|
Dr. Heike Beck and
Dr. Heike Beck
Institute of Physiology
Walter-Brendel-Center for Experimental Medicine
Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Marchioninistr. 15
D-81377 Munich, Germany
Tel: ++49 (0) 89-218076537
Fax: ++49 (0) 89-218076532
Lab Homepage
heike.beck(at)med.uni-muenchen.de
|
Dr. Marcus Conrad
Dr. Marcus Conrad
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology and
Tumor
Genetics
Marchioninistr. 25
D-81377 Munich, Germany
Tel: ++49 (0) 89-7099525
Fax: ++49 (0) 89-7099500
Lab Homepage
marcus.conrad@helmholtz-muenchen.de
|
Tumor growth requires sustained supply of nutrition and
oxygen. When this is no longer guaranteed due to limited
diffusion within rapidly growing tumors, tumor cells
induce neo-vascularization ("angiogenic switch").
Pro-carcinogenic and pro-angiogenic key molecules
include hypoxia-inducible factor, vascular endothelial
growth factors, angiopoietins and their cognate receptor
as well as enzymes of the arachidonate metabolism, such
as cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. Phospholipid
hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), major
regulator of cellular peroxide tone, counteracts
cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities. By
conditional inactivation of PHGPx in primary mouse
embryonic fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells we shall
unravel the basic biochemical mechanisms of PHGPx in
arachidonic and linoleic acid metabolism. In addition we
plan to analyze multiple steps in the angiogenic cascade,
including endothelial cell proliferation, migration and
differentiation in PHGPx-deficient embryonic endothelial
precursor cells. Two complementary transplantation
approaches in mice will be performed to address the
effect of PHGPx-deficiency on tumor growth and tumor
angiogenesis both in the tumor compartment and in the
host-derived vascular compartment. These studies will
provide us with novel insights into redox-regulated
tumor angiogenesis. |
Beck H, Semisch M, Culmsee C, Plesnila N, Hatzopoulos AK.
Egr-1 regulates expression of
the glial scar component Phosphacan in astrocytes after experimental stroke.
Am J Pathol, in press
Soerensen J, Jakupoglu C, Beck H, Förster H, Schmidt J, Schmahl W, Schweizer U, Conrad M, Brielmeier M.
The role of thioredoxin reductases in brain development.
PLoS ONE. 2008 Mar 19;3(3):e1813.
Conrad M, Schneider M, Seiler A, Bornkamm GW.
Physiological role of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in mammals.
Biol Chem. 2007 Oct;388(10):1019-25. Review.
Banjac A, Perisic T, Sato H, Seiler A, Bannai S, Weiss N, Kölle P, Tschoep K, Issels RD, Daniel PT, Conrad M, Bornkamm GW. The cystine/cysteine cycle: a redox cycle regulating susceptibility versus resistance to cell death. Oncogene. 2008 Mar 6;27(11):1618-28. Epub 2007 Sep 10. |
