Dr. Alexandra DetersUniversity of Münster Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry Hittorfstraße 56 48149 Münster Germany |
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| Email: Net: |
adeters@uni-muenster.de www.uni-muenster.de/Chemie.pb/ |
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The research group of Dr. Alexandra Deters deals with the effects of plant carbohydrates on human skin cells. In particular we investigate the underlying mechanism of xyloglycan activity on primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts and focus on signal transduction within these cells and their intercellular communication. Recent studies revealed that an acidic arabinoxylan and a xyloglucans stimulated the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The effect of both carbohydrates is based on their cell type-specific influence on ECM proteins, protein trafficking, MAPK-signalling and transcription factors. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed to investigate the littlest necessary structure of the polysaccharide for its bioactivity. On the other hand it has been shown that the whole polysaccharides were internalized. The ongoing project is focused on the mechanism of internalization into the cells, the processing of up-taken polysaccharides in the cells and the differences between their effects on keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In future our investigations should be broadened to the influence of xylose containing polysaccharides on cells and mechanisms participated in inflammation. A further point would be to elucidate the carbohydrate influence on the intercellular communication and 3D skin models.
At the present we realize this undertaking with fluorescence activated flow cytometry, ELISA, confocal fluorescence laser scanning microscopy, Real-Time PCR and different colorimetric cell based or functional assays. The availability of skin cells is warranted via cultures of cell lines HaCaT (keratinocytes), and BUD-8 (fibroblasts) and cooperation with surgery departments of the University of Muenster. The working group is integrated in a network of chemical and pharmacological institutes.
| Current PhD Students: | |
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| Food chemist Mrs. Wei Nie | Pharmacist Ms. Jana Renke |
I am focusing on extracellular and intracellular targets of xyloglycans and their influence on signal transduction. So far, the stimulation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts by xyloglycans from Plantago ovata and Tamarindus indica could be proved. Because by now not much about the detailed pathways and targets is determined, the emphasis of my work contains finding answers for the questions HOW these polysaccharides are able to interact with the cells and WHAT exactly is influenced on signal transduction level (PCR, ELISA, Microarray). During my first year I have been at the University of Hyderabad for three month to isolate and purify a lectin that is specific towards our xyloglycans and should be used as a biochemical tool for internalization studies through CLSM and FACS.
