Antioxidative Enzyme und \"oxidized low density lipoprotein\" (oxLDL) in Follikelflüssigkeit und Serum bei IVF - Patientinnen mit Adipositas

Adipositas und das polyzystische Ovarsyndrom (PCOS) sind häufig Gründe für Anovulation, Infertilität und unerfüllten Kinderwunsch. Sowohl Adipositas als auch das PCOS können zu einem Ungleichgewicht zwischen Anti- und Prooxidanzien im menschlichen Körper führen. Durch Übergewicht der Prooxidanzien ensteht oxidativer Stress. Reaktive Sauerstoffspezies (reactive oxygen species, ROS) fallen vermehrt an und oxidieren Lipoproteine zu „oxidized low density lipoproteins“ (oxLDL). Durch Bindung von oxLDL an den „lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1)“ wird Apoptose und Autophagie induziert. Wir vermuten, dass sich diese Prozesse auch in der Follikelflüssigkeit (FF), dem Milieu der Eizelle, abspielen und zum Absterben reifender Follikel und somit zur Anovulation und Infertilität führen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, zu untersuchen, welchen Einfluss Adipositas, hormonelle Stimulation und PCOS auf die enzymatischen Antioxidanzien Superoxiddismutase (SOD), Katalase, Glutathionperoxidase (GPx) und Glutathionreduktase (GR) sowie auf den oxLDL-Spiegel haben. Es wurden Serum und FF von Frauen unter IVF (in vitro Fertilisation) -Therapie untersucht, die anhand ihres Body Mass Index (BMI), des Taille-Hüft-Quotienten (T/H-Quotient) sowie des PCOS in vier Gruppen eingeteilt wurden. Die Konzentration an oxLDL als Repräsentant des oxidativen Systems und die Aktivität der Enzyme SOD, Katalase, GPx und GR, Repräsentaten des antioxidativen Systems, wurden im Serum vor Stimulationsbeginn und zum Zeitpunkt der Follikelpunktion sowie in der FF gemessen. Adipöse Frauen mit und ohne PCOS hatten höhere Konzentrationen an oxLDL in der FF als normalgewichtige. Die oxLDL-Konzentrationen der FF waren 1000-fach niedriger als die der Seren. Interessanterweise waren auch die Katalase-Aktivitäten in der FF adipöser Frauen mit und ohne PCOS höher als die der normalgewichtigen. Zusammenfassend lässt sich folgern, dass erhöhte oxLDL-Konzentrationen in der FF von adipösen Frauen, unabhängig vom Vorliegen eines PCOS, mit einer gesteigerten Katalase-Aktivität und einer niedrigeren IVF-Erfolgsrate assoziiert sind.:Inhaltsverzeichnis Bibliographie III Abkürzungsverzeichnis IV 1. Einleitung 1 1.1. Infertilität 1 1.2. PCOS 2 1.2.1. Definition des PCOS 2 1.2.2. PCOS und Adipositas 3 1.3. Oxidativer Stress 4 1.3.1. Reaktive Sauerstoffspezies 4 1.3.2. Superoxiddismutase (SOD) – Schutz vor Superoxidradikalen 5 1.3.3. Katalase – Schutz vor H2O2 5 1.3.4. Glutathionperoxidase (GPx) und Glutathionreduktase (GR) 5 1.4. Oxidativer Stress, „oxidized low density lipoprotein“(oxLDL) und 6 Adipositas 1.5. Oxidativer Stress, antioxidative Enzyme und Infertilität 7 1.6. Ziele der Arbeit 9 2. Material und Methoden 10 2.1. Patientinnen und Material 10 2.2. Methoden 12 2.2.1. Follikelspektrumanalyse – Kontamination mit Blutbestandteilen 12 2.2.2. Proteinbestimmung 12 2.2.3. Bestimmung der SOD-Aktivität 13 2.2.4. Bestimmung der Katalase-Aktivität 14 2.2.5. Bestimmung der GPx-Aktivität 15 2.2.6. Bestimmung der GR-Aktivität 16 2.2.7. Bestimmung der oxLDL-Konzentration mittels ELISA 17 2.3. Statistische Auswertung 18 3. Ergebnisse 19 3.1. Vergleich der Proteinkonzentrationen in Seren und FF 19 3.2. Erhöhte SOD-Aktivität in der FF im Vergleich zum Serum 20 3.3. Erhöhte Katalase-Aktivität bei Adipositas unabhängig vom PCOS-Status 21 3.4. Erhöhte GPx-Aktivität bei adipösen Patientinnen ohne PCOS 22 3.5. Erhöhte GR-Aktivität bei Adipositas unabhängig vom PCOS-Status 23 3.6. Erhöhte oxLDL-Konzentrationen in der FF adipöser Patientinnen 25 unabhängig vom PCOS-Status 3.7. Schwangerschaftsrate der vier Patientengruppen 26 4. Diskussion 28 4.1. Das oxidative System 28 4.1.1. LOX-1 und oxLDL – Stand der Forschung 28 4.1.2. OxLDL – Diskussion der Methode 29 4.1.3. OxLDL – Konzentration im Serum 30 4.1.4. Einfluss der hormonellen Stimulationstherapie auf oxLDL 31 4.1.5. OxLDL – Konzentration in der FF 32 4.1.6. Oxidativer Status - Zusammenfassung 34 4.2. Das antioxidative System 34 4.2.1. SOD-Aktivität im Serum 35 4.2.2. SOD-Aktivität in der FF 35 4.2.2. Katalase, ein klinischer Parameter zur Bestimmung des 36 oxidativen Stress? 4.2.3. Zelltod als Ursache für erhöhte Enzymaktivitäten bei Adipositas? 36 4.2.5. Grenzen der Studie 37 4.3. Schlussfolgerung und Ausblick 38 5. Zusammenfassung 40 6. Literaturverzeichnis 44 7. Anhang 59 7.1. Tabellenverzeichnis 59 7.2. Abbildungsverzeichnis 59 7.3. Eidesstattliche Versicherung 60 7.4. Werdegang 61 7.5. Danksagung 6

Retinoic acid pathway activity in wilms tumors and characterization of biological responses in vitro

Background: Wilms tumor (WT) is one of the most common malignancies in childhood. With current therapy protocols up to 90% of patients can be cured, but there is still a need to improve therapy for patients with aggressive WT and to reduce treatment intensity where possible. Prior data suggested a deregulation of the retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathway in high-risk WT, but its mode of action remained unclear. Results: The association of retinoid signaling and clinical parameters could be validated in a large independent tumor set, but its relevance in primary nephrectomy tumors from very young children may be different. Reduced RA pathway activity and MYCN overexpression were found in high risk tumors as opposed to tumors with low/ intermediate risk, suggesting a beneficial impact of RA especially on advanced WT. To search for possible modes of action of retinoids as novel therapeutic options, primary tumor cell cultures were treated in vitro with all-trans-RA (ATRA), 9cis-RA, fenretinide and combinations of retinoids and a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Genes deregulated in high risk tumors showed opposite changes upon treatment suggesting a positive effect of retinoids. 6/7 primary cultures tested reduced proliferation, irrespective of prior RA signaling levels. The only variant culture was derived from mesoblastic nephroma, a distinct childhood kidney neoplasm. Retinoid/HDAC inhibitor combinations provided no synergistic effect. ATRA and 9cis-RA induced morphological changes suggestive of differentiation, while fenretinide induced apoptosis in several cultures tested. Microarray analysis of ATRA treated WT cells revealed differential expression of many genes involved in extracellular matrix formation and osteogenic, neuronal or muscle differentiation. The effects documented appear to be reversible upon drug withdrawal, however. Conclusions: Altered retinoic acid signaling has been validated especially in high risk Wilms tumors. In vitro testing of primary tumor cultures provided clear evidence of a potential utility of retinoids in Wilms tumor treatment based on the analysis of gene expression, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis

Discovery and Differential Processing of HLA Class II-Restricted Minor Histocompatibility Antigen LB-PIP4K2A-1S and Its Allelic Variant by Asparagine Endopeptidase

Minor histocompatibility antigens are the main targets of donor-derived T-cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Identification of these antigens and understanding their biology are a key requisite for more insight into how graft vs. leukemia effect and graft vs. host disease could be separated. We here identified four new HLA class II-restricted minor histocompatibility antigens using whole genome association scanning. For one of the new antigens, i.e., LB-PIP4K2A-1S, we measured strong T-cell recognition of the donor variant PIP4K2A-1N when pulsed as exogenous peptide, while the endogenously expressed variant in donor EBV-B cells was not recognized. We showed that lack of T-cell recognition was caused by intracellular cleavage by a protease named asparagine endopeptidase (AEP). Furthermore, microarray gene expression analysis showed that PIP4K2A and AEP are both ubiquitously expressed in a wide variety of healthy tissues, but that expression levels of AEP were lower in primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In line with that, we confirmed low activity of AEP in AML cells and demonstrated that HLA-DRB1*03:01 positive primary AML expressing LB-PIP4K2A-1S or its donor variant PIP4K2A-1N were both recognized by specific T-cells. In conclusion, LB-PIP4K2A-1S not only represents a novel minor histocompatibility antigen but also provides evidence that donor T-cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation can target the autologous allelic variant as leukemia-associated antigen. Furthermore, it demonstrates that endopeptidases can play a role in cell type-specific intracellular processing and presentation of HLA class II-restricted antigens, which may be explored in future immunotherapy of AML

Decoding odor quality and intensity in the Drosophila brain

To internally reflect the sensory environment, animals create neural maps encoding the external stimulus space. From that primary neural code relevant information has to be extracted for accurate navigation. We analyzed how different odor features such as hedonic valence and intensity are functionally integrated in the lateral horn (LH) of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We characterized an olfactory-processing pathway, comprised of inhibitory projection neurons (iPNs) that target the LH exclusively, at morphological, functional and behavioral levels. We demonstrate that iPNs are subdivided into two morphological groups encoding positive hedonic valence or intensity information and conveying these features into separate domains in the LH. Silencing iPNs severely diminished flies' attraction behavior. Moreover, functional imaging disclosed a LH region tuned to repulsive odors comprised exclusively of third-order neurons. We provide evidence for a feature-based map in the LH, and elucidate its role as the center for integrating behaviorally relevant olfactory information

Columnar cells necessary for motion responses of wide-field visual interneurons in Drosophila

Wide-field motion-sensitive neurons in the lobula plate (lobula plate tangential cells, LPTCs) of the fly have been studied for decades. However, it has never been conclusively shown which cells constitute their major presynaptic elements. LPTCs are supposed to be rendered directionally selective by integrating excitatory as well as inhibitory input from many local motion detectors. Based on their stratification in the different layers of the lobula plate, the columnar cells T4 and T5 are likely candidates to provide some of this input. To study their role in motion detection, we performed whole-cell recordings from LPTCs in Drosophila with T4 and T5 cells blocked using two different genetically encoded tools. In these flies, motion responses were abolished, while flicker responses largely remained. We thus demonstrate that T4 and T5 cells indeed represent those columnar cells that provide directionally selective motion information to LPTCs. Contrary to previous assumptions, flicker responses seem to be largely mediated by a third, independent pathway. This work thus represents a further step towards elucidating the complete motion detection circuitry of the fly

Recurrent intragenic rearrangements of EGFR and BRAF in soft tissue tumors of infants.

Soft tissue tumors of infancy encompass an overlapping spectrum of diseases that pose unique diagnostic and clinical challenges. We studied genomes and transcriptomes of cryptogenic congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN), and extended our findings to five anatomically or histologically related soft tissue tumors: infantile fibrosarcoma (IFS), nephroblastomatosis, Wilms tumor, malignant rhabdoid tumor, and clear cell sarcoma of the kidney. A key finding is recurrent mutation of EGFR in CMN by internal tandem duplication of the kinase domain, thus delineating CMN from other childhood renal tumors. Furthermore, we identify BRAF intragenic rearrangements in CMN and IFS. Collectively these findings reveal novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies and highlight a prominent role of isolated intragenic rearrangements as drivers of infant tumors

Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils

Zero tillage management of agricultural soils has potential for enhancing soil carbon (C) storage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the mechanisms which control carbon (C) sequestration in soil in response to zero tillage are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the links between zero tillage practices and the functioning of the soil microbial community with regards to C cycling, testing the hypothesis that zero tillage enhances biological functioning in soil with positive implications for C sequestration. Specifically, we determined microbial respiration rates, enzyme activities, carbon source utilization and the functional chemistry of the soil organic matter in temperate well drained soils that had been zero tilled for seven years against annually tilled soils. Zero tilled soils contained 9% more soil C, 30% higher microbial biomass C than tilled soil and an increased presence of aromatic functional groups indicating greater preservation of recalcitrant C. Greater CO2 emission and higher respirational quotients were observed from tilled soils compared to zero tilled soils while microbial biomass was 30% greater in zero tilled soils indicating a more efficient functioning of the microbial community under zero tillage practice. Furthermore, microbial enzyme activities of dehydrogenase, cellulase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase were higher in zero tilled soils. Considering zero tillage enhanced both microbial functioning and C storage in soil, we suggest that it offers significant promise to improve soil health and support mitigation measures against climate change

A Transgenic Drosophila Model Demonstrates That the Helicobacter pylori CagA Protein Functions as a Eukaryotic Gab Adaptor

Infection with the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is associated with a spectrum of diseases including gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. The cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) protein of H. pylori, which is translocated into host cells via a type IV secretion system, is a major risk factor for disease development. Experiments in gastric tissue culture cells have shown that once translocated, CagA activates the phosphatase SHP-2, which is a component of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways whose over-activation is associated with cancer formation. Based on CagA's ability to activate SHP-2, it has been proposed that CagA functions as a prokaryotic mimic of the eukaryotic Grb2-associated binder (Gab) adaptor protein, which normally activates SHP-2. We have developed a transgenic Drosophila model to test this hypothesis by investigating whether CagA can function in a well-characterized Gab-dependent process: the specification of photoreceptors cells in the Drosophila eye. We demonstrate that CagA expression is sufficient to rescue photoreceptor development in the absence of the Drosophila Gab homologue, Daughter of Sevenless (DOS). Furthermore, CagA's ability to promote photoreceptor development requires the SHP-2 phosphatase Corkscrew (CSW). These results provide the first demonstration that CagA functions as a Gab protein within the tissue of an organism and provide insight into CagA's oncogenic potential. Since many translocated bacterial proteins target highly conserved eukaryotic cellular processes, such as the RTK signaling pathway, the transgenic Drosophila model should be of general use for testing the in vivo function of bacterial effector proteins and for identifying the host genes through which they function

Suppression of grasshopper sound production by nitric oxide-releasing neurons of the central complex

The central complex of acridid grasshoppers integrates sensory information pertinent to reproduction-related acoustic communication. Activation of nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP-signaling by injection of NO donors into the central complex of restrained Chorthippus biguttulus females suppresses muscarine-stimulated sound production. In contrast, sound production is released by aminoguanidine (AG)-mediated inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the central body, suggesting a basal release of NO that suppresses singing in this situation. Using anti-citrulline immunocytochemistry to detect recent NO production, subtypes of columnar neurons with somata located in the pars intercerebralis and tangential neurons with somata in the ventro-median protocerebrum were distinctly labeled. Their arborizations in the central body upper division overlap with expression patterns for NOS and with the site of injection where NO donors suppress sound production. Systemic application of AG increases the responsiveness of unrestrained females to male calling songs. Identical treatment with the NOS inhibitor that increased male song-stimulated sound production in females induced a marked reduction of citrulline accumulation in central complex columnar and tangential neurons. We conclude that behavioral situations that are unfavorable for sound production (like being restrained) activate NOS-expressing central body neurons to release NO and elevate the behavioral threshold for sound production in female grasshoppers

Candidate Glutamatergic Neurons in the Visual System of Drosophila

The visual system of Drosophila contains approximately 60,000 neurons that are organized in parallel, retinotopically arranged columns. A large number of these neurons have been characterized in great anatomical detail. However, studies providing direct evidence for synaptic signaling and the neurotransmitter used by individual neurons are relatively sparse. Here we present a first layout of neurons in the Drosophila visual system that likely release glutamate as their major neurotransmitter. We identified 33 different types of neurons of the lamina, medulla, lobula and lobula plate. Based on the previous Golgi-staining analysis, the identified neurons are further classified into 16 major subgroups representing lamina monopolar (L), transmedullary (Tm), transmedullary Y (TmY), Y, medulla intrinsic (Mi, Mt, Pm, Dm, Mi Am), bushy T (T), translobula plate (Tlp), lobula intrinsic (Lcn, Lt, Li), lobula plate tangential (LPTCs) and lobula plate intrinsic (LPi) cell types. In addition, we found 11 cell types that were not described by the previous Golgi analysis. This classification of candidate glutamatergic neurons fosters the future neurogenetic dissection of information processing in circuits of the fly visual system