TY  - JOUR
A1  - Almanzar, Giovanni
A1  - Klein, Matthias
A1  - Schmalzing, Marc
A1  - Hilligardt, Deborah
A1  - El Hajj, Nady
A1  - Kneitz, Hermann
A1  - Wild, Vanessa
A1  - Rosenwald, Andreas
A1  - Benoit, Sandrine
A1  - Hamm, Henning
A1  - Tony, Hans-Peter
A1  - Haaf, Thomas
A1  - Goebeler, Matthias
A1  - Prelog, Martina
T1  - Disease Manifestation and Inflammatory Activity as Modulators of Th17/Treg Balance and RORC/FoxP3 Methylation in Systemic Sclerosis
JF  - International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
N2  - Background: There is much evidence that T cells are strongly involved in the pathogenesis of localized and systemic forms of scleroderma (SSc). A dysbalance between FoxP3+ regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) and inflammatory T-helper (Th) 17 cells has been suggested. Methods: The study aimed (1) to investigate the phenotypical and functional characteristics of Th17 and Tregs in SSc patients depending on disease manifestation (limited vs. diffuse cutaneous SSc, dcSSc) and activity, and (2) the transcriptional level and methylation status of Th17- and Treg-specific transcription factors. Results: There was a concurrent accumulation of circulating peripheral IL-17-producing CCR6+ Th cells and FoxP3+ Tregs in patients with dcSSc. At the transcriptional level, Th17- and Treg-associated transcription factors were elevated in SSc. A strong association with high circulating Th17 and Tregs was seen with early, active, and severe disease presentation. However, a diminished suppressive function on autologous lymphocytes was found in SSc-derived Tregs. Significant relative hypermethylation was seen at the gene level for RORC1 and RORC2 in SSc, particularly in patients with high inflammatory activity. Conclusions: Besides the high transcriptional activity of T cells, attributed to Treg or Th17 phenotype, in active SSc disease, Tregs may be insufficient to produce high amounts of IL-10 or to control proliferative activity of effector T cells in SSc. Our results suggest a high plasticity of Tregs strongly associated with the Th17 phenotype. Future directions may focus on enhancing Treg functions and stabilization of the Treg phenotype.
KW  - methylation
KW  - systemic sclerosis
KW  - suppression
KW  - Tregs
KW  - Th17
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-196577
SN  - 1018-2438
SN  - 1423-0097
N1  - This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
VL  - 171
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thomas, Anna C.
A1  - Zeng, Zhiqiang
A1  - Rivière, Jean-Baptiste
A1  - O'Shaughnessy, Ryan
A1  - Al-Olabi, Lara
A1  - St.-Onge, Judith
A1  - Atherton, David J.
A1  - Aubert, Hélène
A1  - Bagazgoitia, Lorea
A1  - Barbarot, Sébastien
A1  - Bourrat, Emmanuelle
A1  - Chiaverini, Christine
A1  - Chong, W. Kling
A1  - Duffourd, Yannis
A1  - Glover, Mary
A1  - Groesser, Leopold
A1  - Hadj-Rabia, Smail
A1  - Hamm, Henning
A1  - Happle, Rudolf
A1  - Mushtaq, Imran
A1  - Lacour, Jean-Philippe
A1  - Waelchli, Regula
A1  - Wobser, Marion
A1  - Vabres, Pierre
A1  - Patton, E. Elizabeth
A1  - Kinsler, Veronica A.
T1  - Mosaic activating mutations in GNA11 and GNAQ are associated with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis and extensive dermal melanocytosis
JF  - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
N2  - Common birthmarks can be an indicator of underlying genetic disease but are often overlooked. Mongolian blue spots (dermal melanocytosis) are usually localized and transient, but they can be extensive, permanent, and associated with extracutaneous abnormalities. Co-occurrence with vascular birthmarks defines a subtype of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis, a group of syndromes associated with neurovascular, ophthalmological, overgrowth, and malignant complications. Here, we discover that extensive dermal melanocytosis and phakomatosis pigmentovascularis are associated with activating mutations in GNA11 and GNAQ, genes that encode Ga subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. The mutations were detected at very low levels in affected tissues but were undetectable in the blood, indicating that these conditions are postzygotic mosaic disorders. In vitro expression of mutant GNA11\(^R183C\) and GNA11\(^Q209L\) in human cell lines demonstrated activation of the downstream p38 MAPK signaling pathway and the p38, JNK, and ERK pathways, respectively. Transgenic mosaic zebrafish models expressing mutant GNA11\(^R183C\) under promoter mitfa developed extensive dermal melanocytosis recapitulating the human phenotype. Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis and extensive dermal melanocytosis are therefore diagnoses in the group of mosaic heterotrimeric G-protein disorders, joining McCune-Albright and Sturge-Weber syndromes. These findings will allow accurate clinical and molecular diagnosis of this subset of common birthmarks, thereby identifying infants at risk for serious complications, and provide novel therapeutic opportunities.
KW  - uveal melanoma
KW  - G Protein
KW  - dermal melanocytosis
KW  - Sturge-Weber syndrom
KW  - cesioflammea
KW  - germline
KW  - phakomatosis pigmentovascularis
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-189689
VL  - 136
IS  - 4
ER  -