Publications by authors named "Thomas Bickert"

The cytosolic protein Sharpin is a component of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, which regulates NF-κB signaling in response to specific ligands, such as TNF-α. Its inactivating mutation in chronic proliferative dermatitis mutation (Cpdm) mice causes multiorgan inflammation, yet this phenotype is not transferable into wild-type mice by hematopoietic stem cell transfer. Recent evidence demonstrated that Cpdm mice additionally display low bone mass, and that this osteopenia is corrected by Tnf deletion.

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Alterations in bone remodeling are a major public health issue, as therapeutic options for widespread bone disorders such as osteoporosis and tumor-induced osteolysis are still limited. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanism governing bone cell differentiation in health and disease are of utmost clinical importance. Here we report a novel function of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily involved in inflammation and tumorigenesis, in the physiologic regulation of bone remodeling.

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Objective: Previously, we demonstrated the relevance for endothelial carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) expression in collateral formation. However, a proarteriogenic role for CEACAM1(+) myeloid cells is unknown. Here, we investigated the contribution of CEACAM1(+) myeloid cells on collateral formation.

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Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is the most recently identified member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, which is primarily known for its proinflammatory functions. We have previously reported that IL-33 is expressed by bone-forming osteoblasts, and that administration of recombinant IL-33 to bone marrow cultures inhibits their differentiation into bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Likewise, while the inhibitory effect of IL-33 on osteoclast differentiation was fully abolished in cultures lacking the IL-33 receptor ST2, mice lacking ST2 displayed low bone mass caused by increased osteoclastogenesis.

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Since the hematopoetic system is located within the bone marrow, it is not surprising that recent evidence has demonstrated the existence of molecular interactions between bone and immune cells. While interleukin 1 (IL-1) and IL-18, two cytokines of the IL-1 family, have been shown to regulate differentiation and activity of bone cells, the role of IL-33, another IL-1 family member, has not been addressed yet. Since we observed that the expression of IL-33 increases during osteoblast differentiation, we analyzed its possible influence on bone formation and observed that IL-33 did not affect matrix mineralization but enhanced the expression of Tnfsf11, the gene encoding RANKL.

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Local inflammation during cutaneous leishmaniasis is accompanied by accumulation of CD11b(+) cells at the site of the infection. A functional role for these monocytic cells in local angiogenesis in leishmaniasis has not been described so far. Here, we show that CD11b(+) cells express high levels of the myeloid differentiation antigen carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1).

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Background: Recent clinical trials, epidemiological studies and animal experiments have suggested that probiotics may help suppress the development of allergic responses.

Objective: To investigate whether the application of the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (EcN) protects mice from developing ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T helper-2 responses in the airways.

Methods: OVA-specific Th2 responses were induced by 2 intraperitoneal (i.

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The biological role of Langerin+ dendritic cells (DCs) such as Langerhans cells and a subset of dermal DCs (dDCs) in adaptive immunity against cutaneous pathogens remains enigmatic. Thus, we analyzed the impact of Langerin+ DCs in adaptive T cell-mediated immunity toward Leishmania major parasites in a Lang-DTR mouse model that allows conditional diphtheria toxin (DT)-induced ablation of Langerin+ DCs in vivo. For the first time, infection experiments with DT-treated Lang-DTR mice revealed that proliferation of L.

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The transmembrane glycoprotein CD83 has been described as a specific maturation marker for dendritic cells and several lines of evidence suggest that CD83 regulates thymic T cell maturation as well as peripheral T cell activation. Here we show for the first time that CD83 is involved also in the regulation of B cell function. CD83 is up-regulated on activated B cells in vivo, specifically in the draining lymph nodes of Leishmania major-infected mice.

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Experimental leishmaniasis represents a suitable model to analyze Th1-type associated immunity. In C57BL/6 mice healing of leishmaniasis correlates with activation of Th1 cells. Recently, it could be demonstrated that dermal dendritic cells rather than epidermal Langerhans cells are responsible for the activation of Th1 cells after infection, indicating a necessary reconsideration of the role of Langerhans cells.

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We analysed the effects of murine polyomavirus-like particles (PLPs) on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and T cells in vitro. BMDCs activated with PLPs up-regulated CD40, CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II surface markers and produced proinflammatory cytokines. Chimeric PLPs [expressing the ovalbumin (OVA)-peptides OVA(257-264) or OVA(323-339)], but not wildtype PLPs, activated OVA-specific CD8 T cells and OVA-specific CD4 T cells, respectively, indicating both MHC class I and II presentation of the peptides by antigen-presenting cells.

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