Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michel Lopes Leite, Harry Morales Duque, Gisele Regina Rodrigues, Nicolau Brito da Cunha, Octavio Luiz Franco
Summary: Host defense peptides (HDPs) are natural polypeptide sequences that have antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Cathelicidins, a family of HDPs, are produced by various animal species to protect against pathogen infections. The LL-37 domain and its fragments have been shown to play a role in the immune response, suggesting its importance in understanding how cathelicidins induce immunity.
Article
Immunology
Priscila N. Oliveira, Daniella S. Courrol, Rosa Maria Chura-Chambi, Ligia Morganti, Gisele O. Souza, Marcia R. Franzolin, Elsio A. Wunder Jr, Marcos B. Heinemann, Angela S. Barbosa
Summary: Leptospira, a pathogenic spirochete, secretes proteases that target human cathelicidin LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide important for innate immune response. Pathogenic strains degrade LL-37 more efficiently compared to saprophytic strains, indicating a potential virulence mechanism for Leptospira.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Chia Wei Cheah, Anis Rageh Al-Maleki, Rathna Devi Vaithilingam, Jamuna Vadivelu, Sargunan Sockalingam, Nor Adinar Baharuddin, Peter Mark Bartold
Summary: RA patients exhibited subgingival microbial dysbiosis where bacteria networks were dominated by both health- and disease-associated genera. Mixed correlations with disease parameters and LL-37 levels were noted in the study.
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Chih-Chin Shih, Wei-Chieh Liao, Hung-Yen Ke, Chia-Wen Kuo, Cheng-Ming Tsao, Wen-Chiuan Tsai, Yi-Lin Chiu, Hsieh-Chou Huang, Chin-Chen Wu
Summary: Global warming increases the incidence of heat stroke, which leads to intestinal barrier disruption, microbial translocation, systemic inflammation, and multiple organ failure. Cathelicidin LL-37 has protective effects on the intestine and could prevent heat stress-induced intestinal damage and heat-related illnesses.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Hanjun Zhao, Zhaoxue Sheng, Yu Tan, Runzhen Chen, Jinying Zhou, Jiannan Li, Qianyu Zhao, Ying Wang, Xiaoxiao Zhao, Yi Chen, Peng Zhou, Chen Liu, Li Song, Hongbing Yan
Summary: This study found that high plasma LL-37 levels may predict lower risks of ischemic cardiovascular events in patients after acute STEMI.
JOURNAL OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND THROMBOSIS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Miguel A. Bedoya-Perez, Mark E. Westman, Max Loomes, Nga Yee Natalie Chung, Benjamin Knobel, Michael P. Ward
Summary: Leptospirosis is an emerging disease in Sydney, Australia, affecting both humans and dogs, and the role of rats as reservoirs of infection is still unknown. In this study, rats were collected from the City of Sydney Council area and tested for pathogenic Leptospira DNA. The results showed that 8.1% of the rats had Leptospira DNA in their kidneys. However, further testing and investigation into other wildlife reservoirs and environmental sources of leptospires are needed.
Article
Rheumatology
Gerd R. Burmester, Peter Nash, Bruce E. Sands, Kim Papp, Lori Stockert, Thomas Jones, Huaming Tan, Ann Madsen, Hernan Valdez, Stanley B. Cohen
Summary: This study analyzed adverse events of special interest in tofacitinib clinical programs across four diseases, finding that infections were the most common adverse events in all diseases. The incidence rates for herpes zoster and serious infections were highest, and the adjusted mortality ratios weighted for country were relatively low across cohorts. The safety profile of tofacitinib was generally consistent across diseases and with longer term follow-up compared to previous analyses.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Egidio Spinelli, Kyle R. Christensen, Emily Bryant, Amy Schneider, Jennifer Rakotomamonjy, Alison M. Muir, Jessica Giannelli, Rebecca O. Littlejohn, Elizabeth R. Roeder, Berkley Schmidt, William G. Wilson, Elysa J. Marco, Kazuhiro Iwama, Satoko Kumada, Tiziana Pisano, Carmen Barba, Annalisa Vetro, Eva H. Brilstra, Richard H. Jaarsveld, Naomichi Matsumoto, Hadassa Goldberg-Stern, Patrick W. Carney, P. Ian Andrews, Christelle M. El Achkar, Sam Berkovic, Lance H. Rodan, Kirsty McWalter, Renzo Guerrini, Ingrid E. Scheffer, Heather C. Mefford, Simone Mandelstam, Linda Laux, John J. Millichap, Alicia Guemez-Gamboa, Angus C. Nairn, Gemma L. Carvill
Summary: The MAST family of microtubule-associated serine-threonine kinases have distinct expression patterns in the brain and MAST3 has been identified as a novel epilepsy-associated gene with a potential gain-of-function mechanism, primarily restricted to excitatory neurons in the cortex.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Manouk de Hooge, Alla Ischenko, Serge Steinfeld, Adrien Nzeusseu, Dirk Elewaut, Rik Lories, Filip van den Bosch, Kurt De Vlam
Summary: This study investigates the association between different definitions of axial involvement and syndesmophytes development in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). The results show that the probability of developing syndesmophytes is much higher when axial involvement is determined radiographically rather than clinically, particularly in the context of high CRP.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Jianwei Liang, Jianjun Chen, Zhan Ye, Dandan Bao
Summary: LL-37 exerts a protective role in regulating bone loss and abnormal bone metabolism in rats with osteoporosis by activating the Wnt/B-catenin pathway.
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Kimberly L. P. Long, Linda L. Chao, Yurika Kazama, Anjile An, Kelsey Y. Hu, Lior Peretz, Dyana C. Y. Muller, Vivian D. Roan, Rhea Misra, Claire E. Toth, Jocelyn M. Breton, William Casazza, Sara Mostafavi, Bertrand R. Huber, Steven H. Woodward, Thomas C. Neylan, Daniela Kaufer
Summary: Individual responses to traumatic stress vary significantly, with studies showing the surprising plasticity of oligodendrocytes and myelin in response to stress and experience. The correlation between gray matter oligodendrocytes and differential behavioral phenotypes following traumatic stress exposure suggests a novel mechanism for brain plasticity that underlies individual variance in sensitivity to traumatic stress. The species-independent relationship between region-specific gray matter oligodendrocytes and behavioral outcomes highlights the potential impact of stress on the brain.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Anne Hollerbach, Nadine Mueller-Calleja, Denise Pedrosa, Antje Canisius, Martin F. Sprinzl, Tanja Falter, Heidi Rossmann, Marc Bodenstein, Christian Werner, Ingo Sagoschen, Thomas Muenzel, Oliver Schreiner, Visvakanth Sivanathan, Michael Reuter, Johannes Niermann, Peter R. Galle, Luc Teyton, Wolfram Ruf, Karl J. Lackner
Summary: The study found that lipid-binding aPL are common in COVID-19 patients, with higher concentrations of inflammatory markers and increased likelihood of critical clinical course and fatal outcome. B1a cells producing lipid-reactive aPL of the IgG isotype circulate in the blood of COVID-19 patients, leading to thrombotic and inflammatory effects. In vivo, COVID-19 aPL accelerate thrombus formation in an experimental mouse model, indicating a causal role in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Stephanie Peters, Ben Pascoe, Zuowei Wu, Sion C. Bayliss, Ximin Zeng, Adam Edwinson, Sakteesh Veerabadhran-Gurunathan, Selina Jawahir, Jessica K. Calland, Evangelos Mourkas, Robin Patel, Terra Wiens, Marijke Decuir, David Boxrud, Kirk Smith, Craig T. Parker, Gianrico Farrugia, Qijing Zhang, Samuel K. Sheppard, Madhusudan Grover
Summary: Researchers used whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis to identify potential genetic factors linked to irritable bowel syndrome caused by Campylobacter jejuni infection. They found that specific genetic variations in bacterial stress response, adhesion protein, and core biosynthetic pathway genes may contribute to the development of post-infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). The study demonstrated that certain Campylobacter genotypes exhibit increased virulence in vitro, shedding light on the complex host-pathogen interactions underlying this condition.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark Bustoros, Shankara Anand, Romanos Sklavenitis-Pistofidis, Robert Redd, Eileen M. Boyle, Benny Zhitomirsky, Andrew J. Dunford, Yu-Tzu Tai, Selina J. Chavda, Cody Boehner, Carl Jannes Neuse, Mahshid Rahmat, Ankit Dutta, Tineke Casneuf, Raluca Verona, Efstathis Kastritis, Lorenzo Trippa, Chip Stewart, Brian A. Walker, Faith E. Davies, Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, P. Leif Bergsagel, Kwee Yong, Gareth J. Morgan, Francois Aguet, Gad Getz, Irene M. Ghobrial
Summary: This study identifies six distinct molecular and clinical subtypes of smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) using genetic alterations analysis. Three of these subtypes are associated with an increased risk of progression to active multiple myeloma.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sinead M. McGlacken-Byrne, Ignacio del Valle, Polona Le Quesne Stabej, Laura Bellutti, Luz Garcia-Alonso, Louise A. Ocaka, Miho Ishida, Jenifer P. Suntharalingham, Andrey Gagunashvili, Olumide K. Ogunbiyi, Talisa Mistry, Federica Buonocore, Berta Crespo, Nadjeda Moreno, Paola Niola, Tony Brooks, Caroline E. Brain, Mehul T. Dattani, Daniel Kelberman, Roser Vento-Tormo, Carlos F. Lagos, Gabriel Livera, Gerard S. Conway, John C. Achermann
Summary: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affects 1% of women and is associated with significant medical and psychosocial consequences. Recent research has identified pathogenic variants in the YTHDC2 gene that are linked to early-onset POI, highlighting the importance of this gene in human meiosis regulation.
Article
Cell Biology
Jasmin Knopf, Johanna Sjowall, Martina Frodlund, Jorma Hinkula, Martin Herrmann, Christopher Sjowall
Summary: The severity of COVID-19 is related to immune response, which raises concerns for patients with autoimmune disorders. Thromboembolism, characterized by the occlusion of vessels by NETs, is a complication of COVID-19. This study suggests that an imbalance in NET formation and clearance may exacerbate autoimmunity and disease severity. Serologic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure has minor impact on the course of SLE.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeeshan Singh, Irmgard Herrmann, Aparna Mahajan, Christine Schauer, Xiaomei Shan, Arndt Hartmann, Ralf J. Rieker, Katja Evert, Christina Falkeis, Elisabeth Naschberger, Saskia von Stillfried, Peter Boor, Luis E. Munoz, Georg Schett, Martin Herrmann, Jasmin Knopf
Summary: This study reports the occurrence of pleomorphic vascular occlusions in patients with COVID-19 and the detection of these occlusions using a label-free method called NEF. Lung specimens showed different types of occlusions, including those rich in DNA but poor in NE, those rich in NE but DNA poor, and those rich in both DNA and NE.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Antoine N. Kraemer, Anna-Lena Schaefer, Dalina T. L. Sprenger, Bettina Sehnert, Johanna P. Williams, Aileen Luo, Laura Riechert, Qusai Al-Kayyal, Helene Dumortier, Jean-Daniel Fauny, Zoltan Winter, Kathrin Heim, Maike Hofmann, Martin Herrmann, Guido Heine, Reinhard E. Voll, Nina Chevalier
Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide and is associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other immune-mediated diseases. In this study, low vitamin D intake was found to accelerate lupus progression in lupus-prone mice, possibly by affecting the regulatory phenotype of lymphocytes. Correcting vitamin D deficiency can not only prevent osteoporosis but also serve as an important component in the prevention and treatment of lupus and other immune-mediated diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Qi Fang, Antonia Margarethe Stehr, Elisabeth Naschberger, Jasmin Knopf, Martin Herrmann, Michael Stuerzl
Summary: The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is controlled by neutrophils, which can promote or inhibit tumor progression through the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The interaction between NETs and TIME has different effects on tumor growth and therapy, and further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Julia Elrod, Antonia Kiwit, Moritz Lenz, Holger Rohde, Daniela Boernigen, Malik Alawi, Christoph Mohr, Laia Pagerols Raluy, Magdalena Trochimiuk, Jasmin Knopf, Konrad Reinshagen, Martin Herrmann, Michael Boettcher
Summary: This study evaluated the septic volvulus ischemia-reperfusion model and compared it to two established models in mice sepsis. The results showed that midgut volvulus for 15 minutes caused a comparable mortality rate as the other two models, and at 48 hours, there was a decrease in circulating free DNA levels and an increase in bacterial translocation to the spleen/liver and lungs. In addition, DNases were increased in this model compared to the established models. Proteomic analysis revealed an upregulation of several markers of inflammation and tissue damage at 48 hours. Overall, this study demonstrates that midgut volvulus is a stable and physiological model for studying sepsis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeeshan Singh, Michael Boettcher, Maximilian Doelling, Annika Heuer, Bettina Hohberger, Moritz Leppkes, Elisabeth Naschberger, Mirco Schapher, Christine Schauer, Janina Schoen, Michael Stuerzl, Ljubomir Vitkov, Han Wang, Leticija Zlatar, Georg A. Schett, David S. Pisetsky, Ming-Lin Liu, Martin Herrmann, Jasmin Knopf
Summary: Extracellular chromatin, particularly in the form of NETs, plays a crucial role in the progression of various diseases. It functions as a driver of the interferon system, autoantigen, and scaffold for innate immune system proteins. Insufficient clearance of extruded chromatin can contribute to immune-inflammatory and occlusive disorders. This article discusses the cellular events involved in extracellular chromatin release and NET formation, the negative consequences of dysregulated NET formation, and the imbalance between NET formation and clearance. It also explores the role of NET formation in various diseases and injuries, highlighting the importance of targeting chromatin decondensation pathways and promoting extracellular chromatin clearance for effective therapies.
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Han Wang, Antonia Margarethe Stehr, Jeeshan Singh, Leticija Zlatar, Arndt Hartmann, Katja Evert, Elisabeth Naschberger, Saskia von Stillfried, Peter Boor, Luis E. E. Munoz, Jasmin Knopf, Michael Stuerzl, Martin Herrmann
Summary: During inflammatory responses, neutrophils utilize various defense mechanisms, such as phagocytosis, degranulation, recruitment of immune cells, secretion of anti-microbials, and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Detection of NETs in tissue sections can be challenging due to the high fluorescence signals emitted from condensed nuclear DNA. However, using anti-DNA-IgM antibodies can effectively detect the extended DNA patches of NETs, providing a new perspective for studying neutrophil-associated immune reactions in diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ljubomir Vitkov, Jeeshan Singh, Christine Schauer, Bernd Minnich, Jelena Krunic, Hannah Oberthaler, Sonja Gamsjaeger, Martin Herrmann, Jasmin Knopf, Matthias Hannig
Summary: The break of the epithelial barrier of gingiva has been a neglected topic despite its significant role in periodontal pathology and transitory bacteraemia. Mechanically induced bacterial translocation in gingiva has been disregarded despite the knowledge of mechanical force effects on tight junctions in other epithelial tissues. In this review, the bacterial, immune, and mechanical factors responsible for the increased permeability and break of the epithelial barrier of inflamed gingiva are discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xue Cao, Yanhong Li, Yubin Luo, Tianshu Chu, Hang Yang, Ji Wen, Yi Liu, Yi Zhao, Martin Herrmann
Summary: The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) plays a role in infection-related and sterile inflammation. Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals are involved in various diseases as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The study demonstrates that the ROS-sensing channel TRPM2 is necessary for MSU crystal-induced NET formation and TRPM2 knockout leads to reduced inflammation. This indicates that TRPM2 could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Julia Elrod, Moritz Lenz, Antonia Kiwit, Lina Armbrust, Lavinia Schoenfeld, Konrad Reinshagen, Laia Pagerols Raluy, Christoph Mohr, Ceren Saygi, Malik Alawi, Holger Rohde, Martin Herrmann, Michael Boettcher
Summary: Through optimizing a murine scald model, this study investigated the immune responses to heat induced injury. The study identified the roles of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and DNases in the therapy of burns. It also evaluated the effects of different exposure times on extracellular matrix.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Leticija Zlatar, Thomas Timm, Gunter Lochnit, Rostyslav Bilyy, Tobias Baeuerle, Marco Munoz-Becerra, Georg Schett, Jasmin Knopf, Jens Heichel, Mohammad Javed Ali, Mirco Schapher, Friedrich Paulsen, Martin Herrmann
Summary: Mucopeptide concretions, also known as dacryoliths, are macroscopic stones that commonly block the lacrimal sac. The mechanisms behind their formation are unclear, but various immune cells, including neutrophils, have been confirmed to be involved. This study investigates the role of neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in dacryolithiasis using multiple analysis methods, and proposes a mechanism for the formation and growth of mucopeptide concretions involving neutrophils and NETs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andreas Mackensen, Fabian Mueller, Dimitrios Mougiakakos, Sebastian Boeltz, Artur Wilhelm, Michael Aigner, Simon Voelkl, David Simon, Arnd Kleyer, Luis Munoz, Sascha Kretschmann, Soraya Kharboutli, Regina Gary, Hannah Reimann, Wolf Roesler, Stefan Uderhardt, Holger Bang, Martin Herrmann, Arif Buelent Ekici, Christian Buettner, Katharina Maria Habenicht, Thomas H. Winkler, Gerhard Kroenke, Georg Schett
Summary: A study of five patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus treated with anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy showed remission of SLE disease in all patients after 3 months, and long-term drug-free remission was maintained during follow-up.
Meeting Abstract
Rheumatology
Xiaomei Shan, Clara Reichardt, Jeeshan Singh, Anne Zeitler, Christine Schauer, Jasmin Knopf, Martin Herrmann, Gerhard Grossmayer, Georg Schett, Luis Munoz
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Schlick, Marianna Lucio, Gerd Wallukat, Alexander Bartsch, Adam Skornia, Jakob Hoffmanns, Charlotte Szewczykowski, Thora Schroeder, Franziska Raith, Lennart Rogge, Felix Heltmann, Michael Moritz, Lorenz Beitlich, Julia Schottenhamml, Martin Herrmann, Thomas Harrer, Marion Ganslmayer, Friedrich E. Kruse, Robert Laemmer, Christian Mardin, Bettina Hohberger
Summary: This study investigated the potential association between self-reported chronic fatigue and retinal microcirculation in patients with Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). The results suggest that retinal microcirculation may serve as an objective biomarker for chronic fatigue in PCS patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Antonia Margarethe Stehr, Guangxia Wang, Richard Demmler, Marc P. Stemmler, Philipp Tripal, Carol I. Geppert, Susanne Merkel, Martin Herrmann, Michael Stuerzl
ONCOLOGY RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2022)
