@article{HocherHaumannRahnenfuehreretal.2016,
  author    = {Hocher, Berthold and Haumann, Hannah and Rahnenf{\"u}hrer, Jan and Reichetzeder, Christoph and Kalk, Philipp and Pfab, Thiemo and Tsuprykov, Oleg and Winter, Stefan and Hofmann, Ute and Li, Jian and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul and Lang, Florian and Schuppan, Detlef and Schwab, Matthias and Schaeffeler, Elke},
  title     = {Maternal eNOS deficiency determines a fatty liver phenotype of the offspring in a sex dependent manner},
  series = {Epigenetics : the official journal of the DNA Methylation Society},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Epigenetics : the official journal of the DNA Methylation Society},
  publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group},
  address   = {Philadelphia},
  issn      = {1559-2294},
  doi       = {10.1080/15592294.2016.1184800},
  pages     = {539 -- 552},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Maternal environmental factors can impact on the phenotype of the offspring via the induction of epigenetic adaptive mechanisms. The advanced fetal programming hypothesis proposes that maternal genetic variants may influence the offspring's phenotype indirectly via epigenetic modification, despite the absence of a primary genetic defect. To test this hypothesis, heterozygous female eNOS knockout mice and wild type mice were bred with male wild type mice. We then assessed the impact of maternal eNOS deficiency on the liver phenotype of wild type offspring. Birth weight of male wild type offspring born to female heterozygous eNOS knockout mice was reduced compared to offspring of wild type mice. Moreover, the offspring displayed a sex specific liver phenotype, with an increased liver weight, due to steatosis. This was accompanied by sex specific differences in expression and DNA methylation of distinct genes. Liver global DNA methylation was significantly enhanced in both male and female offspring. Also, hepatic parameters of carbohydrate metabolism were reduced in male and female offspring. In addition, male mice displayed reductions in various amino acids in the liver. Maternal genetic alterations, such as partial deletion of the eNOS gene, can affect liver metabolism of wild type offspring without transmission of the intrinsic defect. This occurs in a sex specific way, with more detrimental effects in females. This finding demonstrates that a maternal genetic defect can epigenetically alter the phenotype of the offspring, without inheritance of the defect itself. Importantly, these acquired epigenetic phenotypic changes can persist into adulthood.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{ChenReichetzederFoelleretal.2015,
  author    = {Chen, Hong and Reichetzeder, Christoph and F{\"o}ller, Michael and Slowinski, Torsten and Li, Jian and Chen, You-Peng and Lang, Florian and Hocher, Berthold},
  title     = {Maternal vitamin D deficiency and fetal programming},
  series = {Acta physiologica : official journal of the Federation of European Physiological Societies},
  volume    = {213},
  booktitle = {Acta physiologica : official journal of the Federation of European Physiological Societies},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {1748-1708},
  pages     = {155 -- 156},
  year      = {2015},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReichetzederChenFoelleretal.2014,
  author    = {Reichetzeder, Christoph and Chen, Hong and Foeller, Michael and Slowinski, Torsten and Li, Jian and Chen, You-Peng and Lang, Florian and Hocher, Berthold},
  title     = {Maternal vitamin D deficiency and fetal programming - lessons learned from humans and mice},
  series = {Kidney \& blood pressure research : official organ of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Nephrologie},
  volume    = {39},
  journal   = {Kidney \& blood pressure research : official organ of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Nephrologie},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Karger},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {1420-4096},
  doi       = {10.1159/000355809},
  pages     = {315 -- 329},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease partially originates from poor environmental and nutritional conditions in early life. Lack of micronutrients like 25 hydroxy vitamin D-3 (25OHD) during pregnancy may be an important treatable causal factor. The present study explored the effect of maternal 25OHD deficiency on the offspring. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study analyzing the association of maternal 25OHD deficiency during pregnancy with birth outcomes considering confounding. To show that vitamin D deficiency may be causally involved in the observed associations, mice were set on either 25OHD sufficient or insufficient diets before and during pregnancy. Growth, glucose tolerance and mortality was analyzed in the F1 generation. Results: The clinical study showed that severe 25OHD deficiency was associated with low birth weight and low gestational age. ANCOVA models indicated that established confounding factors such as offspring sex, smoking during pregnancy and maternal BMI did not influence the impact of 25OHD on birth weight. However, there was a significant interaction between 25OHD and gestational age. Maternal 25OHD deficiency was also independently associated with low APGAR scores 5 minutes postpartum. The offspring of 25OHD deficient mice grew slower after birth, had an impaired glucose tolerance shortly after birth and an increased mortality during follow-up. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates an association between maternal 25OHD and offspring birth weight. The effect of 25OHD on birth weight seems to be mediated by vitamin D controlling gestational age. Results from an animal experiment suggest that gestational 25OHD insufficiency is causally linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Since birth weight and prematurity are associated with an adverse cardiovascular outcome in later life, this study emphasizes the need for novel monitoring and treatment guidelines of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FischerKempeLeibrocketal.2010,
  author    = {Fischer, Stephanie S. and Kempe, Daniela S. and Leibrock, Christina B. and Rexhepaj, Rexhep and Siraskar, Balasaheb and Boini, Krishna M. and Ackermann, Teresa F. and Foeller, Michael and Hocher, Berthold and Rosenblatt, Kevin P. and Kuro-o, Makoto and Lang, Florian},
  title     = {Hyperaldosteronism in Klotho-deficient mice},
  issn      = {1931-857X},
  doi       = {10.1152/ajprenal.00233.2010},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Klotho is a membrane protein participating in the inhibitory effect of FGF23 on the formation of 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin-D-3 [1,25(OH)(2)D-3]. It participates in the regulation of renal tubular phosphate reabsorption and stimulates renal tubular Ca2+ reabsorption. Klotho hypomorphic mice (klotho(hm)) suffer from severe growth deficit, rapid aging, and early death, events largely reversed by a vitamin D-deficient diet. The present study explored the role of Klotho deficiency in mineral and electrolyte metabolism. To this end, klothohm mice and wild-type mice (klotho(+/+)) were subjected to a normal (D+) or vitamin D-deficient (D-) diet or to a vitamin D-deficient diet for 4 wk and then to a normal diet (D-/+). At the age of 8 wk, body weight was significantly lower in klotho(hm)D(+) mice than in klotho(+/ +)D(+) mice, klotho(hm)D(-) mice, and klotho(hm)D(-/+) mice. Plasma concentrations of 1,25(OH)(2)D-3, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and aldosterone were significantly higher in klotho(hm)D(+) mice than in klotho(+/+)D(+) mice. Plasma volume was significantly smaller in klotho(hm)D(-/+) mice, and plasma urea, Ca2+, phosphate and Na+, but not K+ concentrations were significantly higher in klotho(hm)D(+) mice than in klotho(+/+)D(+) mice. The differences were partially abrogated by a vitamin D-deficient diet. Moreover, the hyperaldosteronism was partially reversed by Ca2+-deficient diet. Ussing chamber experiments revealed a marked increase in amiloride-sensitive current across the colonic epithelium, pointing to enhanced epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity. A salt-deficient diet tended to decrease and a salt-rich diet significantly increased the life span of klotho(hm)D(+) mice. In conclusion, the present observation disclose that the excessive formation of 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 in Klotho-deficient mice results in extracellular volume depletion, which significantly contributes to the shortening of life span.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FoellerMahmudQadrietal.2010,
  author    = {Foeller, Michael and Mahmud, Hasan and Qadri, Syed M. and Gu, Shuchen and Braun, Manuel and Bobbala, Diwakar and Hocher, Berthold and Lang, Florian},
  title     = {Endothelin B receptor stimulation inhibits suicidal erythrocyte death},
  issn      = {0892-6638},
  doi       = {10.1096/Fj.10-159483},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Endothelins (ETs), potent endothelium-derived mediators, stimulate formation of nitric oxide, which, in turn, protects against suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, characterized by phosphatidylserine exposure at the erythrocyte surface and triggered by increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+](i)). The present study explored whether the ET1- receptor ETB influences suicidal erythrocyte death. To this end, [Ca2+](i) (Fluo3-fluorescence) and phosphatidylserine exposure (annexin V-binding) were determined utilizing FACS analysis. Energy depletion increased [Ca2+]i and phosphatidylserine-exposure, effects significantly blunted by ET1 (IC50 approximate to 100 nM) and the ETB receptor- agonist sarafotoxin 6c (IC50 approximate to 10 nM) but not by ET2 and ET3. ET1 and sarafotoxin significantly delayed the kinetics of suicidal erythrocyte death following energy depletion. ETB stimulation did not blunt the effect of Ca2+- ionophore ionomycin (1 mu M) on phosphatidylserine exposure. The in vivo significance was tested using rescued ETB- knockout (etb(-/-)) and wild-type (etb(+/+)) mice. The number of phosphatidylserine-exposing erythrocytes, of reticulocytes and spleen size were significantly larger in etb(-/-) mice than in etb(+/+)-mice. The etb(-/-) erythrocytes were more susceptible to the eryptotic effect of oxidative stress and more rapidly cleared from circulating blood than etb(+/+) erythrocytes. Finally, the spleens from etb(-/-) mice were enlarged and contained markedly more phosphatidylserine- exposing erythrocytes than spleens from etb(+/+) mice. The observations disclose a novel function of ET1, i. e., protection from suicidal erythrocyte death.},
  language  = {en}
}