Embryonic stem (ES) cells offer a valuable source for generating insulin-producing cells. However, current differentiation protocols often result in heterogeneous cell populations of various developmental stages. Here we show the activin A-induced differentiation of mouse ES cells carrying a homologous dsRed-IRES-puromycin knock-in within the Sox17 locus into the endoderm lineage. Sox17-expressing cells were selected by fluorescence-assisted cell sorting (FACS) and characterized at the transcript and protein level. Treatment of ES cells with high concentrations of activin A for 10 days resulted in up to 19% Sox17-positive cells selected by FACS. Isolated Sox17-positive cells were characterized by defini- tive endoderm-specific Sox17/Cxcr4/Foxa2 transcripts, but lacked pluripotency-associated Oct4 mRNA and protein. The Sox17-expressing cells showed downregulation of extraembryonic endoderm (Sox7, Afp, Sdf1)-, mesoderm (Foxf1, Meox1)- and ectoderm (Pax6, NeuroD6)-specific transcripts. The presence of Hnf4α, Hes1 and Pdx1 mRNA demonstrated the expression of primitive gut/foregut cell-specific markers. Ngn3, Nkx6.1 and Nkx2.2 transcripts in Sox17-positive cells were determined as properties of pancreatic endocrine progenitors. Immunocytochemistry of activin A-induced Sox17-positive embryoid bodies revealed coexpression of Cxcr4 and Foxa2. Moreover, the histochemical demonstration of E-cadherin-, Cxcr4-, Sox9-, Hnf1β- and Ngn3-positive epithelial-like structures underlined the potential of Sox17-positive cells to further differentiate into the pancreatic lineage. By reducing the heterogeneity of the ES cell progeny, Sox17-expressing cells are a suitable model to evaluate the effects of growth and differentiation factors and of culture conditions to delineate the differentiation process for the generation of pancreatic cells in vitro. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Background: Different types of cardiomyopathies are associated with variable hypertrophic response. <p>A number of growth factors are thought to play a role in pathologic cardiac remodeling. <p>Aims: We compared the modulation of the TGF-ƒÒ superfamily and IGF-1 signaling pathways and their target genes, the cell cycle regulatory proteins in tachycardia-induced dilated cardiomyopathy, a model with no detectable hypertrophy and in ischemic cardiomyopathy, a model with a marked hypertrophic reaction. <p>Methods: In the first study, endomyocardial biopsies were obtained weekly in 15 dogs, during the development of tachycardiomyopaty. Genes involved in the myostatin-TGF-ƒÒ-Activin-A/Smad signaling pathway, p21 and cyclin D were quantified and correlated to echocardiographic measures of hypertrophy. In the second study, myocardial tissue samples were obtained in 8 dogs with a healed myocardial infarction, in 8 dogs with heart failure induced by overpacing and in 7 healthy dogs. We measured gene expression of IGF-1, its receptor (IGF-1R) and cyclins A, B, D1, D2, D3 and E and correlated them to the level of hypertrophy. <p>Results: Tachycardiomyopathy was characterized by chambers dilation with no identifiable hypertrophy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy was characterized by eccentric hypertrophy. In tachycardiomyopathy, Activin-A mRNA was 4-fold higher than at baseline. Smad7 was overexpressed in severe heart failure; p21, a direct target gene of the Smad pathway was upregulated 8-fold and cyclin D1 was down-regulated. In that model, IGF-1 was overexpressed but neither IGF-1R nor any of the cyclins studied.<p> In ischemic cardiomyopathy, IGF-1, IGF-R, and cyclins B, D1, D3 and E gene expression were upregulated.<p> In tachycardiomyopathy, Activin-A and p21 were inversely correlated to the thickness of the interventricular septum. In normal dogs and in the both models of cardiomyopathy, IGF-1R was correlated to the thickness of the interventricular septum and to cyclins. <p>Conclusions: Taken together, these results agree with the notion that Activin-A, IGF and cyclins are involved in the modulation of hypertrophic response observed in cardiomyopathies. <p> / Doctorat en Sciences médicales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Cachexie est syndrome multifactoriel associé a une maladie chronique ou incurable et caractérisé par un importante fonte musculaire. En fait, l’exercice physique améliore la qualité de vie et la survie des patients cancéreux. Dans un modèle animal de cachexie dû au cancer, nous avons démontré que la course sur roue contre la cachexie par la libération du flux d’autophagie. Les effets de l’exercice pléitropique incluent la modification des facteurs circulants en faveur d’un environnement anti-inflammatoire et l’activation des voies de mécanotransduction dans les cellules musculaires. Notre but est d'évaluer si la mécanotransduction est suffisante à elle seule pour mimer l’exercice en présence de facteurs pro-cachétiques d'origine tumorale. Le facteur de réponse au sérum (SRF est un facteur de transcription important pour homéostasie musculaire, qui est activé avec son co-facteur MRTF par la mécanotransduction de façon dépendant à la polymérisation de l'actin. Nous utilisons une culture mixte de C2C12 myotubes et myoblastes traitée avec un milieu condition par des C26 (CM) en absence ou en présence d'étirements cycliques qui miment la stimulation mécanique. Nous avons démontré in vitro que le CM a un effet négatif sur les cultures de cellules musculaires, sur l'atrophie des myotubes, sur le recrutement et la fusion des myoblastes, et que ces effets sont contrecarrés par l'étirement mécanique. Nous avons montré que le CM inhibe l'activité transcriptionnelle de SRF-MRTF, alors que l'étirement mécanique rétablit cette activité ; en plus, des expériences de perte de fonction ont démontré que SRF est nécessaire pour médier les effets bénéfiques des stimulations mécaniques sur les cellules musculaires. Au moins une part des effets de l’exercice observés étaient médiés par la balance des facteurs pro- et anti-myogeniques de la superfamille TGF-b. Nous proposons que les effets positifs de l’exercice sur les patients cancéreux et les souris pourraient être spécifiquement dûs a la réponse mécanique des fibres musculaires affectant la sécrétion des myokines. / Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome associated to chronic or acute disease (cancer, HIV,…) and characterized by severe muscle wasting. In fact, exercise training improves quality of life and survival of cancer patients. In an animal model of cancer cachexia we demonstrated that wheel running counteracts cachexia by releasing the autophagic flux. Exercise pleitropic effects include the alteration of circulating factors in favour of an anti-inflammatory environment and the activation of mechanotransduction pathways in muscle cells. Our goal is to assess whether mechanostransduciton per se is sufficient to elicit exercise effects in the presence of pro-cachectic factors of tumor origin. Serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor of pivotal importance for muscle homeostasis, which is activated with its co-factor MRTF by mechanostranduction in a way dependent on actin polymerisation. We use mixed cultures of C2C12 myotubes and myoblasts treated with C26 conditioned medium (CM) in the absence or presence of cyclic stretch to mimic the mechanical stimulation occurring upon exercise. In vitro we showed that CM had a negative effect on muscle cell cultures, both in terms of myotube atrophy and of myoblast recruitment and fusion, and that these effects were counteracted by cyclic stretch. We showed that CM repressed SRF-MRTF transcriptional activity, while mechanical stretch rescued their transcriptional activity; in addition, loss of function experiments demonstrated that SRF was necessary to mediate the beneficial effects of mechanical stimulation on muscle cells. At least part of the observed effects was mediated by the balance of pro- and anti-myogenic factor of the TGF-b superfamily. We propose that the positive effects of exercise on cancer patients and mice may be specifically due to a mechanical response of muscle fibers affecting the secretion of myokines. / Cachexia è una sindrome di multifactorial associata a malattia cronica o acuta (cancro, HIV.) e caratterizzò da spreco di muscolo severo. Infatti, l'esercizio addestrando migliora qualità della vita e sopravvivenza di pazienti di cancro. In un modello animale di cachexia di cancro noi dimostrammo quello ruota correndo contrattacca cachexia rilasciando il flusso di autophagic. Gli effetti di pleitropic di esercizio includono la modifica di fattori circolanti nel favore di un ambiente antinfiammatorio e l'attivazione di sentieri di mechanotransduction in celle di muscolo. La nostra meta è stimare se mechanostransduciton per se è sufficiente per suscitare effetti di esercizio nella presenza di pro-cachectic fattori di origine di tumore. Il fattore (SRF) di risposta di siero è un fattore di trascrizione dell'importanza importantissima per omeostasi di muscolo che è attivato col suo co-coefficiente MRTF da mechanostranduction in un modo dipendente su polymerisation di actin. Noi usiamo le culture mescolate del myotubes di C2C12 e myoblasts trattate con C26 condizionarono mezzo (Cm) nell'assenza o presenza di stiramento ciclico a mimico la stimolazione meccanica che accade su esercizio. In vitro noi mostrammo che il Cm aveva un effetto negativo su culture di cella di muscolo, ambo nelle condizioni di atrofia di myotube e di assunzione di myoblast e fusione, e che questi effetti furono contrattaccati da stiramento ciclico. Noi mostrammo che il Cm represse l'attività di transcriptional di SRF-MRTF, mentre lo stiramento meccanico liberò la loro attività di transcriptional; in somma, perdita di esperimenti di funzione dimostrò, che SRF era necessario per interporre gli effetti benefici di stimolazione meccanica su celle di muscolo. Almeno parte degli effetti osservati fu interposta dall'equilibrio di pro - ed anti-myogenic fattore del TGF. il superfamily. Noi proponiamo che gli effetti positivi di esercizio su pazienti di cancro e topi specificamente possono essere a causa di una risposta meccanica di fibre di muscolo che colpiscono l'occultamento di myokines.

L’induction neurale est le processus au travers duquel les cellules ectodermiques de l’embryon deviennent neurales. De nombreuses études sur les mécanismes contrôlant ce processus on été réalisées mais du fait de sa complexité, de nombreuses questions restent sans réponse. Au cours de ce travail de thèse, je me suis intéressé à l’étude de l’induction neurale sous une perspective évolutive en étudiant ce processus chez le céphalocordé amphioxus, l’un des plus proches parents des vertébrés. J’ai pu mettre en évidence que, comme les vertébrés, l’amphioxus possède un organisateur. J’ai également confirmé une conservation du rôle des voies de signalisation BMP et FGF respectivement dans l’induction de l’épiderme et la régionalisation du tissu neural. Cependant, au contraire des vertébrés, le signal FGF ne semble pas être un acteur prépondérant de l’induction neurale. Au contraire, un rôle important de la voie de signalisation Activine/Nodal a été mis en évidence.Les résultats obtenus soutiennent d’une part la conservation de certains aspects de ce mécanisme chez tous les chordés, et suggèrent d’autre part l’implication de certains acteurs comme la voie Activine/Nodal jusque là inconnue chez les vertébrés. La position phylogénétique de l’amphioxus et la conservation globale de ce processus entre les céphalochordés et les vertébrés nous permettent de suggérer que l’ancêtre des chordés formait du tissue neurale au travers des mécanismes mis en évidence dans cet étude. Ces résultats nous permettent également de proposer de nouvelles études chez les vertébrés visant à établir un rôle putatif de la voie Activine/Nodal au cours de ce processus, rôle jusque la complètement inconnu. / Neural induction is the process through which embryonic ectodermal cells become neural. Many studies on the mechanisms controlling this process have been made, but because of its complexity, many questions remain unanswered. In this thesis, I have focused my interest on the study of neural induction in an evolutionary context studying this process in the cephalochordate amphioxus, one of the closest relatives of vertebrates. I have highlighted that amphioxus, as vertebrates, possesses an organizer. I have demonstrated a conservation of the role of BMP and FGF signals in the induction of the epidermis and the regionalization of neural tissue respectively. However, in contrast to vertebrates, FGF signal does not appear to be a major player in neural induction. Instead, an important role of Activin/Nodal signaling pathway has been demonstrated. These results support, first, the conservation of several aspects of this mechanism in all chordates, and second, they suggest the involvement of the Activin/Nodal signaling in this process, something previously unknown in vertebrates. The phylogenetic position of amphioxus and the overall conservation of this process between cephalochordates and vertebrates allow us to suggest that the ancestor of chordates formed its neural tissue through mechanisms highlighted in this study. These results also allow us to propose new studies in vertebrates for establishing a putative role of the Activin/Nodal signaling during this process, a role previously completely unknown.

Pang Yefei. / "August 2001." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-197). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O objetivo deste estudo foi o de avaliar o efeito do FSH sozinho ou em combinaÃÃo com a ativina-A na sobrevivÃncia, crescimento e expressÃo de RNAm para ActR- IB, ActR-IIB, FSH-R, PCNA e HAS1/2/3 em folÃculos secundÃrios de bovinos cultivados in vitro por 18 dias. FolÃculos prÃ-antrais (~0,2mm) foram isolados do cÃrtex de ovÃrios bovinos e cultivados individualmente na ausÃncia- &#945;-MEM+ (grupo controle) ou na presenÃa de ativina-A sozinha na concentraÃÃo de (100ng/mL); FSH sozinho em concentraÃÃes seriadas - 50ng/mL (do dia 0 ao dia 6), 100 ng/mL (do dia 7 ao dia 12), e 200ng/mL (do dia 13 ao dia 18) ou em associaÃÃo com a ativina-A nas mesmas concentraÃÃes. ApÃs 18 dias de cultivo in vitro, folÃculos cultivados com FSH apresentaram aumento significativo no diÃmetro em comparaÃÃo aos demais tratamentos. Por outro lado, a ativina- A sozinha nÃo induz o crescimento folicular comparado ao grupo controle. AlÃm disso, quando combinada com FSH, a ativina-A inibiu o crescimento folicular promovido pelo FSH. Ao final de 18 dias de cultivo, todos os tratamentos apresentaram a formaÃÃo de antro embora sem diferenÃas significativas entre os tratamentos. A anÃlise ultra-estrutural confirmou a integridade dos folÃculos cultivados em FSH apÃs 18 dias de cultivo. FolÃculos cultivados na presenÃa de ativina-A associada ao FSH, reduziram significativamente (p <0,05) os nÃveis de RNAm para ActR-IB, ActR-IIB, FSH-R e PCNA. AlÃm disso, em folÃculos cultivados com FSH sozinho, os nÃveis de RNAm para HAS1 e HAS 2 foram significativamente maiores (p<0,05) que em folÃculos cultivados com ativina-A em associaÃÃo ao FSH. Ademais, o nÃvel de expressÃo do RNAm para HAS-3 nÃo diferiu (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Em conclusÃo, a ativina-A à importante para o desenvolvimento folicular inicial (atà 6 dias), mas reduz o efeito estimulatÃrio do FSH em folÃculos prÃ-antrais bovinos apÃs 18 dias de cultivo in vitro. Nossos resultados apontam que o FSH à um fator chave para a sobrevivÃncia e crescimento de folÃculos prÃ-antrais cultivados in vitro por um longo perÃodo (18 dias). AlÃm disso, ativina-A em associaÃÃo ao FSH reduz os nÃveis de RNAm para o receptor de ativina do tipo IB (ActR-IB), tipo II-B (ActR-IIB), FSH-R e PCNA, apÃs 18 dias in vitro. Em adiÃÃo, folÃculos cultivados em meio suplementado com FSH sozinho, apresentaram nÃveis de expressÃo de RNAm para HAS-1 e HAS-2 maiores que em folÃculos cultivados em meio suplementado pela associaÃÃo de ativina-A e FSH. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of FSH alone or in combination with activin-A on survival, growth and expression of mRNA for ActR- IB, ActR- IIB, FSH-R, PCNA, and HAS1/2/3 in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days. Preantral follicles (~0,2mm) were isolated from the cortex of bovine ovaries and individually cultured in the absence (control medium) or presence of activin-A alone at concentrations of (100ng/mL); FSH alone in increased concentrations - 50ng/mL (from day 0 to day 6), 100ng/mL (from day 7 to day 12), and 200ng/mL (from day 13 to day 18) or in association with activin-A in the same concentrations. After 18 days in vitro, follicles cultured with FSH showed a significant increase in diameter compared to the other treatments. On the other hand, the activin-A alone did not increase follicular diameter compared to control medium. Moreover, when combined with FSH, activin-A inhibited the growth promoted by FSH. At the end of 18 days of culture, all treatments presented antrum formation but without difference between treatments. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured in FSH after 18 days. Follicles cultured in the presence of activin-A in association with FSH significantly reduced (P<0.05) levels of mRNA for ActR-IB, ActR-IIB, FSH-R and PCNA. Moreover, in follicles cultured with FSH alone, levels of mRNA for HAS 1 and HAS 2 were significantly higher (P<0.05) that in follicles cultured with activin-A in association with FSH. In addition, the level of mRNA expression for HAS-3 did not differ (P> 0.05) between treatments. In conclusion, activin-A is important for early follicular development (up to 6 days), but reduces the stimulatory effect of FSH on bovine preantral follicles after 18 days of culture in vitro. Our results also indicate that FSH is a key factor for survival and growth of bovine preantral follicles cultured in vitro for a long period (18 days). Moreover, activin-A in combination with FSH reduce the levels of mRNA for activin receptor type IB (ActR-IB), type II-B (ActR-IIB), FSH-R and PCNA after 18 days in vitro. In addition, follicles cultured in medium supplemented with FSH alone levels of mRNA for HAS-1 and HAS-2 were higher than in follicles cultured in medium supplemented by the association of activin-A and FSH.

Antagonism of the activin receptor signaling pathway represents a promising potential therapy for the muscular dystrophies and other muscle wasting disorders (i.e., cachexia or sarcopenia). Previous research has shown that antagonism of activin signaling promotes muscle growth, attenuates muscle wasting, and restores function in both wild type and diseased animals. Our laboratory has recently developed a novel small molecule (SGI-1252) that inhibits activin downstream (i.e., Smad2/3 phosphorylation) signaling. Purpose: In this study we determined how eight weeks of orally administered SGI-1252 affected TGF-ß signaling, whole body mass, individual limb muscle mass, and muscle fiber cross sectional area (CSA). Methods: Wild-type (WT) mice were treated with SGI-1252 or a vehicle control (VC) via oral gavage (400 mg/kg 3 times per week) for 8 weeks. Body mass was measured twice per week during the 8-week treatment period. At the end of the treatment period, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were excised, weighed, and prepared for histological and biochemical analyses. Results: Following 8 weeks of treatment, there was no difference in weight gain between SGI-1252 (24.8 ± 1.8g) and VC treated mice (23.2 ± 1.5g) (p = 0.06). Gastrocnemius whole muscle mass was significantly greater in the SGI-1252 treated group relative to the VC treated mice (139.6 ± 12.8 mg vs 128.8 ± 14.9 mg) (p = 0.04), although when normalized with body mass there was no difference in gastrocnemius mass. For the TA muscle, there were no significant differences in whole muscle mass between SGI-1252 and VC groups, yet TA muscles in the SGI-1252 treated group had a reduced muscle fiber CSA compared to controls (621 ± 44 µm2 vs 749 ± 36 µm2) (p = 0.0005). There was a statistical trend of decreasing Smad2 phosphorylation in the SGI-1252 treated TA muscles (mean SGI-1252 = 0.668 vs VC = 0.848) (p = 0.06), and no significant differences in Smad2 phosphorylation in the gastrocnemius. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, 8 weeks of orally administered SGI-1252 was not effective in promoting increases in whole body mass, limb whole muscle mass, or myofiber cross sectional area. This may be due to the inability of SGI-1252, at the administered dose, to effectively decrease signaling downstream of the activin receptor. Clearly, studies using a wider range of doses and delivery methods will be needed to ascertain the efficacy of SGI-1252 as a potential therapeutic.

<p>Activin B, a TGFβ ligand, is associated with liver inflammatory response. We aimed to investigate whether it modulates liver fibrogenesis. <b> </b>Liver and serum activin B, along with its analog activin A, were analyzed in patients with liver fibrosis from different etiologies and in mouse acute liver injury and liver fibrosis models. Activin B, activin A, or both was immunologically neutralized in progressive or established carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse liver fibrosis. The direct effects of activin B and A on hepatocytes, macrophages, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were evaluated <i>in vitro</i>. In human patients, increased activin B is associated with liver fibrosis irrespective of the etiologies. In mice, activin B exhibited persistent elevation in liver and circulation following the onset of liver injury, whereas activin A displayed transient increases. Neutralizing activin B largely prevented and remarkably regressed liver fibrosis, which was augmented by co-neutralizing activin A in mice. Mechanistically, activin B promoted hepatocyte injury, activated macrophages to release cytokines, and induced a pro-fibrotic expression profile and septa formation in HSCs, which were magnified by activin A. Furthermore, activin B and A interdependently activated the CXCL1/iNOS pathway in macrophages and additively upregulated CTGF transcript in HSCs <i>in vitro</i>. Consistently, the expression of these genes was prohibited by neutralizing either one of these two ligands in injured livers. Activin B potently drives the initiation and progression of liver fibrogenesis. It additively or interdependently cooperates with activin A, directly acts on multiple liver cell populations, and induces liver fibrogenesis.<b> </b>Antagonizing activin B or both activins B and A prevents and regresses liver fibrosis in mouse CCl₄ model, inspiring the development of a novel therapy of chronic liver diseases.</p>

Die TGF-β-Proteinfamilie umfasst eine Vielzahl von zumeist homodimeren sezernierten Liganden in höheren Tieren, die viele Vorgänge und Entwicklungen im Embryo wie im adulten Lebewesen über absolute oder graduelle Einflussnahme steuern. Die Signalweiterleitung ins Zytoplasma und den Nukleus erfolgt über promisk paarig rekrutierte Typ-I- und Typ-II-Rezeptoren, ehe vorwiegend rezeptorabhängig verschiedene SMAD-Proteine von Typ-I-Kinasen der Rezeptoren aktiviert werden, in den Kern translozieren und die Transkription induzieren. Zu jedem Zeitpunkt dieser Signalweiterleitung kann mittels verschiedener endogener Inhibitoren regulatorisch eingegriffen werden. Dem bisher einzig bekannten membranständigen Pseudorezeptor Bambi (BMP and Activine membrane bound inhibitor) wurde in vorangegangenen Arbeiten inhibitorisches Potential gegenüber dem BMP- und Activin-vermittelten Signalweg über Bindung an distinkte ligandenadressierte Rezeptoren zugeschrieben, wobei die genaue Wirkweise bislang noch vollkommen unklar war. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde initial ein Homologiemodell der extrazellulären Domäne von hBambi anhand der gelösten Kristallstruktur der extrazellulären Domäne von BR1A im gebundenen Zustand (PDB-ID: 1REW) erstellt. Anhand dieses Modells wurde eine Arbeitshypothese entwickelt und es gelang in der Folge, biologisch aktives rekombinantes Protein zum einen aus transfizierten Insektenzellen sowie aus der Renaturierung aus bakteriellen Einschlusskörpern in hinreichender Menge herzustellen und chromatographisch aufzureinigen. Nach einer vergleichenden Qualitätskontrolle beider Exprimate wurden mittels CD-Spektroskopie und analytischer Gelfiltration der Anteil der Sekundärstrukturelemente sowie der Oligomerisierungsgrad erfolgreich bestimmt. In SPR-Bindestudien wurde der Beweis erbracht, dass hBambi-ECD Affinität zu annähernd allen getesteten Liganden der BMP-/GDF-Gruppe, die den SMAD-1/-5-/-8-Signalweg aktivieren, zeigt. Bekannte Typ-I- und Typ-II-Bindungsmutanten von BMP-2 wurden ebenfalls von hBambi-ECD quasi wildtypisch gebunden. Verschiedene Rezeptorektodomänen sowie ActivinA wurden, wie bisher in der Literatur fälschlich angenommen wurde, hingegen nicht gebunden. Die propagierte Homooligomerisierung von Bambi wird überdies nicht über die extrazelluläre Domäne vermittelt. Eingesetzt in Stimulationsversuche mit BMP-responsiven Zellen wurde eine konzentrationsabhängige inhibierende Wirkung von freier hBambi-ECD auf die BMP-2-vermittelte Signalweiterleitung mit unterschiedlichen Nachweismethoden ermittelt, welche die Ergebnisse aus den SPR-Versuchen erfolgreich bestätigten. In einem weiteren Teil dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene chimäre Konstrukte aus für Bambi- und BR1A-Domänen kodierenden Sequenzen kloniert, in HEK Ad293-Zellen zusammen mit BMP- und Activin-responsiven Reportergenkonstrukten transient transfiziert und Stimulationsversuche mit BMP-2 und ActivinA durchgeführt. Wildtypisches Bambi zeigte hierbei ein ambivalentes Verhalten in Bezug auf die Regulation des BMP-2-Signals: geringe Mengen wirken agonistisch, höhere Mengen antagonistisch auf die Ausbildung des Reporters. Im Fall von ActivinA zeigte sich hingegen kein antagonistischer Einfluss von Bambi. In den Experimenten mit chimären Varianten erfolgte durch die erhaltenen Daten die Eingrenzung der Bindestelle von hBambi-ECD an BMP-2 auf den Bereich der Typ-I-Bindestelle. Ein direkter Einfluss der intrazellulären Domäne auf den BMP-2-Signalweg wurde ausgeschlossen. Weiterhin konnte gerade in Versuchen mit einem Antikörper gegen BR1A-ECD eine weitere Eigenheit der Bindung von Bambi an den Liganden offenbart werden: so bildet das Konstrukt aus hBambi-ECD und der intrazellulären BR1A-Domäne mit zugehöriger GS-Box und Typ-I-Kinase einen korrekt in den signalaktiven heterohexameren Komplex rekrutierten funktionellen Typ-I-Rezeptor. Mit den in dieser Arbeit erzielten Ergebnissen, nämlich der gelungenen Erstellung eines Herstellungsprotokolls der ECD, deren erfolgreich identifizierten Bindepartnern sowie der Charakterisierung der Bindung an BMP-2 ist der Grundstein für die Strukturaufklärung von hBambi-ECD gelegt, welche weitere Klarheit in die Funktionalität dieses Modulators der BMP-/GDF-vermittelten Signalweiterleitung bringen wird. Ebenso sind erste das Verständnis der ICD aufklärende Ergebnisse erzielt worden, die das Fundament für weitere Experimente und darauf folgende Kenntnisgewinne darstellen werden. / The protein family of TGF-β-proteins consists of a huge number of predominantly homodimeric secreted ligands in higher animals, regulating many processes and developmental procedures in embryonic and adult forms via absolute or gradual influence. Signal transduction to cytoplasm and nucleus occurs by the aid of promiscuous, pairwisely recruited type-I- and type-II-receptors, usually activating a variety of receptor-dependent nucleus-permissive SMAD-proteins by an intracellular kinase-phosphorylation-cascade. After translocation they induce transcription of bre-promoted genes. Every signal transduction step may be interfered by endogenous inhibitors. So far the known membrane-bound pseudoreceptor Bambi (BMP and activine membrane-bound inhibitor) is hypothesized to have inhibitory potential against BMP- and activin-mediated signaling pathway via binding of distinct ligand-dependent receptors. However, its proper function still remains unclear. At the beginning of this work a homology model of the extracellular domain of hBambi was built based on a solved 3D-structure of BR1A-ECD bound to its ligand (PDB-ID: 1REW). Upon this model a work hypothesis was issued and biologically active recombinant protein was obtained successfully, both from transfected insect cells and from refolding ex bacterial inclusion bodies in sufficient amount and purified by chromatography, respectively. After comparative quality control of both samples the degree of oligomerisation and secondary structure composition was analyzed via CD spectroscopy and analytical gelfiltration runs. Binding affinity towards nearly all ligands of BMP-/GDF-group assigned to SMAD-1/-5-/-8-signaling was shown for hBambi-ECD by SPR experiments. Known BMP-2-mutants lacking affinity for type-I- or type-II-receptors exhibited wildtype-like binding to hBambi-ECD, respectively. Contrary to the current opinion, neither various ectodomains of receptors nor ActivinA did show any specific binding. Moreover, proposed homooligomerisation of Bambi is not mediated via ECD. Introduction of hBambi-ECD into stimulation experiments on several BMP-responsive cells with differing detection modes yielded in concentration-dependent inhibition of BMP-2-signalling, confirming the results of SPR-attempts well. In a further part of this work various chimeric constructs consisting of Bambi- and BR1A-coding sequence were cloned and effectively co-transfected into HEK Ad293 cells together with plasmids coding for BMP- and Activin-dependent reporters. Stimulation experiments with BMP-2 and ActivinA provided insights into Bambi participation within cellular processes. Full length Bambi exhibited ambivalent behaviour with respect to BMP-2-signaling: small amounts have an agonistic effect, while increasing levels revert it into an antagonistic one with respect to reporter formation. Regarding ActivinA no antagonistic effect was observed. Assays with chimeric constructs led to a containment for Bambi-epitope to the type-I-binding-site of BMP-2. Direct impact of Bambi-ICD on BMP-2-signaling could be blackballed. Furthermore, attempts with an antibody against BR1A-epitope revealed another feature of Bambi-binding to the ligand: a construct of Bambi-ECD fused to intracellular BR1A-domain including kinase and GS-Box forms a functional type-I-receptor correctly orientated and incorporated into heterohexameric signaling-complex. Upon gained results within this work, namely the successful establishment of a purification protocol for the extracellular domain of hBambi, the identification of its binding partners as well as the characterization of a prominent binding partner the basis for successful structure determination of hBambi-ECD aiming to unravel the function of this modulator of BMP-/GDF-signaling is laid. Likewise, first knowledge of the ICD was acquired that will be the basis for further experiments leading to continuative scientific findings.

Abstract not available