As células tumorais prosperam como consequência da capacidade de resistir aos mecanismos de morte celular e de evasão da vigilância imunológica. Nós propomos que, em cânceres que possuem o supressor de tumor p53 selvagem, a remediação de ambas dessas defesas pode ser promovida pela transferência genica combinada de vetores adenovirais portadores dos transgenes de p19Arf (proteína supressora de tumor, parceira funcional de p53) e de interferon-beta (IFNbeta, citocina imunomoduladora). De fato, em resultados anteriores, notamos que a transdução combinada (p19Arf/IFNbeta), mas não os tratamentos individuais, em células de melanoma murino B16F10 resulta em aumento massivo de morte celular. Porém a capacidade destas células em processo de morte de desencadear imunidade antitumoral não foi analisada. Nesta tese e em estudos complementares, buscamos investigar os mecanismos moleculares de morte celular envolvidos na resposta imune estimulada por p19Arf/IFNbeta e explorar sua aplicação como imunoterapia do câncer. Inicialmente, em modelo de vacinação profilática, revelamos que o tratamento combinado em células B16F10 promove a expressão de IL-15, ULBP1, dos receptores de morte FAS/APO1 e KILLER/DR5, assim como uma resposta de células natural killer que rejeitam estas células tratadas quando inoculadas em camundongos imunocompetentes singênicos. Após desafio tumoral no flanco oposto, a progressão desses tumores foi fortemente reduzida devido ao engajamento de linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+, que apresentaram produção aumentada das citocinas IFN-? e TNF-alfa e medeiam proteção antitumoral de longo prazo. Em seguida, explorando um contexto de imunização diferente, a transferência de gênica in situ foi realizada em carcinoma heterotópico de pulmão e exibiu proteção significativa contra um desafio tumoral secundário, apenas quando o tumor primário foi tratado com p19Arf/IFNbeta. Análise de transcriptoma destes tumores indicou uma assinatura quimiotáxica de neutrófilos e linfócitos T CD8+ através das quimiocinas CCL3, CXCL3 e da IL-1beta. Em apoio destas observações, análises mecanicistas in vitro revelaram que células tratadas com p19Arf/IFNbeta ativam programas apoptóticos de p53 e antivirais de IFNbeta, enquanto sucumbem a um processo de morte por necroptose que também libera moléculas de morte celular imunogênica (MCI), calreticulina, ATP e HMGB1. No entanto, procurando potencializar ainda mais o benefício terapêutico dos nossos vetores, exploramos sua associação com o quimioterápico imunogênico doxorrubicina (Dox), que também é indutor de MCI. E nesta associação, percebemos que a Dox aumenta não apenas os níveis de morte celular, mas também a imunogenicidade das células tratadas, proporcionando em um modelo de vacina terapêutica, um controle tumoral superior em camundongos que já portavam antes da vacinação tumores B16F10 ou MCA205. Além disso, a associação in situ destas terapias restaurou a eficácia de uma dose sub-terapêutica de Dox, que em contraste com sua dose terapêutica, não prejudica a função cardíaca. Finalmente, também exploramos a associação com o bloqueio dos pontos de controle imunológicos PD-1 ou CTLA-4, que no modelo de vacina terapêutica, sua associação induziu maior rejeição completa de tumores B16F10. Em conclusão, aqui apresentamos evidências sobre a capacidade da combinação p19Arf/IFNbeta de induzir morte celular e estimulação imunológica. E ressaltamos seu potencial como uma estratégia de imunoterapia do câncer / Cancer cells thrive as a consequence of resisting cell death mechanisms and escaping from immune surveillance. We propose that, in cancers that harbor the wild-type tumor suppressor p53, remediation of both of these defenses can be achieved by harnessing the adenoviral vector mediated gene transfer of p19Arf (tumor suppressor protein, p53 functional partner) together with interferon-beta (IFNbeta, immunomodulatory cytokine). Indeed, in our initial observations, it was noticed that combined-transduction (p19Arf/IFNbeta), but not the individual treatments, of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells results in massive cell death levels. Yet, the capability of these dying cells to unleash antitumor immunity was not investigated. Here in this thesis and in complementary studies, we sought to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cell death involved in the p19Arf/IFNbeta immune stimulation and explore its potential as a mediator of cancer immunotherapy. First, in a prophylactic B16F10 vaccine model, we revealed that the dual treatment led to the up-regulation of IL-15, ULBP1, FAS/APO1 and KILLER/DR5 death receptors, plus a natural killer cell response that completely rejects treated cells when inoculated in syngeneic immunocompetent mice. Whereas, upon a contralateral tumor challenge, progression was strongly reduced by engaging both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which displayed augmented production of IFN-? and TNF-alpha cytokines and provided long term antitumor protection. Next, exploring different immunization context, in situ gene transfer in a heterotopic lung carcinoma exhibited significant protection against a secondary tumor challenge only when the primary tumor was treated with p19Arf/IFNbeta. Transcriptome analysis of these treated tumors indicated a chemotaxic signature of neutrophils and CD8+ T cells with the involvement of CCL3, CXCL3 chemokines and IL-1beta. Moreover, in support of this evidence, mechanistic in vitro studies revealed that p19Arf/IFNbeta treated cells reactivate p53 apoptotic and IFNbeta antiviral programs, while succumbing to a necroptosis cell death processes that also releases immunogenic cell death (ICD) molecules, calreticulin, ATP and HMGB1. Yet, aiming to potentiate therapeutic benefit of our vectors, we explored their association with doxorubicin (Dox) immunogenic chemotherapy, which is also an inducer of ICD. And in this setting, this association with Dox enhances not only cell death levels but also immunogenicity of treated cells, providing superior tumor control in a therapeutic vaccine model, where mice were already bearing B16F10 tumors or MCA205 sarcomas before vaccination. Moreover, associated use of these therapies in situ rescued efficacy of a sub-therapeutic dose of Dox, which in contrast to its therapeutic dose, does not impair cardiac function. Finally, we also evaluated the association with PD-1 or CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, which in the therapeutic vaccine model induced full tumor rejection in a greater number of mice. In sum, here we provide compelling evidence for the ability of the p19Arf/IFNbeta combined gene transfer to promote cell death and immunogenic stimuli and underscored its potential to be applied as a cancer immunotherapy strategy

On a récemment mis en évidence l'existence d'une étroite interconnexion entre la perception d'éléments d'origine microbienne (qui se fait à travers les récepteurs de l’immunité innée tels que les TLRs) et l'homéostasie du réticulum endoplasmique. En situation de stress, une grande quantité de protéines mal repliées s'accumule dans le réticulum, déclenchant une série de réponses cellulaires connues sous le nom de "Unfolded Protein Response" (UPR). On a découvert que l'activation de l'UPR contribue à la réponse inflammatoire, en particulier chez les cellules dendritiques. GADD34/PP1 est un complexe protéique qui dé-phosphoryle eIF2α et participe à la restauration de la synthèse protéique. On a démontré que GADD34 a aussi un rôle dans le contrôle de l’expression des cytokines pro-inflammatoires, en particulier l'interféron de type I. Le but de cette thèse est de clarifier comment la voie de signalisation des TLRs et le UPR s'intercroisent et comment est-ce qu'on peut exploiter cette interaction dans des cas pathologiques J’ai pu démontrer, à l'aide de cellules dendritiques d’origine humaine et murine, que le guanabenz (GBZ), un inhibiteur du complexe GADD34/PP1, est capable de bloquer l'activation des récepteurs TLRs endosomaux. Cet inhibiteur est également capable de bloquer le choc septique dépendent de TLR9 et de baisser le niveau d’autoanticorps dans un modèle lupique. En conclusion, j'ai pu démontrer, aussi bien in vitro que in vivo, que le guanabenz est capable d'inhiber les TLRs endosomaux à travers un nouveau mécanisme d’inhibition sur CH25H, une enzyme du métabolisme du cholestérol, qui a été récemment découvert comme faisant partie de l'immunité innée. / Sustained immune reaction is strictly interconnected to pathogenic situations. For this reason, the activation of immune cells is controlled by multiple pathways. A cross-talk between microbial sensing and Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) homeostasis has been discovered. Abnormal accumulation of proteins in the ER is a sign of cellular malfunction and triggers emergency rescue pathways, collectively known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). UPR induction triggers or amplifies inflammatory signals by dendritic cells (DCs). GADD34/PP1 is a holophosphatase complex that dephosphorylates eIF2α and participates in the UPR feedback loop, by restoring protein translation. It has been shown that GADD34 plays an important role in controlling the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially type I interferon. In dendritic cells (DCs), pathogens are sensed by Pathogen Recognition Receptors (PRRs); the better characterised class of PRRs being the Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs). Thus, the aim of my thesis is to investigate how TLRs and ER-signalling pathways intersect and how this can be used to control pathogenic states, with particular attention for the GADD34/PP1 complex. Using both human and mouse DCs, we show that guanabenz (GBZ), an inhibitor of the GADD34/PP1 complex, blocks endosomal TLRs activation. The same inhibitor rescues mice viability in a TLR-dependent septic shock model and controls the circulating autoantibodies in a lupus model. Our studies show that TLR9 is particularly sensitive to GBZ. We show also that GBZ has a previously unidentified effect on CH25H, an enzyme that hydroxylates the cholesterol in 25-hydroxycholesterol, recently linked to TLRs signaling.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The objective of this study is to evaluate the adjuvant effect of interferon alpha (IFNα) in swine vaccinated with a recombinant replication-defective adenovirus containing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) protein coding regions, as well as to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of FMDV with its host. In the first part of this thesis, the adjuvant effect of pIFNα was evaluated in swine vaccinated with a recombinant vaccine delivered by a human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vector containing FMDV capsid (P1-2A) and 3Cpro proteinase coding regions (Ad5-A24). Swine were separated into 5 groups and inoculated with low (5x108 PFU) or high (5x109 PFU) doses of Ad5-A24 in the presence or absence of pIFNα (Ad5-pIFN, 109 PFU). Control animals received 6x109 PFU of an Ad5 vector containing the glycoprotein gene of vesicular stomatitis virus (Ad5-VSNJV-G). All swine were challenged at 42 days post vaccination (dpv) with FMDV-A24. Prior to challenge, blood samples were examined for IFN production, induction of IFN-induced genes (ISG s), FMDV-specific neutralizing antibodies and FMDV-specific antibody isotypes. After challenge, a number of parameters were analyzed including clinical score, viremia, lymphopenia and antibodies against FMDV structural (S) and non-structural (NS) proteins. The results indicate that both groups that received high-dose Ad5-A24 developed an FMDV-specific neutralizing antibody response by 14-21 dpv, which was maintained until the day of challenge. Both high-dose groups developed high levels of IgG1 and IgG2, however the IgG1 response was higher. The high-dose Ad5-A24 with IFN group developed higher levels of IgG1 than the group administered only high-dose Ad5-A24 and this difference was statistically significant. Antiviral activity and IFNα were detected in the groups that received IFN. The three ISG s examined, PKR, OAS and Mx1, were detected by real time RT-PCR in leukocytes from Ad5-pIFNα-vaccinated swine. After challenge, all animals in the control group developed early viremia, vesicular lesions, considerable lymphopenia and antibodies to FMDV NS proteins. The animals that received low-dose Ad5-A24 without IFN had similar clinical signs, except that fewer animals had viremia. In contrast, pigs inoculated with the low-dose Ad5-A24 and IFNα had a delayed onset of vesicular lesions and only one animal had detectable viremia. Animals vaccinated with high-dose Ad5-A24 without IFNα had no viremia, showed fewer lesions, one animal had no lesions, and delayed onset of disease compared to the low-dose Ad5-A24 groups. Four of five pigs vaccinated with high-dose Ad5-A24 and IFNα were completely protected from disease and only one animal in this group had a vesicular lesion restricted to the site of challenge virus inoculation. The results indicate that IFNα enhances the level of protection induced by the Ad5-FMD vaccine against homologous FMDV, supporting the use of IFNα as a potential adjuvant in FMD vaccination strategies. To investigate the effect of FMDV infection on the induction of the host IFN-α/β response, swine cells were infected with wild-type (WT) FMDV and a mutant FMDV lacking the L proteinase (Lpro) coding region (A12-LLV) at different multiplicities of infection. The synthesis of IFN-α and IFN-β mRNAs and three well characterized ISG s, PKR, OAS, and Mx1 mRNA, were evaluated by real time RT-PCR. A12-LLV infection resulted in significantly higher levels of induction of IFN-β mRNA as compared to WT virus infected cells, while IFN-α mRNA was not induced after either infection. The increased levels of IFN-β mRNA in A12-LLV-infected cells correlated with higher levels of induction of PKR, OAS and Mx1 mRNAs and antiviral activity. By using RNA interference (RNAi) technology to knock-down PKR mRNA expression, it was possible to demonstrate that the yield of A12-LLV was increased up to 200-fold, supporting the role of PKR as an inhibitor of FMDV replication. These results confirm that Lpro down regulates the innate immune response to FMDV infection at multiple levels. Previous studies indicated that control was at the translation initiation level by Lpro cleavage of translation initiation factor eIF-4G. The present data demonstrates that regulation also occurs at the level of transcription by inhibition of IFN-β mRNA induction through an unknown mechanism. / Esse trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito adjuvante do interferon alfa suíno em animais imunizados com uma vacina recombinante de um adenovírus defectivo contendo as regiões codificadoras das proteínas do FMDV, bem como investigar alguns dos aspectos moleculares envolvidos na interação FMDV e a célula hospedeira em uma espécie susceptível. Na primeira fase do trabalho, o efeito adjuvante do interferon alfa suíno (pIFNα) foi avaliado em suínos imunizados com uma vacina recombinante, tendo como vetor o adenovirus humano tipo 5 (Ad5), contendo regiões do capsídeo do FMDV A24 e da proteinase 3Cpro do FMDV A12 (Ad5-A24). Os suínos foram separados em 5 grupos e inoculados com baixa (5x108 PFU) e alta (5x109 PFU) dosagem de Ad5-A24 na presença ou na ausência de pIFNα (Ad5pIFNα, 109 PFU). O grupo controle foi inoculado com 6x109 PFU da glicoproteína do vírus da estomatite vesicular (VSV) cepa New Jersey (Ad5VSNJV-G). Todos os suínos foram desafiados aos 42 dias pós-vacinação (dpv) com FMDV-A24. Após a inoculação, as amostras de sangue foram examinadas para a produção de IFN, a indução de genes induzidos pelo IFN e os anticorpos neutralizantes e resposta de imunoglobulinas específicos para o FMDV. Depois do desafio um número de parâmetros foram analisados incluindo a avaliação clínica, viremia, linfopenia; além dos anticorpos contra as proteínas estruturais e não estruturais do FMDV. Os resultados obtidos indicam que ambos os grupos que receberam Ad5-A24 em alta dosagem desenvolveram níveis de anticorpos neutralizantes pelos 14-21 dpv, que foram mantidos até o dia do desafio. Os níveis de IgG1 foram maiores que de IgG2 nesses dois grupos, sendo que a IgG1 é considerada a mais relevante para conferir proteção ao FMDV. Dentre esses grupos, o que recebeu o IFN apresentou níveis significativamente mais altos desta imunoglobulina. Atividade antiviral e o IFNα foram detectados nos animais que receberam o IFN. A respeito da presença dos genes induzidos pelo IFN nos leucócitos dos suínos vacinados com Ad5-pIFNα, todos os três genes incluídos neste estudo, PKR, OAS e Mx1, foram detectados pelo real time RT-PCR. Após o desafio todos os animais do controle desenvolveram viremia, linfopenia, lesões vesiculares e os anticorpos contra as proteínas não estruturais do FMDV. Os animais que receberam baixa dose de Ad5-A24 sem IFN tiveram sinais clínicos similares, exceto que poucos animais desenvolveram viremia. Porém, os suínos inoculados com a mesma dose da vacina de Ad5-A24 com o IFN apresentaram as lesões vesiculares com início tardio e somente um animal teve detectável viremia. Os animais vacinados com a alta dose de Ad5-A24 sem IFN não tiveram nenhuma viremia e poucas lesões foram detectadas tardiamente após a inoculação do FMDV. Quatro dos cinco suínos, que receberam a alta dose da vacina com o IFN, foram protegidos da doença e somente um animal neste grupo teve uma lesão vesicular, restrita ao local do inoculação do vírus por ocasião do desafio. Esses resultados indicam que IFNα realça o nível da proteção induzido pela vacina do adenovírus-FMD contra o FMDV homólogo, suportando o uso do IFNα como um adjuvante potencial em estratégias de vacinação de FMD. Para avaliar os efeitos da infecção pelo vírus da FMD na indução da resposta de IFNα⁄β do hospedeiro, células de origem suína foram previamente infectadas em diferentes multiplicidades de infecção com o FMDV e com um vírus mutante que teve o gene que codifica a protease L ou Lpro deletado, o FMDLLV. A síntese de mRNA do IFNα e β bem como de três dos genes induzidos pelo IFN, PKR, OAS e Mx1 foram avaliados por real time RT-PCR. A infecção das células pelo FMDLLV induziu altos níveis de mRNA do IFNβ quando comparados com os do FMDV original. Contudo, não foi possível detectar os níveis de mRNA do IFNα na presença de ambos os vírus. O aumento nos níveis de mRNA do IFNβ foi relacionado ao aumento nos níveis de indução dos mRNAs de PKR, OAS e Mx1, assim como dos altos níveis de atividade antiviral. Pelo uso da tecnologia de interferência do RNA, usando siRNA (silencing RNA) para bloquear a expressão do mRNA da PKR, foi possível demonstrar que o título do FMDLLV aumentou cerca de 200 vezes. Desta forma foi possível confirmar o papel desta proteína como um inibidor da replicação do FMDV. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a Lpro tem um importante papel na regulação da resposta imunológica inata do hospedeiro quando da infecção pelo FMDV em vários níveis. Estudos anteriormente realizados indicaram que o controle era efetuado ao nível da tradução pela clivagem do eIF4G. Os dados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que a regulação também ocorre ao nível da transcrição e pela inibição da indução do IFNβ através de um mecanismo ainda não conhecido.

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Orientador: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T14:50:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Inacio_RodrigoFabrizzio_M.pdf: 6359187 bytes, checksum: 67cbbe4ec81cf9bbd0b48c1dd3b13843 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Foi demonstrado que a regulação positiva do MHC I por tratamento exógeno com interferon beta (IFN beta) influencia no processo de eliminação das sinapses. Também, o aminoácido taurina mostrou ter influencia positiva na sobrevivência e plasticidade neuronal. No entanto, o estabelecimento de um modelo in vitro para estudo do processo de formação/eliminação sináptica e sua relação com a expressão de MHC I ainda não foi proposto. Portanto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar os efeitos do tratamento com IFN e taurina, sozinhos ou diluídos em meio glial (derivado do glioma NG97), na expressão de MHC classe I e na formação de sinapses em células PC12. Células PC12 foram tratadas com NGF para indução do fenótipo semelhante a neurônio e as culturas estabelecidas foram submetidas ao tratamento com IFN beta (500 e 1000 IU) e taurina (0.025 and 0.050mg/mL) por 15 dias em meio normal e por 10 dias em meio condicionado. Finalizado o período de cultivo, as células foram fixadas e processadas para imunocitoquímica com anticorpos anti-MHC I (OX18) e anti-sinaptofisina. A imunomarcação foi mensurada com o software Image J. Nesse contexto, quatro campos representativos foram usados, a partir de cada poço de cultivo. Os resultados mostraram que o IFNbeta (500UI) e a taurina (0.025 mg) modulam a expressão de MHC em células PC12, especialmente após 10 dias de tratamento. IFN e taurina apresentaram efeitos opostos, sendo que o IFN induz o aumento do MHC I, enquanto a taurina causa sua diminuição. Em ambos os casos, o aumento das doses causa degeneração da cultura. Interessantemente, a regulação diferencial do MHC I ocorreu paralelamente a um aumento ou diminuição da plasticidade sináptica, respectivamente. O uso do meio condicionado de NG97, juntamente com IFNbeta ou taurina, leva a uma diminuição da estabilidade sináptica. De uma maneira geral, os presentes dados indicam que as células PC12 podem ser usadas como modelo in vitro para estudos de modulação de MHC I e plasticidade sináptica. Também, reforçam o papel do IFNbeta na eliminação sináptica e indicam que a taurina é capaz de aumentar a formação da rede sináptica / Abstract: It has been demonstrated that MHC I up regulation by exogenous treatment with interferon beta (IFN beta) influences the glial reaction and the synaptic elimination process. Also, the amino acid taurine has been shown to positively influence neuronal survival and plasticity. Nevertheless, the establishment of an in vitro model for studying the synaptic formation/elimination process and its relationship with MHC I expression has not yet been proposed. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of the IFN beta and taurine treatments, alone or diluted in glial medium (derived from the NG97 gliome), on the expression of MHC I and synaptic formation in PC12 cells. Established cultures were subjected to the IFN beta (500 and 1000 IU) and taurine treatments (0.025 and 0.050mg/ml) for 5 and 10 days. Finally the cells were fixed and processed for immuno-cytochemistry with antisera against MHC I (OX18) and synaptophysin. The results were compared with control cultures only treated with basal or conditioned medium. The results showed that IFNbeta (500 IU) and taurine (0.025 mg) modulated the MHC I expression in PC12 cells, especially after 10 days of treatment. IFN and taurine displayed opposite effects, such that IFN induced MHC I up regulation, while taurine induced down regulation. In both cases, the highest doses caused culture degeneration. Interestingly, the differential regulation of MHC I was paralleled by enhancement or a decrease in synaptic plasticity, respectively. The use of the NG97 conditioned medium together with IFNbeta or taurine led to a decrease in synaptic stability. Altogether, the present data indicate that PC12 cells may be used as an in vitro model for studying MHC I modulation and synaptic plasticity. It also reinforced the role of IFNbeta on synaptic elimination and indicated that taurine was able to increase the synaptic network formation / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Infektionen mit H. pylori führen zu Veränderungen im Aufbau und der zellulären Zusammensetzung des Magenepithels. Aktuelle Studien haben gezeigt, dass Stromazellen, die sich in unmittelbarer Nähe der epithelialen Stammzelle befinden, die funktionelle Nische für dieses Kompartiment bilden und wichtige Faktoren für die Regulierung des Stammzellumsatzes und Differenzierung darstellen. Daher konzentriere ich mich bei dieser Arbeit auf die Rolle der Myh11+ Myofibroblasten, die sich sowohl unter als auch zwischen den Epitheldrüsenzellen befinden. Ich fand heraus, dass die Myofibroblasten in der Homöostase einen BMP-Gradienten entlang der Drüsenachse mit erhöhter Expression von Bmp2 im oberen Teil erzeugen, während die Drüsenbasis von Zellen umgeben ist, die Bmp-Inhibitoren produzieren. Basierend auf der Funktionsanalyse mit 3D-Organoidmodellen ist der Bmp-Signalweg ein zentraler Faktor für die rasche Differenzierung von Stammzellen in faveoläre mukusproduzierende Zellen. Darüber hinaus wurde ein auto-parakriner Signalweg gefunden, der zur Bildung von Bmp2 in Epithelzellen führt. Meine Untersuchungen Daten zeigten eine Verringerung des BMP-Signalwegs in H. pylori-infizierten Myofibroblasten. Darüber hinaus führte eine Infektion mit H. pylori nicht nur zum Verlust der stromalen, sondern auch der epithelialen Bmp2-Expression. Diese Beobachtung ging mit einer Zunahme von IFNγ einher, was auf eine Verbindung zwischen beiden Signalwegen hinwies. Tatsächlich zeigten anschließende Experimente mit Organoiden, dass IFNγ den Bmp-Signalweg hemmt und dadurch die terminale Differenzierung blockiert. Zusammenfassend zeigen meine Untersuchungen, dass das Schicksal einer Zelle, die zur Oberfläche der Magendrüse wandert, eine Induktion des BMP-Signalwegs erfährt. Die Reduktion dieses Signals durch IFNγ deutet auf einen Mechanismus hin, der Veränderungen in der zellulären Differenzierung und die Entwicklung von prämalignen epithelialen Läsionen im Verlauf einer H. pylori-Infektion bewirkt. / Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) leads to alterations of the topology and cellular composition of the gastric epithelium. Recent studies have shown that stromal cells located in close proximity to the epithelial stem cell are creating the niche for this compartment and provide crucial factors that regulate stem cell turnover and fate decisions. Therefore, this thesis focuses on of Myh11+ myofibroblasts that are located beneath and between the epithelial gland cells. I found that during homeostasis, the myofibroblasts generate a BMP gradient along the gland axis with strong expression of Bmp2 in the upper part, whereas the base is surrounded by cells producing BMP inhibitors. Based on functional analysis with 3D organoid models, the BMP gradient occurs to be a main factor responsible for rapid differentiation of stem cells into pit surface mucous cells. Moreover, experiments led me to identify an auto-paracrine feed-forward BMP2 loop in epithelial cells, which further stabilizes BMP signaling once it is activated and induces terminal differentiation. Data presented in this study demonstrated a reduction of BMP signaling in H. pylori-infected myofibroblasts. Furthermore, infection with H. pylori resulted in loss of not only stromal, but also epithelial Bmp2 expression. This observation was accompanied with increase of Interferon γ (IFNγ), which indicated a link between both pathways. Consistently, stimulation of organoids with IFNγ impairs BMP signaling and the BMP2 feed-forward loop, and thereby blocks terminal differentiation. Together, this study shows that the fate of a cell migrating into the surface of the gastric gland is determined by an induction of BMP signaling and stabilized by an auto-paracrine BMP signaling enhancement. Reduction of this signaling by IFNγ revealed a mechanism which contributes to altered cellular differentiation and development of premalignant epithelial alterations in the context of H. pylori infection.

In der Veterinärmedizin verursachen Rotaviren als Jungtiererkrankung vor allem in der Nutztierpraxis hohe ökonomische Verluste. Über die Prävalenz von Rotavirusinfektionen bei Hunden und Katzen ist sehr wenig bekannt, obwohl von den in der Literatur als wechselseitig zwischen Mensch und Tier übertragbaren Viren ein nicht zu unterschätzendes Risiko ausgehen kann. Zunächst wurden retrospektiv Prävalenzdaten über den Nachweis von Rotaviren bei Hunden und Katzen mit Durchfall im Vergleich zu Coronaviren und Parvoviren erhoben. Dazu wurden Kotproben von 2055 Hunden und 1481 Katzen quantitativ auf das Vorhandensein von Rota-, Corona- und Parvovirus untersucht. Desweiteren wurden Aspekte der geographischen Verteilung, der Altersverteilung, mögliche Rasseprädispositionen und das Auftreten saisonaler Erkrankungsgipfel untersucht und ausgewertet. Für Rotavirusinfektionen beträgt die statistische Prävalenz 7% bei Hunden und 8% bei Katzen. Bei Hunden und Katzen konnten signifikant häufiger Dreifachinfektionen nachgewiesen werden. Bei einer Infektion mit Rota- und Coronavirus liegt beim Hund zu 100% auch eine Infektion mit Parvovirus vor. Zweifachinfektionen kamen weniger häufig vor als Monoinfektionen. Alle drei Virusinfektionen kamen bei Hunden statistisch signifikant häufiger in der Altersgruppe ≤ 1 Jahr vor. Ein statistisch signifikant häufiger Rotavirusnachweis konnte bei der Katzenrasse Siam nachgewiesen werden, während keine Hunderasse besonders hervortrat. Im Postleitzahlengebiet 3 konnten im Beobachtungszeitraum von 2000 bis 2006 statistisch signifikant häufiger Rotavirusinfektionen bei Hunden nachvollzogen werden. Es konnte sowohl für Hunde, als auch für Katzen der Trend belegt werden, dass bei steigenden Lufttemperaturen, die Anzahl der Rotavirusinfektionen sinkt. Es kann somit von einer bedingten Saisonalität ausgegangen werden. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde die Empfänglichkeit von Rotaviren gegenüber kommerziell erhältlichem Typ I Interferon (rFeIFN-ω) in vitro getestet. Zunächst wurde zum Nachweis der Aktivität der Typ I Interferone (rFeIFN-ω, rBoIFN-α, rHuIFN-α) die Expression des Mx Proteins auf Zelllinien felinen, caninen, bovinen und humanen Ursprungs, sowie auf Affenzelllinien untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass rBoIFN-α ausschließlich auf Zellen bovinen Ursprungs eine konzentrationsabhängige Expression des Mx Proteins induziert. Das rFeIFN-ω induziert auf Zellen felinen und bei höheren Konzentrationen auch auf Zellen caninen Ursprungs die Expression des Mx Proteins. Das rHuIFN-α zeigt eine konzentrationsabhängige Induktion des Mx Proteins in Zellen humanen, caninen, felinen und bovinen Ursprunges, sowie in Affenzelllinien. Somit konnte in vitro eine Kreuz-Speziesspezifität für rekombinantes humanes Interferon nachgewiesen werden. Zum Nachweis einer immunmodulatorischen Wirkung wurde die Expression der MHC I Oberflächenrezeptoren nach Behandlung mit rFeIFN-ω und rHuIFN-α untersucht. Die Behandlung mit rFeIFN-ω führte ausschließlich in felinen Zellen zu einer konzentrationsabhängigen signifikanten Erhöhung der Rezeptordichte. Die Behandlung mit rHuIFN-α führte zu einer konzentrationsabhängigen signifikanten Erhöhung der Rezeptordichte auf felinen Zellen und in der Affenzelllinie MA104. Die Empfänglichkeit von Rotaviren gegenüber rFeIFN-ω wurde auf der embryonalen felinen Fibroblastenzelllinie (KE-R) und auf der embryonalen felinen Gehirnzelllinine (KG-R) unter steigender Interferonkonzentration (101-104 Einheiten/ml) untersucht. Beide Zelllinien zeigten eine deutliche Reduktion der infizierten Zellen bei steigender Interferonkonzentration. Die antivirale Wirkung war in KE-R Zellen deutlicher ausgeprägt. Dort konnten bereits bei einer Interferonkonzentration von 103 Einheiten/ml keine sichtbar infizierten Zellen mehr nachgewiesen werden, während KG-R Zellen erst bei einer Konzentration von 104 Einheiten/ml keine sichtbar infizierten Zellen mehr nachzuweisen waren. Abschließend wird deutlich, dass Infektionen mit Rotaviren ein vielmals vernachlässigtes Problem in der Veterinärmedizin darstellt, vor allem, wenn man von einer Vergesellschaftung mit den für Hund und Katze pathogenen Viren Corona- und Parvovirus ausgeht. Mit dem rFeIFN-ω steht in vitro eine wirksame antivirale Substanz gegen Rotavirusinfektionen zur Verfügung.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Progression of Chlamydia into upper reproductive tract epithelium and the induction of subsequent immune responses to infection are major contributors to Chlamydia-induced pathogenesis of the genital tract. We reported that C. muridarum infection of the oviduct epithelial cells (OEs) secrete IFN-β in a TLR3 dependent manner. However, we showed that the C. muridarum infected TLR3-deficient OEs were still able to secrete minimal amounts of IFN-β into the supernatants, which is suggestive that there are other signaling pathways that contribute to Chlamydia-induced IFN-β synthesis in these cells. Previous studies describing the activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway during Chlamydia infection of cervical epithelial cells proposes a putative role for STAT1 in the synthesis of type I IFNs during Chlamydia infection. The present study investigated the role of STAT1 in Chlamydia-induced IFN-β production in OEs. OEs were infected with Chlamydia muridarum and analyzed at 24 hours by RT-PCR and western blot to determine STAT1 expression. STAT (-/-) OEs were infected and IFN-β production measured by ELISA. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses were performed at 6 and 16 hour post-infection to elucidate the mechanisms involved in IFN-β production during infection. Fluorescent microscopy was used to observe changes in Chlamydia replication. STAT1 activation and expression were significantly increased in wild-type (WT) OEs upon infection. TLR3 (-/-) OEs showed diminished STAT1 protein activation and expression. Augmented STAT1 protein expression corresponded to STAT1 mRNA levels. ELISA analyses revealed significantly less IFN-β production in infected STAT1 (-/-) OEs compared to WT OEs. Quantitative real-time PCR data showed that gene expression of IFN-β and of type I IFN signaling components were significantly increased during late stage Chlamydia infection, dependent on STAT1. Temporal regulation and increases in expression of IFN-α subtypes during infection were STAT1-dependent. Our results implicate STAT1-mediated signaling as a contributor to the C. muridarum-induced synthesis of IFN-β and other type I IFNs in OEs. We previously described a major role for TLR3 in the early-stage Chlamydia-induced synthesis of IFN-β in OEs; the results from this study suggest a role for STAT1 in the synthesis of type I IFNs that occurs during early and late stages of infection.

The breadth of genetic diversity in the mammalian immune response stands out amongst the ubiquity of variation seen in the genome, evidence that microbial infections have been a major driver of evolution. As technology has facilitated an understanding of the etiology of immunological diversity, so too has it enabled the assessment of its varied functions. Functional genomics, with its ability to assess both cause and effect, has revolutionized our understanding of fundamental biological phenomena and recalibrated our hypotheses. We build upon the model of host immunity established by rare genetic variants that are causative of immunodeficiencies, but that incompletely consider the complexities of the genome. To expand our understanding, we performed a series of forward genetic screens to identify regulators of distinct functions of the innate immune system. Our studies discovered genes with novel functions in antigen presentation and immunoregulation, including several involved in central metabolism. Studies in macrophages and dendritic cells identified mitochondrial respiration as a positive regulator of the interferon-gamma response, and cells incapable of respiration failed to activate T cells. Notably, human mutations in several of these genes are responsible for immune dysfunction. In summary, this work uses new methods in genetic engineering to systematically assess the regulation of innate immunity. Our results suggest that variation in these regulatory pathways is likely to alter immunity in states of health and disease. Thus, our work validates a new approach to identify candidate genes relevant to immune dysfunction.

I) Hintergrund Die chronische Hepatitis-C-Infektion stellt global ein wesentliches Gesundheitsproblem dar. Diese Virusinfektion kann bei unbehandelten Patienten zur Leberzirrhose und im weiteren Verlauf bis hin zur Entwicklung eines hepatozellulären Karzinoms führen. Die einzige Behandlungsoption mit der Aussicht auf dauerhafte Viruselimination besteht in modernen Kombinationstherapien, die das Zytokin Interferon alfa enthalten. Wesentliche Merkmale sind – neben inzwischen sehr hohen Ansprechraten – eine Behandlungsdauer zwischen 24 und 48 Wochen, hohe Therapiekosten und ein Nebenwirkungsprofil, das sowohl somatische als auch psychopathologische Symptome umfassen kann. II) Untersuchungsgegenstand und Fragestellungen Sowohl die chronische Virusinfektion an sich als auch die aktuell verfügbaren Therapieverfahren bergen ein erhebliches psychisches Belastungspotential. Hauptgegenstand dieser Dissertation ist die Erfassung der psychologischen Aspekte der Erkrankung und der psychischen und psychopathologischen Nebenwirkungen einer Interferonbehandlung. Wesentliche bearbeitete Fragestellungen sind: - Welchen Belastungsfaktoren sind Hepatitis-C-Patienten bereits ohne aktuelle antivirale Interferontherapie ausgesetzt bzw. welche psychopathologischen Symptome zeigen diese Patienten? - Wie ist der zeitliche Verlauf psychopathologischer Symptome bei Hepatitis-C-Patienten vor, während und nach einer antiviralen Therapie? - Wie wirksam und wie sicher ist eine medikamentöse Behandlung der Interferon-induzierten Depression mit selektiven Serotonin-Wiederaufnahmehemmern (SSRI) unter Fortführung der antiviralen Therapie? III) Patienten und Methoden Studienteilnehmer waren Hepatitis-C-Patienten, die sich ambulant vorstellten bzw. in unsere Ambulanz überwiesen wurden und die jeweiligen Einschlusskriterien erfüllten. Zu den wichtigsten verwendeten psychometrischen Selbstbeurteilungsskalen zählen: HADS (Depressivität, Angst), SCL-90-R (psychopathologische Symptome), SF-36 (Lebensqualität) und FKV (Krankheitsverarbeitung). IV) Wesentliche Forschungsergebnisse Bereits ohne Einfluss des Zytokins Interferon bestehen starke Krankheits-assoziierte psychische bzw. psychosoziale Belastungen der Patienten, die sich in einem erhöhten Depressionsrisiko ausdrücken. Die erhobenen Depressionsscores stehen in signifikantem Zusammenhang mit der Erkrankungsdauer und den individuell bestehenden Optionen und Erfolgsaussichten einer antiviralen Interferontherapie. Prospektive Erfassungen der Auftretenshäufigkeit klinisch relevanter Interferon-assoziierter Depressionen ergeben Raten von ca. 30 %. Diese Größenordnung wurde sowohl in einer eigenen prospektiven Studie als auch im Rahmen einer vorgestellten Übersichtsarbeit bestätigt. Die Umstellung der verwendeten Formulierung des Medikaments von herkömmlichem Interferon alfa auf die pegylierte Variante brachte keine Verbesserung der Verträglichkeit z.B. im Hinblick auf die interferonassoziierte Depression. Ein rechtzeitiges Erkennen der entsprechenden Symptome vorausgesetzt, ist die antidepressive Behandlung der Interferon-assoziierten Depression mit Hilfe von selektiven Serotonin-Reuptake-Inhibitoren auch ohne generelle Prophylaxe sehr effektiv und sicher möglich. V) Diskussion Empfohlen wird ein engmaschiges psychometrisches Monitoring aller Hepatitis-C-Patienten im Therapieverlauf. Ausführliche Aufklärung, enger Arzt-Patienten-Kontakt während der Therapie, sowie die Betreuung durch einen festen Ansprechpartner während der bis zu einem Jahr dauernden Therapie sind wichtige Rahmenbedingungen für eine solche Behandlung. Für die medikamentöse Behandlung der Interferon-induzierten Depression gilt: Bei besonderer Indikation (z.B. Interferon-assoziierte Depression bei früheren Therapieversuchen) sollte eine SSRI-Sekundärprophylaxe in Betracht gezogen werden. Ansonsten ist eine entsprechende SSRI-Intervention beginnend mit dem Einsetzen einer klinisch relevanten Depression ausreichend.