University of Jena

About: University of Jena is a education organization based out in Jena, Thüringen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Population. The organization has 22198 authors who have published 45159 publications receiving 1401514 citations. The organization is also known as: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena & Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Increased production of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 by smooth muscle cells upon infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Abstract: Atherosclerosis has been linked to Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. In atherosclerotic arteries chlamydiae infect macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMC). It has been suggested that the proteolysis of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is involved in the destabilisation and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. In this study we investigated the expression of several MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs) in C. pneumoniae-infected SMC using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Chlamydial infection of SMC up-regulated the mRNA levels of MMP-1 (interstitial collagenase) and MMP-3 (stromelysin) but did not affect the expression of MMP-2 and -9 (gelatinases). Additionally, the levels of TIMP-1 and -2 mRNA remained unchanged upon infection. Cells infected with C. pneumoniae secreted increased quantities of MMP-1 and -3 proteins as demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The ability of C. pneumoniae to stimulate the production of MMP-1 and -3 by SMC may be important for its pathogenic role in the progression of atherosclerotic disease.

Trapped in Imidazole: How to Accumulate Multiple Photoelectrons on a Black‐Absorbing Ruthenium Complex

Abstract: Ruthenium dyes incorporating a 4H-imidazole chromophore as a ligand exhibit a spectrally broad absorption in the UV/Vis region. Furthermore, they show the ability to store two electrons within the 4H-imidazole ligand. These features render them promising molecular systems, for example, as inter- or intramolecular electron relays. To optimize the structures with respect to their electron-storage capability, it is crucial to understand the impact of structural changes accompanying photoinduced charge transfer in the electronic intermediates of multistep electron-transfer processes. The photophysical properties of these (reactive) intermediates might impact the function of the molecular systems quite substantially. However, the spectroscopic study of short-lived intermediates in stepwise multielectron-transfer processes is experimentally challenging. To this end, this contribution reports on the electrochemical generation of anions identical to intermediate structures and their spectroscopic characterization by in situ resonance Raman and UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry and computational methods. Thereby, an efficient two-electron pathway to the 4H-imidazole electron-accepting ligand is identified.

Automated characterization and parameter-free classification of cell tracks based on local migration behavior.

Abstract: Cell migration is the driving force behind the dynamics of many diverse biological processes Even though microscopy experiments are routinely performed today by which populations of cells are visualized in space and time, valuable information contained in image data is often disregarded because statistical analyses are performed at the level of cell populations rather than at the single-cell level Image-based systems biology is a modern approach that aims at quantitatively analyzing and modeling biological processes by developing novel strategies and tools for the interpretation of image data In this study, we take first steps towards a fully automated characterization and parameter-free classification of cell track data that can be generally applied to tracked objects as obtained from image data The requirements to achieve this aim include: (i) combination of different measures for single cell tracks, such as the confinement ratio and the asphericity of the track volume, and (ii) computation of these measures in a staggered fashion to retrieve local information from all possible combinations of track segments We demonstrate for a population of synthetic cell tracks as well as for in vitro neutrophil tracks obtained from microscopy experiment that the information contained in the track data is fully exploited in this way and does not require any prior knowledge, which keeps the analysis unbiased and general The identification of cells that show the same type of migration behavior within the population of all cells is achieved via agglomerative hierarchical clustering of cell tracks in the parameter space of the staggered measures The recognition of characteristic patterns is highly desired to advance our knowledge about the dynamics of biological processes

Macular xanthophylls and ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized trial.

Abstract: Importance It has been shown that the functionality of the macula lutea depends on the nutritional uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin and that it is inversely associated with the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Additionally, ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) may also be protective. Objective To investigate the effect of a 12-month intervention with macular xanthophylls and ω-3 LC-PUFAs on xanthophylls and fatty acids in plasma, antioxidant capacity, and optical density of the macular pigment of patients with nonexudative AMD. Design The LUTEGA study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial that was conducted for 12 months. Setting University Eye Hospital and Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. Participants A total of 172 individuals with nonexudative AMD. Intervention Individuals were enrolled and randomly divided as follows: placebo group, group 1 (a capsule containing 10 mg of lutein, 1 mg of zeaxanthin, 100 mg of docosahexaenoic acid, and 30 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid administered each day), and group 2 (same substances but twice the dose used in group 1). One hundred forty-five participants completed the study successfully. Main Outcome Measures Plasma xanthophyll concentrations and fatty acid profiles, optical density of the macular pigment, and antioxidant capacity in plasma (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid [Trolox] equivalent antioxidant capacity and photochemiluminescence). Results The concentrations of the administered carotenoids in plasma as well as the optical density of the macular pigment increased significantly in the groups randomized to receive supplementary macular xanthophylls and ω-3 LC-PUFAs after 1 month of intervention and remained at this level through the end of the study. Use of the double dose resulted in a beneficial alteration of the fatty acid profile in the plasma of patients with AMD in comparison with the dose in group 1. The lipophilic antioxidant capacity in plasma was significantly elevated with the intervention. Conclusions and Relevance A supplement containing a fixed combination of lutein, zeaxanthin, and ω-3 LC-PUFAs during 12 months significantly improved plasma antioxidant capacity, circulating macular xanthophyll levels, and the optical density of the macular pigment. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00763659