 |
| ESTP/GTP Publication Award 2002 |
The 2002 Publication Award* of the "Gesellschaft für Toxikologische Pathologie" (GTP),
since October 11, 2002 called the "European Society of Toxicologic Pathology"
is bestowed upon
ANJA STERNER-KOCK, Dr. med. vet., Ph.D., PD
In an excellent publication entitled "Ozone-induced epithelial injury in the ferret is similar to nonhuman primates", Dr. STERNER-KOCK validated the ferret as a model for ozone-induced pulmonary lesions (1).
The results of this publication are especially valuable in toxicologic pathology. The potential health hazards of ozone exposure are commonly the subject of public discussion and toxicologic pathologists have a special role to play in assessing the risks involved in ozone exposure. Consequently the establishment of a suitable model is particularly important. Until now, relevant data were only available from experiments on monkeys.
Dr. STERNER-KOCK selected the ferret as a potentially ideal model based on considerations of the structure of the centro-acinar region of the lung in various species. By investigating the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and supporting her results with histological and confocal microscopic methods, Dr. STERNER-KOCK was able to show convincingly that the ferret has a very similar reaction to ozone to the monkey, whereas the rat is much less sensitive. Her basic approach, experimental design and implementation, and presentation of results were all exemplary.
The above study is one of a series of investigations performed by Dr. STERNER-KOCK on the lung, one of which should also be mentioned here (2). Using molecular pathological techniques, she was able to show the significance of the expression of the "Latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein" for the structure of the extra-cellular matrix. Prevention of the expression of this protein causes severe lung emphysema, due to basic defects in the structure of elastic fibres.
References:
- Sterner-Kock A, Kock M, Braun R, Hyde DM (2000) Ozone-induced epithelial injury in the ferret is similar to nonhuman primates. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162: 1152-1156
- Sterner-Kock A, Thorey IS, Koli K, Wempe F, Otte J, Bangsow T, Kuhlmeier K, Kirchner T, Jin S, Keski-Oja J, von Melchner H (2002) Disruption of the gene encoding the latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein 4 (LTBP-4) causes abnormal lung development, cardiomyopathy, and colorectal cancer. Genes Dev 16: 2264-2273
Giessen, October 11, 2002
| GTP Chairman |
Awards Committee Chairman |
| Dr. med. vet. U. Deschl |
Dr. med. vet. Thomas Nolte |
* sponsored by Novartis Pharma AG
|
|
