45 results match your criteria: "Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology[Affiliation]"
Cell Immunol
December 2016
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91052, Germany.
Antigen-presenting dendritic cells interpret environmental signals to orchestrate local and systemic immune responses. In this study, the roles of Wnt proteins and their signaling pathway members in the maturation and function of monocyte-derived DCs were investigated. The present study showed higher expression of β-catenin, as well as pGSK-3β in DCs than those in monocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Inflamm Res
August 2015
Department of Internal Medicine 3, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
The immune system struggles every day between responding to foreign antigens and tolerating self-antigens to delicately maintain tissue homeostasis. If self-tolerance is broken, the development of autoimmunity can be the consequence, as it is in the case of the chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is considered to be a multifactorial disease comprising various processes and cell types that act abnormally and in a harmful way.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Rheum Dis
September 2017
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Objective: To analyze proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients following stimulation with a purified chondrocyte membrane-associated autoantigen (CH65).
Methods: CH65 was highly purified from bovine chondrocyte membranes by solubilization and ion exchange chromatography. PBMC of RA patients (n = 37; 28 seropositive, nine seronegative) and non-arthritic donors (n = 20) were isolated by ficoll centrifugation and used in cell proliferation assays.
Front Immunol
December 2012
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany.
In the presence of sodium, uric acid from purine metabolism precipitates as monosodium urate (MSU) needles and forms renal calculi or causes gouty arthritis in kidneys and joints, respectively. The latter is characterized by red, hot, and swollen arthritic joints. Here we report the in vitro effect of MSU crystals on blood granulocytes and analyze their contribution to granuloma formation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation (NETosis) in synovial fluid of patients with gouty arthritis in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biol Chem
January 2012
Department of Internal Medicine-3, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address:
Inappropriate clearance of apoptotic remnants is considered to be the primary cause of systemic autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus. Here we demonstrate that apoptotic cells release distinct types of subcellular membranous particles (scMP) derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the plasma membrane. Both types of scMP exhibit desialylated glycotopes resulting from surface exposure of immature ER-derived glycoproteins or from surface-borne sialidase activity, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmunity
May 2009
Department for Internal Medicine 3, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
The phagocytosis of apo cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been shown to be impaired. Recognition and engulfment of dying cells are mediated by molecules and receptors that are also involved in cell adhesion. Therefore, we analysed the adhesion capabilities of MoMa from patients with SLE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmun Rev
October 2008
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Cell death plays a pivotal role in development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Apoptosis represents the physiological and anti-inflammatory form of cell death. Advanced apoptosis and necrosis are rather pro-inflammatory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmun Rev
October 2008
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Deficiencies in the recognition and phagocytosis of dead and dying cells have been shown to be one of the main alterations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cellular as well as humoral elements play an important role in the clearance of apoptotic and necrotic cells. Non-ingested nuclear material may provide survival signals for autoreactive B-cells and consequently antibodies directed against nuclear structures will be produced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmun Rev
September 2008
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department for Internal Medicine 3, Erlangen University Hospital, Germany.
The predictive potential of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies (AAb) lays on their biological activity and their ability to cause the pathological changes typically found in patients with SLE. In this review, we discuss old and recent evidence that supports the idea of AAb against dsDNA may cause directly tissue damage. Tissue deposition, Ab isotype, affinity maturation, and its ability to activate complement and engage Fc receptors are the classical determinants of the pathogenicity of anti-dsDNA AAb.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Immunol
April 2008
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Monomorphic MHC class II determinants are attractive targets for immunomodulation. HLA-DR ligation on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can dramatically alter their function or induce cell death. In monocytes, HLA-DR triggering diminishes their capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioDrugs
April 1998
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Established treatment is limited because of the clinical response or the induction of adverse effects. New biological agents evaluated for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have shown varied clinical success.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunology
September 2006
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-4 are known to differentially promote T helper (Th) cell differentiation. While IL-12 induces interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and maturation of Th1 cells, IL-4 is thought to antagonize IL-12 and to favour Th2 development. Here we studied the combined action of various concentrations of common gamma-chain (gamma(c)-chain) cytokines, including IL-4 and the Th1 cytokine IL-12, in human activated lymphoblasts and Th1 cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Rheumatol
March 2007
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Lysosomal storage diseases are rare metabolic disorders, some of which can now be treated using enzyme replacement therapies. Because the time point of treatment initiation significantly influences the outcome in Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, and mucopolysaccharidosis type I, early diagnosis is of utmost importance. All three disorders can present with musculoskeletal symptoms in early stages, therefore, the rheumatologist may be the first to be contacted by these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArthritis Rheum
November 2005
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Dept. of Internal Medicine III, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Scand J Immunol
March 2005
Department of Internal Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Various cells such as platelets, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, red blood cells and monocytes do release surface-derived microparticles (mps). We analysed mp isolated from supernatants of cultured antigen-presenting human cells (APCs) and human cell lines. Particle sizing by dynamic light scattering revealed a characteristic size of the particles ranging from 80 nm to 300 nm in viable cells and from 400 nm to 1200 nm in irradiated cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)
June 2004
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine Im, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an established method to inactivate biomolecules and microoganisms. It is routinely used for the sterilization of foodstuff. Recently, new applications as inactivation of microorganisms and tumour cells for bone transplants or for cancer vaccines have emerged.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBest Pract Res Clin Rheumatol
December 2004
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
The availability of therapeutic modalities that are able to stop inflammatory joint damage has also markedly influenced recent developments in muskuloskeletal imaging. One focus of interest is the detection of joint pathology as early as possible in order to prevent erosive bony changes. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are the most valuable technologies in this respect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRheum Dis Clin North Am
August 2004
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Medical Department III, University of Erlangen-Nüremberg, Glueckstrasse 4a, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Reduced clearance of dying cells by macrophages or increased apoptosis provokes accumulation of cellular fragments in various tissues. This process seems to induce the uptake of autoantigens from apoptotic nuclei or chromatin by dendritic cells (DCs). Then, the DCs present altered self-epitopes to naive T cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Exp Med
May 2004
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
In autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS), several organ-specific autoimmune diseases are clustered. Although APS type I is caused by loss of central tolerance, the etiology of APS type II (APS-II) is currently unknown. However, in several murine models, depletion of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(regs)) causes a syndrome resembling human APS-II with multiple endocrinopathies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Pharmacol
October 2003
Department of Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstr. 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
In recent years, it has become evident that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a disease characterized by an array of autoantibodies directed against the native nucleosome, its DNA component and/or its histone component. Nuclear antigens are generated and released in vivo during apoptosis. A hallmark of apoptosis is the cleavage of chromatin by caspase-activated DNase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytometry A
October 2003
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Background: Exposure of anionic phospholipids and modified carbohydrates are main parts of the apoptotic death program. Cells undergoing apoptosis can be identified by various methods, detecting surface changes or modifications of their organelles, respectively. We describe a method for the detection of early apoptosis by staining of cells with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled lectin from Narcissus pseudonarcissus (NPn).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Rheumatol Rep
June 2003
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Immunobiology
September 2003
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Erlangen, Germany
In contrast to necrotic cells, the clearance of apoptotic ones usually is an anti-inflammatory process which elicits only a marginal immune response. During apoptosis phosphatidylserine (PS) is exposed on the outer leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane and serves as target for the PS receptor of phagocytes. The latter is responsible for anti-inflammatory signalling and the induction of TGFbeta.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Drug Targets Infect Disord
November 2001
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Medical Department III, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Replicating attenuated strains of intracellular bacteria like Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes or Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG), and non-replicating virus-like-particles (VLP) consisting, for instance, of the VP1-surface component of polyoma virus offer great potential as heterologous carriers delivering foreign protein antigens for immune recognition. Moreover, attenuated S. typhimurium and L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Immunol Methods
December 2002
Institute for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Glueckstrasse 4A, Germany.
The aggregation of the T cell receptor and other signaling molecules leads to the formation of large molecular activation clusters in the cell membrane. These molecular clusters are associated with a high concentration of cholesterol, sphingomyelin and gangliosides and were referred to as lipid microdomains. Electron microscopy studies of viable cells indicate that distinct subgroups of lipid microdomains exist and they contain different types of signaling molecules.
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