Eisen und Eisenproteine in Neuronen mit perineuronalem Netz

In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurden Neurone untersucht, die von einer speziellen Form der extrazellulären Matrix, dem perineuronalen Netz (PN), umgeben sind. Neurone mit einem PN zeichnen sich durch eine geringe Vulnerabilität bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen aus. Da das PN mit hoher Affinität Eisen bindet, war zu klären, ob das PN den Eisenhaushalt der Neurone beeinflusst und diese mit einer protektiven Eigenschaft gegenüber Eisen-induzierten oxidativen Stress ausstattet. Es wurde die Eisenkonzentration und der Gehalt an Eisentransport- und Eisenspeicherproteinen von Neuronen mit PN und Neuronen ohne PN in der Ratte untersucht. Dabei kamen quantitative Methoden wie die ortsaufgelöste Ionenstrahlmikroskopie und die Objektträger-basierte Laser Scanning Zytometrie sowie Western Blot Analysen und quantitative Real-Time-PCR zum Einsatz. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass Neurone, die mit einem PN umgeben sind, eine höhere Konzentration an Eisen sowie Eisentransport- und Eisenspeicherproteinen besitzen als Neurone ohne ein PN. Das PN könnte so den Eisenhaushalt der Neurone beeinflussen und diese mit einer protektiven Eigenschaft gegenüber Eisen-induziertem oxidativen Stress ausstatten

Odor-Induced Multi-Level Inhibitory Maps in Drosophila

Optical imaging of intracellular Ca2+ influx as a correlate of neuronal excitation represents a standard technique for visualizing spatiotemporal activity of neuronal networks. However, the information-processing properties of single neurons and neuronal circuits likewise involve inhibition of neuronal membrane potential. Here, we report spatially resolved optical imaging of odor-evoked inhibitory patterns in the olfactory circuitry of Drosophila using a genetically encoded fluorescent Cl- sensor. In combination with the excitatory component reflected by intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, we present a comprehensive functional map of both odor-evoked neuronal activation and inhibition at different levels of olfactory processing. We demonstrate that odor-evoked inhibition carried by Cl- influx is present both in sensory neurons and second-order projection neurons (PNs), and is characterized by stereotypic, odor-specific patterns. Cl--mediated inhibition features distinct dynamics in different neuronal populations. Our data support a dual role of inhibitory neurons in the olfactory system: global gain control across the neuronal circuitry and glomerulus-specific inhibition to enhance neuronal information processing

Odor-Induced Multi-Level Inhibitory Maps in Drosophila

Grabe V, Schubert M, Strube-Bloss M, et al. Odor-Induced Multi-Level Inhibitory Maps in Drosophila. eNeuro. 2019;7(1): ENEURO.0213-19.2019

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Affects Protein and Lipid Content of Circulating Exosomes in Infected Patients Depending on Tuberculosis Disease State

Tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Understanding how the host and pathogen interact in active TB will have a significant impact on global TB control efforts. Exosomes are increasingly recognized as a means of cell-to-cell contact and exchange of soluble mediators. In the case of TB, exosomes are released from the bacillus and infected cells. In the present study, a comprehensive lipidomics and proteomics analysis of size exclusion chromatography-isolated plasma-derived exosomes from patients with TB lymphadenitis (TBL) and treated as well as untreated pulmonary TB (PTB) was performed to elucidate the possibility to utilize exosomes in diagnostics and knowledge building. According to our findings, exosome-derived lipids and proteins originate from both the host and Mtb in the plasma of active TB patients. Exosomes from all patients are mostly composed of sphingomyelins (SM), phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylinositols, free fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), and cholesterylesters. Relative proportions of, e.g., SMs and TAGs, vary depending on the disease or treatment state and could be linked to Mtb pathogenesis and dormancy. We identified three proteins of Mtb origin: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit beta (RpoC), Diacyglycerol O-acyltransferase (Rv2285), and Formate hydrogenase (HycE), the latter of which was discovered to be differently expressed in TBL patients. Furthermore, we discovered that Mtb infection alters the host protein composition of circulating exosomes, significantly affecting a total of 37 proteins. All TB patients had low levels of apolipoproteins, as well as the antibacterial proteins cathelicidin, Scavenger Receptor Cysteine Rich Family Member (SSC5D), and Ficolin 3 (FCN3). When compared to healthy controls, the protein profiles of PTB and TBL were substantially linked, with 14 proteins being coregulated. However, adhesion proteins (integrins, Intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM2), CD151, Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4)) were shown to be more prevalent in PTB patients, while immunoglobulins, Complement component 1r (C1R), and Glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) were found to be more abundant in TBL patients, respectively. This study could confirm findings from previous reports and uncover novel molecular profiles not previously in focus of TB research. However, we applied a minimally invasive sampling and analysis of circulating exosomes in TB patients. Based on the findings given here, future studies into host–pathogen interactions could pave the way for the development of new vaccines and therapies

Intermixing-Driven Surface and Bulk Ferromagnetism in the Quantum Anomalous Hall Candidate MnBi6Te10

The recent realizations of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in MnBi2Te4 and MnBi4Te7 benchmark the (MnBi2Te4)(Bi2Te3)n family as a promising hotbed for further QAHE improvements. The family owes its potential to its ferromagnetically (FM) ordered MnBi2Te4 septuple layers (SLs). However, the QAHE realization is complicated in MnBi2Te4 and MnBi4Te7 due to the substantial antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling between the SLs. An FM state, advantageous for the QAHE, can be stabilized by interlacing the SLs with an increasing number n of Bi2Te3 quintuple layers (QLs). However, the mechanisms driving the FM state and the number of necessary QLs are not understood, and the surface magnetism remains obscure. Here, robust FM properties in MnBi6Te10 (n = 2) with Tc ≈ 12 K are demonstrated and their origin is established in the Mn/Bi intermixing phenomenon by a combined experimental and theoretical study. The measurements reveal a magnetically intact surface with a large magnetic moment, and with FM properties similar to the bulk. This investigation thus consolidates the MnBi6Te10 system as perspective for the QAHE at elevated temperatures

Eisen und Eisenproteine in Neuronen mit perineuronalem Netz

In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurden Neurone untersucht, die von einer speziellen Form der extrazellulären Matrix, dem perineuronalen Netz (PN), umgeben sind. Neurone mit einem PN zeichnen sich durch eine geringe Vulnerabilität bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen aus. Da das PN mit hoher Affinität Eisen bindet, war zu klären, ob das PN den Eisenhaushalt der Neurone beeinflusst und diese mit einer protektiven Eigenschaft gegenüber Eisen-induzierten oxidativen Stress ausstattet. Es wurde die Eisenkonzentration und der Gehalt an Eisentransport- und Eisenspeicherproteinen von Neuronen mit PN und Neuronen ohne PN in der Ratte untersucht. Dabei kamen quantitative Methoden wie die ortsaufgelöste Ionenstrahlmikroskopie und die Objektträger-basierte Laser Scanning Zytometrie sowie Western Blot Analysen und quantitative Real-Time-PCR zum Einsatz. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass Neurone, die mit einem PN umgeben sind, eine höhere Konzentration an Eisen sowie Eisentransport- und Eisenspeicherproteinen besitzen als Neurone ohne ein PN. Das PN könnte so den Eisenhaushalt der Neurone beeinflussen und diese mit einer protektiven Eigenschaft gegenüber Eisen-induziertem oxidativen Stress ausstatten