TY - JOUR A1 - Zebger-Gong, Hong A1 - Mueller, Dominik A1 - Diercke, Michaela A1 - Haffner, Dieter A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Verberckmoes, Steven A1 - Schmidt, Sven A1 - D'Haese, Patrick C. A1 - Querfeld, Uwe T1 - 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-3-induced aortic calcifications in experimental uremia: up-regulation of osteoblast markers, calcium-transporting proteins and osterix JF - Journal of hypertension N2 - Background and objective Whether treatment with vitamin D receptor activators contributes to cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease is a matter of debate. We studied mechanisms involved in vitamin D-related vascular calcifications in vivo and in vitro. Methods Aortic calcifications were induced in subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) rats by treatment with a high dose (0.25 mu g/kg per day) of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (calcitriol) given for 6 weeks. Likewise, primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were incubated with calcitriol at concentrations ranging from 10(-11) to 10(-7) mol/l. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the aortic expression of osteopontin, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein was significantly increased in calcitriol-treated SNX rats compared to untreated SNX controls. In addition, aortic expression of the transient receptor potential vanilloid calcium channel 6 (TRPV6) and calbindin D9k was significantly up-regulated by treatment with calcitriol. Furthermore, calcitriol significantly increased expression of the osteogenic transcription factor osterix. In-vitro studies showed similar results, confirming that these effects could be attributed to treatment with calcitriol. Conclusions High-dose calcitriol treatment induces an osteoblastic phenotype in VSMC both in SNX rats and in vitro, associated with up-regulation of proteins regulating mineralization and calcium transport, and of the osteogenic transcription factor osterix. KW - calbindin D9k KW - calcitriol KW - calcium transport KW - osteoblast KW - osterix KW - TRPV5 KW - TRPV6 KW - vascular calcification Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e328340aa30 SN - 0263-6352 VL - 29 IS - 2 SP - 339 EP - 348 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wengenmayer, Christina A1 - Krikov, Maxim A1 - Mueller, Susanne A1 - Lucht, Kristin A1 - Villringer, Arno A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Unger, Thomas A1 - Thoene-Reineke, Christa T1 - Novel therapy approach in primary stroke prevention simultaneous inhibition of endothelin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase in spontaneously hypertensive, stroke-prone rats improves survival JF - Neurological research : a journal of progress in neurosurgery and neurosciences N2 - Objectives: Stroke, frequently a consequence of hypertension, is one of the leading causes of death and neurological disabilities worldwide. In the ischemic brain, levels of endothelin-1, one of the most potent vasoconstrictors, are raised. Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of endothelin antagonists after stroke have been described in literature. Based on these findings, we investigated the protective effect of the endothelin converting enzyme/neutral endopeptidase blocker, SLV 338, in salt-loaded, stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods: Male, 8-week-old spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats were put on a high salt diet and treated with either 30 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg SLV 338 or vehicle for 27 weeks. Blood pressure, neurological outcome, body weight, and mortality were investigated throughout treatment. In weeks 1 and 9, animals were housed in metabolic cages for collection of urinary and blood samples and assessment of salt water and food intake. In weeks 22 and 27, additional blood samples were taken. At the end of the study, all brains were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging. Results: SLV 338 was well tolerated in all animals. Neurological outcome and infarct size were similar in all groups. Albuminuria was considerably delayed and the incidence of stroke significantly lowered in treated animals. In spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats, treatment with SLV 338 significantly (P=0.01) improved survival in comparison to the vehicle treated group in a blood pressure-independent manner. Discussion: Our data in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats demonstrate that combined endothelin converting enzyme/neutral endopeptidase inhibition could offer a new therapeutic approach for primary stroke prevention and improvement of mortality. The mechanism seems to be blood pressure-independent. KW - Endothelin KW - Hypertension KW - Natriuretic peptides KW - Stroke Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1179/016164111X12881719352534 SN - 0161-6412 VL - 33 IS - 2 SP - 201 EP - 207 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Leeds ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vignon-Zellweger, Nicolas A1 - Relle, Katharina A1 - Kienlen, Elodie A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Seider, Patrick A1 - Sharkovska, Juliya A1 - Heiden, Susi A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - Schwab, Karima A1 - Albrecht-Kuepper, Barbara A1 - Theuring, Franz A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Endothelin-1 overexpression restores diastolic function in eNOS knockout mice JF - Journal of hypertension N2 - Background The cardiac nitric oxide and endothelin-1 (ET-1) systems are closely linked and play a critical role in cardiac physiology. The balance between both systems is often disturbed in cardiovascular diseases. To define the cardiac effect of excessive ET-1 in a status of nitric oxide deficiency, we compared left ventricular function and morphology in wild-type mice, ET-1 transgenic (ET+/+) mice, endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS(-/-)) mice, and ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice. Methods and results eNOS(-/-) and ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice developed high blood pressure compared with wild-type and ET+/+ mice. Left ventricular catheterization showed that eNOS(-/-) mice, but not ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-), developed diastolic dysfunction characterized by increased end-diastolic pressure and relaxation constant tau. To elucidate the causal molecular mechanisms driving the rescue of diastolic function in ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, the cardiac proteome was analyzed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry offers an appropriate hypothesis-free approach. ET-1 overexpression on an eNOS(-/-) background led to an elevated abundance and change in posttranslational state of antioxidant enzymes (e. g., peroxiredoxin-6, glutathione S-transferase mu 2, and heat shock protein beta 7). In contrast to ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, eNOS(-/-) mice showed an elevated abundance of proteins responsible for sarcomere disassembly (e. g., cofilin-1 and cofilin-2). In ET(+/+)eNOS(-/-) mice, glycolysis was favored at the expense of fatty acid oxidation. Conclusion eNOS(-/-) mice developed diastolic dysfunction; this was rescued by ET-1 transgenic overexpression. This study furthermore suggests that cardiac ET-1 overexpression in case of eNOS deficiency causes specifically the regulation of proteins playing a role in oxidative stress, myocytes contractility, and energy metabolism. KW - cardiovascular diseases KW - endothelin KW - nitric oxide Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e3283450770 SN - 0263-6352 SN - 1473-5598 VL - 29 IS - 5 SP - 961 EP - 970 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thawnashom, Kittisak A1 - Tungtrongchitr, Rungsunn A1 - Chanchay, Siriporn A1 - Tungtrongchitr, Anchalee A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Association between Retinol-Binding protein and renal function among Asian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus a cross-sectionaö study JF - The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health : official publication of the SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Project (TROPMED) N2 - Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been suggested as new adipokine, possibly linking obesity to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since the kidneys are the main site of RBP4 degradation and since renal failure is a frequent co-morbid condition with diabetes mellitus, we evaluated the association among RBP4, renal function and T2DM in an Asian population. RBP4 serum levels were analyzed in 110 subjects (50 with T2DM) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Based on a cut-off estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (calculated according the abbreviated MDRD formula which uses serum creatinine level, age and gender) and on the T2DM status, subjects were assigned to four subgroups: Group A - controls with an eGFR > 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), Group B - controls with an eGFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), Group C- T2DM subjects with an eGFR>60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), and Group D - T2DM subjects with an eGFR <60 ml/ mm per 1.73 m(2). In both the T2DM and control groups, RBP4 levels were higher in subjects with an eGFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) than in subjects with an eGFR >60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). However, the difference was only significant between the control groups (p <0.05). After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, eGFR and the presence of T2DM, eGFR, not T2DM, was associated with plasma RBP4 levels (p<0.05). These results suggest among Asians the eGFR, but not the presence of T2DM, is a major determinant of RBP4 serum levels. The eGFR should be taken into account when evaluating the role of RBP4 in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and T2DM. KW - retinol-binding protein 4 KW - renal function KW - type 2 diabetes mellitus KW - Asian subjects Y1 - 2011 SN - 0125-1562 VL - 42 IS - 4 SP - 936 EP - 945 PB - SEAMEO CY - Bangkok ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sharkovska, Yuliya A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - von Websky, Karoline A1 - Relle, Katharina A1 - Pfab, Thiemo A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Fischer, Yvan A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Renoprotective effects of combined endothelin-converting enzyme/neutral endopeptidase inhibitor SLV338 in acute and chronic experimental renal damage JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) as well as chronic renal failure are associated with a huge mortality/morbidity. However, so far no drugs have been approved for the treatment of acute kidney failure and only a few for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We analysed the effect of SLV 338, a neutral endopeptidase (NEP)/endothelin converting enzyme (ECE)-inhibitor in animal models of acute kidney failure as well as chronic renal failure. Methods: Acute renal failure was induced in male Wistar rats by uninephrectomy and clamping of the remaining kidney for 55 minutes. SLV338 (total dose: 4.9 mg/kg) or vehicle was continuously infused for 2 hours (starting 20 minutes prior to clamping). Sham operated animals served as controls. Plasma creatinine was measured at baseline and day 2 and 8 after renal ischemia-reperfusion. Hypertensive renal damage was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by nitric oxide deficiency using L-NAME (50 mg/kg per day, added to drinking water for 4 weeks). One group was treated over the same time period with SLV338 (30 mg/kg per day, mixed with food). Systolic blood pressure was monitored weekly. At study end, urine and blood samples were collected and kidneys were harvested. Results: Acute renal ischemia-reperfusion caused a 5-fold plasma creatinine elevation (day 2), which was significantly attenuated by more than 50 % in animals treated with SLV338 (p < 0.05). Renal failure was accompanied by a 67 % mortality in vehicle-treated rats, but only 20 % after SLV338 treatment (p = 0.03 compared to sham controls). Chronic L-NAME administration caused hypertension, urinary albumin excretion, glomerulosclerosis, renal arterial remodelling, and renal interstitial fibrosis. Treatment with SLV338 did not significantly affect blood pressure, but abolished renal tissue damage (interstitial fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, renal arterial remodelling (p < 0.05 versus L-NAME group in each case). Conclusions: The dual ECE/NEP inhibitor SLV338 preserves kidney function and reduces mortality in severe acute ischemic renal failure. Moreover, combined ECE/NEP inhibition prevents hypertensive renal tissue damage in a blood pressure independent manner in L-NAME-treated rats. KW - Renal failure KW - endothelin-converting enzyme KW - neutral endopeptidase Y1 - 2011 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 57 IS - 7-8 SP - 507 EP - 515 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - THES A1 - Schüler, Rita T1 - Identifizierung und Charakterisierung neuer natürlicher Liganden des Peroxisomen-Proliferator aktivierten Rezeptors y (PPARy) Y1 - 2011 CY - Potsdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Reimann, J. T1 - Micronutrients and their Relevance for the Eye - Function of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids JF - Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde N2 - Micronutrients play an important role in function and health maintenance for the eye. Especially lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids perform remarkable functions: lutein together with zeaxanthin forms the macular pigment, these carotenoids filter out the damaging blue light component from the sunlight as well as the ultraviolet light which leads to improved contrast sensitivity and less problems with screen glare. Furthermore, the macular pigment has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The omega-3 fatty acids also possess anti-inflammatory effects and, when converted into neuroprotectin, they protect against oxidative induced apoptosis in the retina. They are also responsible for the fluidity and supply to the photoreceptor membrane. These properties are important for the prevention and treatment of degenerative eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration. However, older people are often not sufficiently supplied of micronutrients in their diet. Because the supply of nutrients can hardly be achieved by dietary change, the additional intake in the form of food supplements is useful in this age group. Scientific studies have shown the positive effects of supplementation with micronutrients such as lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA and EPA). Currently available nutritional products are based in part on the ingredients of the ARED study (Age Related Eye Disease Study). According to more recent studies formulations containing lutein and omega-3 fatty acids in physiologically meaningful doses without additional beta-carotene should be preferred. 10 to 20 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin represent a safe daily dose Regarding to the context above, beta-carotene in high doses plays a minor role to the eye and is especially critical for the health of smokers. This paper summarises the functions of the presented micronutrients in the eye and can assist ophthalmologists in advising their patients. KW - AMD KW - lutein KW - omega-3 fatty acids KW - macular pigment density KW - micronutrients KW - dosage recommendation Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1245527 SN - 0023-2165 VL - 228 IS - 6 SP - 537 EP - 543 PB - Thieme CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - THES A1 - Schulz, Nadja T1 - Die Rolle der 3-L-Hydroxyacyl-Coenzym-A-Dehydrogenase in der Regulation des örpergewichts, der Thermogenese sowie der Glucosehomöostase Y1 - 2011 CY - Potsdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schildroth, Janice A1 - Rettig-Zimmermann, Juliane A1 - Kalk, Philipp A1 - Steege, Andreas A1 - Faehling, Michael A1 - Sendeski, Mauricio A1 - Paliege, Alexander A1 - Lai, En Yin A1 - Bachmann, Sebastian A1 - Persson, Pontus B. A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Patzak, Andreas T1 - Endothelin type A and B receptors in the control of afferent and efferent arterioles in mice JF - Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation N2 - Background. Endothelin 1 contributes to renal blood flow control and pathogenesis of kidney diseases. The differential effects, however, of endothelin 1 (ET-1) on afferent (AA) and efferent arterioles (EA) remain to be established. Methods. We investigated endothelin type A and B receptor (ETA-R, ETB-R) functions in the control of AA and EA. Arterioles of ETB-R deficient, rescued mice [ETB (-/-)] and wild types [ETB(+/+)] were microperfused. Results. ET-1 constricted AA stronger than EA in ETB (-/-) and ETB(+/+) mice. Results in AA: ET-1 induced similar constrictions in ETB(-/-) and ETB(+/+) mice. BQ-123 (ETA-R antagonist) inhibited this response in both groups. ALA-ET-1 and IRL1620 (ETB-R agonists) had no effect on arteriolar diameter. L-NAME did neither affect basal diameters nor ET-1 responses. Results in EA: ET-1 constricted EA stronger in ETB(+/+) compared to ETB(-/-). BQ-123 inhibited the constriction completely only in ETB(-/-). ALA-ET-1 and IRL1620 constricted only arterioles of ETB(+/+) mice. L-NAME decreased basal diameter in ETB(+/+), but not in ETB(-/-) mice and increased the ET-1 response similarly in both groups. The L-NAME actions indicate a contribution of ETB-R in basal nitric oxide (NO) release in EA and suggest dilatory action of ETA-R in EA. Conclusions. ETA-R mediates vasoconstriction in AA and contributes to vasoconstriction in EA in this mouse model. ETB-R has no effect in AA but mediates basal NO release and constriction in EA. The stronger effect of ET-1 on AA supports observations of decreased glomerular filtration rate to ET-1 and indicates a potential contribution of ET-1 to the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. KW - endothelin KW - ETB receptor-deficient mouse KW - glomerular arterioles KW - renal haemodynamics Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfq534 SN - 0931-0509 VL - 26 IS - 3 SP - 779 EP - 789 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - THES A1 - Schatz, Daniela T1 - LNA-clamp-PCR zum sensitiven Nachweis von Punktmutationen im Rahmen der Entwicklung eines Darmkrebsfrüherkennungstests T1 - LNA-clamp-PCR as a method for sensitive detection of point mutations as part of the development of an assay for the early diagnosis of colon cancer N2 - Darmkrebs ist die zweithäufigste malignombedingte Todesursache in den westlichen Industrieländern. Durch eine frühzeitige Diagnose besteht jedoch eine hohe Chance auf Heilung. Der Goldstandard zur Darmkrebsfrüherkennung ist gegenwärtig die Koloskopie. Eine Darmspiegelung ist jedoch invasiv und mit Unannehmlichkeiten für den Patienten verbunden. Die Akzeptanz in der Bevölkerung ist daher gering. Ziel des BMBF- Projektes „Entwicklung eines nichtinvasiven Nachweissystems zur Früherkennung von humanem Darmkrebs“, in dessen Rahmen diese Arbeit entstand, ist die Bereitstellung eines nichtinvasiven Nachweisverfahrens zur Darmkrebsfrüherkennung. Der Nachweis soll über die Detektion von aus neoplastischen Zellen stammender DNA in Stuhl erfolgen. Die Entartung dieser Zellen beruht auf Veränderungen im Erbgut, welches unter anderem Mutationen sind. Im ersten Teil des BMBF-Projektes wurde ein Set von Mutationen zusammengestellt, welches eine hohe Sensitivität für Vorstufen von Darmkrebs aufweist. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, eine Nachweismethode für die zuvor identifizierten Punktmutationen zu entwickeln. Das Nachweisverfahren musste dabei unempfindlich gegen einen hohen Hintergrund nichtmutierter DNA sein, da im Stuhl geringe Mengen DNA aus neoplastischen Zellen bei einem hohen Hintergrund von DNA aus gesunden Zellen vorliegen. Hierzu wurden Plasmidmodellsysteme für die aus dem Marker-Set stammenden Genfragmente BRAF und dessen Mutante V600E, CTNNB1 und T41I, T41A, S45P und K-ras G12C hergestellt. Mit Hilfe dieser Plasmidmodellsysteme wurde dann das Nachweissystem entwickelt. Der entscheidende Schritt für die Detektion von Punktmutationen bei hohem Wildtypüberschuss ist eine vorhergehende Anreicherung. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde dazu die Methode der LNA-clamp-PCR (locked nucleic acid) etabliert. Die Bewertung der erzielten Anreicherung erfolgte über das relative Detektionslimit. Zur Bestimmung des Detektionslimits wurde die Schmelzkurvenanalyse von Hybridisierungssonden eingesetzt; diese wurde im Rahmen dieser Arbeit für die drei oben genannten Genfragmente und ihre Mutanten entwickelt. Die LNA-clamp-PCR wird in Anwesenheit eines LNA-Blockers durchgeführt. Das Nukleotidanalogon LNA weist im Vergleich zu DNA eine erhöhte Affinität zu komplementären DNA-Strängen auf. Gleichzeitig kommt es bei Anwesenheit einer Basenfehlpaarung zu einer größeren Destabilisierung der Bindung. Als Blocker werden kurze LNA-DNA-Hybridoligonukleotide eingesetzt, die den mutierten Sequenzbereich überspannen und selbst der Wildtypsequenz entsprechen. Durch Bindung an die Wildtypsequenz wird deren Amplifikation während der PCR verhindert (clamp = arretieren, festklemmen). Der Blocker selbst wird dabei nicht verlängert. Der Blocker bindet unter optimalen Bedingungen jedoch nicht an die mutierte Sequenz. Die Mutante wird daher ungehindert amplifiziert und somit gegenüber dem Wildtyp-Fragment angereichert. Die Position des Blockers kann im Bindungsbereich eines der Primer sein und hier dessen Hybridisierung an dem Wildtyp-Fragment verhindern oder zwischen den beiden Primern liegen und so die Synthese durch die Polymerase inhibieren. Die Anwendbarkeit beider Systeme wurde in dieser Arbeit gezeigt. Die LNA-clamp-PCR mit Primerblocker wurde für BRAF etabliert. Es wurde ein Detektionslimit von mindestens 1:100 erzielt. Die LNA-clamp-PCR mit Amplifikationsblocker wurde erfolgreich für BRAF, K-ras und CTNNB1: T41I, T41A mit einem Detektionslimit von 1:1000 bis 1:10 000 entwickelt. In Stuhlproben liegt DNA aus neoplastischen Zellen nach Literaturangaben zu einem Anteil von 1% bis 0,1% vor. Die LNA-clamp-PCR weist also mit Amplifikationsblockern ein ausreichend hohes Detektionslimit für die Analyse von Stuhlproben auf. Durch die erfolgreiche Etablierung der Methode auf drei verschiedenen Genfragmenten und vier unterschiedlichen Punktmutationen konnte deren universelle Einsetzbarkeit gezeigt werden. Für die Ausweitung der LNA-clamp-PCR auf die übrigen Mutationen des Marker-Sets wurden Richtlinien ausgearbeitet und die Blockereffizienz als Kennzahl eingeführt. Die LNA-clamp-PCR ist ein schnelles, kostengünstiges Verfahren, welches einen geringen Arbeitsaufwand erfordert und wenig fehleranfällig ist. Sie ist somit ein geeignetes Anreicherungsverfahren für Punktmutationen in einem diagnostischen System zur Darmkrebsfrüherkennung. Darüber hinaus kann die LNA-clamp-PCR auch in anderen Bereichen, in denen die Detektion von Punktmutationen in einem hohen Wildtyphintergrund erforderlich ist, eingesetzt werden. N2 - Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the western world. However if diagnosed early there is a great chance curing the disease. Coloscopy is the gold standard for early detection of colorectal cancer today. Its greatest disadvantage is the fact that it is an invasive technique and provides some discomfort for the patients. Therefore, the compliance to undergo such a procedure is extremely low. This work was generated in the context of the BMBF-project „Development of a non-invasive assay for the early detection of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the human colon“. The aim of the work described here is the development of a non-invasive assay for the early detection of colon cancer. The assay should detect DNA from neoplastic cells in feces samples. The transformation of these cells is based on alterations in the genome predominantly mutations. In the first part of the BMBF-project a mutation panel with high sensitivity for preneoplastic lesions of colon cancer was determined. The aim of this work was to develop a detection method for the point mutations of the determined mutation panel. The rare mutant DNA needs to be detected in the presence of a great amount of wild-type DNA shed from healthy tissue. The assay system needs to be insensitive to this high background of healthy DNA. Therefore a model system of plasmid DNA containing gene fragments of BRAF and its mutation V600E, CTNNB1 and T41I, T41A, S45P and K-ras G12C obtained from the marker panel was established. Using these plasmid system the detection method was developed. The most critical parameter for the detection of rare point mutations is an enrichment of these rare DNA molecules. In this work LNA-clamp-PCR (locked nucleic acid) technology was used to enrich the mutant DNA.. For the estimation of the achieved enrichment the relative detection limit was used. The detection limit was determined by melting curve analysis of hybridization probes. These assays were established in the present work for the three above mentioned gene fragments. LNA-clamp-PCR is performed in the presence of an LNA blocker. LNA is a synthetic DNA analog. LNA nucleotide analog bind to complementary DNA strands with higher affinity. In addition a single mismatch in the LNA-DNA duplex causes a much greater destabilization compared to a DNA-DNA duplex. Short LNA-DNA-hybrids were used as clamp, which cover the mutated region and represent the wild-type sequence. Within an appropriate temperature range, LNA can specifically bind to wild type template and can inhibit its amplification. The clamp itself will not be elongated. Under optimal conditions the LNA clamp will not interfere with the amplification of the mismatched template. Therefore the mutated gene fragment will be enriched in comparison to the wild-type. The position of the LNA clamp can either be at the primer binding site inhibiting primer hybridization on the wild-type fragment or the LNA clamp is positioned between the two primer binding sites inhibiting chain elongation of the perfectly matched template. In the present work both systems were applied. For the gene fragment BRAF the LNA was used at the primer binding site. The achieved detection limit was at least 1:100. The LNA-clamp-PCR with LNA inhibiting the chain elongation were developed successfully for BRAF, K-ras and CTNNB1: T41I, T41A achieving a detection limit of 1:1000 to 1:10 000. According to the literature 1% to 0.1% of the DNA in feces derives from neoplastic cells. Therefore the detection limit achieved by LNA-clamp-PCR with LNA inhibiting chain elongation would be sufficient for analyzing feces samples. LNA-clamp-PCR protocols were established for three different gene fragments and four diverse point mutations indicating that the technology can generally be used for high sensitive detection of DNA mutations. For the development of LNA-clamp-PCR protocols for the other mutations of the marker panel development guidelines were established. Clamp efficiency was identified as a quantitative parameter for protocol optimization. The LNA-clamp-PCR is a robust, fast and cost-saving technique which needs low labor input. Therefore the method is adequate for enriching point mutated gene fragments in a diagnostic assay for the detection of early colon cancer stages. In addition LNA-clamp-PCR can be applied in other fields where rare sequence variations need to be detected in the presence of high wild-type DNA background. KW - LNA-clamp-PCR KW - Darmkrebsdiagnostik KW - Punktmutation KW - BRAF KW - K-ras KW - LNA- clamp-PCR KW - colon cancer diagnosis KW - point mutation KW - BRAF KW - K-ras Y1 - 2011 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-52308 ER -