@article{BanasSteublRendersetal.2018, author = {Banas, Bernhard and Steubl, Dominik and Renders, Lutz and Chittka, Dominik and Banas, Miriam C. and Wekerle, Thomas and Koch, Martina and Witzke, Oliver and M{\"u}hlfeld, Anja and Sommerer, Claudia and Habicht, Antje and Hugo, Christian and H{\"u}nig, Thomas and Lindemann, Monika and Schmidt, Traudel and Rascle, Anne and Barabas, Sascha and Deml, Ludwig and Wagner, Ralf and Kr{\"a}mer, Bernhard K. and Kr{\"u}ger, Bernd}, title = {Clinical validation of a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay-based in vitro diagnostic assay to monitor cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity in kidney transplant recipients: a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective, observational study}, series = {Transplant International}, volume = {31}, journal = {Transplant International}, doi = {10.1111/tri.13110}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221468}, pages = {436-450}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Impaired cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) is a major cause of CMV reactivation and associated complications in solid-organ transplantation. Reliably assessing CMV-CMI is desirable to individually adjust antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of T-Track® CMV, a novel IFN-γ ELISpot assay based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with pp65 and IE-I CMV proteins, to monitor CMV-CMI following kidney transplantation. A prospective longitudinal multicenter study was conducted in 86 intermediate-risk renal transplant recipients. CMV-CMI, CMV viral load, and clinical complications were monitored over 6 months post-transplantation. Ninety-five percent and 88-92\% ELISpot assays were positive pre- and post-transplantation, respectively. CMV-specific response was reduced following immunosuppressive treatment and increased in patients with graft rejection, indicating the ability of the ELISpot assay to monitor patients' immunosuppressive state. Interestingly, median pp65-specific response was ninefold higher in patients with self-clearing viral load compared to antivirally treated patients prior to first viral load detection (P < 0.001), suggesting that reactivity to pp65 represents a potential immunocompetence marker. Altogether, T-Track® CMV is a highly sensitive IFN-γ ELISpot assay, suitable for the immunomonitoring of CMV-seropositive renal transplant recipients, and with a potential use for the risk assessment of CMV-related clinical complications (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02083042).}, language = {en} } @article{LangenhorstHaackGoebetal.2018, author = {Langenhorst, Daniela and Haack, Stephanie and G{\"o}b, Selina and Uri, Anna and L{\"u}hder, Fred and Vanhove, Bernhard and H{\"u}nig, Thomas and Beyersdorf, Niklas}, title = {CD28 costimulation of T helper 1 cells enhances cytokine release in vivo}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, number = {1060}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2018.01060}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176726}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Compared to naive T cells, differentiated T cells are thought to be less dependent on CD28 costimulation for full activation. To revisit the role of CD28 costimulation in mouse T cell recall responses, we adoptively transferred in vitro generated OT-II T helper (Th) 1 cells into C57BL/6 mice (Thy1.2\(^{+}\)) and then either blocked CD28-ligand interactions with Fab fragments of the anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody (mAb) E18 or deleted CD28 expression using inducible CD28 knock-out OT-II mice as T cell donors. After injection of ovalbumin protein in adjuvant into the recipient mice we observed that systemic interferon (IFN)γ release strongly depended on CD28 costimulation of the Th1 cells, while secondary clonal expansion was not reduced in the absence of CD28 costimulation. For human memory CD4\(^{+}\) T cell responses we also noted that cytokine release was reduced upon inhibition of CD28 costimulation. Together, our data highlight the so far underestimated role of CD28 costimulation for the reactivation of fully differentiated CD4\(^{+}\) T cells.}, language = {en} } @article{KuehlhornRathSchmoeckeletal.2013, author = {K{\"u}hlhorn, Franziska and Rath, Matthias and Schmoeckel, Katrin and Cziupka, Katharina and Nguyen, Huu Hung and Hildebrandt, Petra and H{\"u}nig, Thomas and Sparwasser, Tim and Huehn, Jochen and P{\"o}tschke, Christian and Br{\"o}ker, Barbara M.}, title = {\(Foxp3^+\) Regulatory T Cells Are Required for Recovery from Severe Sepsis}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0065109}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130940}, pages = {e65109}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in bacterial sepsis remains controversial because antibody-mediated depletion experiments gave conflicting results. We employed DEREG mice (DEpletion of REGulatory T cells) and a caecal ligation and puncture model to elucidate the role of \(CD4^+Foxp3^+\) Tregs in sepsis. In DEREG mice natural Tregs can be visualized easily and selectively depleted by diphtheria toxin because the animals express the diphtheria toxin receptor and enhanced green fluorescent protein as a fusion protein under the control of the foxp3 locus. We confirmed rapid Treg-activation and an increased ratio of Tregs to Teffs in sepsis. Nevertheless, 24 h after sepsis induction, Treg-depleted and control mice showed equally strong inflammation, immune cell immigration into the peritoneum and bacterial dissemination. During the first 36 h of disease survival was not influenced by Treg-depletion. Later, however, only Treg-competent animals recovered from the insult. We conclude that the suppressive capacity of Tregs is not sufficient to control overwhelming inflammation and early mortality, but is a prerequisite for the recovery from severe sepsis.}, language = {en} }