| 1. |
- Johard, Helena, et al.
(author)
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HCN Channel Activity Balances Quiescence and Proliferation in Neural Stem Cells and Is a Selective Target for Neuroprotection During Cancer Treatment
- 2020
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In: Molecular Cancer Research. - 1541-7786 .- 1557-3125. ; 18:10, s. 1522-1533
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children suffering from neurologic cancers undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy are at high risk of reduced neurocognitive abilities likely via damage to proliferating neural stem cells (NSC). Therefore, strategies to protect NSCs are needed. We argue that induced cell-cycle arrest/quiescence in NSCs during cancer treatment can represent such a strategy. Here, we show that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels are dynamically expressed over the cell cycle in NSCs, depolarize the membrane potential, underlie spontaneous calcium oscillations and are required to maintain NSCs in the actively proliferating pool. Hyperpolarizing pharmacologic inhibition of HCN channels during exposure to ionizing radiation protects NSCs cells in neurogenic brain regions of young mice. In contrast, brain tumor-initiating cells, which also express HCN channels, remain proliferative during HCN inhibition.
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| 2. |
- Stoppacher, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Modeling External Stimulation of Excitable Cells Using a Novel Light-Activated Organic Semiconductor Technology
- 2020
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In: Biomedical Informatics for Health and Care. - : IOS Press. - 9781643680842 - 9781643680859 ; , s. 9-16
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optoelectronic neurostimulation is a promising, minimally invasive treatment modality for neuronal damage, in particular for patients with traumatic brain injury. In this work, a newly developed optoelectronic device, a so-called photocap, based on light-activated organic semiconductor structures with high spatial and temporal resolution is investigated. To prove and verify the feasibility of this new technology, a mathematical model was developed, simulating the electrical response of excitable cells to photocap stimulation. In the first step, a comprehensive technical review of the device concept was performed, building the basis for setting up the simulation model. The simulations demonstrate that photocaps may serve as a stimulation device, triggering action potentials in neural or cardiac cells. Our first results show that the model serves as a perfect tool for evaluating and further developing this new technology, showing high potential for introducing new and innovative therapy methods in the field of optoelectronic cell stimulation.
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