TY - JOUR AB - BACKGROUND: Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychoactive component of cannabis, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, but less is known about the immunomodulatory potential of CBD on activated natural killer (NK) cells and/or their targets. Many tumor cells present heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) on their cell surface in a tumor-specific manner and although a membrane Hsp70 (mHsp70) positive phenotype serves as a target for Hsp70-activated NK cells, a high mHsp70 expression is associated with tumor aggressiveness. This study investigated the immuno-modulatory potential of CBD on NK cells stimulated with TKD Hsp70 peptide and IL-2 (TKD+IL-2) and also on HCT116 p53wt and HCT116 p53-/- colorectal cancer cells exhibiting high and low basal levels of mHsp70 expression. RESULTS: Apart from an increase in the density of NTB-A and a reduced expression of LAMP-1, the expression of all other activatory NK cell receptors including NKp30, NKG2D and CD69 which are significantly up-regulated after stimulation with TKD+IL-2 remained unaffected after a co-treatment with CBD. However, the release of major pro-inflammatory cytokines by NK cells such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and the effector molecule granzyme B (GrzB) was significantly reduced upon CBD treatment. With respect to the tumor target cells, CBD significantly reduced the elevated expression of mHsp70 but had no effect on the low basal mHsp70 expression. Expression of other NK cell ligands such as MICA and MICB remained unaffected, and the NK cell ligands ULBP and B7-H6 were not expressed on these target cells. Consistent with the reduced mHsp70 expression, treatment of both effector and target cells with CBD reduced the killing of high mHsp70 expressing tumor cells by TKD+IL-2+CBD pre-treated NK cells but had no effect on the killing of low mHsp70 expressing tumor cells. Concomitantly, CBD treatment reduced the TKD+IL-2 induced increased release of IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α and GrzB, but CBD had no effect on the release of IFN-α when NK cells were co-incubated with tumor target cells. CONCLUSION: Cannabidiol (CBD) may potentially diminish the anti-tumor effectiveness of TKD+IL-2 activated natural killer (NK) cells. AU - Wang, F. AU - Bashiri Dezfouli, A.* AU - Multhoff, G.* C1 - 71456 C2 - 56193 CY - The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1gb, England TI - The immunomodulatory effects of cannabidiol on Hsp70-activated NK cells and tumor target cells. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 174 PB - Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd PY - 2024 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Interleukin 12 (IL-12) plays major roles in immune defense against intracellular pathogens. By activating T cells and increasing antigen presentation, it is also a very potent anti-tumor molecule. Strong immune activation and systemic toxicity, however, so far limit its potential therapeutic use. Building on recent experimental structures of IL-12 related cytokine:receptor complexes, we here provide a high-resolution computational model of the human IL-12:receptor complex. We design attenuated IL-12 variants with lower receptor binding affinities based on molecular dynamics simulations, and subsequently validate them experimentally. These variants show reduced activation of natural killer cells while maintaining T cell activation. This immunological signature is important to develop IL-12 for cancer treatment, where natural killer cells contribute to severe side-effects. Taken together, our study provides detailed insights into structure and dynamics of the human IL-12:receptor complex and leverages them for engineering attenuated variants to elicit fewer side-effects while maintaining relevant biological activity. AU - Liebl, K.* AU - Aschenbrenner, I.* AU - Schiller, L. AU - Kerle, A.* AU - Protzer, U. AU - Feige, M.J.* C1 - 67934 C2 - 54412 SP - 38-44 TI - Modeling of the human interleukin 12:receptor complex allows to engineer attenuated cytokine variants. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 162 PY - 2023 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - p53 plays a major role in genome maintenance. In addition to multiple p53 functions in the control of DNA repair, a regulation of DNA damage bypass via translesion synthesis has been implied in vitro. Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes for affinity maturation of antibody responses is based on aberrant translesion polymerase action and must be subject to stringent control to prevent genetic alterations and lymphomagenesis. When studying the role of p53 in somatic hypermutation in vivo, we found altered translesion polymerase-mediated A:T mutagenesis in mice lacking p53 in all organs, but notably not in mice with B cell-specific p53 inactivation, implying that p53 functions in non-B cells may alter mutagenesis in B cells. During class switch recombination, when p53 prevents formation of chromosomal translocations, we in addition detected a B cell-intrinsic role for p53 in altering G:C and A:T mutagenesis. Thus, p53 regulates translesion polymerase activity and shows differential activity during somatic hypermutation versus class switch recombination in vivo. Finally, p53 inhibition leads to increased somatic hypermutation in human B lymphoma cells. We conclude that loss of p53 function may promote genetic instability via multiple routes during antibody diversification in vivo. AU - Böttcher, K.* AU - Braunschmidt, K.* AU - Hirth, G.* AU - Schärich, K.* AU - Klassert, T.E.* AU - Stock, M.* AU - Sorgatz, J.* AU - Fischer-Burkart, S.* AU - Ullrich, S.* AU - Frankenberger, S. AU - Kritsch, D.* AU - Kosan, C.* AU - Küppers, R.* AU - Strobl, L.J. AU - Slevogt, H.* AU - Zimber-Strobl, U. AU - Jungnickel, B.* C1 - 62811 C2 - 51653 CY - The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1gb, England SP - 128-136 TI - Context-dependent regulation of immunoglobulin mutagenesis by p53. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 138 PB - Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd PY - 2021 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The interleukin 12 (IL-12) family of cytokines regulates T cell functions and is key for the orchestration of immune responses. Each heterodimeric IL-12 family member is a glycoprotein. However, the impact of glycosylation on biogenesis and function of the different family members has remained incompletely defined.Here, we identify glycosylation sites within human IL-12 family subunits that become modified upon secretion. Building on these insights, we show that glycosylation is dispensable for secretion of human IL-12 family cytokines except for IL-35. Furthermore, our data show that glycosylation differentially influences IL-12 family cytokine functionality, with IL-27 being most strongly affected.Taken together, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of how glycosylation affects biogenesis and function of a key human cytokine family and provides the basis for selectively modulating their secretion via targeting glycosylation. AU - Bohnacker, S. AU - Hildenbrand, K.* AU - Aschenbrenner, I.* AU - Müller, S.I.* AU - Esser-von Bieren, J. AU - Feige, M.J.* C1 - 59948 C2 - 49136 CY - The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1gb, England SP - 120-128 TI - Influence of glycosylation on IL-12 family cytokine biogenesis and function. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 126 PB - Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd PY - 2020 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Nearly half of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. Clinical manifestations of this infection range from gastritis and peptic ulcers to gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. Due to the emerging of antibiotic resistant strains and poor patient compliance of the antibiotic therapy, there is increasing interest in the development of a protective vaccine against H. pylori infection. The bacterial protein FliD forms a capping structure on the end of each flagellum which is critical to prevent depolymerization and structural degradation. In this study, the potential of FliD as a prospective H. pylori subunit vaccine was assessed. For this purpose, immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant FliD (rFliD) from H. pylori was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. Purified rFliD was formulated with different adjuvants and administered via subcutaneous or oral route. Subcutaneous immunization with rFliD elicited predominantly mixed Th1 and Th17 immune responses, with high titers of specific IgG(1) and IgG(2a). Splenocytes of immunized mice exhibited strong antigen-specific memory responses, resulting in the secretion of high amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-17, and low levels of IL-4. Immunization with rFliD caused a significant reduction in H. pylori bacterial load relative to naive control mice (p < 0.001), demonstrating a robust protective effect. Taken together, these results suggest that subcutaneous vaccination with rFliD formulated with CpG or Addavax could be considered as a potential candidate for the development of a subunit vaccine against H. pylori infection. AU - Ghasemi, A.* AU - Mohammad, N.* AU - Mautner, J. AU - Karsabet, M.T.* AU - Ardjmand, A.* AU - Moniri, R.* C1 - 52722 C2 - 44351 CY - Oxford SP - 176-182 TI - Immunization with recombinant FliD confers protection against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 94 PB - Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd PY - 2018 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Activation of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB requires signal-induced proteasomal degradation of the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) in order to allow nuclear translocation. Most cell types are capable of expressing two types of 20S proteasome core particles, the constitutive proteasome and immunoproteasome. Inducible under inflammatory conditions, the immunoproteasome is mainly characterized through an altered cleavage specificity compared to the constitutive proteasome. However, the question whether immunoproteasome subunits affect NF-κB signal transduction differently from constitutive subunits is still up for debate. To study the effect of immunoproteasomes on LPS- or TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation, we used IFN-γ stimulated peritoneal macrophages and mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from mice deficient for the immunoproteasome subunits low molecular mass polypeptide (LMP) 2, or LMP7 and multicatalytic endopeptidase complex-like 1 (MECL-1). Along the canonical signaling pathway of NF-κB activation no differences in the extent and kinetic of IκB degradation were observed. Neither the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-κB nor the production of the NF-κB dependent cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 differed between immunoproteasome deficient and proficient cells. Hence, we conclude that immunoproteasome subunits have no specialized function for canonical NF-κB activation. AU - Bitzer, A.* AU - Basler, M.* AU - Krappmann, D. AU - Groettrup, M.* C1 - 50484 C2 - 42502 SP - 147-153 TI - Immunoproteasome subunit deficiency has no influence on the canonical pathway of NF-κB activation. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 83 PY - 2017 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Api m 10 has recently been established as novel major allergen that is recognized by more than 60% of honeybee venom (HBV) allergic patients. Previous studies suggest Api m 10 protein heterogeneity which may have implications for diagnosis and immunotherapy of HBV allergy. In the present study, RT-PCR revealed the expression of at least nine additional Api m 10 transcript isoforms by the venom glands. Two distinct mechanisms are responsible for the generation of these isoforms: while the previously known variant 2 is produced by an alternative splicing event, novel identified isoforms are intragenic chimeric transcripts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the identification of chimeric transcripts generated by the honeybee. By a retrospective proteomic analysis we found evidence for the presence of several of these isoforms in the venom proteome. Additionally, we analyzed IgE reactivity to different isoforms by protein array technology using sera from HBV allergic patients, which revealed that IgE recognition of Api m 10 is both isoform- and patient-specific. While it was previously demonstrated that the majority of HBV allergic patients display IgE reactivity to variant 2, our study also shows that some patients lacking IgE antibodies for variant 2 display IgE reactivity to two of the novel identified Api m 10 variants, i.e. variants 3 and 4. AU - van Vaerenbergh, M.* AU - de Smet, L.* AU - Rafei-Shamsabadi, D.* AU - Blank, S. AU - Spillner, E.* AU - Ebo, D.G.* AU - Devreese, B.* AU - Jakob, T.* AU - de Graaf, D.C.* C1 - 42891 C2 - 35726 SP - 449-455 TI - IgE recognition of chimeric isoforms of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom allergen Api m 10 evaluated by protein array technology. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 63 IS - 2 PY - 2015 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Blinatumomab, a bispecific antibody construct targeting CD19, is the most advanced member of bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE(®)) molecules. The clinical development program includes B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Minimal residual disease (MRD) response in patients with MRD-positive B-precursor ALL has translated into long-term clinical benefits as demonstrated by an estimated relapse-free survival (RFS) of 60% with sustained MRD negativity at a follow-up of 31 months. Remissions induced in pediatric and adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-precursor ALL have allowed for successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in this setting. Blinatumomab has also induced durable responses in low-grade B-cell NHL. Blinatumomab recently gained approval in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-precursor relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. AMG 330 is an investigational anti-CD33 BiTE(®) antibody construct. Targeting CD33 ex vivo in primary samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has shown AMG 330-mediated T-cell expansion and T-cell cytotoxicity against AML cells. AU - Zugmaier, G.* AU - Klinger, M.* AU - Schmidt, M.* AU - Subklewe, M. C1 - 44431 C2 - 36839 SP - 58–66 TI - Clinical overview of anti-CD19 BiTE® and ex vivo data from anti-CD33 BiTE® as examples for retargeting T cells in hematologic malignancies. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 67 IS - 2 PY - 2015 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exhibit radical changes in mRNA and protein profiles. This shift in gene expression is geared not only to activate immune effector and regulatory mechanisms, but also to adjust the immune cell's metabolism to new physiological demands. However, it remains largely unknown whether immune function and metabolic state are mutually regulatory and, if so, how they are mechanistically interrelated in macrophages. Selenium, a dietary trace element exerting pleiotropic effects on immune homeostasis, and selenium-containing proteins (selenoproteins) may play a role in such coordination. We examined the incorporation of radiolabeled selenium into protein during LPS stimulation, and identified thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1) as the only LPS-inducible selenoprotein in macrophages. TR1 induction occurred at the transcriptional level and depended on the intracellular signaling pathways mediated by p38 MAP kinase and IκB kinase. Macrophage-specific ablation of TR1 in mice resulted in a drastic decrease in the expression of VSIG4, a B7 family protein known to suppress T cell activation. These results reveal TR1 as both a regulator and a regulated target in the macrophage gene expression network, and suggest a link between selenium metabolism and immune signaling. AU - Carlson, B.A.* AU - Yoo, M.H.* AU - Conrad, M. AU - Gladyshev, V.N.* AU - Hatfield, D.L.* AU - Park, J.M.* C1 - 5623 C2 - 29102 SP - 311-316 TI - Protein kinase-regulated expression and immune function of thioredoxin reductase 1 in mouse macrophages. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 49 IS - 1-2 PB - Elsevier PY - 2011 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Transgenic L2 mice contain high numbers of the lambda 2(315) immunoglobulin L chain gene in their germ line. They are characterized by an almost complete block in B2 cell development and dominance of B1 cells in their periphery. This was attributed to high transgene expression. Here, we describe a variant of such mice (L2V), which has lost half of the transgene copies. This results in decreased transgene expression. Consequently, such mice display less severe isotype exclusion and an increase in B cells expressing endogenous k light chains. In addition, the B2 cell compartment is enlarged. Nevertheless, L2V mice exhibit phosphatidylcholine (PtC) binding B cells expressing lambda L chains as well as an unaltered number of B1a cells expressing the dominating specificity usually encountered in L2 mice. Since in L2V mice transgene integration and regulation is identical to L2 mice, the correlation of decreased transgene expression and increased presence of B2 cells strongly suggests that high transgene expression is decisive for development of B1 cells in L2 mice. AU - Roy, B.* AU - Shukla, S.* AU - Stoermann, B.* AU - Kremmer, E. AU - Düber, S.* AU - Weiss, S.* C1 - 1241 C2 - 26519 SP - 1542-1550 TI - Loss of λ2³¹⁵ tarnsgene copy numbers influences the development of B1 cells. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 46 IS - 7 PB - Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd PY - 2009 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is suppressed by the pro-inflammatory interferon gamma but the mechanism of this action is unknown. We analysed activity of IL-10 promoter luciferase reporter constructs in transfected RPMI 8226.1 B cells that were treated at -2 h with IFN gamma (1000 U/ml) followed by stimulation with LPS (100 ng/ml) at 0 h. IFN gamma treatment suppressed LPS-induced IL-10 promoter activity in a construct carrying the -1044 promoter and also one containing the -195 promoter. The suppression was independent of the IRF-motif at -182 but involved the Stat-motif at -120. In gelshift analysis this Stat motif did bind LPS-induced Stat3 and with IFN gamma treatment it did, in addition, bind Stat1 ChIP analysis for detection of transcription factor binding to chromatin in intact cells demonstrated Stat3 binding to the proximal IL-10 promoter when cells are stimulated with LIPS only. Treatment with IFN gamma only led to Stat1 binding in ChIP analysis and treatment with IFN gamma plus LPS led to reduced Stat3 binding while Stat1 binding remained high. Finally, LPS-induced activity of the trimeric Stat-motif in front of the luciferase reporter was suppressed by IFN gamma. These data demonstrate that IFN gamma down-regulates expression of the IL-10 gene by a novel mechanism that involves displacement of transactiving Stat3 by IFN gamma-induced Stat1. AU - Schaefer, A.* AU - Unterberger, C. AU - Frankenberger, M. AU - Lohrum, M.* AU - Staples, K.J.* AU - Werner, T.* AU - Stunnenberg, H.* AU - Ziegler-Heitbrock, L. C1 - 1224 C2 - 26257 SP - 1351-1359 TI - Mechanism of interferon-gamma mediated down-regulation of interleukin-10 gene expression. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 46 IS - 7 PB - Pergamon, Elsevier Science PY - 2009 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - M-Ficolin is a member of the ficolin family of proteins, which is expressed by monocytes. We have determined the expression of this gene in various populations of this lineage in man and found lower levels of M-Ficolin mRNA in the more mature CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes as compared to the classical CD14(++) monocytes. Monocyte-derived macrophages generated by in vitro culture for 5 days strongly reduced M-Ficolin mRNA and protein. Mature tissue macrophages from the lung and from breast milk also showed a very low level of M-Ficolin transcripts. When cells of the monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 cell were treated with TLR2 and TLR4 ligands for 24 h then there was an average of 6- and 9-fold induction of the M-Ficolin mRNA, respectively. After 72 h induction was in average 30- and 80-fold for TLR2 and TLR4 stimulation, respectively. Treatment of monocyte-derived macrophages for 3 days with TLR4 ligand gave an average 4-fold induction and alveolar macrophages treated with TLR4 ligand showed a 12-fold induction. These data show that M-Ficolin expression is silenced in macrophages but can be re-activated after prolonged activation via TLRs. AU - Frankenberger, M. AU - Schwaeble, W.* AU - Ziegler-Heitbrock, L. C1 - 1290 C2 - 25114 SP - 1424-1430 TI - Expression of M-Ficolin in human monocytes and macrophages. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 45 IS - 5 PB - Elsevier PY - 2008 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - In the present report we have determined the molecular mechanisms, which govern the expression of the human IL-10 gene when induced by the glucocorticoid Methyl-Prednisolone (MP). Treatment of cells with MP at 10-6 M will readily induce IL-10 in CD19+ primary B cells and in a human B cell line. Analysis of the IL-10 promoter showed a robust 18-fold induction and demonstrated that a potential GRE motif was not required, while mutation of the -120 STAT-motif strongly reduced MP-induced trans-activation. A strong induction was also seen with a trimeric STAT-motif and over-expression of dominant-negative STAT3 could block MP induction of IL-10 mRNA. Finally, MP treatment induced binding of STAT3 to the promoter as shown by gelshift, supershift and by chromatin-immunoprecipitation. These data show that glucocorticoid-induced expression of the IL-10 gene is mediated by the transcription factor STAT3. AU - Unterberger, C.* AU - Staples, K.J.* AU - Smallie, T.* AU - Williams, L.* AU - Foxwell, B.* AU - Schaefer, A.* AU - Kempkes, B. AU - Hofer, T.P.* AU - Koeppel, M.* AU - Lohrum, M.* AU - Stunnenberg, H.* AU - Frankenberger, M.* AU - Ziegler-Heitbrock, L. C1 - 2345 C2 - 25316 SP - 3230-3237 TI - Role of STAT3 in glucocorticoid-induced expression of the human IL-10 gene. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 45 IS - 11 PB - Elsevier PY - 2008 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a valuable model for autoimmune diseases, since it develops frequently and occurs spontaneously. We investigated the overall expression level of three major retinal autoantigens in normal retinas and various ERU stages. Analysis of retinal proteomes of both, healthy and diseased retinas revealed an almost unaffected expression of IRBP, S-antigen and cRALBP in ERU cases. Validation of these findings with western blots and immunohistochemistry confirmed constant to increased expression of these autoantigens, although loss of their physiological expression sites within retina is evident. In contrast to stable expression of autoantigens, rhodopsin, the major component of phototransduction in photoreceptors, disappeared from destructed retinas. These results explain persistent uveitic attacks even in severely damaged eyes and draw the attention to further investigations of biological pathways and regulations in autoimmune target tissues. AU - Deeg, C.A.* AU - Hauck, S.M. AU - Amann, B.* AU - Kremmer, E. AU - Stangassinger, M.* AU - Ueffing, M. C1 - 5868 C2 - 24478 SP - 3291-3296 TI - Major retinal autoantigens remain stably expressed during all stages of spontaneous uveitis. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 44 IS - 13 PB - Elsevier PY - 2007 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Rückerl, F. AU - Busse, B. AU - Bachl, J. C1 - 308 C2 - 23488 SP - 1645-1652 TI - Episomal vectors to monitor and induce somatic hypermutation in human Burkitt-Lymphoma cell lines. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 43 PY - 2006 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Kirberg, J.* AU - Gschwendner, C. AU - Dangy, J.-P.* AU - Rückerl, F. AU - Frommer, F.* AU - Bachl, J. C1 - 3492 C2 - 22650 SP - 1235-1242 TI - Proviral integration of an Abelson-murine leukemia virus deregulates BKLF-expression in the hypermutating pre-B cell line 18-81. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 42 PY - 2005 SN - 0161-5890 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Rückerl, F. AU - Mailhammer, R. AU - Bachl, J. C1 - 2112 C2 - 22034 SP - 1135-1143 TI - Dual reporter system to dissect cis- and trans-effects enfluencing the mutation rate in a hypermutating cell line. JO - Mol. Immunol. VL - 41 PY - 2004 SN - 0161-5890 ER -