Publications by authors named "Birgit Henkel"

Muscle wasting remains a feature of many diseases and is counteracted by anabolic supplementation or exercise. Persisting atrophy-inducing conditions can be complicated by skeletal muscle fibrosis, which leads to functional impairment. Identification of early mechanisms that initiate atrophy-induced fibrosis may reveal novel targets for therapy or diagnosis.

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The single-transmembrane receptor SorLA/LR11 contains binding domains typical for lipoprotein receptors and a VPS10 domain, which binds the neuropeptide head-activator. This undecapeptide enhances proliferation of neuronal precursor cells in a SorLA-dependent manner. Using specific inhibitors we found previously that head activator activates shedding of SorLA by the metalloprotease TACE close to the transmembrane domain releasing the large extra-cellular part of the receptor.

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Myofiber atrophy is the final outcome of muscle wasting induced by catabolic factors such as glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones. We set up an in vitro system to define the catabolic reaction based on myotube atrophy. Both mouse C(2)C(12) and rat L6 cells were used.

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