University of Marburg

About: University of Marburg is a education organization based out in Marburg, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Virus. The organization has 23195 authors who have published 42907 publications receiving 1506069 citations. The organization is also known as: Philipps University of Marburg & Philipps-Universität.

Association of BDNF with anorexia, bulimia and age of onset of weight loss in six European populations

Abstract: Several genes with an essential role in the regulation of eating behavior and body weight are considered candidates involved in the etiology of eating disorders (ED), but no relevant susceptibility genes with a major effect on anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) have been identified. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the regulation of food intake and body weight in rodents. We previously reported a strong association of the Met66 allele of the Val66Met BDNF variant with restricting AN (ANR) and low minimum body mass index in Spanish patients. Another single nucleotide polymorphism located in the promoter region of the BDNF gene (-270C > T) showed lack of association with any ED phenotype. In order to replicate these findings in a larger sample, we performed a case-control study in 1142 Caucasian patients with ED consecutively recruited in six different centers from five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) participating in the 'Factors in Healthy Eating' project. We have found that the Met66 variant is strongly associated to all ED subtypes (AN, ANR, binge-eating/purging AN and BN), and that the -270C BDNF variant has an effect on BN and late age at onset of weight loss. These are the first two variants associated with the pathophysiology of ED in different populations and support a role for BDNF in the susceptibility to aberrant eating behaviors.

Activation of rat liver perisinusoidal lipocytes by transforming growth factors derived from myofibroblastlike cells. A potential mechanism of self perpetuation in liver fibrogenesis.

Abstract: Rat liver perisinusoidal lipocytes (PL) cultured on uncoated plastic transform spontaneously within 6-10 d to myofibroblastlike cells (MFBlC) Parallel to the transformation the TGF alpha- and TGF beta 1-mRNA expression increased and was highest in MFBlC Competitive radioligand binding assays demonstrated that in contrast to untransformed PL the MFBlC synthesize and secrete transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha (15 fmol/cell per 24 h) and predominantly the latent form of TGF beta 1 (02 fmol/cell per 24 h) Medium conditioned by MFBlC (MFBcM) significantly stimulated PL proliferation with little effect on PL proteoglycan synthesis By transient acidification of the MFBcM, known to activate the latent form of TGF beta 1, the stimulatory effect on PL proteoglycan synthesis was enhanced and furthermore PL transformation (measured by expression of iso-alpha smooth muscle actin and loss of retinylpalmitate) was accelerated Preincubation of this medium with neutralizing antibodies to TGF beta resulted in (a) the growth inhibitory effect was converted to a growth stimulation and (b) the stimulatory effect on proteoglycan synthesis was abolished In summary our data indicate that progressive activation of PL on plastic (transformation to MFBlC) leads to an enhanced expression of the TGF alpha- and TGF beta 1-mRNAs and secretion of the corresponding proteins Medium conditioned by MFBIC stimulates proliferation, transformation, and PG synthesis of untransformed PL These mechanisms are suggested to be relevant in self perpetuation of liver fibrogenesis

A Th17-like developmental process leads to CD8(+) Tc17 cells with reduced cytotoxic activity.

Abstract: Activation of naive CD8(+) T cells with antigen in the absence of skewing cytokines triggers their differentiation into effector CTL, which induces death of target cells. We show that CD8(+) T cells activated in the presence of the cytokines IL-6 or IL-21 plus TGF-beta similar to CD4(+) T cells, develop into IL-17-producing (Tc17) cells. These cells display greatly suppressed cytotoxic function along with low levels of the CTL markers: T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin, granzyme B and IFN-gamma. Instead, these cells express hallmark molecules of Th17 program including retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)gammat, RORalpha, IL-21 and IL-23R. The expression of the type 17 master regulator RORgammat is causally linked to Tc17 generation, because its overexpression stimulates production of IL-17 in the presence of IL-6 or IL-21. Both, upregulation of the type 17 program as well as suppression of CTL differentiation are STAT3 dependent. Furthermore, Tc17 cells producing IL-17 but not granzyme B are also detectable in EAE, a mouse model for multiple sclerosis. Our data point to the existence of mutually exclusive CTL and Tc17 developmental pathways in vitro and in vivo.

Pyridinium-N-phenolate betaine dyes as empirical indicators of solvent polarity: Some new findings

Abstract: Solutions of the zwitterionic betaine dye 4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium-1-yl)-2,6-di- phenylphenolate are solvatochromic, thermochromic, piezochromic, and halochromic. That means the position of its longest-wavelength intramolecular charge-transfer absorption band depends on solvent polarity, solution temperature, external pressure, and the nature and con- centration of added salts. The extraordinarily large negative solvatochromism of this standard betaine dye has been used to establish UV/vis spectroscopically an empirical scale of solvent polarity, called E T (30), respectively E T scale, meanwhile known for many organic solvents and solvent mixtures. In this review, the solvatochromic properties of some new hydrophilic and lipophilic betaine dyes with better solubility in water (respectively, nonpolar solvents), as well as some recent applications of these betaine dyes in various fields of interest (e.g., microheterogeneous (micellar) and polymer solutions, chemical sensors, as well as surface polarity of silicas, aluminas, and cellulose derivatives) are described.

First Example of a Universal and Cost-Effective Approach: Polymers with Tunable Upper Critical Solution Temperature in Water and Electrolyte Solution

Abstract: We present a powerful universal and versatile approach for the synthesis of polymers that show a UCST in water. Up to now only a few polymers were known that show an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in water. This study establishes general requirements to obtain polymers with a UCST in water as well as electrolyte solution. It is demonstrated that old homo- and copolymer systems like poly(methacrylamide) and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) can exhibit a UCST in water and how polymers with a tunable UCST can be synthesized by copolymerization of acrylamide and acrylonitrile, monomers that are industrially produced on large scales. Controlled increase of the UCST by copolymerization of acryamide with varying amounts of acrylonitrile was shown, and it could be varied between 6 and 60 °C. The hysteresis between the cloud point upon cooling and heating was very small with only 1–2 °C in most cases. The cloud points in pure water were similar to the cloud points measured in phosphate buffered saline...