Publications by authors named "Anja Leiber"

De novo variants in QRICH1 (Glutamine-rich protein 1) has recently been reported in 11 individuals with intellectual disability (ID). The function of QRICH1 is largely unknown but it is likely to play a key role in the unfolded response of endoplasmic reticulum stress through transcriptional control of proteostasis. In this study, we present 27 additional individuals and delineate the clinical and molecular spectrum of the individuals (n = 38) with QRICH1 variants.

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Susceptibility to infection during the neonatal period and reduced control of inflammation in neonates are attributed to immunosuppression persisting from fetal life. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid progenitors with suppressive activity and increased numbers in cord blood. We hypothesized that MDSCs contribute to innate host defence in neonates, paralleled by anti-inflammatory signalling.

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Tolerance induction toward the semiallogeneic fetus is crucial to enable a successful pregnancy; its failure is associated with abortion or preterm delivery. Skewing T cell differentiation toward a Th2-dominated phenotype seems to be pivotal in maternal immune adaption, yet underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are innate immune cells that mediate T cell suppression and are increased in cord blood of healthy newborns and in peripheral blood of pregnant women.

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Immune tolerance toward the semiallogeneic fetus plays a crucial role in the maintenance of pregnancy. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are innate immune cells characterized by their ability to modulate T-cell responses. Recently, we showed that MDSCs accumulate in cord blood of healthy newborns, yet their role in materno-fetal tolerance remained elusive.

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Background: Neonates show sustained inflammation after a bacterial infection, which is associated with inflammatory diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia or periventricular leucomalacia. Physiologically, inflammation is terminated early after the removal of the invading pathogens by phagocytosis-induced cell death (PICD) of immune effector cells. Earlier results showed reduced PICD in neonatal monocytes.

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Phagocytosis induced cell death (PICD) is crucial for controlling phagocyte effector cells, such as monocytes, at sites of infection, and essentially contributes to termination of inflammation. Here we tested the hypothesis, that during PICD bystander apoptosis of non-phagocyting monocytes occurs, that apoptosis induction is mediated via tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α and that TNF-α secretion and -signalling is causal. Monocytes were infected with Escherichia coli (E.

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Background: The propensity for sustained inflammation after bacterial infection in neonates, resulting in inflammatory sequelae such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and periventricular leucomalacia, is well known, but its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Termination of inflammatory reactions physiologically occurs early after removal of bacteria by phagocytosis-induced cell death (PICD) of immune effector cells such as monocytes. PICD from cord blood monocytes (CBMOs) was shown to be reduced as compared with that of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMOs) from adult donors in vitro.

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An imbalance in apoptosis or survival of immune cells plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Phagocytosis-induced cell death (PICD) is a common result of the pathogen-host cell interaction mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Neonatal sepsis is frequently characterized by hyperinflammation.

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