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Biomedical subjects

C Hollmann

Publications and source records attributed to C Hollmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Detection of disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood.

Metastases are the major cause of cancer-related deaths in patients with solid epithelial malignancies, such as breast, colorectal and prostate carcinomas. Hematogenous spreading of tumor cells from a primary tumor can be considered as a crucial step in the metastasis cascade leading eventually to the formation of clinically manifest metastases. Consequently, as shown in recent studies, the detection of disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood might be of clinical relevance with respect to individual patient prognosis and staging or monitoring of therapy. However, the rarity of disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood renders the application of sensitive techniques mandatory for their detection. The emergence of highly sophisticated reverse transciptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays, combining a preanalytical enrichment step with the assessment of multiple molecular tumor markers expressed in disseminated tumor cells, provides a powerful tool in detecting disseminated tumor cells with high sensitivity and specificity. This review will discuss currently used tumor markers as well as experimental means to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR assays to detect disseminated tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and their clinical relevance assessed in recent studies.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The distinct roles of T cell-derived cytokines and a novel follicular dendritic cell-signaling molecule 8D6 in germinal center-B cell differentiation.

Germinal center-B (GC-B) cells differentiate into memory B cells and plasma cells (PC) through interaction with T cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDC). Activated T cell and FDC play distinct roles in this process. The detailed kinetic experiments revealed that cytokines secreted by activated T cells determined the pathway of GC-B cell differentiation. IL-4 directs GC-B cells to differentiate into memory B cells, whereas IL-10 steers them into PC. FDC/HK cells do not direct either pathway, but provide signals for proliferation of GC-B cells. A novel FDC-signaling molecule 8D6 (FDC-SM-8D6) produced by FDC augments PC generation in the GC. FDC-SM-8D6-specific mAb blocked PC generation and IgG secretion but not memory B cell proliferation. COS cells expressing FDC-SM-8D6 enhanced GC-B cell proliferation and Ab secretion, which was blocked by mAb 8D6. In the cultures with B cell subsets, PC generation was inhibited by mAb 8D6 in the cultures with CD27(+) B cells but not in the culture with CD27(-) B cells, suggesting that CD27(+) PC precursor is the specific target of FDC-SM-8D6 stimulation.

Antibodies, Blocking↗
PubMed2000

(1R*,11R*)-Bicyclo[9.4.1]hexadecane-12,16-dione.

The title compound, C(16)H(26)O(2), (I), prepared by oxidation of (1R*,11R*)-12-hydroxybicyclo[9.4.1]hexadecan-16-one using pyridinium dichromate, has a trans configuration of the two fused rings and represents an interesting precursor for the synthesis of macrocyclic structures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Proliferation and cytokine profile of T. annulata-infected ovine, caprine, and bovine lymphoblastoid cells.

T. annulata, the causative agent of tropical theileriosis in cattle, can also infect ovine and caprine leukocytes in vitro. In vivo studies showed that this parasite causes a mild infection in both these animal species, and in sheep merozoite stage development seems to be inhibited. Since the nature of T. annulata infected caprine and ovine cells is not known, all three cell lines were karyotyped and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry. They all express mRNA of cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, but not of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-4. In contrast, IL-6 mRNA was expressed in the cattle cell line only, while mRNA of IL-10 was exclusively produced by the sheep cell line. The observed differences in cytokine mRNA expression may be responsible for the different pathogenesis of T. annulata infection in cattle and sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Follicular dendritic cells and T cells: nurses and executioners in the germinal centre reaction.

The humoral immune response constitutes an efficient system to protect the organism against diseases caused by invading pathogens. To guarantee a highly efficient defence, the humoral immune system has to be tightly regulated. Two cell subsets in particular, T cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), contribute to the success of these regulation processes. Whereas the particular role of T cells is the elimination of autoreactive clones, the main role of FDCs is to present unprocessed antigen and check B-cell clones for higher affinity. B-cell clones unsuited for improved humoral immune response will be specifically killed. Involvement of Fas-mediated apoptosis might be an additional tool not only in T-cell-mediated regulation, but also in FDC-B cell interaction in the germinal centre.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1997

Expression of the RT6 mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases is regulated by two promoter regions.

The structure of the RT6 mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase gene was studied. Analysis of cDNA clones revealed eight exons and suggested two independent transcriptional start sites. The existence of the downstream initiation site was confirmed by S1-nuclease protection and localized to position +29 of exon 2. The corresponding 5' flanking regions were found to contain typical promoter structures such as TATA- and CCAAT-boxes. Comparison with sequences deposited in the TRANSFAC database of transcription factor binding sites revealed few putative regulatory elements in the region associated with exon 1 (promoter 1). In contrast, several elements contained in the regulatory regions of other T cell-specific genes, such as ets, lyf-1 and ikaros were found in in promoter 2. Analysis of RT6-transcripts showed this region to be the most active promoter in spleen cells of adult rats. Finally, transient transfection assays with reporter gene constructs showed promoter 2 to mediate T-cell specific transcription.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PubMed1997

Calcium-channel blockers preserve coronary endothelial reactivity after ischemia-reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Calcium-channel blockers have been reported to improve myocardial recovery after ischemia-reperfusion, but their effects on coronary blood flow regulation remain to be defined. Experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of calcium antagonists on coronary artery vasoregulation exposed to ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Three groups of hearts (n = 6) were pretreated with a 10-minute infusion of either diltiazem, verapamil, or nifedipine at concentrations of 10(-9) mol/L to 10(-6) mol/L and exposed to 30 minutes of no-flow ischemia and 45 minutes of reperfusion. Another group (n = 6) received no pretreatment and was used as control. Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were tested by assessing coronary flow increase to 5-hydroxytryptamine (10(-6) mol/L) and sodium nitroprusside (10(-5) mol/L) infusion, respectively. Left ventricular pressure, its first derivative, and coronary basal flow were recorded before and after ischemia as well as during calcium antagonist infusion. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent relaxation after ischemia was significantly improved with all three drugs in a dose-dependent fashion; nifedipine was found to be the more potent. Endothelium-independent relaxation was also significantly preserved with calcium antagonists regardless of the type, whereas left ventricular hemodynamics were not. During perfusion, nifedipine was found to have the most negative inotropic effect and to be the most potent vasodilator on the coronary circulation. Diltiazem was the less effective drug on both left ventricular hemodynamics and coronary circulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that preischemic infusion of calcium antagonists enhance endothelium-dependent and -independent coronary artery relaxation in the isolated rat heart model in a dose- and drug-dependent fashion. This can be achieved at low doses without affecting left ventricular hemodynamics and should contribute to preserve coronary artery autoregulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

"Natural" RT6-1 and RT6-2 "knock-out" mice.

We have screened different mouse strains-including strains with enhanced susceptibility for autoimmune diseases-for deviations of Rt6 gene expression by RT-PCR. Most strains expressed varying amounts of Rt6-1 and Rt6-2. NZW mice, however, do not show any detectable Rt6-2 gene transcripts. BxSB mice show a near complete absence of Rt6-1 gene transcripts. Southern blot and sequence analyses revealed that NZW mice have suffered a deletion of the Rt6.2 gene while the Rt6-1 gene of BxSB mice has been inactivated by a premature stop codon. Thus, these mouse strains represent natural Rt6-2 and Rt6-1 single-gene 'knock-out's, respectively. Since the NZW mouse does not show any gross immunological abnormalities, loss of the Rt6-2 gene by itself is not associated with any obvious immunological phenotype. However, crosses between NZW and certain other mouse strains, e.g. (NZW x NWB)F1 and (NZW x SB)F1 animals, develop a systemic autoimmune disease reminiscent of human lupus erythematosus. Moreover, the BxSB mouse strain is considered to be an independent model for the same disease. It will be of interest to determine whether these spontaneous Rt6 gene defects constitute part of the polygenetic contribution to autoimmune disease in these animals.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PubMed1996

Molecular characterization of mouse T-cell ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase Rt6: cloning of a second functional gene and identification of the Rt6 gene products.

RT6 is an enzymatically active GPI-anchored membrane protein that was originally discovered in the rat as a peripheral T cell alloantigen. It has attracted interest as an activation antigen and because defective RT6-expression coincides with increased susceptibility for autoimmune type I diabetes in the BB rat. Southern blot analyses indicate that the rat carries a single copy RT6 gene whereas the mouse carries a duplication of the homologous locus. We had previously cloned and sequenced a RT6-homologous cDNA from BALB/c mouse spleen. We now report the cloning and characterization of a second RT6-homologue from BALB/c and 129/Sv mice. The two mouse Rt6 genes (designated Rt6-1 and Rt6-2) encode similar open reading frames that are disrupted by conserved introns. The nucleotide sequences of the Rt6-1 and Rt6-2 coding regions show 87% sequence identity, the deduced amino acid sequences 79% identity. The amino acid sequences reveal significant similarity to recently cloned ADP-ribosylating ectoenzymes from rabbit and human skeletal muscle as well as chicken bone marrow cells. RT-PCR analyses reveal that the two Rt6 genes are differentially expressed in distinct inbred mouse strains and that their transcripts are properly processed. Western blot analyses demonstrate that the respective gene products are released from cells by treatment with PI-PLC. The results further show that both mouse Rt6 genes are translated into GPI-anchored cell surface molecules and that Rt6 gene expression is restricted to peripheral lymphoid tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

A comparison: the efficacy of sevoflurane-nitrous oxide or propofol-nitrous oxide for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare sevoflurane-nitrous oxide with propofol-nitrous oxide for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, and to determine the rates of recovery following each anesthetic. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 50 ASA physical status I and II patients, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years. INTERVENTIONS: General anesthesia was induced with either sevoflurane or propofol and maintained with 60% to 70% nitrous oxide and either sevoflurane or a propofol infusion and supplemental fentanyl. At the conclusion of surgery, the oxygen flow was increased to 6 L/min and all anesthetics were discontinued simultaneously. Patients were monitored for the nature and speed of induction and emergency from anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Induction of anesthesia was significantly slower in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group (2.0 +/- 1.1 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.5 min, respectively). The ease of induction and the time required for emergence from anesthesia were the same in both study groups (eye opening: 9.0 +/- 4.4 min vs. 8.0 +/- 5.0 min; following commands: 11.2 +/- 5.0 min vs. 9.8 +/- 6.9 min; extubation: 9.1 +/- 4.5 min vs. 8.6 vs. 5.1 min in the sevoflurane and propofol groups, respectively). Patients in the sevoflurane group experienced nausea and vomiting more frequently than patients in the propofol group (13 and 5 patients vs. 3 and 0 patients in the sevoflurane and propofol groups, respectively), which were not related to the administration of neostigmine or intraoperative opioids. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane allows for rapid inhalation induction of, and emergence from, general anesthesia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Defects in the structure and expression of the genes for the T cell marker Rt6 in NZW and (NZB x NZW)F1 mice.

Rt6 is a T cell-restricted GPI-anchored membrane protein and a member of the family of mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases. One of the two murine Rt6 genes is deleted in NZW mice. This finding is reminiscent of the deletion of one of the TCR beta genes in the same mouse strain and it is an intriguing possibility that these gene deletions arose by a common genetic mechanism. The Rt6 locus retained by the NZW mouse (designated Rt6-1) is polymorphic among inbred strains of laboratory mice. The NZW mouse shows several strain-specific restriction fragment length variants in this Rt6 locus and five amino acid substitutions occur in the predicted native Rt6 polypeptide of the NZW mouse relative to the corresponding polypeptides of NZB and BALB/c mice. Whereas transcript levels of the two Rt6 genes appear to be normal in spleen and intestine of NZB mice, the corresponding tissues of NZW mice show reduced levels of transcripts from the Rt6 locus retained in this mouse strain. Moreover, reduced levels of Rt6 mRNA also occur in spleen and intestine of (NZB x NZW)F1 hybrid animals, indicating that F1 animals have inherited a dominant factor from the genetic background of the NZW mouse, resulting in low levels of Rt6 expression. It is conceivable that the alterations in the Rt6 genes of the NZW mouse and/or the factor(s) affecting defective Rt6 expression constitute part of the genetic contribution of the NZW mouse to the autoimmune lupus-like disease in (NZB x NZW)F1 animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PubMed1995

Clentiazem and diltiazem preserve endothelium-dependent relaxation following global rat heart ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the calcium channel blocker diltiazem and its chloride derivative clentiazem on coronary vasoregulation of isolated rat hearts exposed to ischemia-reperfusion. Diltiazem has been reported to prevent postreperfusion myocardial damage but its beneficial effects on coronary blood-flow regulation remain uncertain. METHODS: Two groups of hearts were pretreated with a 10 min infusion of either diltiazem (10(-9) to 10(-6) mol/L) or clentiazem (10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L) (n = 6 for each concentration) and exposed to 30 mins of no-flow ischemia. Another group (n = 6) received no pretreatment and was used as control. Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation were tested by assessing coronary flow increase to 5-hydroxytriptamine (10(-6) mol/L) and sodium nitroprusside (10(-5) mol/L) infusions, respectively, and were assessed before and after ischemia-reperfusion. Left ventricular pressure, dP/dt and coronary basal flow were also recorded. Postreperfusion results are expressed as a percentage of pre-ischemic value. Dunnet variance analysis was used to compare means of pretreated groups with the control group. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly improved with both drugs. Optimal preservation was obtained with diltiazem 10(-6) mol/L (66 +/- 4%) and clentiazem 10(-7) mol/L (83 +/- 4%), whereas endothelial response was almost abolished in control hearts (6 +/- 11%, P < 0.01). Clentiazem was found to be more potent than diltiazem at low concentration (10(-9) mol/L, clentiazem 89 +/- 13% versus diltiazem 3 +/- 16%, P < 0.05). Optimal endothelium-independent relaxation preservation was achieved at 10(-8) mol/L in both groups (diltiazem 86 +/- 4%, clentiazem 82 +/- 8%, control 47 +/- 10%, P < 0.05). Left ventricular pressure and dP/dt were not affected by any pretreatment. However, postreperfusion coronary basal flow was significantly increased in control hearts. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that pre-ischemic infusion of diltiazem and clentiazem enhances endothelium-dependent and -independent coronary artery relaxation following reperfusion in the isolated rat heart model, without affective ventricular hemodynamics, and contributes to preservation of coronary artery autoregulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of modified St Thomas' Hospital solution on coronary artery endothelium dependent relaxation in the isolated rat heart.

Addition of magnesium to a preservation solution such as St Thomas's Hospital solution has been shown to improve myocardial preservation. High concentration of magnesium can affect coronary artery endothelial-dependent relaxation. Isolated rat hearts were studied in the Langendorff apparatus to investigate whether magnesium-enriched hyperkalemic cardioplegic solution (HCS) could alter coronary endothelial function. Hearts in group 1 (n = 8) were perfused for 30 mins with a standard hyperkalemic cardioplegic solution (potassium chloride 24 mmol/L). Hearts in group 2 (n = 8) were perfused with modified St Thomas' Hospital solution (MST) containing 16 mmol/L of magnesium chloride and 24 mmol of potassium chloride. The endothelium dependent and endothelium independent relaxation of the coronary arteries were respectively assessed by infusing 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (1 x 10(-6) mol/L) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (1 x 10(-5) mol/L) before and after perfusion of cardioplegic solutions. Hearts in group 2 showed a reduction of the 5-HT-induced coronary flow increase following the MST exposure (before, 8.66 +/- 0.86 mL/min; after, 5.66 +/- 0.97 mL/min, P < 0.01) whereas hearts in group 1 were not significantly affected (before, 8.00 +/- 0.68 mL/min; after, 6.99 +/- 1.02 mL/min, not significant), suggesting endothelial dysfunction in the former. Coronary flow response to SNP was not affected in either group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Effects of cyclosporine A on the reactivity of the aorta with regenerated endothelium in rats].

Cyclosporine A (CyA) affects vascular reactivity but its effect on local vascular tone following endothelial regeneration is unknown. Experiments were designed to study the effects of CyA on endothelial and smooth muscle reactivity of endothelium-regenerated arteries. Three groups of rats (n = 8) were subjected to aortic mechanical denudation. Subsequently a first group was treated 8 weeks with CyA (20 mg/kg) and a second one with an equivalent volume of CyA vehicle: olive oil (OL). A last group was submitted to a standard diet and represented the control group (CTL). After 8 weeks, aortic rings were suspended in organ chambers for assessment of endothelial and smooth muscle function. Maximal endothelial dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (CyA: 52 +/- 3%, OL: 50 +/- 4%, CTL: 48 +/- 5%; p = NS), adenosine diphosphate (CyA: 30 +/- 7%, OL: 18 +/- 2%, CTL: 24 +/- 5%; p = NS) and histamine (CyA: 38 +/- 6%, OL: 43 +/- 4%, CTL: 47 +/- 5%; p = NS) were comparable among all groups. In aortic segments studies without endothelium, increased contraction to serotonine was significantly lessened in the OL group (CyA: 259 +/- 43%, OL: 153 +/- 11%, CTL: 243 +/- 24%; p < 0.05). Maximal tension to cumulative doses of norepinephrine was increased in rings without endothelium treated with CyA (CyA: 5.8 +/- 0.6 g, OL: 4.2 +/- 0.5 g, CTL: 4.0 +/- 0.2 g; p < 0.05). All these differences were abolished in rings studied with endothelium. Endothelial independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside were similar among all groups. In conclusion, CyA does not specifically affect endothelium-dependent relaxation of the regenerated aortic endothelium. However, our model suggests that CyA increases vascular tone mediated by increased smooth muscle sensitivity to norepinephrine and serotonine but these effects are prevented by the regenerated endothelium. This experiment demonstrates the ability of the regenerated endothelium to prevent CyA-induced vascular toxicity.

Animals↗