Survival, neuron-like differentiation and functionality of mesenchymal stem cells in neurotoxic environment: the critical role of erythropoietin.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can ameliorate symptoms in several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the toxic environment of a degenerating central nervous system (CNS) characterized by hypoxia, glutamate (Glu) excess and amyloid beta (Abeta) pathology may hamper the survival and regenerative/replacing capacities of engrafted stem cells. Indeed, human MSC (hMSC) exposed to hypoxia were disabled in (i) the capacity of their muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) to respond to acetylcholine (ACh) with a transient increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)], (ii) their capacity to metabolize Glu, reflected by a strong decrease in glutamine synthetase activity, and (iii) their survival on exposure to Glu. Cocultivation of MSC with PC12 cells expressing the amyloid precursor protein gene (APPsw-PC12) increased the release of IL-6 from MSC. HMSC exposed to erythropoietin (EPO) showed a cholinergic neuron-like phenotype reflected by increased cellular levels of choline acetyltransferase, ACh and mAChR. All their functional deficits observed under hypoxia, Glu exposure and APPsw-PC12 cocultivation were reversed by the application of EPO, which increased the expression of Wnt3a. EPO also enhanced the metabolism of Abeta in MSC by increasing their neprilysin content. Our data show that cholinergic neuron-like differentiation of MSC, their functionality and resistance to a neurotoxic environment is regulated and can be improved by EPO, highlighting its potential for optimizing cellular therapies of the CNS.

[Coxiella burnetii as zoonotic pathogen with special regard to food hygiene]. / Coxiella bumetii als Zoonoseerreger unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Lebensmittelhygiene.

In Hesse, Germany, bulk milk of farms producing raw milk cheese is examined by PCR for Coxiella burnetii yearly. In 2003 the pathogen has been detected unusually frequent. By means of two examples the hygienic measures are shown, which were initiated by the veterinary administration. To detect Coxiella burnetii means always the preoccupation with unsolved questions. It is particularly uncertain, whether there is a risk of oral infection for the human being. From the point of view of food hygiene, surveys are needed urgently to work out a risk assessment. Based on this a uniform risk management and a reasonable risk communication can be fixed.

Development of a national system of physical training to decrease risk factors of diseases in GDR.

The prevention and control of diseases with priority character for people's health is only possible through concerted measures in the medical, social and political fields. In GDR there is in principle concurrence between the purposes in sports and health policies, which becomes evident in administration and management of public health and sports. Physical culture and sports have gained a new position and function through a conscious integration into protection of health of citizens. Simultaneously there has been a shift in emphasis of all medical and social measures from mainly curative to prophylactic measures. The development of sports medicine and its activities in that field have--directly and indirectly--considerably influenced medical and social measures conducive to health. In addition to the registration of adaptational processes in the organism the organization of health training and the training of functional capacities for all citizens is gaining in importance in sports medical care. This comprises the theoretical justification of the possibility of health training as well as the creation of instructions for training, advice in establishing standards of health and their translation into popular forms of physical culture and sports in institutions of education, in enterprises and communities.

The functional groups of the Mg-Ca ATPase from Escherichia coli.

The influence of hydrogen ion concentration on binding and conversion of MgATP and CaATP by membrane bound and solubilized ATPase from Escherichia coli has been investigated. The reaction of enzyme (E), hydrogen ion (H+), and substrate (S) procedes according to the following scheme, where Me is the metal ion and P is the product(s). (See article for formular). Within experimental error, the results obtained with membrane-bound and solubilized ATPase are identical. Changing the concentration of Mg2+ ions or replacement of Mg2+ by Ca2+ ions alters the dissociation constants Kb, KHMeATP, and Ka'. The kinetics and experiments with group-specific inhibitors suggest that integrity for amino, imidazole, tyrosyl, carboxyl, and arginyl residues is required for activity of membrane-bound and solubilized E. coli ATPase.