Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB regulates the airway tone via activation of MAP2K, thromboxane, actin polymerisation and Ca-sensitisation.

Background: PDGFR-inhibition by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) nintedanib attenuates the progress of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the effects of PDGF-BB on the airway tone are almost unknown. We studied this issue and the mechanisms beyond, using isolated perfused lungs (IPL) of guinea pigs (GPs) and precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) of GPs and humans.

PDGF-BB regulates the pulmonary vascular tone: impact of prostaglandins, calcium, MAPK- and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and actin polymerisation in pulmonary veins of guinea pigs.

Background: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and its receptor PDGFR are highly expressed in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and mediate proliferation. Recently, we showed that PDGF-BB contracts pulmonary veins (PVs) and that this contraction is prevented by inhibition of PDGFR-β (imatinib/SU6668). Here, we studied PDGF-BB-induced contraction and downstream-signalling in isolated perfused lungs (IPL) and precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) of guinea pigs (GPs).

Towards understanding directed evolution: more than half of all amino acid positions contribute to ionic liquid resistance of Bacillus subtilis lipase A.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are attractive (co-)solvents for biocatalysis. However, in high concentration (>10 % IL), enzymes usually show decreased activity. No general principles have been discovered to improve IL resistance of enzymes by protein engineering.