University of Graz

About: University of Graz is a education organization based out in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 17934 authors who have published 37489 publications receiving 1110980 citations. The organization is also known as: Carolo Franciscea Graecensis & Karl Franzens Universität.

Embryonic lethality and fetal liver apoptosis in mice lacking the c‐raf‐1 gene

Abstract: The Raf kinases play a key role in relaying signals elicited by mitogens or oncogenes. Here, we report that c‐ raf‐1−/− embryos are growth retarded and die at midgestation with anomalies in the placenta and in the fetal liver. Although hepatoblast proliferation does not appear to be impaired, c‐ raf‐1−/− fetal livers are hypocellular and contain numerous apoptotic cells. Similarly, the poor proliferation of Raf‐1−/− fibroblasts and hematopoietic cells cultivated in vitro is due to an increase in the apoptotic index of these cultures rather than to a cell cycle defect. Furthermore, Raf‐1‐ deficient fibroblasts are more sensitive than wild‐ type cells to specific apoptotic stimuli, such as actinomycin D or Fas activation, but not to tumor necrosis factor‐α. MEK/ERK activation is normal in Raf‐1‐deficient cells and embryos, and is probably mediated by B‐Raf. These results indicate that the essential function of Raf‐1 is to counteract apoptosis rather than to promote proliferation, and that effectors distinct from the MEK/ERK cascade must mediate the anti‐apoptotic function of Raf‐1.

More Than Just Attractive: How CCL2 Influences Myeloid Cell Behavior Beyond Chemotaxis.

Abstract: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) is renowned for its ability to drive the chemotaxis of myeloid and lymphoid cells. It orchestrates the migration of these cell types both during physiological immune defense and in pathological circumstances, such as autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis, as well as infectious diseases, obesity, diabetes, and various types of cancer. However, new data suggest that the scope of CCL2's functions may extend beyond its original characterization as a chemoattractant. Emerging evidence shows that it can impact leukocyte behavior, influencing adhesion, polarization, effector molecule secretion, autophagy, killing, and survival. The direction of these CCL2-induced responses is context dependent and, in some cases, synergistic with other inflammatory stimuli. The involvement of CCL2 signaling in multiple diseases renders it an interesting therapeutic target, although current targeting strategies have not met early expectations in the clinic. A better understanding of how CCL2 affects immune cells will be pivotal to the improvement of existing therapeutic approaches and the development of new drugs. Here, we provide an overview of the pleiotropic effects of CCL2 signaling on cells of the myeloid lineage, beyond chemotaxis, and highlight how these actions might help to shape immune cell behavior and tumor immunity.

Improved diffusion-weighted single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) in stroke using sensitivity encoding (SENSE).

Abstract: Diffusion-weighted single-shot EPI (sshEPI) is one of the most important tools for the diagnostic assessment of stroke patients, but it suffers from well known artifacts. Therefore, sshEPI was combined with SENSitivity Encoding (SENSE) to further increase EPI's potential for stroke imaging. Eight healthy volunteers and a consecutive series of patients (N = 8) with suspected stroke were examined with diffusion-weighted SENSE-sshEPI using different reduction factors (1.0 < or = R < or = 3.0). Additionally, a high-resolution diffusion-weighted SENSE-sshEPI scan was included. All examinations were diagnostic and of better quality than conventional sshEPI. No ghostings or aliasing artifacts were discernible, and EPI-related image distortions were markedly diminished. Chemical shift artifacts and eddy current-induced image warping were still present, although to a markedly smaller extent. Measured direction-dependent diffusion-coefficients and isotropic diffusion values were comparable to previous findings but showed less fluctuation. We have demonstrated the technical feasibility and clinical applicability of diffusion-weighted SENSE-sshEPI in patients with subacute stroke. Because of the faster k-space traversal, this novel technique is able to reduce typical EPI artifacts and increase spatial resolution while simultaneously remaining insensitive to bulk motion.