@phdthesis{Jonas2021,
  author    = {Jonas, Franziska},
  title     = {CNS1-dependency of \(in\) \(vivo\) peptide-induced CD4\(^+\)Foxp3\(^+\) regulatory T cells},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-24388},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-243887},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs can be induced in vitro by TGF-b stimulation. Here, CNS1 deficient CD4+ T cells were found to show compromised Foxp3 upregulation in vitro compared to CNS1 WT CD4+ T cells. Moreover, we could demonstrate that antigen-specific CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs can be induced in vivo by tolerogenic antigen stimulation. Parenteral application of agonist BDC2.5 mimetope induced Foxp3 expression in CD4+ BDC2.5 tg cells. We could show that induction of Foxp3 expression by tolerogenic peptide stimulation is impaired in CNS1 deficient CD4+ BDC2.5 tg cells compared to CNS1 WT CD4+ BDC2.5 tg controls. These results indeed indicate that in vivo induced Tregs share mechanistic characteristics with naturally occurring pTregs. Additional in vivo experiments with blocking monoclonal anti-TGF-b demonstrated that high dosage TGF-b blockade abrogated peptide-induced Foxp3 expression in CNS1 WT BDC2.5 tg CD4+ cells, akin to what is seen for impaired Foxp3 upregulation in peptide-stimulated CNS1 KO BDC2.5 tg CD4+ cells without anti-TGF-b-treatment. Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25- T cells in T cell deficient recipients dramatically increased CD4+Foxp3+ Treg frequencies in both CNS1 WT CD4+ and CNS1 KO CD4+ donor cells. Despite an initially lower increase in Foxp3 expression in CNS1 KO donor cells compared to CNS1 WT donor cells early after transfer, in this setting impaired Treg induction in CNS1 deficient cells was not preserved over time. Consequently, diabetes onset and progression were indistinguishable between mice that received CNS1 WT or CNS1 KO donor cells. Additional Foxp3 induction by peptide stimulation of immunodeficient recipients after transfer of CNS1 WT BDC2.5. tg or CNS1 KO BDC2.5 tg donor cells was not detectable.},
  subject      = {Regulatorischer T-Lymphozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Muehlemann2018,
  author    = {M{\"u}hlemann, Markus},
  title     = {Intestinal stem cells and the Na\(^+\)-D-Glucose Transporter SGLT1: potential targets regarding future therapeutic strategies for diabetes},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-169266},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The pancreas and the small intestine are pivotal organs acting in close synergism to regulate glucose metabolism. After absorption and processing of dietary glucose within the small intestine, insulin and glucagon are released from pancreatic islet cells to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Malfunctions affecting either individual, organ-specific functions or the sophisticated interplay of both organs can result in massive complications and pathologic conditions. One of the most serious metabolic diseases of our society is diabetes mellitus (DM) that is hallmarked by a disturbance of blood glucose homeostasis. Type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) are the main forms of the disease and both are characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, a condition that evokes severe comorbidities in the long-term. In the past, several standard treatment options allowed a more or less adequate therapy for diabetic patients. Albeit there is much effort to develop new therapeutic interventions to treat diabetic patients in a more efficient way, no cure is available so far. In view of the urgent need for alternative treatment options, a more systemic look on whole organ systems, their biological relation and complex interplay is needed when developing new therapeutic strategies for DM. T1DM is hallmarked by an autoimmune-mediated destruction of the pancreatic β-cell mass resulting in a complete lack of insulin that is in most patients restored by applying a life-long recombinant insulin therapy. Therefore, novel regenerative medicine-based concepts focus on the derivation of bioartificial β-like cells from diverse stem cell sources in vitro that survive and sustain to secrete insulin after implantation in vivo. In this context, the first part of this thesis analyzed multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs) as alternative cell source to derive bioartificial, pancreatic β-like cells in vitro. From a translational perspective, intestinal stem cells pose a particularly attractive cell source since intestinal donor tissues could be obtained via minimal invasive endoscopy in an autologous way. Furthermore, intestinal and pancreatic cells both derive from the same developmental origin, the endodermal gut tube, favoring the differentiation process towards functional β-like cells. In this study, pancreas-specific differentiation of ISCs was induced by the ectopic expression of the pancreatic transcription factor 1 alpha (Ptf1a), a pioneer transcriptional regulator of pancreatic fate. Furthermore, pancreatic lineage-specific culture media were applied to support the differentiation process. In general, ISCs grow in vitro in a 3D Matrigel®-based environment. Therefore, a 2D culture platform for ISCs was established to allow delivery and ectopic expression of Ptf1a with high efficiency. Next, several molecular tools were applied and compared with each other to identify the most suitable technology for Ptf1a delivery and expression within ISCs as well as their survival under the new established 2D conditions. Success of differentiation was investigated by monitoring changes in cellular morphology and induction of pancreatic differentiation-specific gene expression profiles. In summary, the data of this project part suggest that Ptf1a harbors the potential to induce pancreatic differentiation of ISCs when applying an adequate differentiation media. However, gene expression analysis indicated rather an acinar lineage-determination than a pancreatic β-cell-like specification. Nevertheless, this study proved ISCs not only as interesting stem cell source for the generation of pancreatic cell types with a potential use in the treatment of T1DM but alsoPtf1a as pioneer factor for pancreatic differentiation of ISCs in general. Compared to T1DM, T2DM patients suffer from hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance. In T2DM management, the maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis has highest priority and can be achieved by drugs affecting the stabilization of blood glucose levels. Recent therapeutic concepts are aiming at the inhibition of the intestinal glucose transporter Na+-D-Glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1). Pharmacological inhibition of SGLT1 results in reduced postprandial blood glucose levels combined with a sustained and increased Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion. So far, systemic side effects of this medication have not been addressed in detail. Of note, besides intestinal localization, SGLT1 is also expressed in various other tissues including the pancreas. In context of having a closer look also on the interplay of organs when developing new therapeutic approaches for DM, the second part of this thesis addressed the effects on pancreatic islet integrity after loss of SGLT1. The analyses comprised the investigation of pancreatic islet size, cytomorphology and function by the use of a global SGLT1 knockout (SGLT1-/-) mouse model. As SGLT1-/- mice develop the glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome when fed a standard laboratory chow, these animals derived a glucose-deficient, fat-enriched (GDFE) diet. Wildtype mice on either standard chow (WTSC) or GDFE (WTDC) allowed the discrimination between diet- and knockout-dependent effects. Notably, GDFE fed mice showed decreased expression and function of intestinal SGLT1, while pancreatic SGLT1 mRNA levels were unaffected. Further, the findings revealed increased isled sizes, reduced proliferation- and apoptosis rates as well as an increased α-cell and reduced β-cell proportion accompanied by a disturbed cytomorphology in islets when SGLT1 function is lost or impaired. In addition, pancreatic islets were dysfunctional in terms of insulin- and glucagon-secretion. Moreover, the release of intestinal GLP-1, an incretin hormone that stimulates insulin-secretion in the islet, was abnormal after glucose stimulatory conditions. In summary, these data show that intestinal SGLT1 expression and function is nutrient dependent. The data obtained from the islet studies revealed an additional and new role of SGLT1 for maintaining pancreatic islet integrity in the context of structural, cytomorphological and functional aspects. With special emphasis on SGLT1 inhibition in diabetic patients, the data of this project indicate an urgent need for analyzing systemic side effects in other relevant organs to prove pharmacological SGLT1 inhibition as beneficial and safe. Altogether, the findings of both project parts of this thesis demonstrate that focusing on the molecular and cellular relationship and interplay of the small intestine and the pancreas could be of high importance in context of developing new therapeutic strategies for future applications in DM patients.},
  subject      = {Stammzelle},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Rikkala2015,
  author    = {Rikkala, Prashanth Reddy},
  title     = {Regulation of the Na+-D-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 in the small intestine in response to bariatric surgery and peptides derived from protein RS1 (RSC1A1)},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130608},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Bariatric surgery represents the first-line treatment for morbid obesity, resulting in weight loss and improved diabetes control. The positive effect of bariatric surgery on type-2 diabetes is unclear. Increased secretion of insulin regulating enterohormone glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) has been observed in rats with experimental type 2-like diabetes following duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) and ileal transposition (IT). Sodium dependent glucose co-transporter (SGLT1) is involved in the secretion of GLP-1 that in turn regulates insulin secretion. In the present study, an attempt was made to elucidate the impact of DJB and IT on SGLT1 mediated glucose transport. Transport measurements using phlorizin inhibited uptake of SGLT1-specific glucose analogue [14C] α-Methyl-D-glucopyranoside (AMG) were performed to determine the changes in SGLT1 transport upon these surgical procedures. The data indicated that DJB decreased SGLT1-mediated glucose absorption in the small intestine which contributes to the body-weight independent improvement of type 2 diabetes. However, IT did not change the SGLT1-mediated glucose transport. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in IT, the transposed ileum showed increased diameter, increased villi length and increased number of GLP-1 secreting L-cells. The weight-independent improvement in glycemic control after IT is not related to SGLT1-mediated glucose absorption but may be linked to increased GLP-1 secretion. Along with this, the study also focused on the regulation of SGLT1 by several RS1 derived tripeptides in mouse and human intestinal tissues (ex vivo). Phlorizin inhibited uptake of AMG was measured without and with tripeptides. QEP and thiophosphorylated QSP down-regulated SGLT1 activity in small intestine in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the tested tripeptides, QEP showed higher activity and further analysis in various species demonstrated its universal role in SGLT1 regulation. The data thus indicates that RS1 derived tripeptides QEP and thiophosphorylated QSP may be employed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.},
  subject      = {Glucosetransportproteine},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Zheng2012,
  author    = {Zheng, Peilin},
  title     = {Ptpn22 silencing in the NOD model of type 1 diabetes indicates the human susceptibility allele of PTPN22 is a gain-of-function variant},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-73869},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {PTPN22 encodes the lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase Lyp that can dephosphorylate Lck, ZAP-70 and Fyn to attenuate TCR signaling. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C1858T) causes a substitution from arginine (R) to tryptophan (W) at 620 residue (R620W). Lyp-620W has been confirmed as a susceptible allele in multiple autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Several independent studies proposed that the disease-associated allele is a gain-of-function variant. However, a recent report found that in human cells and a knockin mouse containing the R620W homolog that Ptpn22 protein degradation is accelerated, indicating Lyp-620W is a loss-of-function variant. Whether Lyp R620W is a gain- or loss-of-function variant remains controversial. To resolve this issue, we generated two lines (P2 and P4) of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice in which Ptpn22 can be inducibly silenced by RNAi. We found long term silencing of Ptpn22 increased spleen cellularity and regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers, replicating the effect of gene deletion reported in the knockout (KO) B6 mice. Notably, Ptpn22 silencing also increased the reactivity and apoptotic behavior of B lymphocytes, which is consistent with the reduced reactivity and apoptosis of human B cells carrying the alleged gain-of-function PTPN22 allele. Furthermore, loss of Ptpn22 protected P2 KD mice from spontaneous and Cyclophosphamide (CY) induced diabetes. Our data support the notion that Lyp-620W is a gain-of-function variant. Moreover, Lyp may be a valuable target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.},
  subject      = {Diabetes mellitus},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Gerold2011,
  author    = {Gerold, Kay},
  title     = {CTLA4 and CLEC16A in Type 1 Diabetes - Looking behind the association},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-66617},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells and consequently to hyperglycemia. In the last 60 years, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing constantly and is predicted to continue rising. About 80\% of the disease risk is attributable to the genetic variation. Thanks to genome wide association studies the number of known disease-associated polymorphisms climbed from five to 53 in the last 10 years. As these studies reveal possible candidate genes but not underlying mechanisms we strove to take the next step and explore the association of two genes suggested by these studies with type 1 diabetes. As a method of choice we decided to use lentiviral RNAi in non obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a widely-used model for type 1 diabetes, introducing a shRNA directed against the target message into the genome of this mouse strain via a lentivirus. This allowed us to study the partial loss-of-function of the target gene within the context of diabetes, directly seeing its effect on autoimmune mechanisms. In this thesis we examined two different genes in this manner, Ctla4 and Clec16a. A type 1 diabetes associated polymorphism in the CTLA4 gene had been found to alter the splicing ratio of its variants soluble CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) and full length CTLA-4, the associated allele producing less sCTLA-4 than the protective allele. We mimicked this effect by specifically targeting the sCtla4 mRNA via lentiviral RNAi in the NOD model. As a result we could confirm the reduction of sCTLA-4 to accelerate type 1 diabetes development. Furthermore we could show a function of sCTLA-4 in regulatory T cells, more specifically at least partly in their ability to modulate costimulation by antigen presenting cells. The second candidate gene, Clec16a was targeted with the shRNA in a way that was designed to knock down most splice variants. As the gene function and the effect of the associated SUMMARY 10 polymorphism was unknown, we reasoned this method to be feasible to investigate its role in type 1 diabetes. The knockdown of Clec16a in NOD mice resulted in an almost complete protection from diabetes development that could be attributed to T cells dysfunction. However, as expression patterns and a study of the Drospophila orthologue suggested a possible role of CLEC16A in antigen presentation we also examined antigen presenting cells in the thymus and periphery. Although we did not detect any effect of the knockdown on peripheral antigen presenting cells, thymic epithelial cells were clearly affected by the loss of CLEC16A, rendering them more activated and shifting the ratio of cortical to medullary epithelial cells in favor of cortical cells. We therefore suggest a role of CLEC16A in the selection of T cells, that needs, however, to be further investigated. In this thesis we provided a feasible and fast method to study function of genes and even of single splice variants within the NOD mouse model. We demonstrate its usefulness on two candidate genes associated with type 1 diabetes by confirming and unraveling the cause of their connection to the disease.},
  subject      = {Diabetes mellitus},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Joseph2011,
  author    = {Joseph, Julie},
  title     = {Studying the role of Th17 cells in autoimmune diabetes and generation of a beta cell reporter mouse by lentiviral transgenesis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-66571},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Type 1 diabetes affects around 0.5\% of the population in developed countries and the incidence rates have been rising over the years. The destruction of beta cells is irreversible and the current therapy available to patients only manages the symptoms and does not prevent the associated pathological manifestations. The patients need lifelong therapy and intensive research is being carried out to identify ways to eliminate autoimmune responses directed against pancreatic beta cells and to replace or regenerate beta cells. The work presented herein aimed at analyzing the role of the Th17 T cell subset, characterized by secretion of the pro- inflammatory cytokine IL-17A, in autoimmune diabetes and also at generating a beta cell reporter mouse line in the NOD background, the most widely- used mouse model for type 1 diabetes. We generated IL- 17A knockdown (KD) NOD mice, using RNAi in combination with lentiviral transgenesis. We analyzed diabetes frequency in IL-17A deficient mice and found that the loss of IL-17A did not protect the transgenic mice from diabetes. Based on these observations, we believe that Th17 cells do not play a critical role in type 1 diabetes through the IL-17A pathway, though they might still be involved in the disease process through alternate pathways. We also generated NOD and NOD-SCID mice with a transgene that drives the beta cell specific expression of a luciferase reporter gene. We used a lentiviral construct, which combined a luciferase sequence and a short- hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression cassette, allowing gene- knockdown under the beta cell specific rat insulin promoter (RIP). These mice will be of use in studying beta cell phenotypes resulting from the knockdown of target genes, using non- invasive bioimaging. We believe that the generation of these reporter mouse lines for diabetes studies will prove valuable in future investigations. Furthermore, the demonstration that the loss of IL-17A does not alter susceptibility to type 1 diabetes should help clarify the controversial involvement of Th17 cells in this disease.},
  subject      = {Diabetes mellitus},
  language  = {en}
}