Interdisciplinary Pharmacology -
Prof. Dr. Walter E. Müller

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Expertise

• Neurodegeneration und neuroprotective drugs
  
• Oxidative stress und anti-oxidants
  
• Neuropsychopharmacology
  
  

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Resources and Abilities

• Apoptosis and Necrosis: DNA-Fragmentation [FACS]; Nucleosom-ELISA, TUNEL-Staining [Fluorescence-microscope]; MTT-, LDH-, ATP-Assay (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Immunology: Determination of specific markers (CD-3, CD-4, CD-8, IL-2, IL-6 a.o.) [FACS], Expressions of Bcl-2, Bax a.o. (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Oxidative Stress: Enzyme activities (SOD, GPx a.o.); GSH-Levels; MDA- und HNE-Levels; Antioxidative Capacity (TEAC), Hydroperoxide Levels, Haemoglobin-Degradation-Assay, Guaiacol-Oxidation-Assay (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Molecularbiology: In vitro-Transcription, -Translation; Cloning; PCR (MOLECULARBIOLOGY)
  
• Signal transduction: Sodium- and Calcium-Imaging, intracellular pH (single cells und cell suspensions) [Video-Imaging], Radio-receptor assays (different receptors in the range of the GABA, glutamate, adrenalin, dopamine and serotonin related neurotransmission); MAO-A, -B assay; Synaptosomal neurotransmitter re-uptake [radio assay]; Neurotransmitter levels [HPLC]; Transduction systems (PLC, adenylatcyclase, a.o.) (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Membrane biology: Subcellular fractions, membrane fluidity, membrane analysis (cholesterol, phospholipids [HPLC, TLC], acyl-chain spectrum [GC-MS], transbilayer-cholesterol-distribution, Lipid Rafts [WP], membrane modulation. (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Characterisation of drugs in functional receptor models, structure activity models (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Analytics: AAS-FI, HPLC-UV, HPLC-ECD, (DRUG-ANALYTICS)
  
• Cell-Models: Blood Brain Barrier-models (PBCEC- und VLB-Cells), Alzheimer models (PC12swAPP-Cells, HEKswAPP-Cells) (IN-VITRO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
• Animal models: Transgenic Alzheimer models (PS1-, APP-mouse), aging model (mouse), cardiomyopathic-model (Hamster) (IN-VIVO-TEST SYSTEMS)
  
  

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Staff:

• Prof. Dr. W.E. Müller (Neuropsychopharmacology, agents against depression and anxiety: mode of action)
  
• Dr. G. Eckert (nutritional neuroscience, cerebral lipid-homeostasis, membrane biology, neuroprotection, new drug targets for dementia)
  
• Dr. Kristina Leuner (Neuropsychopharmacology, molecular mechanisms of antidepressants and sedatives, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroregeneration)
  
  

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Publications

• Eckert A, Hauptmann S, Scherping I, Meinhardt J, Rhein V, Dröse S, Brandt U, Fändrich M, Müller WE, Götz J: Oligomeric and fibrillar species of beta-amyloid (Abeta42) both impair mitochondrial function in P301L tau transgenic mice. J Mol Med 2008; in press.
  
• Hooff GP, Volmer DA, Wood WG, Müller WE, Eckert GP: Isoprenoid quantitation in human brain tissue: a validated HPLC-fluorescence detection method for endogenous farnesyl- (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP). Anal Bioanal Chem 2008; in press.
  
• Krüger P, Daneshfar R, Eckert GP, Klein J, Volmer DA, Bahr U, Müller WE, Karas, M, Schubert-Zsilavecz M, Abdel-Tawab M: Metabolism of boswellic acids in vitro and in vivo. Drug Metab Dispos 2008; 36:1135-1142.
  
• Eckert A, Hauptmann S, Scherping I, Rhein V, Müller-Spahn F, Götz J, Müller WE: Soluble beta-amyloid leads to mitochondrial defects in amyloid precursor protein and tau transgenic mice. Neurodegener Dis 2008; 5:157-159.
  
• Hauptmann S, Scherping I, Dröse S, Brandt U, Schulz KL, Jendrach M, Leuner K, Eckert A, Müller WE: Mitochondrial dysfunction: An early event in Alzheimer pathology accumulates with age in AD transgenic mice. Neurobiol Aging 2008; in press.
  
• Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, Volz HP, Dienel A, Kieser M, Möller HJ: Efficacy of St. John's wort extract WS 5570 in acute treatment of mild depression: a reanalysis of data from controlled clinical trials. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2008; 258:59-63.
  
• Huebbe P, Schaffer S, Jofre-Monseny L, Boesch-Saadatmandi C, Minihane AM, Müller WE, Eckert GP, Rimbach G: Apolipoprotein E genotype and alpha-tocopherol modulate amyloid precursor protein metabolism and cell cycle regulation. Mol Nutr Food Res 2007; 51:1510-1517.
  
• Leuner K, Pantel J, Frey C, Schindowski K, Schulz K, Wegat T, Maurer K, Eckert A, Müller WE: Enhanced apoptosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in lymphocytes as potential biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. J Neural Transm Suppl 2007; 72:207-215.
  
• Abdel-Kader R, Hauptmann S, Keil U, Scherping I, Leuner K, Eckert A, Müller WE: Stabilization of mitochondrial function by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761). Pharmacol Res 2007; 6:493-502.
  
• Schindowski K, Eckert A, Peters J, Gorriz C, Schramm U, Weinandi T, Maurer K, Frölich L, Müller WE: Increased T-cell reactivity and elevated levels of CD8+ memory T-cells in Alzheimer's disease-patients and T-cell hyporeactivity in an Alzheimer's disease-mouse model: implications for immunotherapy. Neuromolecular Med 2007; 9:340-354.
  
• Leuner K, Hauptmann S, Abdel-Kader R, Scherping I, Keil U, Strosznajder JB, Eckert A, Müller WE. Mitochondrial dysfunction: the first domino in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease? Antioxid Redox Signal 2007; 9:1659-1675.
  
• Chalimoniuk M, Stolecka A, Caka?a M, Hauptmann S, Schulz K, Lipka U, Leuner K, Eckert A, Muller WE, Strosznajder JB: Amyloid beta enhances cytosolic phospholipase A2 level and arachidonic acid release via nitric oxide in APP-transfected PC12 cells. Acta Biochim Pol 2007; 54:611-623.
  
• Leuner K, Kazanski V, Müller M, Essin K, Henke B, Gollasch M, Harteneck C, Müller WE: Hyperforin--a key constituent of St. John's wort specifically activates TRPC6 channels. FASEB J 2007; 21:4101-4111.
  
• Schaffer S, Podstawa M, Visioli F, Bogani P, Müller WE, Eckert GP: Hydroxytyrosol-rich olive mill wastewater extract protects brain cells in vitro and ex vivo. J Agric Food Chem 2007; 55:5043-5049.
  
• Johnson-Anuna LN, Eckert GP, Franke C, Igbavboa U, Müller WE, Wood WG: Simvastatin protects neurons from cytotoxicity by up-regulating Bcl-2 mRNA and protein. J Neurochem 2007; 101:77-86.
  
• Dos Santos SM, Weber CC, Franke C, Müller WE, Eckert GP: Cholesterol: Coupling between membrane microenvironment and ABC transporter activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 354:216-221
  
• Franke C, Nöldner M, Abdel-Kader R, Johnson-Anuna LN, Gibson Wood W, Müller WE, Eckert GP: Bcl-2 upregulation and neuroprotection in guinea pig brain following chronic simvastatin treatment. Neurobiol Dis 2007; 25:438-445.