hintergrund

Die Schwangerschaft ist ein natürliches, erfolgreiches Modell immunologischer Toleranz [1]. Das Kind, dessen genetisches Material zu 50% allogen ist, wird während der Zeit seiner intrauterinen Entwicklung vom mütterlichen Immunsystem akzeptiert. Ein Zustand, der fundamentalen Regeln der Transplantationsimmunologie (Selbst-Fremd Erkennung) widerspricht. Beim Aufbau der fetomaternalen Grenzfläche wachsen fetale Zellen (sog. Trophoblasten) in die mütterliche Uterusschleimhaut ein, arrodieren mütterliche Blutgefäße und bilden in der reifen Plazenta die Auskleidung eines mütterlichen Blutsees [2]. Dieses trophoblastäre Synzytium ist also gleichermaßen fetales Epithel wie plazentares Endothel und interagiert mit mütterlichen Leukozyten [3].

Die Frage immunologischer Toleranz ist jedoch auch in der Kanzerogenese und in der Etablierung des Tumormikromilieus von entscheidender Bedeutung [4]. Die Entstehung und immunologische Etablierung eines malignen Tumors ist die gemeinsame Endstrecke eines letztendlich ungerichteten Prozesses. Die Charakteristika einer malignen Erkrankung sind daher in hohem Maße individuell. Ausdruck dessen ist die zunehmende Hinwendung zu individualisierten Krebstherapien (sog. targeted therapies) wie sie z.B. auch immuntherapeutische Ansätze darstellen [5]. Der spezifische Aufbau immunologischer Toleranz an der Tumor-Stroma Grenzfläche ist auf Grund der großen interindividuellen Unterschiede im humanen System nur schwer nachzuvollziehen. Demgegenüber verläuft der Aufbau des spezifischen immunologischen Mikromilieus an der fetomaternalen Grenzfläche entlang geordneter Bahnen, deren Erforschung allgemeine Prinzipien der Toleranzentwicklung im humanen System zu Tage fördern könnte. Das vorliegende Habilitationsprojekt widmet sich Mechanismen immunologischer Toleranz und ihrer Durchbrechung am Plazenta- und Tumor-Modell.

Bisher bearbeitete Fragestellungen

Dendritische Zellen (DC) besetzen eine zentrale Schaltstelle des Immunsystems und können einerseits antigenspezifische cytotoxische T-Zell Immunantworten induzieren, andererseits im steady state für immunologische Toleranz sorgen [6, 7]. Ihre Eigenschaft der spezifischen Immuninduktion prädestinieren DC für eine individualisierten Krebs-Immuntherapie, deren immunogene Eigenschaften wir in Zellkultur-Modellen beurteilen konnten [8]. Apoptose als der physiologische Zelluntergang induziert peripher (d.h. außerhalb lymphatischer Organe) vermittelt über DC immunologische Toleranz. Apoptotisch zu Grunde gegangene Zellen werden dabei von DC aufgenommen und so aufbereitet, dass ihre charakteristische Proteinstruktur von cytotoxischen T-Zellen erkannt wird. Zusätzliche Signale bestimmen nun, ob diesen T-Zellen angezeigt wird, die betreffende Proteinstruktur zu tolerieren oder dagegen eine Immunantwort zu induzieren [9, 10]. Eine solche Immunantwort ist hochspezifisch und bietet sich daher als targeted therapy in der Krebstherapie an [11]. Wir konnten in diesem Zusammenhang den Weg apoptotischen Tumormaterials in Zellkultur-DC genauer verfolgen und als Einflussfaktor der folgenden Immunantwort näher charakterisieren [12].

Neben der Charakteristik des aufgenommen Zellmaterials ist die Eigenart jener zusätzlichen Signale (den von P. Matzinger erstmals so genannten „Gefahrensignalen“) von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Immunantwort. Gefahrensignale sind immunologische Muster, die eine Infektion oder Zellschädigung kennzeichnen und eine pathogen- und gewebsspezifische Immunreaktion nach sich ziehen. So konnten wir mit Adenosin-Triphosphat ein obligat intrazelluläres Molekül als ein solches Gefahrensignal charakterisieren [13]. An die Stelle der klassischen Unterscheidung zwischen Selbst- und Fremd tritt damit die Unterscheidung zwischen Gefahr und Nicht-Gefahr. Der Zustand der Nicht-Gefahr der sog. steady state wird in diesem Modell mit der Induktion einer gewebsspezifischen Toleranz andererseits jede Schädigung durch ein Pathogen durch eine auf Pathogen und G

A proportion of small diameter primary sensory neurones innervating human skin are chemosensitive. They respond in a receptor dependent manner to chemical mediators of inflammation as well as naturally occurring algogens, thermogens and pruritogens. The neurotransmitter GABA is interesting in this respect because in animal models of neuropathic pain GABA pre-synaptically regulates nociceptive input to the spinal cord. However, the effect of GABA on human peripheral unmyelinated axons has not been established.

Background

Cumulative light exposure is significantly associated with progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor is the main target of current antiangiogenic treatment strategies in AMD. However, other growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and placenta growth factor (PlGF), have a substantial impact on development of AMD. Previous reports indicate that sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, might have beneficial effects on exudative AMD. This study investigates the effects of sorafenib on light-induced overexpression of growth factors in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods

Primary human RPE cells were exposed to white light and incubated with sorafenib. Viability, expression, and secretion of VEGF-A, PDGF-BB, and PlGF and their mRNA were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

Light exposure decreased cell viability and increased expression and secretion of VEGF-A, PDGF-BB and PlGF. These light-induced effects were significantly reduced when cells were treated with sorafenib at a dose of 1 mu g/ml.

Conclusion

The results show that sorafenib has promising properties as a potential antiangiogenic treatment for AMD.

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has a poor prognosis and limited responsiveness to available treatments. It is characterised by epithelial cell injury, fibroblast activation and proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) induces fibroblast proliferation via the 5-HTR2A and 5-HTR2B receptors, but its pathophysiological role in IPF remains unclear. A study was undertaken to determine the expression of 5-HT receptors in IPF and experimental lung fibrosis and to investigate the effects of therapeutic inhibition of 5-HTR2A/B signalling on lung fibrosis in vivo and in vitro.

Methods and results

Quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression of 5-HTR1A/B and 5-HTR2B was significantly increased in the lungs of patients with IPF (n = 12) and in those with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP, n = 6) compared with transplant donors (n = 12). The expression of 5-HTR2A was increased specifically in IPF lungs but not in NSIP lungs. While 5-HTR2A protein largely localised to fibroblasts, 5-HTR2B localised to the epithelium. To assess the effects of 5HTR(2A/B) inhibition on fibrogenesis in vivo, mice were subjected to bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and treated with the 5-HTR2A/B antagonist terguride (or vehicle) in a therapeutic approach (days 14-28 after bleomycin). Terguride-treated mice had significantly improved lung function and histology and decreased collagen content compared with vehicle-treated mice. Functional in vitro studies showed that terguride is a potent inhibitor of transforming growth factor beta(1)- or WNT3a-induced collagen production.

Conclusion

The studies revealed an increased expression of 5-HTR2A specifically in IPF. Blockade of 5-HTR2A/B signalling by terguride reversed lung fibrosis and is thus a promising therapeutic approach for IPF.