| 1. |
- Eloranta, Maija-Leena, et al.
(författare)
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Type I interferon system activation and association with disease manifestations in systemic sclerosis
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 69:7, s. 1396-1402
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To study the presence of interferogenic autoantibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and their correlation with clinical manifestations, serum levels of interferon alpha (IFNalpha) and chemokines of importance in the disease process. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or purified plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) from healthy donors were stimulated with sera from patients with SSc (n=70) or healthy individuals (n=30), together with necrotic or apoptotic cell material. The IFNalpha produced and serum levels of IFNalpha, IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10)/chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)/(C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL-2), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha)/CCL-3 and RANTES/CCL-5 were measured and correlated with the presence of autoantibodies and clinical manifestations in the patients with SSc. RESULTS: Sera from both diffuse SSc and limited SSc contained interferogenic antibodies, which correlated with the presence of anti-ribonucleoprotein and anti-Sjögren syndrome antigen autoantibodies. The pDCs were responsible for the IFNalpha production which required interaction with FcgammaRII and endocytosis. Increased serum levels of IP-10 were associated with vascular manifestations such as cardiac involvement (p=0.027) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (p=0.036). Increased MCP-1 or IFNalpha serum levels were associated with lung fibrosis (p=0.019 and 0.048, respectively). Digital ulcers including digital loss were associated with increased serum levels of IFNalpha (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: An activated type I IFN system previously seen in several other systemic autoimmune diseases is also present in SSc and may contribute to the vascular pathology and affect the profibrotic process.
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| 2. |
- Huijbers, Elisabeth J. M., et al.
(författare)
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Vaccination against the extra domain-B of fibronectin as a novel tumor therapy
- 2010
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Ingår i: The FASEB Journal. - : Wiley. - 0892-6638 .- 1530-6860. ; 24:11, s. 4535-4544
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Monoclonal antibody-based therapies have made an important contribution to current treatment strategies for cancer and autoimmune disease. However, the cost for these new drugs puts a significant strain on the health-care economy, resulting in limited availability for patients. Therapeutic vaccination, defined as induction of immunity against a disease-related self-molecule, is therefore an attractive alternative. To analyze the potential of such an approach, we have developed a vaccine against the extra domain-B (ED-B) of fibronectin. This 91-aa domain, inserted by alternative splicing, is expressed during vasculogenesis in the embryo, but essentially undetectable under normal conditions in the adult. However, ED-B is highly expressed around angiogenic vasculature, such as in tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that it is possible to break self-tolerance and induce a strong antibody response against ED-B by vaccination. Nineteen of 20 vaccinated mice responded with production of anti-ED-B antibodies and displayed a 70% reduction in tumor size compared to those lacking anti-ED-B antibodies. Analysis of the tumor tissue revealed that immunization against ED-B induced several changes, consistent with an attack by the immune system. These data show that tumor vascular antigens are highly interesting candidates for development of therapeutic vaccines targeting solid tumors.
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| 3. |
- Kalamajski, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Increased C-Telopeptide Cross-linking of Tendon Type I Collagen in Fibromodulin-deficient Mice.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 1083-351X .- 0021-9258. ; 289:27, s. 18873-18879
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The controlled assembly of collagen monomers into fibrils, with accompanying intermolecular cross-linking by lysyl oxidase-mediated bonds, is vital to the structural and mechanical integrity of connective tissues. This process is influenced by collagen-associated proteins, including Small Leucine-Rich Proteins (SLRPs), but the regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. Deficiency in fibromodulin, an SLRP, causes abnormal collagen fibril ultrastructure and decreased mechanical strength in mouse tendons. In this study, fibromodulin deficiency rendered tendon collagen more resistant to non-proteolytic extraction. The collagen had an increased and altered cross-linking pattern at an early stage of fibril formation. Collagen extracts contained a higher proportion of stably cross-linked α1(I) chains as a result of their C-telopeptide lysines being more completely oxidized to aldehydes. The findings suggest that fibromodulin selectively affects the extent and pattern of lysyl oxidase-mediated collagen cross-linking by sterically hindering access of the enzyme to telopeptides, presumably through binding to the collagen. Such activity implies a broader role for SLRP family members in regulating collagen cross-linking placement and quantity.
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| 4. |
- Kalamajski, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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The role of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in collagen fibrillogenesis.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Matrix Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1569-1802 .- 0945-053X. ; 29, s. 248-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small leucine-rich proteoglycans/proteins (SLRPs) are associated with collagen fibril formation, and therefore important for the proper formation of extracellular matrices. SLRPs are differentially expressed in tissues and during pathological conditions, contributing to the development of connective tissue properties. The binding of SLRPs to collagens have recently been characterized, and may give some clues to the significance of these interactions. In this mini review, we summarize published work in this field, and propose several mechanisms for how SLRPs can control collagen matrix structure and function. SLRPs appear to influence collagen cross-linking patterns. We also propose that the SLRP-collagen interactions can assist in the process of juxtaposing the collagen monomers by steric hindrance or by directly connecting two collagen monomers during the fibril growth.
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| 5. |
- Shami, Annelie, et al.
(författare)
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Fibromodulin Deficiency Reduces Low-Density Lipoprotein Accumulation in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Apolipoprotein E-Null Mice.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. - 1524-4636.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze how an altered collagen structure affects development of atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fibromodulin-null mice develop an abnormal collagen fibril structure. In apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-null and ApoE/fibromodulin-null mice, a shear stress-modifying carotid artery cast induced formation of atherosclerotic plaques of different phenotypes; inflammatory in low-shear stress regions and fibrous in oscillatory shear stress regions. Electron microscopy showed that collagen fibrils were thicker and more heterogeneous in oscillatory shear stress lesions from ApoE/fibromodulin-null mice. Low-shear stress lesions were smaller in ApoE/fibromodulin-null mice and contained less lipids. Total plaque burden in aortas stained en face with Oil Red O, as well as lipid accumulation in aortic root lesions, was also decreased in ApoE/fibromodulin-null mice. In addition, lipid accumulation in RAW264.7 macrophages cultured on fibromodulin-deficient extracellular matrix was decreased, whereas levels of interleukin-6 and -10 were increased. Our results show that an abnormal plaque collagen fibril structure can influence atherosclerotic plaque development. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest a more complex role for collagen in plaque stability than previously anticipated, in that it may promote lipid-accumulation and inflammation at the same time as it provides mechanical stability.
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| 6. |
- van Wieringen, Tijs, et al.
(författare)
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The streptococcal collagen-binding protein CNE specifically interferes with {alpha}V{beta}3-mediated cellular interactions with triple helical collagen
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 285:46, s. 35803-35813
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Collagen fibers expose distinct domains allowing for specific interactions with other extracellular matrix proteins and cells. To investigate putative collagen domains that govern integrin α(V)β(3)-mediated cellular interactions with native collagen fibers we took advantage of the streptococcal protein CNE that bound native fibrillar collagens. CNE specifically inhibited α(V)β(3)-dependent cell-mediated collagen gel contraction, PDGF BB-induced and α(V)β(3)-mediated adhesion of cells, and binding of fibronectin to native collagen. Using a Toolkit composed of overlapping, 27-residue triple helical segments of collagen type II, two CNE-binding sites present in peptides II-1 and II-44 were identified. These peptides lack the major binding site for collagen-binding β(1) integrins, defined by the peptide GFOGER. Peptide II-44 corresponds to a region of collagen known to bind collagenases, discoidin domain receptor 2, SPARC (osteonectin), and fibronectin. In addition to binding fibronectin, peptide II-44 but not II-1 inhibited α(V)β(3)-mediated collagen gel contraction and, when immobilized on plastic, supported adhesion of cells. Reduction of fibronectin expression by siRNA reduced PDGF BB-induced α(V)β(3)-mediated contraction. Reconstitution of collagen types I and II gels in the presence of CNE reduced collagen fibril diameters and fibril melting temperatures. Our data indicate that contraction proceeded through an indirect mechanism involving binding of cell-produced fibronectin to the collagen fibers. Furthermore, our data show that cell-mediated collagen gel contraction does not directly depend on the process of fibril formation.
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