TY  - JOUR
A1  - Klingseisen, Laura
A1  - Ehrenschwender, Martin
A1  - Heigl, Ulrike
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Hehlgans, Thomas
A1  - Schütze, Stefan
A1  - Schneider-Brachert, Wulf
T1  - E3-14.7K Is Recruited to TNF-Receptor 1 and Blocks TNF Cytolysis Independent from Interaction with Optineurin
JF  - PLoS One
N2  - Escape from the host immune system is essential for intracellular pathogens. The adenoviral protein E3-14.7K (14.7K) is known as a general inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis. It efficiently blocks TNF-receptor 1 (TNFR1) internalization but the underlying molecular mechanism still remains elusive. Direct interaction of 14.7K and/or associated proteins with the TNFR1 complex has been discussed although to date not proven. In our study, we provide for the first time evidence for recruitment of 14.7K and the 14.7K interacting protein optineurin to TNFR1. Various functions have been implicated for optineurin such as regulation of receptor endocytosis, vesicle trafficking, regulation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathway and antiviral signaling. We therefore hypothesized that binding of optineurin to 14.7K and recruitment of both proteins to the TNFR1 complex is essential for protection against TNF-induced cytotoxic effects. To precisely dissect the individual role of 14.7K and optineurin, we generated and characterized a 14.7K mutant that does not confer TNF-resistance but is still able to interact with optineurin. In H1299 and KB cells expressing 14.7K wild-type protein, neither decrease in cell viability nor cleavage of caspases was observed upon stimulation with TNF. In sharp contrast, cells expressing the non-protective mutant of 14.7K displayed reduced viability and cleavage of initiator and effector caspases upon TNF treatment, indicating ongoing apoptotic cell death. Knockdown of optineurin in 14.7K expressing cells did not alter the protective effect as measured by cell viability and caspase activation. Taken together, we conclude that optineurin despite its substantial role in vesicular trafficking, endocytosis of cell surface receptors and recruitment to the TNFR1 complex is dispensable for the 14.7K-mediated protection against TNF-induced apoptosis.
KW  - 14.7K
KW  - tumor necrosis factor
KW  - NF-kappa-B
KW  - E3 14.7-kilodalton protein
KW  - myosin-VI
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - cells
KW  - compartmentalization
KW  - inhibitor
KW  - binding
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-135687
VL  - 7
IS  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rauert-Wunderlich, Hilka
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
A1  - Maier, Eduard
A1  - Giner, Tina
A1  - Bargou, Ralf C.
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Stühmer, Thorsten
T1  - The IKK Inhibitor Bay 11-7082 Induces Cell Death Independent from Inhibition of Activation of NF kappa B Transcription Factors
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Multiple myeloma (MM) displays an NFκB activity-related gene expression signature and about 20% of primary MM samples harbor genetic alterations conducive to intrinsic NFκB signaling activation. The relevance of blocking the classical versus the alternative NFκB signaling pathway and the molecular execution mechanisms involved, however, are still poorly understood. Here, we comparatively tested NFκB activity abrogation through TPCA-1 (an IKK2 inhibitor), BAY 11-7082 (an IKK inhibitor poorly selective for IKK1 and IKK2), and MLN4924 (an NEDD8 activating enzyme (NAE)-inhibitor), and analyzed their anti-MM activity. Whereas TPCA-1 interfered selectively with activation of the classical NFκB pathway, the other two compounds inhibited classical and alternative NFκB signaling without significant discrimination. Noteworthy, whereas TPCA-1 and MLN4924 elicited rather mild anti-MM effects with slight to moderate cell death induction after 1 day BAY 11-7082 was uniformly highly toxic to MM cell lines and primary MM cells. Treatment with BAY 11-7082 induced rapid cell swelling and its initial effects were blocked by necrostatin-1 or the ROS scavenger BHA, but a lasting protective effect was not achieved even with additional blockade of caspases. Because MLN4924 inhibits the alternative NFκB pathway downstream of IKK1 at the level of p100 processing, the quite discordant effects between MLN4924 and BAY 11-7082 must thus be due to blockade of IKK1-mediated NFκB-independent necrosis-inhibitory functions or represent an off-target effect of BAY 11-7082. In accordance with the latter, we further observed that concomitant knockdown of IKK1 and IKK2 did not have any major short-term adverse effect on the viability of MM cells.
KW  - signal inhibition
KW  - necrotic cell death
KW  - cell viability testing
KW  - cell death
KW  - small interfering RNAs
KW  - HT29 cells
KW  - phosphorylation
KW  - multiple myeloma
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130140
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chopra, Martin
A1  - Lang, Isabell
A1  - Salzmann, Steffen
A1  - Pachel, Christina
A1  - Kraus, Sabrina
A1  - Bäuerlein, Carina A.
A1  - Brede, Christian
A1  - Jordán Garrote, Ana-Laura
A1  - Mattenheimer, Katharina
A1  - Ritz, Miriam
A1  - Schwinn, Stefanie
A1  - Graf, Carolin
A1  - Schäfer, Viktoria
A1  - Frantz, Stefan
A1  - Einsele, Hermann
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Beilhack, Andreas
T1  - Tumor Necrosis Factor Induces Tumor Promoting and Anti-Tumoral Effects on Pancreatic Cancer via TNFR1
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Multiple activities are ascribed to the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in health and disease. In particular, TNF was shown to affect carcinogenesis in multiple ways. This cytokine acts via the activation of two cell surface receptors, TNFR1, which is associated with inflammation, and TNFR2, which was shown to cause anti-inflammatory signaling. We assessed the effects of TNF and its two receptors on the progression of pancreatic cancer by in vivo bioluminescence imaging in a syngeneic orthotopic tumor mouse model with Panc02 cells. Mice deficient for TNFR1 were unable to spontaneously reject Panc02 tumors and furthermore displayed enhanced tumor progression. In contrast, a fraction of wild type (37.5%), TNF deficient (12.5%), and TNFR2 deficient mice (22.2%) were able to fully reject the tumor within two weeks. Pancreatic tumors in TNFR1 deficient mice displayed increased vascular density, enhanced infiltration of CD4+ T cells and CD4+ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T cells (Treg) but reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells. These alterations were further accompanied by transcriptional upregulation of IL4. Thus, TNF and TNFR1 are required in pancreatic ductal carcinoma to ensure optimal CD8+ T cell-mediated immunosurveillance and tumor rejection. Exogenous systemic administration of human TNF, however, which only interacts with murine TNFR1, accelerated tumor progression. This suggests that TNFR1 has basically the capability in the Panc02 model to trigger pro-and anti-tumoral effects but the spatiotemporal availability of TNF seems to determine finally the overall outcome.
KW  - Bioluminescence
KW  - cancer treatment
KW  - cell staining
KW  - cytokines
KW  - immune cells
KW  - metastasis
KW  - regulatory T cells
KW  - T cells
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-97246
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Carmona Arana, José Antonio
A1  - Seher, Axel
A1  - Neumann, Manfred
A1  - Lang, Isabell
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1 is a Major Target of Soluble TWEAK
JF  - Frontiers in Immunology
N2  - Soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), in contrast to membrane TWEAK and TNF, is only a weak activator of the classical NFκB pathway. We observed that soluble TWEAK was regularly more potent than TNF with respect to the induction of TNF receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1), a NFκB-controlled signaling protein involved in the regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways. TNF-induced TRAF1 expression was efficiently blocked by inhibition of the classical NFκB pathway using the IKK2 inhibitor, TPCA1. In contrast, in some cell lines, TWEAK-induced TRAF1 production was only partly inhibited by TPCA1. The NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor MLN4924, however, which inhibits classical and alternative NFκB signaling, blocked TNF- and TWEAK-induced TRAF1 expression. This suggests that TRAF1 induction by soluble TWEAK is based on the cooperative activity of the two NFκB signaling pathways. We have previously shown that oligomerization of soluble TWEAK results in ligand complexes with membrane TWEAK-like activity. Oligomerization of soluble TWEAK showed no effect on the dose response of TRAF1 induction, but potentiated the ability of soluble TWEAK to trigger production of the classical NFκB-regulated cytokine IL8. Transfectants expressing soluble TWEAK and membrane TWEAK showed similar induction of TRAF1 while only the membrane TWEAK expressing cells robustly stimulated IL8 production. These data indicate that soluble TWEAK may efficiently induce a distinct subset of the membrane TWEAK-targeted genes and argue again for a crucial role of classical NFκB pathway-independent signaling in TWEAK-induced TRAF1 expression. Other TWEAK targets, which can be equally well induced by soluble and membrane TWEAK, remain to be identified and the relevance of the ability of soluble TWEAK to induce such a distinct subset of membrane TWEAK-targeted genes for TWEAK biology will have to be clarified in future studies.
KW  - RAF1
KW  - TWEAK
KW  - TNF
KW  - NFκB
KW  - CD40
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-120620
SN  - 1664-3224
VL  - 5
IS  - 63
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chopra, Martin
A1  - Biehl, Marlene
A1  - Steinfatt, Tim
A1  - Brandl, Andreas
A1  - Kums, Juliane
A1  - Amich, Jorge
A1  - Vaeth, Martin
A1  - Kuen, Janina
A1  - Holtappels, Rafaela
A1  - Podlech, Jürgen
A1  - Mottok, Anja
A1  - Kraus, Sabrina
A1  - Jordán-Garotte, Ana-Laura
A1  - Bäuerlein, Carina A.
A1  - Brede, Christian
A1  - Ribechini, Eliana
A1  - Fick, Andrea
A1  - Seher, Axel
A1  - Polz, Johannes
A1  - Ottmueller, Katja J.
A1  - Baker, Jeannette
A1  - Nishikii, Hidekazu
A1  - Ritz, Miriam
A1  - Mattenheimer, Katharina
A1  - Schwinn, Stefanie
A1  - Winter, Thorsten
A1  - Schäfer, Viktoria
A1  - Krappmann, Sven
A1  - Einsele, Hermann
A1  - Müller, Thomas D.
A1  - Reddehase, Matthias J.
A1  - Lutz, Manfred B.
A1  - Männel, Daniela N.
A1  - Berberich-Siebelt, Friederike
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Beilhack, Andreas
T1  - Exogenous TNFR2 activation protects from acute GvHD via host T reg cell expansion
JF  - Journal of Experimental Medicine
N2  - Donor CD4\(^+\)Foxp3\(^+\) regulatory T cells (T reg cells) suppress graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT allo-HCT]). Current clinical study protocols rely on the ex vivo expansion of donor T reg cells and their infusion in high numbers. In this study, we present a novel strategy for inhibiting GvHD that is based on the in vivo expansion of recipient T reg cells before allo-HCT, exploiting the crucial role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) in T reg cell biology. Expanding radiation-resistant host T reg cells in recipient mice using a mouse TNFR2-selective agonist before allo-HCT significantly prolonged survival and reduced GvHD severity in a TNFR2-and T reg cell-dependent manner. The beneficial effects of transplanted T cells against leukemia cells and infectious pathogens remained unaffected. A corresponding human TNFR2-specific agonist expanded human T reg cells in vitro. These observations indicate the potential of our strategy to protect allo-HCT patients from acute GvHD by expanding T reg cells via selective TNFR2 activation in vivo.
KW  - Tumor-necrosis-factor
KW  - Regulatory-cells
KW  - Bone marrow transplantantation
KW  - Graft-versus-leukemia
KW  - Rheumatoid arthritis
KW  - Autoimmune diseases
KW  - Factor receptor
KW  - Alpha therapy
KW  - Expression
KW  - Suppression
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-187640
VL  - 213
IS  - 9
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
A1  - Kums, Juliane
A1  - Ehrenschwender, Martin
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Activation of TNFR2 sensitizes macrophages for TNFR1-mediated necroptosis
JF  - Cell Death & Disease
N2  - Macrophages express TNFR1 as well as TNFR2 and are also major producers of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), especially upon contact with pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Consequently, TNF not only acts as a macrophage-derived effector molecule but also regulates the activity and viability of macrophages. Here, we investigated the individual contribution of TNFR1 and TNFR2 to TNF-induced cell death in macrophages. Exclusive stimulation of TNFR1 showed no cytotoxic effect whereas selective stimulation of TNFR2 displayed mild cytotoxicity. Intriguingly, the latter was strongly enhanced by the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. The strong cytotoxic activity of TNFR2 in the presence of zVAD-fmk was reversed by necrostatin-1, indicating necroptotic cell death. TNFR1- and TNF-deficient macrophages turned out to be resistant against TNFR2-induced cell death. In addition, the cIAP-depleting SMAC mimetic BV6 also enforced TNF/TNFR1-mediated necroptotic cell death in the presence of zVAD-fmk. In sum, our data suggest a model in which TNFR2 sensitizes macrophages for endogenous TNF-induced TNFR1-mediated necroptosis by the known ability of TNFR2 to interfere with the survival activity of TRAF2-cIAP1/2 complexes.
KW  - TNFR2
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-162317
VL  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lagler, Charlotte
A1  - El-Mesery, Mohamed
A1  - Kübler, Alexander Christian
A1  - Müller-Richter, Urs Dietmar Achim
A1  - Stühmer, Thorsten
A1  - Nickel, Joachim
A1  - Müller, Thomas Dieter
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Seher, Axel
T1  - The anti-myeloma activity of bone morphogenetic protein 2 predominantly relies on the induction of growth arrest and is apoptosis-independent
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of the bone marrow, is characterized by a pathological increase in antibody-producing plasma cells and an increase in immunoglobulins (plasmacytosis). In recent years, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been reported to be activators of apoptotic cell death in neoplastic B cells in MM. Here, we use bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) to show that the "apoptotic" effect of BMPs on human neoplastic B cells is dominated by anti-proliferative activities and cell cycle arrest and is apoptosis-independent. The anti-proliferative effect of BMP2 was analysed in the human cell lines KMS12-BM and L363 using WST-1 and a Coulter counter and was confirmed using CytoTox assays with established inhibitors of programmed cell death (zVAD-fmk and necrostatin-1). Furthermore, apoptotic activity was compared in both cell lines employing western blot analysis for caspase 3 and 8 in cells treated with BMP2 and FasL. Additionally, expression profiles of marker genes of different cell death pathways were analysed in both cell lines after stimulation with BMP2 for 48h using an RT-PCR-based array. In our experiments we observed that there was rather no reduction in absolute cell number, but cells stopped proliferating following treatment with BMP2 instead. The time frame (48–72 h) after BMP2 treatment at which a reduction in cell number is detectable is too long to indicate a directly BMP2-triggered apoptosis. Moreover, in comparison to robust apoptosis induced by the approved apoptotic factor FasL, BMP2 only marginally induced cell death. Consistently, neither the known inhibitor of apoptotic cell death zVAD-fmk nor the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 was able to rescue myeloma cell growth in the presence of BMP2.
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - gene expression
KW  - necrotic cell death
KW  - multiple myeloma
KW  - cell metabolism
KW  - cell cycle and cell division
KW  - B cells
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158993
VL  - 12
IS  - 10
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schmid, Tobias
A1  - Falter, Lena
A1  - Weber, Sabine
A1  - Müller, Nils
A1  - Molitor, Konstantin
A1  - Zeller, David
A1  - Weber-Steffens, Dorothea
A1  - Hehlgans, Thomas
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Mostböck, Sven
A1  - Männel, Daniela N.
T1  - Chronic inflammation increases the sensitivity of mouse Treg for TNFR2 costimulation
JF  - Frontiers in Immunology
N2  - TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2) has gained attention as a costimulatory receptor for T cells and as critical factor for the development of regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid suppressor cells. Using the TNFR2-specific agonist TNCscTNF80, direct effects of TNFR2 activation on myeloid cells and T cells were investigated in mice. \(In\) \(vitro\), TNCscTNF80 induced T cell proliferation in a costimulatory fashion, and also supported \(in\) \(vitro\) expansion of Treg cells. In addition, activation of TNFR2 retarded differentiation of bone marrow-derived immature myeloid cells in culture and reduced their suppressor function. \(In\) \(vivo\) application of TNCscTNF80-induced mild myelopoiesis in naïve mice without affecting the immune cell composition. Already a single application expanded Treg cells and improved suppression of CD4 T cells in mice with chronic inflammation. By contrast, multiple applications of the TNFR2 agonist were required to expand Treg cells in naïve mice. Improved suppression of T cell proliferation depended on expression of TNFR2 by T cells in mice repeatedly treated with TNCscTNF80, without a major contribution of TNFR2 on myeloid cells. Thus, TNFR2 activation on T cells in naïve mice can lead to immune suppression \(in\) \(vivo\). These findings support the important role of TNFR2 for Treg cells in immune regulation.
KW  - molecular medicine
KW  - inflammation
KW  - immune regulation
KW  - costimulation
KW  - MDSC
KW  - TNFR2
KW  - regulatory T cell
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-173259
VL  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Beilhack, Andreas
T1  - Targeting regulatory T cells by addressing tumor necrosis factor and its receptors in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and cancer
JF  - Frontiers in Immunology
N2  - An intricate network of molecular and cellular actors orchestrates the delicate balance between effector immune responses and immune tolerance. The pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) proves as a pivotal protagonist promoting but also suppressing immune responses. These opposite actions are accomplished through specialist cell types responding to TNF via TNF receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2. Recent findings highlight the importance of TNFR2 as a key regulator of activated natural FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in inflammatory conditions, such as acute graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD) and the tumor microenvironment. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of TNFR2 signaling in T cells and discuss how these can reconcile seemingly conflicting observations when manipulating TNF and TNFRs. As TNFR2 emerges as a new and attractive target we furthermore pinpoint strategies and potential pitfalls for therapeutic targeting of TNFR2 for cancer treatment and immune tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.
KW  - GVHD
KW  - graft vs. host disease
KW  - cancer
KW  - Tregs (regulatory T cells)
KW  - TNFR family costimulatory receptors
KW  - TNFR2 agonists
KW  - TNFR2 antagonism
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201578
VL  - 10
IS  - 2040
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Molecular mode of action of TRAIL receptor agonists—common principles and their translational exploitation
JF  - Cancers
N2  - Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its death receptors TRAILR1/death receptor 4 (DR4) and TRAILR2/DR5 trigger cell death in many cancer cells but rarely exert cytotoxic activity on non-transformed cells. Against this background, a variety of recombinant TRAIL variants and anti-TRAIL death receptor antibodies have been developed and tested in preclinical and clinical studies. Despite promising results from mice tumor models, TRAIL death receptor targeting has failed so far in clinical studies to show satisfying anti-tumor efficacy. These disappointing results can largely be explained by two issues: First, tumor cells can acquire TRAIL resistance by several mechanisms defining a need for combination therapies with appropriate sensitizing drugs. Second, there is now growing preclinical evidence that soluble TRAIL variants but also bivalent anti-TRAIL death receptor antibodies typically require oligomerization or plasma membrane anchoring to achieve maximum activity. This review discusses the need for oligomerization and plasma membrane attachment for the activity of TRAIL death receptor agonists in view of what is known about the molecular mechanisms of how TRAIL death receptors trigger intracellular cell death signaling. In particular, it will be highlighted which consequences this has for the development of next generation TRAIL death receptor agonists and their potential clinical application.
KW  - antibody
KW  - antibody fusion proteins
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - cancer therapy
KW  - cell death
KW  - death receptors
KW  - TNF superfamily
KW  - TNF receptor superfamily
KW  - TRAIL
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202416
VL  - 11
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Molecular mode of action of TRAIL receptor agonists—common principles and their translational exploitation
JF  - Cancers
N2  - Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its death receptors TRAILR1/death receptor 4 (DR4) and TRAILR2/DR5 trigger cell death in many cancer cells but rarely exert cytotoxic activity on non-transformed cells. Against this background, a variety of recombinant TRAIL variants and anti-TRAIL death receptor antibodies have been developed and tested in preclinical and clinical studies. Despite promising results from mice tumor models, TRAIL death receptor targeting has failed so far in clinical studies to show satisfying anti-tumor efficacy. These disappointing results can largely be explained by two issues: First, tumor cells can acquire TRAIL resistance by several mechanisms defining a need for combination therapies with appropriate sensitizing drugs. Second, there is now growing preclinical evidence that soluble TRAIL variants but also bivalent anti-TRAIL death receptor antibodies typically require oligomerization or plasma membrane anchoring to achieve maximum activity. This review discusses the need for oligomerization and plasma membrane attachment for the activity of TRAIL death receptor agonists in view of what is known about the molecular mechanisms of how TRAIL death receptors trigger intracellular cell death signaling. In particular, it will be highlighted which consequences this has for the development of next generation TRAIL death receptor agonists and their potential clinical application.
KW  - antibody
KW  - antibody fusion proteins
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - cancer therapy
KW  - cell death
KW  - death receptors
KW  - TNF superfamily
KW  - TNF receptor superfamily
KW  - TRAIL
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201833
N1  - Zugriff gesperrt. Zugriff auf den Volltext erhalten Sie unter https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202416
VL  - 11
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kreckel, Jennifer
A1  - Anany, Mohammed A.
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - TRAF2 controls death receptor-induced caspase-8 processing and facilitates proinflammatory signaling
JF  - Frontiers in Immunology
N2  - Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF2) knockout (KO) cells were generated to investigate the role of TRAF2 in signaling by TNFR1 and the CD95-type death receptors (DRs) TRAILR1/2 and CD95. To prevent negative selection effects arising from the increased cell death sensitivity of TRAF2-deficient cells, cell lines were used for the generation of the TRAF2 KO variants that were protected from DR-induced apoptosis downstream of caspase-8 activation. As already described in the literature, TRAF2 KO cells displayed enhanced constitutive alternative NFκB signaling and reduced TNFR1-induced activation of the classical NFκB pathway. There was furthermore a significant but only partial reduction in CD95-type DR-induced upregulation of the proinflammatory NFκB-regulated cytokine interleukin-8 (IL8), which could be reversed by reexpression of TRAF2. In contrast, expression of the TRAF2-related TRAF1 protein failed to functionally restore TRAF2 deficiency. TRAF2 deficiency resulted furthermore in enhanced procaspase-8 processing by DRs, but this surprisingly came along with a reduction in net caspase-8 activity. In sum, our data argue for (i) a non-obligate promoting function of TRAF2 in proinflammatory DR signaling and (ii) a yet unrecognized stabilizing effect of TRAF2 on caspase-8 activity.
KW  - caspase-8
KW  - death receptors
KW  - CD95
KW  - TNFR1
KW  - TRAF1
KW  - TRAF2
KW  - TRAILR1
KW  - TRAILR2
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201822
VL  - 10
IS  - 2024
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
T1  - TNFR1 and TNFR2 in the control of the life and death balance of macrophages
JF  - Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
N2  - Macrophages stand in the first line of defense against a variety of pathogens but are also involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. To fulfill their functions macrophages sense a broad range of pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs) by plasma membrane and intracellular pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Intriguingly, the overwhelming majority of PPRs trigger the production of the pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). TNF affects almost any type of cell including macrophages themselves. TNF promotes the inflammatory activity of macrophages but also controls macrophage survival and death. TNF exerts its activities by stimulation of two different types of receptors, TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) and TNFR2, which are both expressed by macrophages. The two TNF receptor types trigger distinct and common signaling pathways that can work in an interconnected manner. Based on a brief general description of major TNF receptor-associated signaling pathways, we focus in this review on research of recent years that revealed insights into the molecular mechanisms how the TNFR1-TNFR2 signaling network controls the life and death balance of macrophages. In particular, we discuss how the TNFR1-TNFR2 signaling network is integrated into PRR signaling.
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - necroptosis
KW  - TNF
KW  - TNFR1
KW  - TNFR2
KW  - ripk1
KW  - ripk3
KW  - caspase-8
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201551
VL  - 7
IS  - 91
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - El-Hawary, Seham S.
A1  - Sayed, Ahmed M.
A1  - Mohammed, Rabab
A1  - Hassan, Hossam M.
A1  - Rateb, Mostafa E.
A1  - Amin, Elham
A1  - Mohammed, Tarek A.
A1  - El-Mesery, Mohamed
A1  - Bin Muhsinah, Abdullatif
A1  - Alsayari, Abdulrhman
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Anany, Mohamed A.
A1  - Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan
T1  - Bioactive brominated oxindole alkaloids from the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia siphonella
JF  - Marine Drugs
N2  - In the present study, LC-HRESIMS-assisted dereplication along with bioactivity-guided isolation led to targeting two brominated oxindole alkaloids (compounds 1 and 2) which probably play a key role in the previously reported antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity of Callyspongia siphonella crude extracts. Both metabolites showed potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 8 and 4 µg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 16 and 4 µg/mL), respectively. Furthermore, they displayed moderate biofilm inhibitory activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (49.32% and 41.76% inhibition, respectively), and moderate in vitro antitrypanosomal activity (13.47 and 10.27 µM, respectively). In addition, they revealed a strong cytotoxic effect toward different human cancer cell lines, supposedly through induction of necrosis. This study sheds light on the possible role of these metabolites (compounds 1 and 2) in keeping fouling organisms away from the sponge outer surface, and the possible applications of these defensive molecules in the development of new anti-infective agents.
KW  - Callyspongia siphonella
KW  - LC-HRESIMS
KW  - metabolomic profiling
KW  - oxindole alkaloids
KW  - tisindoline
KW  - antibacterial
KW  - antibiofilm
KW  - antitrypanosomal
KW  - anticancer
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201485
VL  - 17
IS  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kucka, Kirstin
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Receptor Oligomerization and Its Relevance for Signaling by Receptors of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily
JF  - Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
N2  - With the exception of a few signaling incompetent decoy receptors, the receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are signaling competent and engage in signaling pathways resulting in inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, and cell migration and also in cell death induction. TNFRSF receptors (TNFRs) become activated by ligands of the TNF superfamily (TNFSF). TNFSF ligands (TNFLs) occur as trimeric type II transmembrane proteins but often also as soluble ligand trimers released from the membrane-bound form by proteolysis. The signaling competent TNFRs are efficiently activated by the membrane-bound TNFLs. The latter recruit three TNFR molecules, but there is growing evidence that this is not sufficient to trigger all aspects of TNFR signaling; rather, the formed trimeric TNFL–TNFR complexes have to cluster secondarily in the cell-to-cell contact zone for full TNFR activation. With respect to their response to soluble ligand trimers, the signaling competent TNFRs can be subdivided into two groups. TNFRs of one group, designated as category I TNFRs, are robustly activated by soluble ligand trimers. The receptors of a second group (category II TNFRs), however, failed to become properly activated by soluble ligand trimers despite high affinity binding. The limited responsiveness of category II TNFRs to soluble TNFLs can be overcome by physical linkage of two or more soluble ligand trimers or, alternatively, by anchoring the soluble ligand molecules to the cell surface or extracellular matrix. This suggests that category II TNFRs have a limited ability to promote clustering of trimeric TNFL–TNFR complexes outside the context of cell–cell contacts. In this review, we will focus on three aspects on the relevance of receptor oligomerization for TNFR signaling: (i) the structural factors which promote clustering of free and liganded TNFRs, (ii) the signaling pathway specificity of the receptor oligomerization requirement, and (iii) the consequences for the design and development of TNFR agonists.
KW  - TNF receptor (TNFR) family
KW  - TNF ligand superfamily
KW  - NFκB
KW  - cell death
KW  - receptor cluster
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227180
SN  - 2296-634X
VL  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Aido, Ahmed
A1  - Zaitseva, Olena
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Buzgo, Matej
A1  - Simaite, Aiva
T1  - Anti-Fn14 antibody-conjugated nanoparticles display membrane TWEAK-like agonism
JF  - Pharmaceutics
N2  - Conventional bivalent IgG antibodies targeting a subgroup of receptors of the TNF superfamily (TNFSF) including fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (anti-Fn14) typically display no or only very limited agonistic activity on their own and can only trigger receptor signaling by crosslinking or when bound to Fcγ receptors (FcγR). Both result in proximity of multiple antibody-bound TNFRSF receptor (TNFR) molecules, which enables engagement of TNFR-associated signaling pathways. Here, we have linked anti-Fn14 antibodies to gold nanoparticles to mimic the “activating” effect of plasma membrane-presented FcγR-anchored anti-Fn14 antibodies. We functionalized gold nanoparticles with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) linkers and then coupled antibodies to the PEG surface of the nanoparticles. We found that Fn14 binding of the anti-Fn14 antibodies PDL192 and 5B6 is preserved upon attachment to the nanoparticles. More importantly, the gold nanoparticle-presented anti-Fn14 antibody molecules displayed strong agonistic activity. Our results suggest that conjugation of monoclonal anti-TNFR antibodies to gold nanoparticles can be exploited to uncover their latent agonism, e.g., for immunotherapeutic applications.
KW  - Fn14
KW  - nanoparticles
KW  - surface modification
KW  - drug-delivery
KW  - anti-TNFRSF receptor (TNFR) antibodies
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-242710
SN  - 1999-4923
VL  - 13
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Weinelt, Nadine
A1  - Karathanasis, Christos
A1  - Smith, Sonja
A1  - Medler, Juliane
A1  - Malkusch, Sebastian
A1  - Fulda, Simone
A1  - Wajant, Harald
A1  - Heilemann, Mike
A1  - van Wijk, Sjoerd J. L.
T1  - Quantitative single‐molecule imaging of TNFR1 reveals zafirlukast as antagonist of TNFR1 clustering and TNFα‐induced NF‐ĸB signaling
JF  - Journal of Leukocyte Biology
N2  - TNFR1 is a crucial regulator of NF‐ĸB‐mediated proinflammatory cell survival responses and programmed cell death (PCD). Deregulation of TNFα‐ and TNFR1‐controlled NF‐ĸB signaling underlies major diseases, like cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, although being routinely used, antagonists of TNFα might also affect TNFR2‐mediated processes, so that alternative approaches to directly antagonize TNFR1 are beneficial. Here, we apply quantitative single‐molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) of TNFR1 in physiologic cellular settings to validate and characterize TNFR1 inhibitory substances, exemplified by the recently described TNFR1 antagonist zafirlukast. Treatment of TNFR1‐mEos2 reconstituted TNFR1/2 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with zafirlukast inhibited both ligand‐independent preligand assembly domain (PLAD)‐mediated TNFR1 dimerization as well as TNFα‐induced TNFR1 oligomerization. In addition, zafirlukast‐mediated inhibition of TNFR1 clustering was accompanied by deregulation of acute and prolonged NF‐ĸB signaling in reconstituted TNFR1‐mEos2 MEFs and human cervical carcinoma cells. These findings reveal the necessity of PLAD‐mediated, ligand‐independent TNFR1 dimerization for NF‐ĸB activation, highlight the PLAD as central regulator of TNFα‐induced TNFR1 oligomerization, and demonstrate that TNFR1‐mEos2 MEFs can be used to investigate TNFR1‐antagonizing compounds employing single‐molecule quantification and functional NF‐ĸB assays at physiologic conditions.
KW  - Single‐Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM)
KW  - Pre‐Ligand Assembly Domain (PLAD)
KW  - Cysteine‐Rich Domain (CRD)
KW  - CysLTR1
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-215960
VL  - 109
IS  - 2
SP  - 363
EP  - 371
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kucka, Kirstin
A1  - Lang, Isabell
A1  - Zhang, Tengyu
A1  - Siegmund, Daniela
A1  - Medler, Juliane
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Membrane lymphotoxin-α\(_2\)β is a novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) agonist
JF  - Cell Death & Disease
N2  - In the early 1990s, it has been described that LTα and LTβ form LTα\(_2\)β and LTαβ\(_2\) heterotrimers, which bind to TNFR1 and LTβR, respectively. Afterwards, the LTαβ\(_2\)–LTβR system has been intensively studied while the LTα\(_2\)β–TNFR1 interaction has been ignored to date, presumably due to the fact that at the time of identification of the LTα\(_2\)β–TNFR1 interaction one knew already two ligands for TNFR1, namely TNF and LTα. Here, we show that LTα\(_2\)β interacts not only with TNFR1 but also with TNFR2. We furthermore demonstrate that membrane-bound LTα\(_2\)β (memLTα\(_2\)β), despite its asymmetric structure, stimulates TNFR1 and TNFR2 signaling. Not surprising in view of its ability to interact with TNFR2, LTα\(_2\)β is inhibited by Etanercept, which is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and also inhibits TNF and LTα.
KW  - cytokines
KW  - signal transduction
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260077
VL  - 12
IS  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zaitseva, Olena
A1  - Hoffmann, Annett
A1  - Otto, Christoph
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Targeting fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-inducible 14 (Fn14) for tumor therapy
JF  - Frontiers in Pharmacology
N2  - Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) and is activated by its ligand TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). The latter occurs as a homotrimeric molecule in a soluble and a membrane-bound form. Soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) activates the weakly inflammatory alternative NF-κB pathway and sensitizes for TNF-induced cell death while membrane TWEAK (memTWEAK) triggers additionally robust activation of the classical NF-κB pathway and various MAP kinase cascades. Fn14 expression is limited in adult organisms but becomes strongly induced in non-hematopoietic cells by a variety of growth factors, cytokines and physical stressors (e.g., hypoxia, irradiation). Since all these Fn14-inducing factors are frequently also present in the tumor microenvironment, Fn14 is regularly found to be expressed by non-hematopoietic cells of the tumor microenvironment and most solid tumor cells. In general, there are three possibilities how the tumor-Fn14 linkage could be taken into consideration for tumor therapy. First, by exploitation of the cancer associated expression of Fn14 to direct cytotoxic activities (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytotoxic payloads, CAR T-cells) to the tumor, second by blockade of potential protumoral activities of the TWEAK/Fn14 system, and third, by stimulation of Fn14 which not only triggers proinflammtory activities but also sensitizes cells for apoptotic and necroptotic cell death. Based on a brief description of the biology of the TWEAK/Fn14 system and Fn14 signaling, we discuss the features of the most relevant Fn14-targeting biologicals and review the preclinical data obtained with these reagents. In particular, we address problems and limitations which became evident in the preclinical studies with Fn14-targeting biologicals and debate possibilities how they could be overcome.
KW  - agonistic antibodies
KW  - cell death
KW  - Fn14
KW  - NFκB
KW  - TNF
KW  - TWEAK
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290238
SN  - 1663-9812
VL  - 13
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Medler, Juliane
A1  - Kucka, Kirstin
A1  - Wajant, Harald
T1  - Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2): an emerging target in cancer therapy
JF  - Cancers
N2  - Despite the great success of TNF blockers in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the identification of TNF as a factor that influences the development of tumors in many ways, the role of TNFR2 in tumor biology and its potential suitability as a therapeutic target in cancer therapy have long been underestimated. This has been fundamentally changed with the identification of TNFR2 as a regulatory T-cell (Treg)-stimulating factor and the general clinical breakthrough of immunotherapeutic approaches. However, considering TNFR2 as a sole immunosuppressive factor in the tumor microenvironment does not go far enough. TNFR2 can also co-stimulate CD8\(^+\) T-cells, sensitize some immune and tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of TNFR1 and/or acts as an oncogene. In view of the wide range of cancer-associated TNFR2 activities, it is not surprising that both antagonists and agonists of TNFR2 are considered for tumor therapy and have indeed shown overwhelming anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. Based on a brief summary of TNFR2 signaling and the immunoregulatory functions of TNFR2, we discuss here the main preclinical findings and insights gained with TNFR2 agonists and antagonists. In particular, we address the question of which TNFR2-associated molecular and cellular mechanisms underlie the observed anti-tumoral activities of TNFR2 agonists and antagonists.
KW  - NFkappaB
KW  - regulatory T-cell (Treg)
KW  - tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
KW  - TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2)
KW  - TNF receptor associated factor 1 and 2 (TRAF1, TRAF2)
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-275143
SN  - 2072-6694
VL  - 14
IS  - 11
ER  -