Etwa 15% aller Paare bleiben ungewollt kinderlos. Männliche Faktoren sind in circa einem Drittel der Fälle als ursächlich anzusehen. Jedoch sind die Erfolgsraten der Therapie männlicher Infertilität durch assistierte Reproduktion auch nach über 30 Jahren seit deren Einführung unbefriedigend. Bestehende Spermienaufbereitungsmethoden wie einfaches Waschen, swim up oder die Dichtegradientenzentrifugation basieren auf makroskopisch-funktionellen Parametern wie Motilität und Morphologie. Spezifische Eigenschaften wie etwa eine aktivierte Apoptosesignalkaskade der Spermien werden dabei nicht berücksichtigt. Die wesentlichen Elemente verschiedener Signalwege der aus somatischen Zellen bekannten Apoptose konnten auch am humanen ejakulierten Spermatozoon nachgewiesen werden. Über die (negativen) Auswirkungen der Apoptose auf die männliche Fruchtbarkeit gibt es einen Konsens. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, Selektionsmethoden zu entwickeln, welche auf subzellulärer Ebene intakte Spermien mit dem größtmöglichen Fertilisationspotential aus dem Ejakulat extrahieren. In einem ersten Versuchskomplex konnte gezeigt werden, dass durch die Kombination von Dichtegradientenzentrifugation und swim-up (Standardmethoden in Reproduktionskliniken und andrologischen Laboren) zur Aufbereitung der Spermien von subfertilen Patienten eine akzeptable Reduktion der Spermien mit aktivierter Apoptosesignalkaskade erreicht werden kann. Jedoch gaben die großen interindividuellen Unterschiede im Separationseffekt Anlass zur Entwicklung innovativer Untersuchungs- und Separationsmethoden. So wurden unter anderem fluoreszenzbasierte Tests zur Evaluation von Spermiendefekten, wie beispielsweise einer gestörten Integrität des mitochondrialen Membranpotentials, eingeführt. In den Untersuchungen wurde die Praktikabilität dieser neuen Analyseverfahren im Routineeinsatz unter Standardbedingungen getestet und bestätigt. Die innovative Selektionsmethode der Annexin V-MACS Separation basiert auf der Bindung von Annexin V-MicroBeads an apoptotische Spermien, womit eine Subpopulation reifer, motiler und vitaler Spermien mit inaktivierter Apoptosesignalkaskade gezielt angereichert wird. Das Konzept wurde zudem erfolgreich auf ein (Glaswoll-) Festphasen-Filtersystem ohne frei schwimmende Microbeads übertragen. Dadurch gelang die Minimierung eines potentiellen Transmissionsrisikos der Microbeads bei der Anwendung im Rahmen der künstlichen Befruchtung. Den hohen Stellenwert dieser Verfahren belegen die Ergebnisse zweier in-vitro Modelle, an denen erstmalig gezeigt werden konnte, dass durch die Selektion von Spermien mit inaktivierter Apoptose-Signalkaskade höhere Fertilisationsraten erreichbar sind.

Background: The molecular and cellular mechanisms corresponding to the compensatory and maladaptive hypertrophy and remodeling of the left ventricle with chronic doxorubicin (DOX) treatment are currently unclear. Non-invasive methods of determining these changes are still deficient. To investigate these changes, 8 groups of rats in 4 different studies including a control saline group of the same age, gender and strain were evaluated for cardiac morphology and function including: (1) DOX dose response using a cumulative dose of 7.5mg/kg, and 15mg/kg in 8-10 week old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, (2) strain differences were investigated in response to a cumulative dose of 15mg/kg in 8-10 week old female Fisher (F344) rats compared to the SD rats treated with same dose, (3) the role of gender and aging were studied in response to DOX at a cumulative dose of 3mg/kg in male and female neonates, and (4) combined losartan and a cumulative dose of 15mg/kg of DOX in 8-10 week old female SD rats compared to controls of saline and 15mg/kg treated SD rats. Method: Onset of cardiac toxicity was assessed by echocardiography and the rat model of heart failure was developed when the fractional shortening declined ≤ 40%. The mean arterial pressure and single-photon-emission computer tomography scanning and Tc-99m-HYNIC-Annexin V were performed at week 10 to analyze blood pressure and quantify apoptosis, respectively. All rats were euthanized at week 10 except for the neonates and two of the 7.5mg/kg-treated SD rats that were left alive for study of long -term cardiac side effects. The heart and kidney tissues were harvested for protein isolation and histopathological studies. Blood samples were collected for hematological and lipid profile analysis in all the rats. Results: A dose- and time-dependent increase in LVmass coincided with a parallel increase in MAP, kidney damage, expression of myocardial erbB2, heat shock protein 90 Akt, mTOR, GSK-3β, TGF-β, pSMAD2, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in SD rats treated with 7.5mg/kg and 15mg/kg of DOX at week 10. The 7.5 kg/kg treatment showed adaptive hypertrophy whereas the 15mg/kg treatment group showed maladaptive hypertrophy. However decompensation was apparent by week 14 in other rats treated with 7.5mg/kg. LVmass, FS, MAP, kidney damage, red blood cells and blood lipid levels were not significantly altered in the F344 rats compared to the 15 mg/kg-treated SD rats. Losartan supplementation reduced the left ventricular hypertrophy, improved myocardial contractility, and reduced TGF-β expression compared to the DOX-treated SD rats. The 3mg/kg of DOX in neonates induced cardiac toxicity and deaths in about 60% of males 50 weeks after treatment; the females instead developed mammary tumors. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that age, gender, and strain differences are risks factors for doxorubicin-induced harmful reno-cardiovascular toxicity. The inhibition of TGF-β expression by losartan can be used in prevention of chronic doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity without interfering with its anti-tumor activities.

Background: The molecular and cellular mechanisms corresponding to the compensatory and maladaptive hypertrophy and remodeling of the left ventricle with chronic doxorubicin (DOX) treatment are currently unclear. Non-invasive methods of determining these changes are still deficient. To investigate these changes, 8 groups of rats in 4 different studies including a control saline group of the same age, gender and strain were evaluated for cardiac morphology and function including: (1) DOX dose response using a cumulative dose of 7.5mg/kg, and 15mg/kg in 8-10 week old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, (2) strain differences were investigated in response to a cumulative dose of 15mg/kg in 8-10 week old female Fisher (F344) rats compared to the SD rats treated with same dose, (3) the role of gender and aging were studied in response to DOX at a cumulative dose of 3mg/kg in male and female neonates, and (4) combined losartan and a cumulative dose of 15mg/kg of DOX in 8-10 week old female SD rats compared to controls of saline and 15mg/kg treated SD rats. Method: Onset of cardiac toxicity was assessed by echocardiography and the rat model of heart failure was developed when the fractional shortening declined ≤ 40%. The mean arterial pressure and single-photon-emission computer tomography scanning and Tc-99m-HYNIC-Annexin V were performed at week 10 to analyze blood pressure and quantify apoptosis, respectively. All rats were euthanized at week 10 except for the neonates and two of the 7.5mg/kg-treated SD rats that were left alive for study of long -term cardiac side effects. The heart and kidney tissues were harvested for protein isolation and histopathological studies. Blood samples were collected for hematological and lipid profile analysis in all the rats. Results: A dose- and time-dependent increase in LVmass coincided with a parallel increase in MAP, kidney damage, expression of myocardial erbB2, heat shock protein 90 Akt, mTOR, GSK-3β, TGF-β, pSMAD2, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in SD rats treated with 7.5mg/kg and 15mg/kg of DOX at week 10. The 7.5 kg/kg treatment showed adaptive hypertrophy whereas the 15mg/kg treatment group showed maladaptive hypertrophy. However decompensation was apparent by week 14 in other rats treated with 7.5mg/kg. LVmass, FS, MAP, kidney damage, red blood cells and blood lipid levels were not significantly altered in the F344 rats compared to the 15 mg/kg-treated SD rats. Losartan supplementation reduced the left ventricular hypertrophy, improved myocardial contractility, and reduced TGF-β expression compared to the DOX-treated SD rats. The 3mg/kg of DOX in neonates induced cardiac toxicity and deaths in about 60% of males 50 weeks after treatment; the females instead developed mammary tumors. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that age, gender, and strain differences are risks factors for doxorubicin-induced harmful reno-cardiovascular toxicity. The inhibition of TGF-β expression by losartan can be used in prevention of chronic doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity without interfering with its anti-tumor activities.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Auteursnaam op omslag: Sylvia Jans. Met bibligr., lit. opg. - Met een samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Recent studies suggest that lymphocyte apoptosis serves to regulate pulmonary inflammation. Equine COPD, an allergic disease of the lower airway, is likely due to dysregulation of the pulmonary immune response. In this study, the hypothesis tested was COPD affected horses would have less apoptotic airway lymphocytes than control horses during clinical disease. To achieve this, 3 methods of measuring apoptosis, Vindelov's propidium iodide with Triton-X (PI/Triton-X), 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD), and Annexin V with propidium iodide (Annexin/PI) were evaluated in equine airway lymphocytes. A significant linear relationship was found for equine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytes stained with 7-AAD and Annexin/PI . No relationship was identified with cells stained with PI/Triton-X and Annexin/PI, and 7-AAD and PI/Triton-X indicating that methods which preserve cell membrane characteristics are more comparable when measuring BAL lymphocytes apoptosis in a heterogeneous population of cells. Additionally, all stains appear to perform the same in COPD and normal horses in remission and disease. Comparison of predominately BAL lymphocyte apoptosis using the above methods were performed at baseline, after natural challenge, and after dexamethasone administration in nine horses, five of which were affected with COPD. No differences in bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte apoptosis between COPD and control horses were detected either before or after dexamethasone administration, although numerical trends in COPD horses identified less apoptosis after natural challenge indicating that defective apoptosis may play a role in equine COPD pathogenesis. Dexamethasone administration was associated with trends of improvement in the pulmonary gas exchange and increased apoptosis toward baseline in the COPD horses. / Master of Science

Etwa 15% aller Paare bleiben ungewollt kinderlos. Männliche Faktoren sind in circa einem Drittel der Fälle als ursächlich anzusehen. Jedoch sind die Erfolgsraten der Therapie männlicher Infertilität durch assistierte Reproduktion auch nach über 30 Jahren seit deren Einführung unbefriedigend. Bestehende Spermienaufbereitungsmethoden wie einfaches Waschen, swim up oder die Dichtegradientenzentrifugation basieren auf makroskopisch-funktionellen Parametern wie Motilität und Morphologie. Spezifische Eigenschaften wie etwa eine aktivierte Apoptosesignalkaskade der Spermien werden dabei nicht berücksichtigt. Die wesentlichen Elemente verschiedener Signalwege der aus somatischen Zellen bekannten Apoptose konnten auch am humanen ejakulierten Spermatozoon nachgewiesen werden. Über die (negativen) Auswirkungen der Apoptose auf die männliche Fruchtbarkeit gibt es einen Konsens. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, Selektionsmethoden zu entwickeln, welche auf subzellulärer Ebene intakte Spermien mit dem größtmöglichen Fertilisationspotential aus dem Ejakulat extrahieren. In einem ersten Versuchskomplex konnte gezeigt werden, dass durch die Kombination von Dichtegradientenzentrifugation und swim-up (Standardmethoden in Reproduktionskliniken und andrologischen Laboren) zur Aufbereitung der Spermien von subfertilen Patienten eine akzeptable Reduktion der Spermien mit aktivierter Apoptosesignalkaskade erreicht werden kann. Jedoch gaben die großen interindividuellen Unterschiede im Separationseffekt Anlass zur Entwicklung innovativer Untersuchungs- und Separationsmethoden. So wurden unter anderem fluoreszenzbasierte Tests zur Evaluation von Spermiendefekten, wie beispielsweise einer gestörten Integrität des mitochondrialen Membranpotentials, eingeführt. In den Untersuchungen wurde die Praktikabilität dieser neuen Analyseverfahren im Routineeinsatz unter Standardbedingungen getestet und bestätigt. Die innovative Selektionsmethode der Annexin V-MACS Separation basiert auf der Bindung von Annexin V-MicroBeads an apoptotische Spermien, womit eine Subpopulation reifer, motiler und vitaler Spermien mit inaktivierter Apoptosesignalkaskade gezielt angereichert wird. Das Konzept wurde zudem erfolgreich auf ein (Glaswoll-) Festphasen-Filtersystem ohne frei schwimmende Microbeads übertragen. Dadurch gelang die Minimierung eines potentiellen Transmissionsrisikos der Microbeads bei der Anwendung im Rahmen der künstlichen Befruchtung. Den hohen Stellenwert dieser Verfahren belegen die Ergebnisse zweier in-vitro Modelle, an denen erstmalig gezeigt werden konnte, dass durch die Selektion von Spermien mit inaktivierter Apoptose-Signalkaskade höhere Fertilisationsraten erreichbar sind.

O processo de biomineralização óssea é a deposição de cristais de fosfato de cálcio, na forma de hidroxiapatita formando o tecido ósseo. São mediados pelas vesículas da matriz (MVs) que são liberadas no local específico do início da biomineralização. As MVs contêm altas concentrações de íons Ca2+ e fosfato inorgânico (Pi), proporcionando um microambiente adequado para a formação inicial e propagação dos cristais de hidroxiapatita. Para que isso ocorra corretamente são necessárias diversas proteínas/enzimas, bem como microambientes com condições específicas. Neste trabalho uma atenção especial foi dada a duas proteínas presentes nas MVs: Anexina V (AnxA5) e a nucleotídeo pirofosfatase/fosfodiesterase-1 (NPP1). A Anexina V é responsável pela formação de um canal de cálcio por meio da associação desta proteína tanto com a face externa quanto interna da membrana das MVs. A NPP1 possui a função principal de hidrolisar adenosina trifosfato (ATP), formando adenosina monofosfato (AMP) e pirofosfato (PPi). Assim, experimentos de expressão de Anexina V e NPP1 foram realizados com o intuito de iniciar os estudos de interação entre as duas proteínas, por meio de reconstituição em lipossomos. A expressão de Anexina V foi realizada em células E. coli BL21(DE3) e induzida por isopropil -D-1-tiogalactopiranosídeo (IPTG); para purificação, três procedimentos foram necessários, utilizando coluna de níquel, coluna Desalting e coluna de troca iônica (Mono-Q). Experimentos de dicroísmo circular foram realizados com amostras de Anexina V após purificação e mostraram que todas as amostras apresentavam estruturas em -hélice. Pelo método da gota pendente foi estudada a interação de Anexina V com íons Ca2+ (10 mM) em monocamadas constituídas por dipalmitoil fosfatidilcolina (DPPC) e de uma mistura de composição lipídica 9:1 de DPPC e dipalmitoil fosfatidilserina (DPPS). Os dados obtidos mostraram alta afinidade de Anexina V por monocamadas constituídas de (9:1) DPPC:DPPS na presença de íons Ca2+. A expressão de NPP1 foi realizada com transfecção por meio de eletroporação do DNA recombinante em células COS-1, e seleção com antibiótico G418 após 24 horas de cultivo. Amostras de fração de membrana controle e NPP1 recombinante foram preparadas após 60 horas de cultivo celular e foi observada atividade catalítica na amostra de fração de membrana da NPP1. Todas as amostras de expressão, tanto de Anexina V e NPP1, foram analisadas por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida. A padronização da Anexina V foi obtida com sucesso, porém com relação à NPP1, experimentos ainda devem ser realizados a fim de padronizar a obtenção desta proteína recombinante em quantidade suficiente para continuar os estudos. / The bone biomineralization process is the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals in the form of hydroxyapatite forming the bone tissue. They are mediated by matrix vesicles (MVs) that are released at the specific site of the onset of biomineralization. MVs contain high concentrations of Ca2+ ions and inorganic phosphate (Pi), providing a suitable microenvironment for the initial formation and propagation of hydroxyapatite crystals. To occur properly, several proteins/enzymes are needed, as well as microenvironments with very particular conditions. In this work, special attention should be given to two proteins present in the MVs: Annexin V (AnxA5) and nucleotide pyrophosphatase/ phosphodiesterase (NPP1). Annexin V is responsible for the formation of a calcium channel through the association of this protein with both the outer and the inner face of the MVs membrane. NPP1 has the main function of hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and pyrophosphate (PPi).Thus, experiments of expression of Annexin V and NPP1 were performed with the aim of initiating the interaction studies between the two proteins, through reconstitution in liposomes. Annexin V expression was performed in E.coli BL21 (DE3) and the cells were induced by isopropyl -D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG); for purification, three procedures were required using a nickel column, a Desalting column and an ion exchange column (Mono-Q). Circular dichroism experiments were performed with Annexin V samples after purification and showed that all samples contain -helix structures. Using the pendant drop method, the interaction of Annexin V with (10 mM) Ca2+ ions was studied in monolayers composed of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline (DPPC) and a mixture of lipid composition 9:1 DPPC and dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-serine (DPPS). Data showed high affinity of Annexin V by monolayers constituted of (9: 1) DPPC:DPPS in the presence of Ca2+ ions. NPP1 expression was performed with transfection by electroporation of the recombinant DNA into COS-1 cells and selection with G418 antibiotic after 24 hours of culture. Samples of the control membrane fraction and recombinant NPP1 were prepared and the activity of the membrane fraction of NPP1 was observed in the samples. All expression samples, both AnxA5 and NPP1, were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The standardization of Annexin V has been obtained with success, but regarding NPP1, experiments have yet to be performed to standardize the production of this recombinant protein and to obtain enough quantity to continue the study.

Giessen, Universiẗat, Thesis (doctoral), 2002.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met bibliogr., lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

O processo de biomineralização óssea é a deposição de cristais de fosfato de cálcio, na forma de hidroxiapatita formando o tecido ósseo. São mediados pelas vesículas da matriz (MVs) que são liberadas no local específico do início da biomineralização. As MVs contêm altas concentrações de íons Ca2+ e fosfato inorgânico (Pi), proporcionando um microambiente adequado para a formação inicial e propagação dos cristais de hidroxiapatita. Para que isso ocorra corretamente são necessárias diversas proteínas/enzimas, bem como microambientes com condições específicas. Neste trabalho uma atenção especial foi dada a duas proteínas presentes nas MVs: Anexina V (AnxA5) e a nucleotídeo pirofosfatase/fosfodiesterase-1 (NPP1). A Anexina V é responsável pela formação de um canal de cálcio por meio da associação desta proteína tanto com a face externa quanto interna da membrana das MVs. A NPP1 possui a função principal de hidrolisar adenosina trifosfato (ATP), formando adenosina monofosfato (AMP) e pirofosfato (PPi). Assim, experimentos de expressão de Anexina V e NPP1 foram realizados com o intuito de iniciar os estudos de interação entre as duas proteínas, por meio de reconstituição em lipossomos. A expressão de Anexina V foi realizada em células E. coli BL21(DE3) e induzida por isopropil -D-1-tiogalactopiranosídeo (IPTG); para purificação, três procedimentos foram necessários, utilizando coluna de níquel, coluna Desalting e coluna de troca iônica (Mono-Q). Experimentos de dicroísmo circular foram realizados com amostras de Anexina V após purificação e mostraram que todas as amostras apresentavam estruturas em -hélice. Pelo método da gota pendente foi estudada a interação de Anexina V com íons Ca2+ (10 mM) em monocamadas constituídas por dipalmitoil fosfatidilcolina (DPPC) e de uma mistura de composição lipídica 9:1 de DPPC e dipalmitoil fosfatidilserina (DPPS). Os dados obtidos mostraram alta afinidade de Anexina V por monocamadas constituídas de (9:1) DPPC:DPPS na presença de íons Ca2+. A expressão de NPP1 foi realizada com transfecção por meio de eletroporação do DNA recombinante em células COS-1, e seleção com antibiótico G418 após 24 horas de cultivo. Amostras de fração de membrana controle e NPP1 recombinante foram preparadas após 60 horas de cultivo celular e foi observada atividade catalítica na amostra de fração de membrana da NPP1. Todas as amostras de expressão, tanto de Anexina V e NPP1, foram analisadas por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida. A padronização da Anexina V foi obtida com sucesso, porém com relação à NPP1, experimentos ainda devem ser realizados a fim de padronizar a obtenção desta proteína recombinante em quantidade suficiente para continuar os estudos. / The bone biomineralization process is the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals in the form of hydroxyapatite forming the bone tissue. They are mediated by matrix vesicles (MVs) that are released at the specific site of the onset of biomineralization. MVs contain high concentrations of Ca2+ ions and inorganic phosphate (Pi), providing a suitable microenvironment for the initial formation and propagation of hydroxyapatite crystals. To occur properly, several proteins/enzymes are needed, as well as microenvironments with very particular conditions. In this work, special attention should be given to two proteins present in the MVs: Annexin V (AnxA5) and nucleotide pyrophosphatase/ phosphodiesterase (NPP1). Annexin V is responsible for the formation of a calcium channel through the association of this protein with both the outer and the inner face of the MVs membrane. NPP1 has the main function of hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and pyrophosphate (PPi).Thus, experiments of expression of Annexin V and NPP1 were performed with the aim of initiating the interaction studies between the two proteins, through reconstitution in liposomes. Annexin V expression was performed in E.coli BL21 (DE3) and the cells were induced by isopropyl -D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG); for purification, three procedures were required using a nickel column, a Desalting column and an ion exchange column (Mono-Q). Circular dichroism experiments were performed with Annexin V samples after purification and showed that all samples contain -helix structures. Using the pendant drop method, the interaction of Annexin V with (10 mM) Ca2+ ions was studied in monolayers composed of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline (DPPC) and a mixture of lipid composition 9:1 DPPC and dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-serine (DPPS). Data showed high affinity of Annexin V by monolayers constituted of (9: 1) DPPC:DPPS in the presence of Ca2+ ions. NPP1 expression was performed with transfection by electroporation of the recombinant DNA into COS-1 cells and selection with G418 antibiotic after 24 hours of culture. Samples of the control membrane fraction and recombinant NPP1 were prepared and the activity of the membrane fraction of NPP1 was observed in the samples. All expression samples, both AnxA5 and NPP1, were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The standardization of Annexin V has been obtained with success, but regarding NPP1, experiments have yet to be performed to standardize the production of this recombinant protein and to obtain enough quantity to continue the study.