The potential for dispersant use as a maritime oil spill response measure in German waters.

In case of an oil spill, dispersant application represents a response option, which enhances the natural dispersion of oil and thus reduces coating of seabirds and coastal areas. However, as oil is transferred to the water phase, a trade-off of potential harmful effects shifted to other compartments must be performed. This paper summarizes the results of a workshop on the current knowledge on risks and benefits of the use of dispersants with respect to specific conditions encountered at the German sea areas.

Laminin isoforms in atherosclerotic arteries from mice and man.

The properties of the arterial vasculature depend to a large extent on the activities of smooth muscle cells, which, in turn, are determined by their extracellular environment. During pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, this interaction is altered. In close proximity to medial smooth muscle cells are basement membrane components, such as different isoforms of laminin.

Production of type VI collagen by human macrophages: a new dimension in macrophage functional heterogeneity.

Macrophages derived from human blood monocytes perform many tasks related to tissue injury and repair. The main effect of macrophages on the extracellular matrix is considered to be destructive in nature, because macrophages secrete metalloproteinases and ingest foreign material as part of the remodeling process that occurs in wound healing and other pathological conditions. However, macrophages also contribute to the extracellular matrix and hence to tissue stabilization both indirectly, by inducing other cells to proliferate and to release matrix components, and directly, by secreting components of the extracellular matrix such as fibronectin and type VIII collagen, as we have recently shown.