Ursula Moenning

Closing the Gaps: A Full Scan of the Intestinal Expression of P-Glycoprotein, Breast Cancer Resistance Protein, and Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 in Male and Female Rats

Intestinal ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters may affect the bioavailability and effectiveness of orally administered drugs. Available studies on regional expression of intestinal efflux transporters were done with selected intestinal segments only and inconsistent with regard to the variability of transporter expression and the course of expression along the intestine. For an evaluation of the consistency between mRNA and protein expression, relative expression levels of P-glycoprotein (Pgp; ABCB1), breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp; ABCG2), and multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 2 (ABCC2) were determined using quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot in rat intestinal segments from duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon. In addition, the protein expression of Pgp, Bcrp, and Mrp2 from the entire rat intestine was studied by a complete 3-cm segmentation to evaluate the predictive power of expression analyses from selected intestinal segments. Pgp showed an increase from proximal to distal regions, Bcrp showed an arcuate pattern with highest expression toward the end of small intestine, and Mrp2 decreased along the intestinal axis from proximal to distal parts. No gender specific differences could be observed. Regarding the concordance of mRNA and protein expression, Pgp and Bcrp mRNA samples allow good estimations about the corresponding protein expression (for Pgp limited to the mdr1a isoform), but for Mrp2, pronounced deviation could be observed. All transporters showed considerable intra- and interindividual variability, especially at the protein level, making it problematic to take transporter expressions of small sections exemplary for general assumptions on intestinal abundances.

Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Protein Expression along the Entire Length of the Intestine of Male and Female Rats

Intestinal cytochrome P450 (P450) proteins play an important role in the biotransformation of drugs and may significantly limit their oral absorption and bioavailability. Therefore, we have investigated the amount of P450 proteins via Western blot analysis along the entire intestine of male and female rats. Despite of the use of an inbred rat strain, controlled housing conditions for the animals, and a timed sample preparation, high interindividual differences in the expression of all P450 proteins was observed. CYP3A (135–243 fmol/mg of protein) and CYP2B1 (107–645 fmol/mg of protein) were the most abundant P450 isoforms in the duodenum and jejunum of rat intestine but were present in neither the ileum nor the colon. Compared with CYP2B1 and CYP3A, CYP2D1 (25–71 fmol/mg of protein) and CYP2C6 (3–10 fmol/mg of protein) were only expressed in minor amounts. CYP2C11 could not be identified in the entire rat intestine. In conclusion, this is the first systematic evaluation and quantification of the expression of P450 proteins along the entire length of the intestine in both male and female rats. These data will provide a basis for a better understanding of the extent of intestinal metabolism along the gastrointestinal tract.

CCR1 is an early and specific marker of Alzheimer's disease.

Chemokines are a diverse group of small proteins that effect cell signaling by binding to G‐protein–coupled, seven‐trans‐membrane receptors. Our group had found previously that the chemokine receptor CCR1 was present in neurons and dystrophic processes in a small sample of Alzheimers disease cases. This expanded immunohistochemical study shows that the number of CCR1‐positive plaque‐like structures in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex is highly correlated to dementia state as measured by the clinical dementia rating score. CCR1 immunoreactivity is found in dystrophic, neurofilament‐positive, synaptophysin‐negative neurites that are associated with senile plaques containing amyloid beta peptides of the 1‐42 species (Aβ42). CCR1 was not, however, associated with diffuse deposits of Aβ42. There was limited expression of CCR1 in neurofibrillary tangle‐bearing neuritic processes. Astrocytes and microglia were typically negative for CCR1. Human brains from age‐matched, nondemented individuals rarely displayed either CCR1 or Aβ42 immunoreactivity. Seven other types of dementing neurodegenerative diseases were examined, and all failed to demonstrate CCR1 immunopositivity unless Aβ42‐positive plaques were also present. Thus, neuronal CCR1 is not a generalized marker of neurodegeneration. Rather, it appears to be part of the neuroimmune response to Aβ42‐positive neuritic plaques.

Progress in the identification of stroke-related genes : Emerging new possibilities to develop concepts in stroke therapy

Stroke is a very complex disease influenced by many risk factors: genetic, environmental and comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and having had a previous stroke. Neuroprotective therapies that have been found to be successful in laboratory animals have failed to produce the same benefits in clinical trials. Currently, a re-analysis of the clinical trial failures is underway and new therapeutic approaches using the growing knowledge from neurogenesis and neuroinflammation studies, combined with the information from gene expression studies, are taking place. This review focusses on possible ways to identify therapeutic targets using the new discoveries in neuroinflammation and intrinsic regenerative mechanisms of the brain.Molecular events associated with ischaemia trigger an environment for inflammation. Within the ischaemic region and its penumbra, a battery of chemokines and cytokines are released, which have both detrimental and beneficial effects, depending on the specific timepoint after injury and the current activation status of microglia/macrophages. Preventive therapies and treatments for stroke may be established by identifying the genes that are responsible for the induction of those phenotypic changes of microglia/macrophages that switch them to become players in tissue repair and regeneration processes.To aid in the establishment of new target sources for novel therapeutic agents, animal stroke models should closely mimic stroke in humans. To do so, these models should take into account the various risk factors for stroke. For example, hypertensive animals have a more vulnerable blood-brain barrier that in turn may trigger a greater degree of damage after stroke. Furthermore, in aged animals an accelerated astrocytic and microglial reaction has been observed and the regenerative capacity of aged brains is not as high as young brains. Improvements in animal models may also help to ensure better success rates of potential therapies in clinical studies.Inflammation in the brain is a double-edged sword — characterised by the deleterious effect of nerve cell damage and nerve cell death, as well as the beneficial influence on regeneration. The major challenge to develop successful stroke therapies is to broaden the knowledge regarding the underlying pathologic processes and the intrinsic mechanisms of the brain to drive regenerative and plasticity-related changes. On this basis, new concepts can be created leading to better stroke therapy.