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Research Interests: Chemistry, Metabolism, Diet, Protein, Cell Biology, and 7 moreMedicine, Multidisciplinary, Insulin, Endosome, CD, PLoS one, and Translocation
Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was considered a monogenetic disease that can be caused by over 60 genes. Evidence suggests that the combination of multiple pathogenic variants leads to greater disease severity and earlier onset.... more
Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was considered a monogenetic disease that can be caused by over 60 genes. Evidence suggests that the combination of multiple pathogenic variants leads to greater disease severity and earlier onset. So far, not much is known about the prevalence and disease course of multiple pathogenic variants in patients with DCM. To gain insight into these knowledge gaps, we (1) systematically collected clinical information from a well-characterized DCM cohort and (2) created a mouse model. Methods: Complete cardiac phenotyping and genotyping was performed in 685 patients with consecutive DCM. Compound heterozygous digenic (LMNA [lamin]/titin deletion A-band) with monogenic (LMNA/wild-type) and wild-type/wild-type mice were created and phenotypically followed over time. Results: One hundred thirty-one likely pathogenic/pathogenic (LP/P) variants in robust DCM-associated genes were found in 685 patients with DCM (19.1%) genotyped for the robust genes. Three of the 131 patients had a second LP/P variant (2.3%). These 3 patients had a comparable disease onset, disease severity, and clinical course to patients with DCM with one LP/P. The LMNA/Titin deletion A-band mice had no functional differences compared with the LMNA/wild-type mice after 40 weeks of follow-up, although RNA-sequencing suggests increased cardiac stress and sarcomere insufficiency in the LMNA/Titin deletion A-band mice. Conclusions: In this study population, 2.3% of patients with DCM with one LP/P also have a second LP/P in a different gene. Although the second LP/P does not seem to influence the disease course of DCM in patients and mice, the finding of a second LP/P can be of importance to their relatives.
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Aims: SOX2 expression was evaluated in cervical intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (CIN1, 2 and 3). The SOX2 distribution patterns in the epithelial compartments were correlated to their genetic make-up and presence of HPV copies.Methods... more
Aims: SOX2 expression was evaluated in cervical intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (CIN1, 2 and 3). The SOX2 distribution patterns in the epithelial compartments were correlated to their genetic make-up and presence of HPV copies.Methods and Results: SOX2 expression levels and histological distribution patterns were studied in normal squamous epithelium and in p16 positive CIN lesions. Copy numbers of the SOX2, SOX17 and TERC genes and of chromosomes 1, 3q and 7, as well as HPV genotypes and viral physical status were correlated with SOX2 distribution patterns. In general SOX2 expression increased with severity of CIN, but a specific expression pattern was found in CIN3. This pattern was characterized by absence of SOX2 in the basal compartment of the epithelium and variable levels in the intermediate and superficial compartments. This SOX2 staining pattern is significantly associated with CIN3 (p=0.004), not found in CIN1 and seen only in a small fraction of the CIN2 lesions. The c...
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BACKGROUND Standing desks have been brought into the education environment to reduce sedentary behavior among students. The current study explored the effects of standing in tutorial group meetings on learning among undergraduate... more
BACKGROUND Standing desks have been brought into the education environment to reduce sedentary behavior among students. The current study explored the effects of standing in tutorial group meetings on learning among undergraduate students. METHODS Ninety-six participants were randomly allocated to a Sit or Stand group, with 2 h tutorial group meetings scheduled, once or twice per week, for nine weeks. Learning was analyzed using exam grades, concept maps, and tutorial interactions. RESULTS Overall, the Sit and Stand groups did not differ from each other in terms of learning, measured through their exam, concept map, and the use of learning-oriented interactions. CONCLUSION Standing in tutorial group meetings neither enhanced nor compromised learning. Considering the health risks associated with prolonged sedentary behavior, offering standing tutorial group meetings to undergraduate students is a recommended solution to break up prolonged sedentary behavior and encourage more physical activity, while maintaining the learning performance of students.
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Research Interests: Biology, Cell Biology, Cytoskeleton, Tracking, Chromatin, and 3 moreProgeria, Cell nucleus, and Lamin
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The expression patterns of intermediate filament proteins in fetal and normal or nonpathological adult human lung tissues are described using (chain-specific) monoclonal antibodies. In early stages of development (9-10 weeks and 25 weeks... more
The expression patterns of intermediate filament proteins in fetal and normal or nonpathological adult human lung tissues are described using (chain-specific) monoclonal antibodies. In early stages of development (9-10 weeks and 25 weeks of gestation) only so-called simple cytokeratins such as cytokeratins 7 (minor amounts). 8, 18 and 19 are detected in bronchial epithelial cells. At later stages of development, the cytokeratin expression patterns become more complex. The number of bronchial cells positive for cytokeratin 7 increases, but basal cells in the bronchial epithelium remain negative. These latter cells show, however, expression of cytokeratin 14 in the third trimester of gestation. Developing alveolar epithelial cells express cytokeratins 7, 8, 18 and 19. In adult human bronchial epithelium cytokeratins 4 (varying amounts), 7, 8, 13 (minor amounts), 14, 18 and 19 can be detected, with the main expression of cytokeratins 7, 8, and 18 in columnar cells and the main expression of cytokeratin 14 in basal cells. Vimentin is detected in all mesenchymal tissues. In addition, fetal lung expresses vimentin in bronchial epithelium, however, to a lesser extent with increasing age, resulting in the expression of vimentin in only few scattered bronchial cells at birth. Also in adult bronchial epithelium the expression of vimentin is noticed in part of the basal and columnar epithelial cells. Desmin filaments, present in smooth muscle cells of the lung, appear to alter their protein structure with age. In early stages of development smooth muscle cells surrounding blood vessels are partly reactive with some cytokeratin antibodies and with a polyclonal desmin antibody. At week 9-10 and week 25 of gestation a monoclonal antibody to desmin, however, is not reactive with blood vessel smooth muscle cells but is only reactive with smooth muscle cells surrounding bronchi. With increasing age the reactivity of cytokeratin antibodies with smooth muscle cells in blood vessels decreases, while the reactivity with the monoclonal desmin antibody increases. Our results show that during differentiation profound changes in the intermediate filament expression patterns occur in the different cell types of the developing lung.
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Invaginations of the nuclear membrane occur in different shapes, sizes, and compositions. Part of these pleiomorphic invaginations make up the nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR), while others are merely nuclear folds. We define the NR as... more
Invaginations of the nuclear membrane occur in different shapes, sizes, and compositions. Part of these pleiomorphic invaginations make up the nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR), while others are merely nuclear folds. We define the NR as tubular invaginations consisting of either both the inner and outer nuclear membrane, or only the inner nuclear membrane. Specifically, invaginations of both the inner and outer nuclear membrane are also called type II NR, while those of only the inner nuclear membrane are defined as type I NR. The formation and structure of the NR is determined by proteins associated to the nuclear membrane, which induce a high membrane curvature leading to tubular invaginations. Here we review and discuss the current knowledge of nuclear invaginations and the NR in particular. An increase in tubular invaginations of the nuclear envelope is associated with several pathologies, such as laminopathies, cancer, (reversible) heart failure, and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore...
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Research Interests: Gene regulation, Fluorescence Microscopy, Biology, Cell Biology, Confocal Microscopy, and 15 moreMedicine, Cell Division, Biological Sciences, Humans, Mice, Animals, Human Molecular Genetics, Live cell Imaging, Lamins, Laminopathies, LMNA, Membrane Integrity, Molecular weight, Gene Expression Regulation, and Medical and Health Sciences
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Research Interests: Image Analysis, Immunohistochemistry, Motion Analysis, Confocal Microscopy, Gene expression, and 15 moreMotion Object Tracking, Biological Sciences, Cell line, Humans, Live cell Imaging, Lamins, Laminopathies, HGPS, LMNA, Mechanical Stress, Cell Shape, Human Fibroblasts, Lamin, Biochemistry and cell biology, and fibroblasts
Aggregates of human tumor cells are widely used in experimental studies on tumor responses to treatment. Only a limited number of human tumor cell lines are capable of forming spheroids. In this study cellular characteristics of 7 lung... more
Aggregates of human tumor cells are widely used in experimental studies on tumor responses to treatment. Only a limited number of human tumor cell lines are capable of forming spheroids. In this study cellular characteristics of 7 lung cancer and 4 bladder cancer cell lines are described with respect to their spheroid forming capacity. Comparisons were made with four reference lines known for their propensity to form growing aggregates. In the absence of vimentin expression no spherical aggregates were formed. Spherical aggregates were formed by one bladder and one lung cancer cell line, of which only the latter exhibited growth. Cellular factors influencing the ability of spheroids to increase in volume after spherical aggregation are not yet defined. Viability and clonogenicity of cells in aggregates are not the determinant of growth capacity. The growth rate of cell lines that exhibited growth is determined by tissue culture conditions and additives. Type of medium, percentage of...
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A- and B-type lamins are type V intermediate filament proteins. Mutations in the genes encoding these lamins cause rare diseases, collectively called laminopathies. A fraction of the cells obtained from laminopathy patients show... more
A- and B-type lamins are type V intermediate filament proteins. Mutations in the genes encoding these lamins cause rare diseases, collectively called laminopathies. A fraction of the cells obtained from laminopathy patients show aberrations in the localization of each lamin subtype, which may represent only the minority of the lamina disorganization. To get a better insight into more delicate and more abundant lamina abnormalities, the lamin network can be studied using super-resolution microscopy. We compared confocal scanning laser microscopy and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy in combination with different fluorescence labeling approaches for the study of the lamin network. We demonstrate the suitability of an immunofluorescence staining approach when using STED microscopy, by determining the lamin layer thickness and the degree of lamin A and B1 colocalization as detected in fixed fibroblasts (co-)stained with lamin antibodies or (co-)transfected with EGFP/YFP la...
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Cells under oxidative stress induced by peroxides undergo functional and morphological changes, which often resemble those observed during apoptosis. Peroxides, however, also cause the oxidation of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH).... more
Cells under oxidative stress induced by peroxides undergo functional and morphological changes, which often resemble those observed during apoptosis. Peroxides, however, also cause the oxidation of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH). We investigated the relation between these peroxide-induced effects by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and two HUVEC-derived cell lines, ECRF24 and ECV304. With HUVEC, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH) or hydrogen peroxide application in the presence of serum induced, in a dose-dependent way, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, membrane blebbing, and nuclear condensation. These processes were accompanied by transient oxidation of GSH. With ECRF24 cells, this treatment resulted in less blebbing and a shorter period of GSH oxidation. However, repeated tBH addition increased the number of blebbing cells and prolonged the period of GSH oxidation. ECV304 cells were even more resistant to peroxide-induced bleb formation and GSH ox...
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ABSTRACT
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ABSTRACT
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... Barbie M. Machiels,1* Mieke ER Henfling,1 Will LH Gerards,2 Jos LV Broers,1 Hans ... Val-Tyr-AMC (7-amido-4-methylcoumarin; Sigma) for chymotrypsin-like activity, N-benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-MNA ... The reactions were per-formed at 37°C and... more
... Barbie M. Machiels,1* Mieke ER Henfling,1 Will LH Gerards,2 Jos LV Broers,1 Hans ... Val-Tyr-AMC (7-amido-4-methylcoumarin; Sigma) for chymotrypsin-like activity, N-benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-MNA ... The reactions were per-formed at 37°C and were stopped after 1 h by adding 300 ...
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What can be concluded about lamin dynamics? a. While the nuclear lamina forms a tight network of proteins, individual lamina members, such as the lamin C proteins, are only partially bound to the lamina. b. A prominent pool of... more
What can be concluded about lamin dynamics? a. While the nuclear lamina forms a tight network of proteins, individual lamina members, such as the lamin C proteins, are only partially bound to the lamina. b. A prominent pool of nucleoplasmic lamins exists in most cells, which interacts with intranuclear structures (DNA? Histones? Replication and/or transcription complexes?) in a dynamic fashion. c. During mitosis lamins do not play a key role in the initial reformation of the nuclear envelope. However, they are important for the correct functioning of the nucleus immediately after mitosis. Many questions remain unanswered, although nuclear lamins have been studied at different levels for over 20 years. We have only just begun to understand their crucial role in several cellular processes. Some of the important questions that still remain are: a. The function of intranuclear lamin foci. Are these native nuclear structures (nuclear channels/tubules) and do they play a role in replicati...
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We have studied the subcellular localization and expression levels of proteasomes during apoptosis in a lung cancer cell line. Apoptosis was induced by exposing the cells to 200 microM olomoucine, a specific cyclin-dependent kinase... more
We have studied the subcellular localization and expression levels of proteasomes during apoptosis in a lung cancer cell line. Apoptosis was induced by exposing the cells to 200 microM olomoucine, a specific cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. The morphological changes characteristic for apoptotic cells were visible: the cells reduced in size, the chromatin condensed and the membranes became convoluted. As the process continued, the nuclei became fragmented, and the cells broke up into cytoplasmic vesicles and apoptotic bodies. Immunocytochemically, apoptotic cells were detected by the ability to bind annexin V at their surface. During the initial stages of apoptosis, proteasomes were present in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm. Upon increased chromatin condensation, nuclear proteasomes were found predominantly surrounding the chromatin, while the chromatin itself remained devoid of staining. That the proteasomes persisted relatively long in the apoptotic cells was shown by im...
Research Interests: Chemistry, Flow Cytometry, Biology, Apoptosis, Medicine, and 10 moreWestern blotting, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Intermediate Filaments, European, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Multienzyme complexes, Subcellular Fractions, Biochemistry and cell biology, and lung neoplasms
Nuclear A-type and B-type lamin expression was investigated in the major human lung cancer subtypes: small cell lung cancer (SCLC), squamous cell carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas (both non-SCLC). Twenty-two human lung cancer cell lines and... more
Nuclear A-type and B-type lamin expression was investigated in the major human lung cancer subtypes: small cell lung cancer (SCLC), squamous cell carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas (both non-SCLC). Twenty-two human lung cancer cell lines and 46 fresh frozen human lung cancer specimens were examined. Expression of B-type lamins was found in all the different cell lines. A-type lamins were expressed in all non-SCLC cell lines but were absent or only weakly expressed in 14 out of 16 SCLC cell lines. The immunocytochemical results were confirmed by immunoblotting and Northern blot analyses. In sections of SCLCs and non-SCLCs, B-type lamins were found to be expressed in all tumors. However, in some non-SCLCs, particularly in adenocarcinomas, a considerable proportion of the tumor cells were negative for B-type lamins. A-type lamin expression in SCLCs was weakly positive or negative in 14 out of 15 cases. In contrast, all non-SCLCs displayed A-type lamins, but in several of these samples, bo...
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The localization of proteasome epitopes in the lung cancer cell lines NCI-H82, derived from a small cell lung cancer, and MR65, derived from a squamous cell lung carcinoma, was studied in relation to cell growth conditions. For this... more
The localization of proteasome epitopes in the lung cancer cell lines NCI-H82, derived from a small cell lung cancer, and MR65, derived from a squamous cell lung carcinoma, was studied in relation to cell growth conditions. For this purpose the proteasome monoclonal antibodies MCP34 and MCP20 were applied to the cells growing under different nutritional conditions, resulting in different proliferative states. Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with brief fixation in methanol (5 sec, -20 degrees C) followed by three dips in acetone (5 sec at room temperature), it became obvious that the intracellular detectability of the proteasomes changes depending on the nutritional and proliferative status of the tumor cells. Two types of experiments were carried out: (1) cells were grown for two days at different cell densities, with an excess of culture medium, and (2) cells were seeded in a low cell density and monitored for 6 days without change of medium. In cells grown at low dens...
Research Interests: Flow Cytometry, Biology, Cell Adhesion, Medicine, Western blotting, and 11 moreCell Division, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Non small cell carcinoma, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Multienzyme complexes, Cysteine endopeptidases, Epitopes, Tissue Fixation, Biochemistry and cell biology, and lung neoplasms
To investigate a possible application of plasma in fine surgery, we studied the effects of a small atmospheric glow discharge on living cultured cells. The plasma source used for this purpose was the "plasma... more
To investigate a possible application of plasma in fine surgery, we studied the effects of a small atmospheric glow discharge on living cultured cells. The plasma source used for this purpose was the "plasma needle". Plasma needle is a small (below 1mm) non-thermal radio-frequency glow, operating in helium mixtures with air at ambient pressure. Plasma treatment of cultured cells resulted in detachment of the cells. Viability tests using propidium iodide staining in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that detached cells as well as surrounding cells remained alive. When the cells received a low dose of plasma treatment, they reattached within a few hours to the surface of the culture flask and to each other. Removal of cells with high precision, without damage to adjacent cells, promises to become a new surgical technique. For investigation of the mechanism causing this detachment we investigated the gas mixture of the plasma with Raman scattering measurements. Radicals diffusing from the plasma into a liquid were detected by means of fluorescent probe in combination with laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.
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Five different types of lung cancers, i.e. squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, small cell lung carcinomas, carcinoids and adenoid cystic carcinomas were examined for their intermediate filament constituents, with special emphasis... more
Five different types of lung cancers, i.e. squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, small cell lung carcinomas, carcinoids and adenoid cystic carcinomas were examined for their intermediate filament constituents, with special emphasis on the different cytokeratin polypeptides and neurofilament proteins. Polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies to these proteins were used in immunocytochemical techniques applied to both tumor frozen sections and paraffin sections. Squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas could be shown to contain cytokeratins, which could be detected in both frozen sections and paraffin sections. Also small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and carcinoid lung tumors showed a positive staining reaction with polyclonal and monoclonal (cyto)keratin antibodies, but were negative with neurofilament antibodies, with the exception of one case of lung carcinoid, which co-expressed neurofilaments and cytokeratins. We have used antibodies to cytokeratin polypeptides, to neur...
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Six small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were examined using nuclear image analysis to find features characteristic of the classic and the variant type of SCLC. On the basis of their biochemical and biological properties three of... more
Six small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were examined using nuclear image analysis to find features characteristic of the classic and the variant type of SCLC. On the basis of their biochemical and biological properties three of these cell lines have been shown to represent the classic types, and three represent the variant type of SCLC. Using a combination of the image-derived run length, density, and geometric features, it was possible to distinguish between the classic and variant SCLC cell lines. The results of this study may be of help in assessing photometric features for the separation of the classic and variant subtypes of SCLC in solid tumors. Because of differences in treatment and prognosis between these two subtypes, such a separation may be of clinical value.
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... Broers Anita Huysmans Olof Moesker Peter Vooijs Frans Ramaekers Department of Pathology University of Nijmegen Nijmegen and Sjoerd Wagenaar Department of ... REFERENCES 1. Anderton BH, Breinburg D, Downes MJ, Green PJ, Tomlinson BE,... more
... Broers Anita Huysmans Olof Moesker Peter Vooijs Frans Ramaekers Department of Pathology University of Nijmegen Nijmegen and Sjoerd Wagenaar Department of ... REFERENCES 1. Anderton BH, Breinburg D, Downes MJ, Green PJ, Tomlinson BE, Ulrich J, Wood JN, Kahn J ...
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The intermediate filament protein (IFP) characteristics of a panel of lung cancer cell lines including adenocarcinoma (two cell lines) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC, three classic and three variant cell lines) were examined using one-... more
The intermediate filament protein (IFP) characteristics of a panel of lung cancer cell lines including adenocarcinoma (two cell lines) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC, three classic and three variant cell lines) were examined using one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic techniques, immunocytochemical techniques and immunoblotting assays. A panel of 28 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the five different types of IFP were used. The results of our studies indicate that these human lung adenocarcinoma, classic SCLC and variant SCLC cell lines can be differentiated on the basis of their pattern of IFP. The main conclusions from this study can be summarized as follows. The two adenocarcinoma cell lines contain cytokeratins 7, 8, 18, and sometimes 19, next to vimentin intermediate filament (IF). The three classic-type SCLC cell lines contain only cytokeratin IFs but not vimentin IF or neurofilaments (NFs). Cytokeratin polypeptides 7, 8, 18 and 19 could be detected. All three ...
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In order to investigate the intermediate filament protein content of hormone producing lung tumor cell cultures a panel of 16 different cytokeratin antisera were tested using immunocytochemical and biochemical techniques on lung carcinoma... more
In order to investigate the intermediate filament protein content of hormone producing lung tumor cell cultures a panel of 16 different cytokeratin antisera were tested using immunocytochemical and biochemical techniques on lung carcinoma cell cultures from different origin. These included three cell cultures derived from small cell lung carcinoma, two large cell carcinoma cell cultures, and two cell cultures derived from squamous cell carcinomas. Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cultures demonstrated that all cell lines examined were aneuploid with DNA-indices ranging from 1.7 to 3.1 rimes the DNA-content of normal human lymphocytes. In both immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques six out of seven cell cultures reacted with most of the cytokeratin antisera used in a filamentous manner, while a large cell carcinoma cell culture did not react with any of the cytokeratin antisera used. None of the cell cultures examined reacted with the antibodies to neurofilament prote...
Research Interests: Flow Cytometry, Cytoskeleton, Cell line, Humans, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and 9 moreSodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Intermediate Filaments, Non small cell carcinoma, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Carcinoma, Keratins, Neurofilament proteins, and lung neoplasms
Two markers for the progenitor cells of peripheral airways and their tumors are the 10 kilodalton (kd) Clara cell protein and the major surfactant associated protein-A (SP-A). We used the RNA-RNA in situ hybridization technique to study... more
Two markers for the progenitor cells of peripheral airways and their tumors are the 10 kilodalton (kd) Clara cell protein and the major surfactant associated protein-A (SP-A). We used the RNA-RNA in situ hybridization technique to study expression of the genes encoding these proteins at the cellular level in 19 pairs of non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissues from resected human lungs. Our results show that in non-neoplastic lung tissue, the Clara 10 kd protein gene was expressed in nonciliated cells of both bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, indicating that, in contrast to previous assumptions, cells with Clara cell-like differentiation in humans may not be restricted to bronchiolar cells. The incidence of Clara 10 kd protein gene expression, as detected in lung carcinomas (1 out of 19 cases positive) was less than expected based on previous ultrastructural reports. The SP-A gene was strongly expressed in normal alveolar type II cells in non-neoplastic lung and, at higher levels, ...
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Summary form only given. In pursuit of minimum-invasive surgery one has to develop techniques, that allow specific cell removal or rearrangement without influencing the whole tissue. In conventional or laser surgery individual cells... more
Summary form only given. In pursuit of minimum-invasive surgery one has to develop techniques, that allow specific cell removal or rearrangement without influencing the whole tissue. In conventional or laser surgery individual cells undergo accidental cell death (necrosis), which is followed by inflammation and may lead to permanent tissue damage. In contrast, cold plasma techniques allow cell removal without necrosis.
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A non-thermal atmospheric plasma source (plasma needle) has been developed. This plasma operates at room temperature, low voltages and power levels, so it can be applied for fine treatment of organic material. In this work the impact of... more
A non-thermal atmospheric plasma source (plasma needle) has been developed. This plasma operates at room temperature, low voltages and power levels, so it can be applied for fine treatment of organic material. In this work the impact of the plasma needle on living cells is explored. For this purpose CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary) cells in culture have been plasma-treated and their responses have been recorded by means of propidium iodide staining. Plasma treatment at low to intermediate power levels leads to damage of the DNA in the cell nucleus, which causes cell death. Characteristic features are high precision of plasma action (influenced cells are strictly localized) and induction of cell death without destroying the cell integrity. Possibilities of using plasma treatment for removal of unwanted cells (e.g. cancer cells) will be investigated.