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Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology

       

Privatdozent Dr. Marco Cattaruzza

 

 

Completely unexpectedly PD Dr. Marco Cattaruzza passed away at the age of 46 on October 27, 2012.


Here, we would like to commemorate our esteemed colleague, a respected scientist and a dedicated teacher.


Following his studies in biology at Goethe University Frankfurt, Marco Cattaruzza worked as a PhD student in the group of Prof. Dr. Claudia Koch-Brandt at the Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Mainz University, where he studied the expression of the glycoprotein clusterin in apoptotic cells.


After completion of his doctorate he joined the recently founded group of Prof. Dr. Markus Hecker at the Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology at the University of Göttingen in 1996. Here he became particularly interested in the gene regulatory pathways in vascular cells and how they are controlled by biomechanical stimuli such as those exerted by elevated blood pressure. For his work on the vasoprotective effects of anti-hypertensive calcium antagonists he received the Wulf Vater-Dihydropyridine Research Award of Mainz University in 2000, together with Prof. Dr. Markus Hecker, Dr. Rolf Wachter and Dr. Andreas H. Wagner.


In 2004 Marco Cattaruzza was awarded the state doctorate in physiology by the University of Göttingen. In the following year, after the move of Prof. Hecker's entire group to the Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiologiy at Heidelberg University, he became Head of a working group in the Division of Cardiovascular Physiology, where he continued his work on mechanosensing and the sheer stress-dependent regulation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3. With the adhesion protein zyxin, Marco Cattaruzza identified the first mechanosensitive modulator controling the expression of specific genes which are activated by rhythmic stretch.


Marco Cattaruzza was also very actively involved in teaching. As a university instructor he held lectures and supervised lab courses and seminars. A total of 4 science and medical doctoral candidates have worked in his group on their dissertations.


With his research Marco Cattaruzza contributed significantly to our understanding of the role biomechanical influences play during the pathophysiological remodeling of blood vessels. As a scientist he was mainly interested in the basic biological principles, yet he never lost sight of the potential later benefit for patients. It is in this spirit that staff members of the Division continue Marco Cattaruzza's studies.

 

Publications

31.

Engeman R, Cattaruzza R, Cattaruzza M, Fischer J. Photographic estimation of wild boar damage to alpine grazing pastures in the Carpathian Mountains of central Romania. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016 Mar;23(5):4949-4952. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

30.

 

Scherer C, Pfisterer L, Wagner AH, Hödebeck M, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M, Korff T. Arterial wall stress controls NFAT5 activity in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014 Mar 10;3(2):e000626. doi: 10.1161/​JAHA.113.000626.

29.

Babu SS, Wojtowicz A, Freichel M, Birnbaumer L, Hecker M, Cattaruzza M. Mechanism of stretch-induced activation of the mechanotransducer zyxin in vascular cells. Sci Signal. 2012 Dec 11;5(254):ra91 doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2003173

28.

Cattaruzza M, Nogoy N, Wojtowicz A, Hecker M. Zinc finger motif-1 antagonizes PDGF-BB-induced growth and dedifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. FASEB J. 2012 Dec;26(12):4864-75. Epub 2012 Aug 20.

27.

Cattaruzza M, Wagner AH, Hecker M. Mechanosensitive pro-inflammatory gene expression in vascular cells. In: Mechanical Stretch and Cytokines, Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues, Vol. 5. A. Kamkin, I. Kiseleva (Eds.) Springer Science+Business Media B. V. 2012, pp. 59-86.

26.

Wójtowicz A, Babu SS, Li L, Gretz N, Hecker M, Cattaruzza M. Zyxin mediation of stretch-induced gene expression in human endothelial cells. Circ Res. 2010 Oct 1;107(7):898-902. Epub 2010 Aug 12. Erratum in: Circ Res. 2010 Oct 29;107(9):e15-6.

25.

Asif AR, Hecker M, Cattaruzza M. Disinhibition of SOD-2 expression to compensate for a genetically determined NO deficit in endothelial cells--brief report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2009 Nov;29(11):1890-3. Epub 2009 Aug 20.

24.

Asif AR, Oellerich M, Armstrong VW, Hecker M, Cattaruzza M. T-786C polymorphism of the NOS-3 gene and the endothelial cell response to fluid shear stress-a proteome analysis. J Proteome Res. 2009 Jun;8(6):3161-8.

23.

Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. Protein carbonylation and decarboylation: a new twist to the complex response of vascular cells to oxidative stress. Circ Res. 2008 Feb 15;102(3):273-4.

22.

Melchers I, Cattaruzza M. Gendefekt im Promoter der endothelialen NO-Synthase als Risikofaktor für Rheumatoide Arthritis. [A gene defect in the promoter of the endothelial NO synthase as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.] Z Rheumatol. 2007 Jul;66(4):326-7. Review.

21.

Melchers I, Blaschke S, Hecker M, Cattaruzza M. The -786C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase: insensitivity to physiologic stimuli as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Oct;54(10):3144-51.

20.

Liakopoulos OJ, Dörge H, Popov AF, Schmitto JD, Cattaruzza M, Schoendube FA. Influence of eNOS gene polymorphisms (894G/T; - 786C/T) on postoperative hemodynamics after cardiac surgery. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006 Jun;54(4):233-8.

19.

Cattaruzza M, Guzik TJ, Słodowski W, Pelvan A, Becker J, Halle M, Buchwald AB, Channon KM, Hecker M. Shear stress insensitivity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression as a genetic risk factor for coronary heart disease. Circ Res. 2004 Oct 15;95(8):841-7. Epub 2004 Sep 16.

18.

Cattaruzza M, Lattrich C, Hecker M. Focal adhesion protein zyxin is a mechanosensitive modulator of gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertension. 2004 Apr;43(4):726-30. Epub 2004 Feb 16.

17.

Cattaruzza M, Słodowski W, Stojakovic M, Krzesz R, Hecker M. Interleukin-10 induction of nitric-oxide synthase expression attenuates CD40-mediated interleukin-12 synthesis in human endothelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2003 Sep 26;278(39):37874-80. Epub 2003 Jul 11.

16.

Schweyer S, Soruri A, Baumhoer D, Peters J, Cattaruzza M, Radzun HJ, Fayyazi A. Expression of CXC chemokine IP-10 in testicular germ cell tumours. J Pathol. 2002 May;197(1):89-97.

15.

Cattaruzza M, Berger MM, Ochs M, Fayyazi A, Füzesi L, Richter J, Hecker M. Deformation-induced endothelin B receptor-mediated smooth muscle cell apoptosis is matrix-dependent. Cell Death Differ. 2002 Feb;9(2):219-26.

14.

Cattaruzza M, Schäfer K, Hecker M. Cytokine-induced down-regulation of zfm1/splicing factor-1 promotes smooth muscle cell proliferation. J Biol Chem. 2002 Feb 22;277(8):6582-9. Epub 2001 Dec 17.

13.

Cattaruzza M, Eberhardt I, Hecker M. Mechanosensitive transcription factors involved in endothelin B receptor expression. J Biol Chem. 2001 Oct 5;276(40):36999-7003. Epub 2001 Jul 16.

12.

Bach UC, Baiersdörfer M, Klock G, Cattaruzza M, Post A, Koch-Brandt C. Apoptotic cell debris and phosphatidylserine-containing lipid vesicles induce apolipoprotein J (clusterin) gene expression in vital fibroblasts. Exp Cell Res. 2001 Apr 15;265(1):11-20.

11.

Lauth M, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. ACE inhibitor and AT1 antagonist blockade of deformation-induced gene expression in the rabbit jugular vein through B2 receptor activation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001 Jan;21(1):61-6.

10.

Lauth M, Wagner AH, Cattaruzza M, Orzechowski HD, Paul M, Hecker M. Transcriptional control of deformation-induced preproendothelin-1 gene expression in endothelial cells. J Mol Med. 2000;78(8):441-50.

9.

Wagner AH, Krzesz R, Gao D, Schroeder C, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. Decoy oligodeoxynucleotide characterization of transcription factors controlling endothelin-B receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Mol Pharmacol. 2000 Dec;58(6):1333-40.

8.

Schubert A, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M, Darmer D, Holtz J, Morawietz H. Shear stress-dependent regulation of the human beta-tubulin folding cofactor D gene. Circ Res. 2000 Dec 8;87(12):1188-94.

7.

Cattaruzza M, Dimigen C, Ehrenreich H, Hecker M. Stretch-induced endothelin B receptor-mediated apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells. FASEB J. 2000 May;14(7):991-8.

6.

Cattaruzza M, Wachter R, Wagner AH, Hecker M. Modulation by dihydropyridine-type calcium channel antagonists of cytokine-inducible gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar;129(6):1155-62.

5.

Lauth M, Berger MM, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. Elevated perfusion pressure upregulates endothelin-1 and endothelin B receptor expression in the rabbit carotid artery. Hypertension. 2000 Feb;35(2):648-54.

4.

Lauth M, Berger MM, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. Pressure-induced upregulation of preproendothelin-1 and endothelin B receptor expression in rabbit jugular vein in situ : implications for vein graft failure? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2000 Jan;20(1):96-103.

3.

Krzesz R, Wagner AH, Cattaruzza M, Hecker M. Cytokine-inducible CD40 gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells is mediated by nuclear factor kappaB and signal transducer and activation of transcription-1. FEBS Lett. 1999 Jun 18;453(1-2):191-6.

2.

Hecker M, Cattaruzza M, Wagner AH. Regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Gen Pharmacol. 1999 Jan;32(1):9-16. Review.

1.

Flach R, Cattaruzza M, Koch-Brandt C. Clusterin gene expression in apoptotic MDCK cells is dependent on the apoptosis-inducing stimulus. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 Sep 21;1268(3):325-8.


Recent Publications

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Methylglyoxal evokes acute Ca2+ transients in distinct cell types and increases agonist-evoked Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells via CRAC channels. Cell Calcium. 2019 Mar;78:66-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2019.01.002. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

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EphB2-dependent signaling promotes neuronal excitotoxicity and inflammation in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019 Feb 5;7(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0669-7.

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Early alterations in hippocampal perisomatic GABAergic synapses and network oscillations in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 15;14(1):e0209228. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209228. eCollection 2019.

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Medikamentöse Varikosetherapie aus der Perspektive experimenteller Modelle. Praxis (Bern 1994). 2019 Jan;108(1):31-36. doi: 10.1024/1661-8157/a003147.

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Selective vulnerability of αOFF retinal ganglion cells during onset of autoimmune optic neuritis. Neuroscience. 2018 Nov 21;393:258-272. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.040. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

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The VAMP-associated protein VAPB is required for cardiac and neuronal pacemaker channel function. FASEB J. 2018 Nov;32(11):6159-6173. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

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Genetic ablation of NFAT5/TonEBP in smooth muscle cells impairs flow- and pressure-induced arterial remodeling in mice. FASEB J. 2018 Nov 1:fj201801594R. doi: 10.1096/fj.201801594R. [Epub ahead of print]

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Reduction of Transplant Vasculopathy by Intraoperative Nucleic Acid-based Therapy in a Mouse Aortic Allograft Model. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Oct 23. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1673633. [Epub ahead of print]


Institute of
Physiology and Pathophysiology

Heidelberg University

Im Neuenheimer Feld 326

69120 Heidelberg

Germany

Phone:+49 6221 54-4035
Fax:+49 6221 54-4038
E-mail:sekretariat.hecker@
physiologie.uni-heidelberg.de