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Biomedical subjects

R Müller

Publications and source records attributed to R Müller.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Transcriptional activation and transformation by chimaeric Fos-estrogen receptor proteins: altered properties as a consequence of gene fusion.

We have generated a series of conditionally active Fos and FosB proteins by fusion with a C-terminal fragment of the human estrogen receptor (ER) which harbours the ligand binding site and the overlapping hormone-inducible transactivation domain TAF-2. The chimaeric Fos-ER proteins showed estrogen-inducible activation of TRE (TPA-responsive element)-directed transcription and hormone-dependent transformation of fibroblasts. These properties of the fusion proteins were independent of the transregulatory and transforming properties of their normal non-fused counterparts c-Fos, v-Fos, FosB-L and FosB-S. Thus c-Fos-ER and FosB-S-ER were strong transforming proteins in the presence of hormone, although c-Fos and FosB-S possess only marginal oncogenic properties. In addition, all fusion proteins showed increased transactivation in the presence of estrogen, again most noticeable in the case of c-Fos-ER and FosB-S-ER. The ER-fusion thus basically eliminated the differences in the transactivating potential seen among the various native Fos proteins. Our data therefore provide evidence: (i) that the hormone binding domain of the human estrogen receptor, apart from delivering hormonal control to a heterologous protein, can have profound effects on the activity of certain transcription factors, particularly on proteins with weak oncogenic and/or transregulatory potential, and (ii) that the transforming potential of c-Fos and FosB-S can be dramatically elevated by increasing their transactivating properties.

3T3 Cells↗

Colony growth in cultures from bone marrow and peripheral blood after curative treatment for leukemia and severe aplastic anemia.

The recovery of colony-forming cell numbers after curative treatment for leukemia and severe aplastic anemia (SAA) was studied. We examined 191 patients (85 acute myeloid leukemia [AML], 48 acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL], 32 chronic myeloid leukemia [CML], 17 SAA, and nine myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS]) who were in hematologic remission 6 months to 13 years after either curative chemotherapy (n = 69) or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (n = 122) by culturing their precursor cells from bone marrow (BM) (n = 548) and peripheral blood (PB) (n = 529) in methylcellulose. Thirty-six BM donors and 25 PB donors served as controls. BM colony-forming cell numbers were abnormally low in all patients (p < 0.002) irrespective of underlying disorder and type of treatment (chemotherapy or irradiation). These numbers did not normalize with time--colony-forming cells were still strongly reduced up to 10 years after therapy, whether or not the patient had received an allogeneic bone marrow graft (p < 0.002). We also compared patients who remained in stable hematologic remission with those who later relapsed (6 months to 2 years after treatment). BM colony-forming cell numbers were significantly lower in patients who subsequently relapsed (p = 0.004). In contrast to BM cultures, we found normal colony-forming capacity by PB precursors in all patients. We conclude that (1) after chemotherapy or BMT, colony-forming cell numbers of BM in culture are permanently reduced; (2) this defect is probably due to a dysfunction of the BM environment rather than to a numerical reduction of the precursor cell pool; and (3) very low colony-forming capacity may be related to relapse.

Acute Disease↗

[Treatment of secondary infections in symptomatic HIV-infections in childhood].

Treatment of secondary infections in HIV infected children represents a problem of increasing importance in several children's hospitals. As it is unlikely that the AIDS-problem will be solved by itself within the next years it seems reasonable to summarize our current knowledge about opportunistic infections in order to establish standards for therapy. We will mainly focus on microorganisms endemic in Germany.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Microtubule-associated proteins 1A and LC2. Two proteins encoded in one messenger RNA.

The deduced amino acid sequence for the filamentous microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 1A, thought to be involved in stabilizing the mature neuronal cytoskeleton, has been determined from a series of overlapping cDNA clones. Though previously described as biochemically and immunologically distinct from MAP1B, we now demonstrate that MAP1A is structurally related to MAP1B, a protein associated with neurite outgrowth and process plasticity. The two MAPs exhibit regional amino acid sequence similarities spanning their potential microtubule binding domains placing both into a new MAP family. The cDNA sequence encoding MAP1A was also found to encode one of its associated light chains (LC) called LC2. Both proteins are found on a single mRNA in the same open reading frame and are translated as a pre-MAP1A/LC2-protein. The topological relationship between MAP1A and LC2 coding sequences is, therefore, identical to that previously shown for MAP1B and LC1 (Hammarback, J. A., Obar, R. A., Hughes, S. M., and Vallee, R. B. (1991) Neuron 7, 129-139). Based on these and earlier results, we conclude that LC1 and LC2 are structurally related polypeptides generated from distinct MAP polyprotein precursors but free to exchange between the two MAPs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[The effect of verapamil on left ventricular diastolic function in coronary heart disease].

Echocardiography was performed on 21 patients (6 women, 15 men; mean age 52 [40-68] years) with coronary heart disease (at least 75% stenosis), before and after taking 80 or 120 mg verapamil, to test the drug's acute effect on left-ventricular (LV) relaxation and filling. After taking 80 mg verapamil the only significant (P less than 0.05) decrease was in the proportion of isovolumetric relaxation time to cardiac cycle. The echocardiographic changes were significantly (P less than 0.01) greater after 120 mg than 80 mg: Isovolumetric relaxation time decreased by 13 and 4%, respectively, flow integral of early diastolic LV filling (E wave) increased by 17 and 2%, and atrial filling fraction (atrial component of LV filling) fell by 14 and 2%. Apparently verapamil has a positive effect on the energetically important early diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle. Thus diastolic abnormalities of LV function in patients with coronary heart disease are not fixed but can be at least partially improved with verapamil.

Adult↗

Dichloro-[1-(hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes: testing on the human ovarian cancer cell lines NIH: OVCAR3 and SK OV 3.

The diastereoisomeric dichloro-[1-(2-, 3- and 4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes were tested on two human ovarian cancer cell lines NIH: OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3, both resistant against cisplatin. Dichloro-[threo-1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) (threo-5-PtCl2) proved to be the most active representative of the new series, producing cytocidal effects at a concentration range of 2.5 to 5.0 microM on the NIH: OVCAR-3 cell line. On the more resistant SK-OV-3 cell line, threo-5-PtCl2 was only moderately active, while in combination with BSO, a GSH level lowering compound, threo-5-PtCl2 showed a strong synergistic effect.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes, Part III: Evaluation of the mammary tumor inhibiting properties.

Stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes produce a strong configuration-dependent inhibition of the hormone sensitive MXT-mammary carcinoma of the mouse. Besides an interference in the DNA synthesis in analogy to cisplatin an estrogen level lowering effect is supposed to be the mode of action. The new complexes show also a significant activity on the hormone-independent MXT-mammary carcinoma of the mouse.

Animals↗

Changes of diastolic function induced by cigarette smoking: an echocardiographic study in patients with coronary artery disease.

In 28 chronic smokers (11 women, 17 men, 53 +/- 10 years old) with coronary artery disease (greater than 75% stenosis), left ventricular (LV) relaxation and filling behavior was assessed before and after inhalation of 0.9 mg nicotine (1 cigarette) by echocardiography. The following acute nicotine-mediated changes were noted (one-sided Wilcoxon test): heart rate increased from 67 to 81 beats/min (p greater than .001); the early diastolic flow (E wave) integral decreased from 49 to 39 mm (p less than .001); the late diastolic flow integral (A wave) increased from 36 to 41 mm (p less than .01). Consecutively, the ratio between E and A wave flow integrals decreased from 1.4 to 0.9 (p less than .001); the atrial contribution to LV filling rose from 42 to 53% (p less than .001); and the isovolumetric relaxation period increased from 89 to 122 ms (p less than .001). In cigarette smokers with coronary artery disease acute administration of nicotine hence causes a shift of mitral blood flow from early (E wave) to late (A wave) diastole and a prolongation of the isovolumetric relaxation time. Thus, cigarette smoking significantly affects LV diastolic function independently of its role as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

The genetic basis of Ro and La antibody formation in systemic lupus erythematosus. Results of a multicenter study. The SLE Study Group.

Antibodies against Ro and La, including recombinant La and recombinant 60 kD-Ro, were determined by counter immunoelectrophoresis and ELISA in over 300 central European systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The presence of both Ro and La antibodies was strongly associated with the MHC haplotype B8-C4AQ0-DR3-DQ2, the association being strongest for DR3. After exclusion of all B8-DR3 positive patients only DR3 positive patients still showed an increased incidence of Ro and La antibodies, suggesting DR3 as the primary association factor. High titers of La antibody, but not of 60 kD-Ro antibody, were also significantly associated with the presence of DR3. Other DR and DQ antigens or heterozygous DQ combinations were not significantly associated with Ro and La antibodies.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

[1,2-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II), a new compound for the therapy of ovarian cancer. II. Synthesis and preliminary testing of the enantiomeric complexes.

The enantiomeric [1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes were synthesized and their configuration assessed. A preliminary test in the cisplatin-resistant human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line, which was previously characterized by its sensitivity against several therapeutically used drugs, showed that both enantiomers produce cytocidal effects in a concentration of 2.5 microM. A difference between the enantiomers became evident from the faster onset of cytocidal activity of the S,S-configurated compound.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[1,2-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II), a new compound for the therapy of ovarian cancer. III. Detailed evaluation of the antitumor activity of the enantiomeric complexes on the human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line.

The stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes were thoroughly tested on the cisplatin-resistant human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line. The racemate and its enantiomers produced cytocidal effects at a concentration of 2.5 microM (incubation time 256 h). The meso form, however, was merely cytostatically active. Differences between the enantiomers became evident after a short drug incubation time (1 h) followed by an incubation in drug-free medium (243 h). The S,S-configurated enantiomer (-)-3-PtCl2 proved to be the most active compound. To achieve cytocidal effects concentrations of 2.5-5.0 microM and incubation times of about 3 h were necessary for (-)-3-PtCl2. This compound is also sufficiently stable under test conditions as shown by the preincubation in cell-free medium for 3 h. These results and the augmentation of its antitumor activity by buthionine sulfoximine recommend the further preclinical development of (-)-3-PtCl2 for clinical use.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Hepatitis A vaccination: schedule for accelerated immunization.

Hepatitis A vaccine, strain HM175, was investigated for immunogenicity and tolerability in a prospective multicentre trial. The following vaccination schedules and antigen contents were evaluated: days 0 and 14 with 720 ELISA units (El.U) of antigen, days 0 and 28 with 720 El.U and days 0 and 28 with 360 El.U. In all study groups, the seroconversion rates following two vaccinations were between 95 and 100%. Higher geometric mean concentrations of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) were reached by the vaccine containing 720 El.U of HAV antigen. The vaccine was equally well tolerated in all groups. In addition, an abbreviated schedule, in which 720 El.U of HAV antigen was given on days 0 and 14, resulted in 100% seroconversion by day 28 and a level of anti-HAV that was substantially higher than that observed after passive immunization. This implies that such a vaccine could replace immune globulin administration if time permits.

Adult↗

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on the inclusion complex of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) with alpha-cyclodextrin.

Prostaglandin E1 is currently marketed as a freeze-dried injectable inclusion complex with alpha-cyclodextrin for the treatment of peripheral arterial diseases. alpha-Cyclodextrin is used as a stabilizing agent and to improve the dissolution characteristics of prostaglandin E1. Upon dilution with the infusion medium, the inclusion complex dissociates almost completely as shown by NMR chemical shift measurements of the complexed and uncomplexed prostaglandin E1. Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurements of the interacting atoms of alpha-cyclodextrin and prostaglandin E1 provide insight into the structure of the complex.

Alprostadil↗