Publications by authors named "F L Heppner"

Article Synopsis
  • The use of "Wildling mice" with a natural microbiome presents a unique research tool for studying human-like immune systems, but poses challenges for animal husbandry due to their diverse microbial content.
  • A specialized facility was created at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin to manage these mice, incorporating unique designs and protocols for hygiene and microbiome containment.
  • The study shows that "Wildling mice" develop distinct immune cell populations compared to SPF mice, suggesting that using these mice could improve the relevancy of preclinical findings for human health.
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Sorting protein-related receptor containing class A repeats (SORLA) is an intracellular trafficking receptor encoded by the Alzheimer's disease (AD) gene SORL1 (sortilin-related receptor 1). Recent findings argue that altered expression in microglia may underlie the genome-wide risk of AD seen with some SORL1 gene variants, however, the functional significance of the receptor in microglia remains poorly explained. Using unbiased omics and targeted functional analyses in iPSC-based human microglia, we identified a crucial role for SORLA in sensitizing microglia to pro-inflammatory stimuli.

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  • This study focuses on the role of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) brain metastases, specifically its predictive value and relationship with patient outcomes.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 245 patients who had brain metastases, looking at factors like tumor volume and survival rates based on TTF-1 expression status.
  • Results indicate that TTF-1 negative patients had larger tumors, higher proliferation rates, and worse survival outcomes, suggesting that TTF-1 negativity signifies a more aggressive form of the disease, warranting further study on its underlying mechanisms.
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Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition for which effective neuroregenerative and neuroreparative strategies are lacking. The post-traumatic disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) as part of the neurovascular unit (NVU) is one major factor in the complex pathophysiology of SCI, which is associated with edema, inflammation, and cell death in the penumbra regions of the spinal cord adjacent to the lesion epicenter. Thus, the preservation of an intact NVU and vascular integrity to facilitate the regenerative capacity following SCI is a desirable therapeutic target.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study involving 61 TLBCL patients analyzed their genetic characteristics compared to nodal DLBCL and primary CNS large B-cell lymphomas; findings indicated that TLBCL has fewer copy number changes but more somatic mutations than nodal DLBCL.
  • * The results highlight a unique genetic profile for TLBCL, with most cases classified as MCD, indicating genetic diversity, suggesting that this lymphoma type warrants targeted treatment strategies due to its distinct biology.
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