20 results match your criteria: "a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ)[Affiliation]"
Microorganisms
September 2024
German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin, A Leibniz Institute-DRFZ, Schwiete Laboratory for Microbiota and Inflammation, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Immunity
October 2024
Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany. Electronic address:
Pro-inflammatory autoantigen-specific CD4 T helper (auto-Th) cells are central orchestrators of autoimmune diseases (AIDs). We aimed to characterize these cells in human AIDs with defined autoantigens by combining human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-tetramer-based and activation-based multidimensional ex vivo analyses. In aquaporin4-antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD) patients, auto-Th cells expressed CD154, but proliferative capacity and pro-inflammatory cytokines were strongly reduced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGut Microbes
January 2024
Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally; however, its etiology is still not fully understood. Patient genetics, immune system, and intestinal microbiota are considered critical factors contributing to IBD. Preclinical animal models are crucial to better understand the importance of individual contributing factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Virol
August 2023
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:
Background: Commercially available ELISA-based antibody tests are used to approximate vaccination success against SARS-CoV-2 in at-risk patients, but it is unclear whether they correlate with neutralization of the Omicron variant.
Methods: 269 serum samples of a cohort of 44 non-immunosuppressed participants and 65 MTX-treated rheumatic patients taken before and after COVID-19 booster vaccinations were measured using COVID-19 antibody testing systems with wild-type and Omicron BA.1 antigens developed by three different manufacturers (surrogate virus neutralization test cPass, and binding antibody tests QuantiVac and SeraSpot), as well as with a pseudovirus neutralization test (pVNT).
Alzheimers Dement
December 2023
Chair of Geriatric Medicine and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Introduction: Naturally occurring autoantibodies (nAbs) against the pathologic isoform of amyloid beta (Aβ ) were found in body fluids and indicate a systemic B cell response that may prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset. N-glycans attached to immunoglobulin G-Fab/Fc fragments are features that influence their mechanism of action. The aim was to study the role of N-glycans in nAbs-Aβ .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Autoimmun
February 2023
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:
Objective: To determine whether repeated, dose-intensified mRNA vaccinations against COVID-19 increase humoral immunity in previously low-responding patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), including rituximab-treated and B cell depleted patients.
Methods: Of 308 AIRD patients receiving basic immunization, 98 had a low serological response against SARS-CoV-2 with a neutralizing capacity of < 70% using surrogate neutralization assay. 38 patients received a third vaccination with 30 μg BNT162b2 16 weeks after second vaccination.
RMD Open
December 2022
Epidemiology Unit, German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin - a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
Objective: The development of sufficient COVID-19 vaccines has been a big breakthrough in fighting the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, vaccination effectiveness can be reduced in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD). The aim of this study was to identify factors that lead to a diminished humoral vaccination response in patients with AIRD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Rheum Dis
June 2022
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
Objective: To study the effect of methotrexate (MTX) and its discontinuation on the humoral immune response after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD).
Methods: In this retrospective study, neutralising SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured after second vaccination in 64 patients with AIRD on MTX therapy, 31 of whom temporarily paused medication without a fixed regimen. The control group consisted of 21 patients with AIRD without immunosuppressive medication.
RMD Open
February 2022
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Objective: To evaluate sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 1 (SIGLEC1) expression on monocytes by flow cytometry as a type I interferon biomarker in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM).
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult and paediatric patients with the diagnosis of IIM. SIGLEC1 expression was assessed by flow cytometry and was compared with Physician Global Assessment or Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale disease activity scores.
Environ Int
January 2022
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address:
Oral uptake is the primary route of human bisphenol exposure, resulting in an exposure of the intestinal microbiota and intestine-associated immune cells. Therefore, we compared the impact of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) on (i) intestinal microbiota, (ii) microbiota-mediated immunomodulatory effects and (iii) direct effects on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in vitro. We acutely exposed human fecal microbiota, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Escherichia coli to BPA and its analogues BPF and BPS referring to the European tolerable daily intake (TDI), i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
April 2021
Experimental Rheumatology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
Current treatments for autoimmune disorders rely on non-specific immunomodulatory and global immunosuppressive drugs, which show a variable degree of efficiency and are often accompanied by side effects. In contrast, strategies aiming at inducing antigen-specific tolerance promise an exclusive specificity of the immunomodulation. However, although successful in experimental models, peptide-based tolerogenic "inverse" vaccines have largely failed to show efficacy in clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatr Allergy Immunol
April 2021
Pediatric Pneumology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Lupus
December 2020
Pediatric Pneumology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine and SPZ (Center for Chronically Sick Children), Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Background: To analyse the validity of membrane-bound SIGLEC1 (CD169) as a sensitive biomarker for monitoring disease activity in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: 27 children and adolescents with SLE were followed for a mean of 13.5 months.
Front Immunol
March 2021
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is caused by mutations within the Mediterranean fever () gene. Disease severity depends on genotype and gene dose with most serious clinical courses observed in patients with M694V homozygosity. Neutrophils are thought to play an important role in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory processes in FMF, but little is known about the specific characteristics of these cells in FMF patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Immunol
June 2020
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
In humans and mice, mucosal immune responses are dominated by IgA antibodies and the cytokine TGF-β, suppressing unwanted immune reactions but also targeting Ig class switching to IgA. It had been suggested that eosinophils promote the generation and maintenance of mucosal IgA-expressing plasma cells. Here, we demonstrate that not eosinophils, but specific bacteria determine mucosal IgA production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Immunol
December 2019
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:
• Memory plasma cells are long-lived but require specialized niches for their survival. • Memory plasma cells are refractory to conventional immunosuppression. • Pathogenic memory plasma cells represent ‘roadblocks’ to response to conventional therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Toxicol
September 2019
German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin, a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
Clin Transplant
December 2018
Department of Nephrology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Context: Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) after kidney transplantation (KTx) remains the crucial obstacle to successful long-term graft function. The identification of gene signatures involved in ABMR could grant the basis for better prevention and treatment strategies.
Objective: The identification of gene signatures in whole blood cells specific for ABMR after KTx.
PLoS One
January 2019
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, a Leibniz Institute (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
Interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA) is associated with reduced allograft survival, whereas antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is the major cause for renal allograft failure. To identify specific microRNAs and their regulation involved in these processes, total RNA from blood cells of 16 kidney transplanted (KTx) patients with ABMR, stable graft function (SGF) and with T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR) was isolated. MicroRNA expression was determined by high-throughput sequencing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytometry A
February 2014
Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) Jena, Germany; German Rheumatism Research Center a Leibniz Institute-DRFZ Berlin, Germany.