@article{SalzmannManriqueBremmHueneckeetal.2018, author = {Salzmann-Manrique, Emilia and Bremm, Melanie and Huenecke, Sabine and Stech, Milena and Orth, Andreas and Eyrich, Matthias and Schulz, Ansgar and Esser, Ruth and Klingebiel, Thomas and Bader, Peter and Herrmann, Eva and Koehl, Ulrike}, title = {Joint Modeling of Immune Reconstitution Post Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Patients With Acute Leukemia Comparing CD34(+)-Selected to CD3/CD19-Depleted Grafts in a Retrospective Multicenter Study}, series = {frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {9}, journal = {frontiers in Immunology}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2018.01841}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227302}, pages = {1841, 1-12}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Rapid immune reconstitution (IR) following stem cell transplantation (SCT) is essential for a favorable outcome. The optimization of graft composition should not only enable a sufficient IR but also improve graft vs. leukemia/tumor effects, overcome infectious complications and, finally, improve patient survival. Especially in haploidentical SCT, the optimization of graft composition is controversial. Therefore, we analyzed the influence of graft manipulation on IR in 40 patients with acute leukemia in remission. We examined the cell recovery post haploidentical SCT in patients receiving a CD34(+)-selected or CD3/CD19-depleted graft, considering the applied conditioning regimen. We used joint model analysis for overall survival (OS) and analyzed the dynamics of age-adjusted leukocytes; lymphocytes; monocytes; CD3(+), CD3(+) CD4(+), and CD3(+) CD8(+) T cells; natural killer (NK) cells; and B cells over the course of time after SCT. Lymphocytes, NK cells, and B cells expanded more rapidly after SCT with CD34(+)-selected grafts (P = 0.036, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). Contrarily, CD3(+) CD4(+) helper T cells recovered delayer in the CD34 selected group (P = 0.026). Furthermore, reduced intensity conditioning facilitated faster immune recovery of lymphocytes and T cells and their subsets (P < 0.001). However, the immune recovery for NK cells and B cells was comparable for patients who received reduced-intensity or full preparative regimens. Dynamics of all cell types had a significant influence on OS, which did not differ between patients receiving CD34(+)-selected and those receiving CD3/CD19-depleted grafts. In conclusion, cell reconstitution dynamics showed complex diversity with regard to the graft manufacturing procedure and conditioning regimen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Weiss2021, author = {Weiß, Esther}, title = {Host-pathogen interactions of natural killer cells and Aspergillus fumigatus: Relevance of immune cell cross-talk and fungal recognition receptors}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20607}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-206077}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The human pathogen Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus is a fungal mold that can cause severe infections in immunocompromised hosts. Pathogen recognition and immune cell cross-talk are essential for clearing fungal infections efficiently. Immune cell interactions in particular may enhance individual cell activation and cytotoxicity towards invading pathogens. This study analyzed the reciprocal cell activation of natural killer (NK) cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) after stimulation with A. fumigatus cell wall fractions and whole-cell lysates. Furthermore, the impact of the on moDCs expressed fungal receptors Dectin-1 and TLR-2 on NK cell activation was analyzed. Stimulation of moDCs with ligands for Dectin-1 and TLR-2 and transfer of soluble factors on autologous NK cells showed that moDCs could induce NK cell activation solely by secreting factors. In summary, both cell types could induce reciprocal cell activation if the stimulated cell type recognized fungal morphologies and ligands. However, moDCs displayed a broader set of A. fumigatus receptors and, therefore, could induce NK cell activation when those were not activated by the stimulus directly. Consequently, new fungal receptors should be identified on NK cells. The NK cell characterization marker CD56 was reduced detected in flow cytometry after fungal co-culture. Notably, this decreased detection was not associated with NK cell apoptosis, protein degradation, internalization, or secretion of CD56 molecules. CD56 was shown to tightly attach to hyphal structures, followed by its concentration at the NK-A. fumigatus interaction site. Actin polymerization was necessary for CD56 relocalization, as pre-treatment of NK cells with actin-inhibitory reagents abolished CD56 binding to the fungus. Blocking of CD56 suppressed fungal mediated NK cell activation and secretion of the immune-recruiting chemokines MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES, concluding that CD56 is functionally involved in fungal recognition by NK cells. CD56 binding to fungal hyphae was inhibited in NK cells obtained from patients during immune-suppressing therapy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Additionally, reduced binding of CD56 correlated with decreased actin polymerization of reconstituting NK cells challenged with the fungus. The immune-suppressing therapy with corticosteroids negatively influenced the secretion of MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES in NK cells after fungal stimulation ex vivo. Similar results were obtained when NK cells from healthy donors were treated with corticosteroids prior to fungal co-culture. Thus, corticosteroids were identified to have detrimental effects on NK cell function during infection with A. fumigatus.}, subject = {Nat{\"u}rliche Killerzelle}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dannenmann2019, author = {Dannenmann, Astrid Katharina}, title = {Psychischer Stress nach allogener Blutstammzelltransplantation - eine Querschnittsanalyse zur Belastung durch Angst- und depressive Symptome}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-18670}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-186708}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Die Diagnose einer Krebserkrankung und die folgende Therapie mittels Stammzelltransplantation sind ein tiefgreifender Einschnitt in das Leben eines Menschen und k{\"o}nnen mit erheblicher psychischer Belastung einhergehen, jedoch wird im onkologischen Setting der Frage nach psychischer Belastung oft nur unzureichend nachgegangen. Die vornehmliche Intention dieser Arbeit war es, die Pr{\"a}valenz von psychischer Belastung in Form von Angst- und depressiver Symptomatik nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation zu ermitteln, zu evaluieren inwiefern die Betroffenen eine ad{\"a}quate Diagnostik und Behandlung erhalten sowie ferner eine Assoziation des Grades der psychischen Belastung mit soziodemographischen und medizinischen Variablen zu pr{\"u}fen. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte in Form einer prospektiv geplanten, non-interventionellen Querschnittsstudie. Der Fallzahlplanung entsprechend wurden konsekutiv 50 Patienten erfasst, welche sich in der ambulanten Nachbetreuung in der Ambulanz f{\"u}r Knochenmarktransplantation des Zentrums f{\"u}r Blutstammzelltransplantation der Medizinischen Klinik und Poliklinik II des Universit{\"a}tsklinikums W{\"u}rzburg befanden. 41 Patienten f{\"u}llten den Fragebogenkatalog, bestehend aus mehreren etablierten Frageb{\"o}gen, aus. Die Auspr{\"a}gung der Symptomatik von Angst und Depression wurde anhand verschiedener Selbstbeurteilungs-Frageb{\"o}gen bewertet. Hierzu dienten das Modul f{\"u}r generalisierte Angstst{\"o}rungen (GAD-7) und f{\"u}r depressive Erkrankungen (PHQ-9) des Gesundheitsfragebogens f{\"u}r Patienten und die kurze Version des Progredienzangst-Fragebogens (PA-F -KF). Das durchschnittliche Alter der Teilnehmer betrug 53 Jahre (21-74 Jahre). Der Mittelwert der Zeit zwischen allogener Stammzelltransplantation und der Studie betrug 614 Tage. Insgesamt 16 (39\%) Patienten galten nach den genannten Definitionen als psychisch belastet. 11 dieser Patienten zeigten Symptome einer generalisierten Angstst{\"o}rung, 12 davon litten unter Progredienzangst und 11 Patienten zeigten Symptomatik einer Depression. J{\"u}ngeres Alter unter 55 Jahren war signifikant assoziiert mit erh{\"o}hter Progredienzangst. Nur wenige der als psychisch belastet definierten Patientin befanden sich in fachspezifischer Betreuung. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt auf, dass Patienten nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation h{\"a}ufig von psychischer Belastung betroffen sind und nur selten professionelle fachspezifische Unterst{\"u}tzung erhalten. Die Erfassung der psychosozialen Belastung nach einer allogenen Stammzelltransplantation sowie die Kenntnis der Auswirkungen auf den Krankheitsverlauf und die Lebensqualit{\"a}t eines Patienten kann genutzt werden f{\"u}r eine Integration der psychoonkologischen Therapie als S{\"a}ule einer ganzheitlichen Behandlung im Rahmen der Stammzelltransplantation vor dem Hintergrund der Gew{\"a}hrleistung einer medizinisch sowie {\"o}konomisch und menschlich optimierten Patientenversorgung.}, subject = {Stammzelltransplantation}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Drebinger2019, author = {Drebinger, Katharina}, title = {Querschnittsanalyse zur Posttraumatischen Belastungsst{\"o}rung nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-17873}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-178733}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Diese Arbeit ist Teil einer prospektiv geplanten, nicht interventionellen Querschnittsstudie, in welcher psychische Belastungen nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation untersucht wurden. Hierf{\"u}r wurden von Juli bis August 2011 Daten von 50 Patienten der KMT Ambulanz der Universit{\"a}tsklinik W{\"u}rzburg erhoben. Die Studienteilnehmer wurden hinsichtlich Angst, Depression und Posttraumatischer Belastungsst{\"o}rung (PTBS) nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation befragt. Diese Dissertation besch{\"a}ftigte sich ausschließlich mit der Entwicklung einer PTBS nach allogener Transplantation. Zur Datenerhebung wurde die Posttraumatic Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) als etablierter und standardisierter Fragebogen verwendet. Neun Patienten gaben den Fragebogen nicht bzw. unvollst{\"a}ndig ab, wodurch sich eine endg{\"u}ltige Studienteilnehmerzahl von n=41 ergab. Das mittlere Alter betrug 53,4 Jahre (21-74 Jahre), 68\% waren m{\"a}nnlich und 85\% waren verheiratet. 22 Personen (54\%) litten an myeloischen Tumoren, 19 (46\%) litten an lymphatischen Tumoren. Die Mehrheit der Patienten erhielt periphere Blutstammzellen eines mit ihnen nicht verwandten Spenders (51\%). Zum Zeitpunkt der Datenerhebung lag die Transplantation im Schnitt 21,9 Monate zur{\"u}ck. Von den 41 untersuchten Patienten litten laut PCL-C sechs Personen (14,6\%) nach der Cut off Methode und f{\"u}nf Personen (12,2\%) nach der Cluster Methode an einer PTBS. Von einer partiellen PTBS waren zwei Patienten (4,9\%) betroffen. Das am h{\"a}ufigsten angegebene PTBS-Symptom war das Erleben von Intrusionen (41,5\%). Weder soziodemographische (Alter, Geschlecht, Familienstand) noch somatische Variablen (CMV Reaktivierung, akute oder chronische GvHD) zeigten eine signifikante Korrelation mit dem Auftreten einer PTBS. Ebenso konnte kein Zusammenhang zwischen der Zeit nach Transplantation und einer m{\"o}glichen psychischen Regeneration festgestellt werden. Von den sechs PTBS Patienten, die mittels PCL-C ermittelt werden konnten, wurden zwei gar nicht, drei mit Psychopharmaka und nur einer mit Psychopharmaka und Psychotherapie behandelt. Somit sind die Ergebnisse als Momentaufnahme zu verstehen, die einen Bedarf f{\"u}r eine optimierte Versorgung reflektiert. Dies unterstreicht auch die Notwendigkeit der Durchf{\"u}hrung weiterer, analytischer und gegebenenfalls auch interventioneller Studien in diesem Bereich, um einer PTBS vorzubeugen oder diese fr{\"u}hzeitig zu erkennen und entsprechend ad{\"a}quat zu behandeln.}, subject = {PTBS}, language = {de} } @article{DixCzakaiSpringeretal.2016, author = {Dix, Andreas and Czakai, Kristin and Springer, Jan and Fliesser, Mirjam and Bonin, Michael and Guthke, Reinhard and Schmitt, Anna L. and Einsele, Hermann and Linde, J{\"o}rg and L{\"o}ffler, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Genome-Wide Expression Profiling Reveals S100B as Biomarker for Invasive Aspergillosis}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, number = {7}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.00320}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165386}, pages = {320}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a devastating opportunistic infection and its treatment constitutes a considerable burden for the health care system. Immunocompromised patients are at an increased risk for IA, which is mainly caused by the species Aspergillus fumigatus. An early and reliable diagnosis is required to initiate the appropriate antifungal therapy. However, diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy still needs to be improved, which can be achieved at least partly by the definition of new biomarkers. Besides the direct detection of the pathogen by the current diagnostic methods, the analysis of the host response is a promising strategy toward this aim. Following this approach, we sought to identify new biomarkers for IA. For this purpose, we analyzed gene expression profiles of hematological patients and compared profiles of patients suffering from IA with non-IA patients. Based on microarray data, we applied a comprehensive feature selection using a random forest classifier. We identified the transcript coding for the S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) as a potential new biomarker for the diagnosis of IA. Considering the expression of this gene, we were able to classify samples from patients with IA with 82.3\% sensitivity and 74.6\% specificity. Moreover, we validated the expression of S100B in a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and we also found a down-regulation of S100B in A. fumigatus stimulated DCs. An influence on the IL1B and CXCL1 downstream levels was demonstrated by this S100B knockdown. In conclusion, this study covers an effective feature selection revealing a key regulator of the human immune response during IA. S100B may represent an additional diagnostic marker that in combination with the established techniques may improve the accuracy of IA diagnosis.}, language = {en} } @article{FujiKappEinsele2013, author = {Fuji, Shigeo and Kapp, Markus and Einsele, Hermann}, title = {Alloreactivity of virus-specific T cells: possible implication of graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effects}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {4}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, number = {330}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2013.00330}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129260}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Immune reconstitution of functional virus-specific T cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been intensively investigated. However, the possible role of crossreactivity of these virus-specific T cells against allogeneic targets is still unclear. Theoretically, as in the field of organ transplantation, virus-specific T cells possess crossreactivity potential after allogeneic HSCT. Such crossreactivity is assumed to play a role in graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effects. In this article, we aim to give a comprehensive overview of current understanding about crossreactivity of virus-specific T cells.}, language = {en} } @article{FujiKappEinsele2013, author = {Fuji, Shigeo and Kapp, Markus and Einsele, Hermann}, title = {Monitoring of Pathogen-Specific T-Cell Immune Reconstitution after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {4}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, number = {276}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2013.00276}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129250}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The clinical outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been significantly improved during the last decades with regard to the reduction in organ failure, infection, and severe acute graft-versus-host disease. However, severe complications due to infectious diseases are still one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic HSCT, in particular in patients receiving haploidentical HSCT or cord blood transplant due to a slow and often incomplete immune reconstitution. In order to improve the immune control of pathogens without an increased risk of alloreactivity, adoptive immunotherapy using highly enriched pathogen-specificT cells offers a promising approach. In order to identify patients who are at high risk for infectious diseases, several monitoring assays have been developed with potential for the guidance of immunosuppressive drugs and adoptive immunotherapy in clinical practice. In this article, we aim to give a comprehensive overview regarding current developments of T-cell monitoring techniques focusing on T cells against viruses and fungi. In particular, we will focus on rather simple, fast, non-labor-intensive, cellular assays which could be integrated in routine clinical screening approaches.}, language = {en} }