TY  - JOUR
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Tsuprykov, Oleg
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Endothelin receptor antagonists in clinical research - Lessons learned from preclinical and clinical kidney studies
JF  - Life sciences : molecular, cellular and functional basis of therapy
N2  - Endothelin receptor antagonists (ETRAs) are approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and scleroderma-related digital ulcers. The efforts to approve this class of drugs for renal indications, however, failed so far. Preclinical studies were promising. Transgenic overexpression of ET-1 or ET-2 in rodents causes chronic renal failure. Blocking the ET system was effective in the treatment of renal failure in rodent models. However, various animal studies indicate that blocking the renal tubular ETAR and ETBR causes water and salt retention partially mediated via the epithelial sodium transporter in tubular cells. ETRAs were successfully tested clinically in renal indications in phase 2 trials for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. They showed efficacy in terms of reducing albumin excretion on top of guideline based background therapy (RAS blockade). However, these promising results could not be translated to successful phase Ill trials so far. The spectrum of serious adverse events was similar to other phase III trials using ETRAs. Potential underlying reasons for these failures and options to solve these issues are discussed. In addition preclinical and clinical studies suggest caution when addressing renal patient populations such as patients with hepatorenal syndrome, patients with any type of cystic kidney disease and patients at risk of contrast media induced nephropathy. The lessons learned in renal indications are also important for other potential promising indications of ETRAs like cancer and heart failure. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
KW  - Endothelin receptor antagonists
KW  - Kidney
KW  - Side effects
KW  - Safety
KW  - Water and salt retention
KW  - Clinical trials
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2014.02.025
SN  - 0024-3205
SN  - 1879-0631
VL  - 118
IS  - 2
SP  - 141
EP  - 148
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chen, You-Peng
A1  - Lu, Yong-Ping
A1  - Li, Jian
A1  - Liu, Zhi-Wei
A1  - Chen, Wen-Jing
A1  - Liang, Xu-Jing
A1  - Chen, Xin
A1  - Wen, Wang-Rong
A1  - Xiao, Xiao-Min
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Fetal and maternal angiotensin (1-7) are associated with preterm birth
JF  - Journal of hypertension
N2  - Background: Recent studies show that preterm birth is associated with hypertension in later life. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during pregnancy influences fetal growth and development. In the current study, we investigated the impact of fetal as well as maternal angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] and angiotensin II (Ang II) plasma concentrations on the risk of preterm birth.
 Methods: Three hundred and nine pregnant women were prospectively included into the study. The pregnant women were divided into two groups, for example, preterm birth of lower than 37 gestational weeks (n = 17) and full-term birth of 37 gestational weeks or more (n = 292). Maternal and neonatal plasma Ang (1-7) and Ang II concentrations were analyzed at birth from maternal venous blood and umbilical cord blood, respectively. Risk factors for premature birth were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis.
 Results: Fetal and maternal plasma Ang (1-7) concentrations in the preterm group were lower than those of the term group fetal Ang (1-7) preterm birth: 486.15 +/- 337.34 ng/l and fetal Ang (1-7) term birth: 833.84 +/- 698.12 ng/l and maternal Ang (1-7) preterm birth: 399.86 +/- 218.93 ng/l; maternal Ang (1-7) term birth: 710.34 +/- 598.22 ng/l. Multiple logistic regression analysis considering confounding factors revealed that preeclampsia (P < 0.001), premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.001), lower concentration of maternal Ang (1-7) (P = 0.013) and fetal plasma Ang (1-7) (P = 0.032) were independently associated with preterm birth. We could furthermore demonstrate that the maternal Ang (1-7)/Ang II ratio is independently associated with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, factors causing preterm birth.
 Conclusions: Lower concentrations of maternal and fetal Ang (1-7) are independently associated with preterm birth - a risk factor of hypertension in later life.
KW  - angiotensin (1-7)
KW  - angiotensin II
KW  - cardiovascular disease
KW  - fetal programming
KW  - intrauterine fetal growth
KW  - pregnancy
KW  - preterm delivery
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000000251
SN  - 0263-6352
SN  - 1473-5598
VL  - 32
IS  - 9
SP  - 1833
EP  - 1841
PB  - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
CY  - Philadelphia
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - von Websky, Karoline
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Physiology and pathophysiology of incretins in the kidney
JF  - Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension : reviews of all advances, evaluations of key references, comprehensive listing of papers
N2  - Purpose of reviewIncretin-based therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is considered a promising therapeutic option for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cumulative evidence, mainly from preclinical animal studies, reveals that incretin-based therapies also may elicit beneficial effects on kidney function. This review gives an overview of the physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology of the renal incretin system.Recent findingsActivation of GLP-1R in the kidney leads to diuretic and natriuretic effects, possibly through direct actions on renal tubular cells and sodium transporters. Moreover, there is evidence that incretin-based therapy reduces albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in the kidney, partially through GLP-1R-independent pathways. Molecular mechanisms by which incretins exert their renal effects are understood incompletely, thus further studies are needed.SummaryThe GLP-1R and DPP-4 are expressed in the kidney in various species. The kidney plays an important role in the excretion of incretin metabolites and most GLP-1R agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors, thus special attention is required when applying incretin-based therapy in renal impairment. Preclinical observations suggest direct renoprotective effects of incretin-based therapies in the setting of hypertension and other disorders of sodium retention, as well as in diabetic and nondiabetic nephropathy. Clinical studies are needed in order to confirm translational relevance from preclinical findings for treatment options of renal diseases.
KW  - DDP-4 inhibition
KW  - diabetes
KW  - diabetic nephropathy
KW  - GLP-1 receptor
KW  - hypertension
KW  - incretins
KW  - kidney
KW  - renal impairment
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mnh.0000437542.77175.a0
SN  - 1062-4821
SN  - 1473-6543
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
SP  - 54
EP  - 60
PB  - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
CY  - Philadelphia
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zirafi, Onofrio
A1  - Kim, Kyeong-Ae
A1  - Ständker, Ludger
A1  - Mohr, Katharina B.
A1  - Sauter, Daniel
A1  - Heigele, Anke
A1  - Kluge, Silvia F.
A1  - Wiercinska, Eliza
A1  - Chudziak, Doreen
A1  - Richter, Rudolf
A1  - Möpps, Barbara
A1  - Gierschik, Peter
A1  - Vas, Virag
A1  - Geiger, Hartmut
A1  - Lamla, Markus
A1  - Weil, Tanja
A1  - Burster, Timo
A1  - Zgraja, Andreas
A1  - Daubeuf, Francois
A1  - Frossard, Nelly
A1  - Hachet-Haas, Muriel
A1  - Heunisch, Fabian
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Galzi, Jean-Luc
A1  - Perez-Castells, Javier
A1  - Canales-Mayordomo, Angeles
A1  - Jimenez-Barbero, Jesus
A1  - Gimenez-Gallego, Guillermo
A1  - Schneider, Marion
A1  - Shorter, James
A1  - Telenti, Amalio
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
A1  - Forssmann, Wolf-Georg
A1  - Bonig, Halvard
A1  - Kirchhoff, Frank
A1  - Münch, Jan
T1  - Discovery and Characterization of an Endogenous CXCR4 Antagonist
JF  - Cell reports
N2  - CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling controls multiple physiological processes and its dysregulation is associated with cancers and inflammatory diseases. To discover as-yet-unknown endogenous ligands of CXCR4, we screened a blood-derived peptide library for inhibitors of CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 strains. This approach identified a 16 amino acid fragment of serum albumin as an effective and highly specific CXCR4 antagonist. The endogenous peptide, termed EPI-X4, is evolutionarily conserved and generated from the highly abundant albumin precursor by pH-regulated proteases. EPI-X4 forms an unusual lasso-like structure and antagonizes CXCL12-induced tumor cell migration, mobilizes stem cells, and suppresses inflammatory responses in mice. Furthermore, the peptide is abundant in the urine of patients with inflammatory kidney diseases and may serve as a biomarker. Our results identify EPI-X4 as a key regulator of CXCR4 signaling and introduce proteolysis of an abundant precursor protein as an alternative concept for chemokine receptor regulation.
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2015.03.061
SN  - 2211-1247
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
SP  - 737
EP  - 747
PB  - Cell Press
CY  - Cambridge
ER  - 
TY  - CHAP
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - von Websky, Karoline
A1  - Tsuprykov, Oleg
A1  - Antonenko, V.
A1  - Samarin, Azin Mohagheghi
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Effects of DPP-4 inhibition on glomerular and tubular function in a rat model of ischaemia-reperfusion injury
T2  - Diabetologia : journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
Y1  - 2015
SN  - 0012-186X
SN  - 1432-0428
VL  - 58
SP  - S34
EP  - S35
PB  - Springer
CY  - New York
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tsuprykov, Oleg
A1  - Chaykovska, Lyubov
A1  - Kretschmer, Axel
A1  - Stasch, Johannes-Peter
A1  - Pfab, Thiemo
A1  - Krause-Relle, Katharina
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Kalk, Philipp
A1  - Adamski, Jerzy
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Endothelin-1 overexpression improves renal function in eNOS knockout mice
JF  - Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology
N2  - Background/Aims: To investigate the renal phenotype under conditions of an activated renal ET-1 system in the status of nitric oxide deficiency, we compared kidney function and morphology in wild-type, ET-1 transgenic (ET+/+), endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS-/-) and ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Methods: We assessed blood pressure, parameters of renal morphology, plasma cystatin C, urinary protein excretion, expression of genes associated with glomerular filtration barrier and tissue remodeling, and plasma metabolites using metabolomics. Results: eNOS-/- and ET+/+eNOS-/- mice developed hypertension. Osteopontin, albumin and protein excretion were increased in eNOS-/- and restored in ET+/+eNOS-/- animals. All genetically modified mice developed renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. Genes involved in tissue remodeling (serpinel, TIMP1, Collal, CCL2) were up-regulated in eNOS-/-, but not in ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Plasma levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines, amino acids, diacyl phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and hexoses were descreased in eNOS-/- and were in the normal range in ET+/+eNOS-/- mice. Conclusion: eNOS-/- mice developed renal dysfunction, which was partially rescued by ET-1 overexpression in eNOS-/- mice. The metabolomics results suggest that ET-1 overexpression on top of eNOS knockout is associated with a functional recovery of mitochondria (rescue effect in 13-oxidation of fatty acids) and an increase in antioxidative properties (normalization of monounsaturated fatty acids levels). (C) 2015 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel
KW  - Chronic kidney disease
KW  - Endothelial nitric oxide synthase
KW  - Endothelin
KW  - Mice
KW  - Nitric oxide
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1159/000438516
SN  - 1015-8987
SN  - 1421-9778
VL  - 37
IS  - 4
SP  - 1474
EP  - 1490
PB  - Karger
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - CHAP
A1  - Chen, Hong
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Föller, Michael
A1  - Slowinski, Torsten
A1  - Li, Jian
A1  - Chen, You-Peng
A1  - Lang, Florian
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Maternal vitamin D deficiency and fetal programming
T2  - Acta physiologica : official journal of the Federation of European Physiological Societies
Y1  - 2015
SN  - 1748-1708
SN  - 1748-1716
VL  - 213
SP  - 155
EP  - 156
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Putra, S. E. Dwi
A1  - Pfab, T.
A1  - Slowinski, T.
A1  - Neuber, Corinna
A1  - Kleuser, Burkhard
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Increased global placental DNA methylation levels are associated with gestational diabetes
JF  - Clinical epigenetics
N2  - Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is known that GDM is associated with an altered placental function and changes in placental gene regulation. More recent studies demonstrated an involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. So far, the focus regarding placental epigenetic changes in GDM was set on gene-specific DNA methylation analyses. Studies that robustly investigated placental global DNA methylation are lacking. However, several studies showed that tissue-specific alterations in global DNA methylation are independently associated with type 2 diabetes. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize global placental DNA methylation by robustly measuring placental DNA 5-methylcytosine (5mC) content and to examine whether differences in placental global DNA methylation are associated with GDM. Methods: Global DNA methylation was quantified by the current gold standard method, LC-MS/MS. In total, 1030 placental samples were analyzed in this single-center birth cohort study. Results: Mothers with GDM displayed a significantly increased global placental DNA methylation (3.22 +/- 0.63 vs. 3.00 +/- 0.46 %; p = 0.013; +/- SD). Bivariate logistic regression showed a highly significant positive correlation between global placental DNA methylation and the presence of GDM (p = 0.0009). Quintile stratification according to placental DNA 5mC levels revealed that the frequency of GDM was evenly distributed in quintiles 1-4 (2.9-5.3 %), whereas the frequency in the fifth quintile was significantly higher (10.7 %; p = 0.003). Bivariate logistic models adjusted for maternal age, BMI, ethnicity, recurrent miscarriages, and familiar diabetes predisposition clearly demonstrated an independent association between global placental DNA hypermethylation and GDM. Furthermore, an ANCOVA model considering known predictors of DNA methylation substantiated an independent association between GDM and placental DNA methylation. Conclusions: This is the first study that employed a robust quantitative assessment of placental global DNA methylation in over a thousand placental samples. The study provides large scale evidence that placental global DNA hypermethylation is associated with GDM, independent of established risk factors.
KW  - Placenta
KW  - Gestational diabetes
KW  - Insulin resistance
KW  - LC-MS/MS
KW  - Global DNA methylation
KW  - Epigenetics
KW  - Hypermethylation
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-016-0247-9
SN  - 1868-7083
VL  - 8
PB  - BioMed Central
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
A1  - Haumann, Hannah
A1  - Rahnenführer, Jan
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Kalk, Philipp
A1  - Pfab, Thiemo
A1  - Tsuprykov, Oleg
A1  - Winter, Stefan
A1  - Hofmann, Ute
A1  - Li, Jian
A1  - Püschel, Gerhard Paul
A1  - Lang, Florian
A1  - Schuppan, Detlef
A1  - Schwab, Matthias
A1  - Schaeffeler, Elke
T1  - Maternal eNOS deficiency determines a fatty liver phenotype of the offspring in a sex dependent manner
JF  - Epigenetics : the official journal of the DNA Methylation Society
N2  - 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.
KW  - Epigenetics
KW  - eNOS
KW  - Fetal programming
KW  - fatty liver
KW  - metabolism
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2016.1184800
SN  - 1559-2294
SN  - 1559-2308
VL  - 11
SP  - 539
EP  - 552
PB  - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
CY  - Philadelphia
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Li, Jian
A1  - Lu, Yong Ping
A1  - Reichetzeder, Christoph
A1  - Kalk, Philipp
A1  - Kleuser, Burkhard
A1  - Adamski, Jerzy
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - Maternal PCaaC38:6 is Associated With Preterm Birth - a Risk Factor for Early and Late Adverse Outcome of the Offspring
JF  - Journal of European public policy
N2  - Background/Aims: Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) significantly influence mortality and morbidity of the offspring in early life and also have long-term consequences in later life. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of preterm birth could provide new insights regarding putative preventive strategies. Metabolomics provides a powerful analytic tool to readout complex interactions between genetics, environment and health and may serve to identify relevant biomarkers. In this study, the association between 163 targeted maternal blood metabolites and gestational age was investigated in order to find candidate biomarkers for PTB. Methods: Five hundred twenty-three women were included into this observational study. Maternal blood was obtained before delivery. The concentration of 163 maternal serum metabolites was measured by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry. To find putative biomarkers for preterm birth, a three-step analysis was designed: bivariate correlation analysis followed by multivariable regression analysis and a comparison of mean values among gestational age groups. Results: Bivariate correlation analysis showed that 2 acylcarnitines (C16:2, C2), 1 amino acids (xLeu), 8 diacyl-PCs (PCaaC36:4, PCaaC38:4, PCaaC38:5, PCaaC38:6, PCaaC40:4, PCaaC40:5, PCaaC40:6, PCaaC42:4), and 1 Acylalkyl-PCs (PCaeC40:5) were inversely correlated with gestational age. Multivariable regression analysis confounded for PTB history, maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, systolic blood pressure at the third trimester, and maternal body weight at the third trimester, showed that the diacyl-PC PCaaC38:6 was the only metabolite inversely correlated with gestational age. Conclusions: Maternal blood concentrations of PCaaC38:6 are independently associated with gestational age. (C) 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel
KW  - Metabolomics
KW  - PCaaC38:6
KW  - Biomarker
KW  - Preterm birth
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1159/000443428
SN  - 1420-4096
SN  - 1423-0143
VL  - 41
SP  - 250
EP  - 257
PB  - Karger
CY  - Basel
ER  -