Type I IFN-mediated synergistic activation of mouse and human DC subsets by TLR agonists.

Novel approaches of dendritic cell (DC) based cancer immunotherapy aim at harnessing the unique attributes of different DC subsets. Classical monocyte-derived DC vaccines are currently being replaced by either applying primary DCs or specifically targeting antigens and adjuvants to these subsets in vivo. Appropriate DC activation in both strategies is essential for optimal effect. For this purpose TLR agonists are favorable adjuvant choices, with TLR7 triggering being essential for inducing strong Th1 responses. However, mouse CD8α(+) DCs, considered to be the major cross-presenting subset, lack TLR7 expression. Interestingly, this DC subset can respond to TLR7 ligand upon concurrent TLR3 triggering. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying this synergy remains obscure. We now show that TLR3 ligation results in the production of IFN-α, which rapidly induces the expression of TLR7, resulting in synergistic activation. Moreover, we demonstrate that this mechanism conversely holds for plasmacytoid DCs that respond to TLR3 ligation when TLR7 pathway is mobilized. We further demonstrate that this mechanism of sharpening DC senses is also conserved in human BDCA1(+) DCs and plasmacytoid DCs. These findings have important implications for future clinical trials as it suggests that combinations of TLR ligands should be applied irrespective of initial TLR expression profiles on natural DC subsets for optimal stimulation.

Targeting dendritic cells--why bother?

Vaccination is among the most efficient forms of immunotherapy. Although sometimes inducing lifelong protective B-cell responses, T-cell-mediated immunity remains challenging. Targeting antigen to dendritic cells (DCs) is an extensively explored concept aimed at improving cellular immunity. The identification of various DC subsets with distinct functional characteristics now allows for the fine-tuning of targeting strategies. Although some of these DC subsets are regarded as superior for (cross-) priming of naive T cells, controversies still remain about which subset represents the best target for immunotherapy. Because targeting the antigen alone may not be sufficient to obtain effective T-cell responses, delivery systems have been developed to target multiple vaccine components to DCs. In this Perspective, we discuss the pros and cons of targeting DCs: if targeting is beneficial at all and which vaccine vehicles and immunization routes represent promising strategies to reach and activate DCs.

The C-type lectin receptor CLEC9A mediates antigen uptake and (cross-)presentation by human blood BDCA3+ myeloid dendritic cells.

CLEC9A is a recently discovered C-type lectin receptor involved in sensing necrotic cells. In humans, this receptor is selectively expressed by BDCA3(+) myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), which have been proposed to be the main human cross-presenting mDCs and may represent the human homologue of murine CD8(+) DCs. In mice, it was demonstrated that antigens delivered with antibodies to CLEC9A are presented by CD8(+) DCs to both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and induce antitumor immunity in a melanoma model. Here we assessed the ability of CLEC9A to mediate antigen presentation by human BDCA3(+) mDCs, which represent < 0.05% of peripheral blood leukocytes. We demonstrate that CLEC9A is only expressed on immature BDCA3(+) mDCs and that cell surface expression is lost after TLR-mediated maturation. CLEC9A triggering via antibody binding rapidly induces receptor internalization but does not affect TLR-induced cytokine production or expression of costimulatory molecules. More importantly, antigens delivered via CLEC9A antibodies to BDCA3(+) mDCs are presented by both MHC class I (cross-presentation) and MHC class II to antigen-specific T cells. We conclude that CLEC9A is a promising target for in vivo antigen delivery in humans to increase the efficiency of vaccines against infectious or malignant diseases.

Integrated expression profiling of multiple RNA species by real-time PCR.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs comprising approximately 21-23 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by binding to and targeting messenger RNA (mRNA) for translational repression or degradation. miRNAs have been shown to regulate cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and development and to play an important role in immune system function. The expression of miRNAs is misregulated in numerous diseases, including cancers of immunological origin. To better understand the role of miRNA in T-cell activation, we used a real-time PCR-based system to analyze changes in miRNA expression following activation of Jurkat T-cells with the inducing agents Phorbol Myristyl Acetate (PMA) and Ionomycin (CI) and detected several miRNAs that showed differential regulation following treatment. Using this system, miRNAs and their mRNA targets, along with other non-coding RNAs, can be simultaneously detected and quantified using SYBR® Green real time-PCR, enabling comprehensive, genome-wide expression profiles of multiple RNA species.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Paramecium (Viridoparamecium nov. subgen.) chlorelligerum Kahl (Ciliophora).

We redescribe Paramecium chlorelligerum, a forgotten species, which Kahl (Tierwelt Dtl., 1935, 30:651) briefly but precisely described in the addendum to his ciliate monographs as a Paramecium with symbiotic green algae. The redescription is based on classical morphological methods and the analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rDNA. Morphologically, P. chlorelligerum differs from P. (C.) bursaria, the second green species in the genus, by having a special swimming shape, the length of the caudal cilia, the size of the micronucleus, the size of the symbiotic algae, the contractile vacuoles (with collecting vesicles vs. collecting canals), and the number of excretory pores/contractile vacuole (1 vs. 2-3). The molecular investigations show that P. chlorelligerum forms a distinct branch distant from the P. (Chloroparamecium) bursaria clade. Thus, we classify P. chlorelligerum in a new subgenus: Paramecium (Viridoparamecium) chlorelligerum. The symbiotic alga belongs to the little-known genus Meyerella, as yet recorded only from the plankton of a North American lake.

Caldendrin-Jacob: a protein liaison that couples NMDA receptor signalling to the nucleus.

NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors and calcium can exert multiple and very divergent effects within neuronal cells, thereby impacting opposing occurrences such as synaptic plasticity and neuronal degeneration. The neuronal Ca2+ sensor Caldendrin is a postsynaptic density component with high similarity to calmodulin. Jacob, a recently identified Caldendrin binding partner, is a novel protein abundantly expressed in limbic brain and cerebral cortex. Strictly depending upon activation of NMDA-type glutamate receptors, Jacob is recruited to neuronal nuclei, resulting in a rapid stripping of synaptic contacts and in a drastically altered morphology of the dendritic tree. Jacob's nuclear trafficking from distal dendrites crucially requires the classical Importin pathway. Caldendrin binds to Jacob's nuclear localization signal in a Ca2+-dependent manner, thereby controlling Jacob's extranuclear localization by competing with the binding of Importin-alpha to Jacob's nuclear localization signal. This competition requires sustained synapto-dendritic Ca2+ levels, which presumably cannot be achieved by activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, but are confined to Ca2+ microdomains such as postsynaptic spines. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, as opposed to their synaptic counterparts, trigger the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) shut-off pathway, and cell death. We found that nuclear knockdown of Jacob prevents CREB shut-off after extrasynaptic NMDA receptor activation, whereas its nuclear overexpression induces CREB shut-off without NMDA receptor stimulation. Importantly, nuclear knockdown of Jacob attenuates NMDA-induced loss of synaptic contacts, and neuronal degeneration. This defines a novel mechanism of synapse-to-nucleus communication via a synaptic Ca2+-sensor protein, which links the activity of NMDA receptors to nuclear signalling events involved in modelling synapto-dendritic input and NMDA receptor-induced cellular degeneration.

A microbial eukaryote with a unique combination of purple bacteria and green algae as endosymbionts.

Oxygenic photosynthesizers (cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae) have repeatedly become endosymbionts throughout evolution. In contrast, anoxygenic photosynthesizers (e.g., purple bacteria) are exceedingly rare as intracellular symbionts. Here, we report on the morphology, ultrastructure, lifestyle, and metagenome of the only "purple-green" eukaryote known. The ciliate Pseudoblepharisma tenue harbors green algae and hundreds of genetically reduced purple bacteria. The latter represent a new candidate species of the Chromatiaceae that lost known genes for sulfur dissimilation. The tripartite consortium is physiologically complex because of the versatile energy metabolism of each partner but appears to be ecologically specialized as it prefers hypoxic sediments. The emergent niche of this complex symbiosis is predicted to be a partial overlap of each partners' niches and may be largely defined by anoxygenic photosynthesis and possibly phagotrophy. This purple-green ciliate thus represents an extraordinary example of how symbiosis merges disparate physiologies and allows emergent consortia to create novel ecological niches.

Co-delivery of PLGA encapsulated invariant NKT cell agonist with antigenic protein induce strong T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses.

Antitumor immunity can be enhanced by the coordinated release and delivery of antigens and immune-stimulating agents to antigen-presenting cells via biodegradable vaccine carriers. So far, encapsulation of TLR ligands and tumor-associated antigens augmented cytotoxic T cell (CTLs) responses. Here, we compared the efficacy of the invariant NKT (iNKT) cell agonist α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) and TLR ligands (R848 and poly I:C) as an adjuvant for the full length ovalbumin (OVA) in PLGA nanoparticles. We observed that OVA+α-GalCer nanoparticles (NP) are superior over OVA+TLR-L NP in generating and stimulating antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes without the need for CD4+ T cell help. Not only a 4-fold higher induction of antigen-specific T cells was observed, but also a more profound IFN-γ secretion was obtained by the addition α-GalCer. Surprisingly, we observed that mixtures of OVA containing NP with α-GalCer were ineffective, demonstrating that co-encapsulation of both α-GalCer and antigen within the same nanoparticle is essential for the observed T cell responses. Moreover, a single immunization with OVA+α-GalCer NP provided substantial protection from tumor formation and even delayed the growth of already established tumors, which coincided with a prominent and enhanced antigen-specific CD8+ T cell infiltration. The provided evidence on the advantage of antigen and α-GalCer coencapsulation should be considered in the design of future nanoparticle vaccines for therapeutic purposes.

Caldendrin but not calmodulin binds to light chain 3 of MAP1A/B: an association with the microtubule cytoskeleton highlighting exclusive binding partners for neuronal Ca(2+)-sensor proteins.

Caldendrin is a neuronal Ca(2+)-sensor protein (NCS), which represents the closest homologue of calmodulin (CaM) in nerve cells. It is tightly associated with the somato-dendritic cytoskeleton of neurons and highly enriched in the postsynaptic cytomatrix. Here, we report that caldendrin specifically associates with the microtubule cytoskeleton via an interaction with light chain 3 (LC3), a microtubule component with sequence homology to the GABAA receptor-associated protein (GABARAP), which is, like LC3, probably involved in cellular transport processes. Interestingly, two binding sites exist in LC3 for caldendrin from which only one exhibits a strict Ca(2+)-dependency for the interaction to take place but both require the presence of the first two EF-hands of caldendrin. CaM, however, is not capable of binding to LC3 at both sites despite its high degree of primary structure similarity with caldendrin. Computer modelling suggests that this might be explained by an altered distribution of surface charges at the first two EF-hands rendering each molecule, in principle, specific for a discrete set of binding partners. These findings provide molecular evidence that NCS can transduce signals to a specific target interaction irrespective of Ca(2+)-concentrations and CaM-levels.

PyroMark® Instruments, Chemistry, and Software for Pyrosequencing® Analysis.

Since the early 2000s, Pyrosequencing(®) technology has been adapted for various instrument platforms to enable users to examine the role of epigenetic DNA methylation in gene expression regulation, genetic markers for specific phenotypes in livestock, drug resistance development in pathogens, and polymorphisms in forensic samples of mitochondrial DNA.The instruments, software, and chemistry have been modified to facilitate different sample throughputs and sample amounts. Just recently, major changes have been implemented to enable increased read length and more precise Pyrosequencing results. These improvements were made possible through a number of changes to various system components. In addition, assay development has been streamlined through the availability of optimized PCR and Pyrosequencing reagents, automated assay design tools, and a number of predesigned Pyrosequencing assays.In future, instruments with smaller footprints and the ability to automate crucial steps of the Pyrosequencing protocol will be available and will provide even more convenient and standardized Pyrosequencing analysis with flexible throughput.

Targeted delivery of a sialic acid-blocking glycomimetic to cancer cells inhibits metastatic spread.

Sialic acid sugars are overexpressed by cancer cells and contribute to the metastatic cascade at multiple levels. Therapeutic interference of sialic acids, however, has been difficult to pursue because of the absence of dedicated tools. Here we show that a rationally designed sialic acid-blocking glycomimetic (P-3F(ax)-Neu5Ac) successfully prevents cancer metastasis. Formulation of P-3F(ax)--Neu5Ac into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles coated with antityrosinase-related protein-1 antibodies allowed targeted delivery of P-3F(ax)--Neu5Ac into melanoma cells, slow release, and long-term sialic acid blockade. Most importantly, intravenous injections of melanoma-targeting P-3F(ax)--Neu5Ac nanoparticles prevented metastasis formation in a murine lung metastasis model. These findings stress the importance of sialoglycans in cancer metastasis and advocate that sialic acid blockade using rationally designed glycomimetics targeted to cancer cells can effectively prevent cancer metastases. This targeting strategy to interfere with sialic acid-dependent processes is broadly applicable not only for different types of cancer but also in infection and inflammation.

Pyrosequencing: powerful and quantitative sequencing technology.

Pyrosequencing is a sequencing-by-synthesis method for DNA analysis that has emerged as a platform not only for de novo sequencing applications, but also for quantitative analysis of genomic methylation, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and allele quantification. In this unit, we describe a complete workflow from sample to result that is suitable for each of these applications. As cytosine conversion is a key element of successful methylation analysis using pyrosequencing, a support protocol for bisulfite treatment is also included.

Dendritic cell-based nanovaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy critically relies on the efficient presentation of tumor antigens to T-cells to elicit a potent anti-tumor immune response aimed at life-long protection against cancer recurrence. Recent advances in the nanovaccine field have now resulted in formulations that trigger strong anti-tumor responses. Nanovaccines are assemblies that are able to present tumor antigens and appropriate immune-stimulatory signals either directly to T-cells or indirectly via antigen-presenting dendritic cells. This review focuses on important aspects of nanovaccine design for dendritic cells, including the synergistic and cytosolic delivery of immunogenic compounds, as well as their passive and active targeting to dendritic cells. In addition, nanoparticles for direct T-cell activation are discussed, addressing features necessary to effectively mimic dendritic cell/T-cell interactions.

Antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates enable co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant to dendritic cells in cis but only have partial targeting specificity.

Antibody-antigen conjugates, which promote antigen-presentation by dendritic cells (DC) by means of targeted delivery of antigen to particular DC subsets, represent a powerful vaccination approach. To ensure immunity rather than tolerance induction the co-administration of a suitable adjuvant is paramount. However, co-administration of unlinked adjuvant cannot ensure that all cells targeted by the antibody conjugates are appropriately activated. Furthermore, antigen-presenting cells (APC) that do not present the desired antigen are equally strongly activated and could prime undesired responses against self-antigens. We, therefore, were interested in exploring targeted co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant in cis in form of antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates for the induction of anti-tumour immunity. In this study, we report on the assembly and characterization of conjugates consisting of DEC205-specific antibody, the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). We show that such conjugates are more potent at inducing cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses than control conjugates mixed with soluble CpG. However, our study also reveals that the nucleic acid moiety of such antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates alters their binding and uptake and allows delivery of the antigen and the adjuvant to cells partially independently of DEC205. Nevertheless, antibody-antigen-adjuvant conjugates are superior to antibody-free antigen-adjuvant conjugates in priming CTL responses and efficiently induce anti-tumour immunity in the murine B16 pseudo-metastasis model. A better understanding of the role of the antibody moiety is required to inform future conjugate vaccination strategies for efficient induction of anti-tumour responses.

Freeze-and-thaw-disrupted tumour cells impair the responsiveness of DC to TLR stimulation.

Cancer immunotherapy aims at inducing immune responses against tumour-associated antigens that mediate the eradication of tumour cells. For successful vaccination against antigens expressed by the tumour, the immune system has to be provided with sufficient amounts of these antigens in connection with strong immunostimulatory signals such as toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. Tumour cells represent a convenient source of relevant tumour-associated antigens but can have suppressive properties. In this study, we explored how different forms of tumour cell material influence the activation of dendritic cells (DC), which play a crucial role in the induction of anti-tumour immune responses. We show that freeze-and-thaw-disrupted tumour cells inhibit DC activation in response to TLR stimulation, a phenomenon that is only partially seen with non-disrupted control cells. This suppression of DC stimulation is independent of tumour cell- and species-specific factors. We tested the hypothesis that phosphatidylserine on cells with disrupted membrane integrity mediates inhibition of TLR-induced DC activation. Our experimental evidence indicates that phosphatidylserine is not involved in the inhibition of TLR-mediated DC activation by freeze-and-thaw-disrupted cells. The inhibitory activity associated with disrupted tumour cells could explain why such preparations are less effective tumour vaccines than apoptotic tumour cells.

The apertospathulidae, a new family of haptorid ciliates (protozoa, ciliophora).

We studied the morphology of three rare haptorid ciliates, using live observation and silver impregnation: Apertospathula verruculifera n. sp., Longispatha elegans n. gen., n. sp., and Rhinothrix porculus (Penard, 1922) n. gen., n. comb. Simple ethanol fixation (50-70%, v/v) is recommended to reveal the ciliary pattern of "difficult" ciliates, such as R. porculus, by protargol impregnation. The three genera investigated have a distinct feature in common, viz., a lasso-shaped oral bulge and circumoral kinety, where the right half is slightly to distinctly longer than the left and the circumoral kinety is open ventrally. Thus, they are united in a new spathidiid family, the Apertospathulidae n. fam., which probably evolved from a Bryophyllum-like ancestor by partial reduction of the oral bulge and circumoral kinety. Apertospathula verruculifera has a wart-like process, the palpus dorsalis, at the anterior end of the dorsal brush. The right branch of the circumoral kinety is only slightly longer than the left one. Longispatha elegans has a straight oral bulge and circumoral kinety, the right branch of which extends to the posterior end of the body while the left branch ends in the anterior third of the body. Rhinothrix porculus, a curious ciliate with a snout-like dorsal elongation of the oral bulge, the palpus oralis, has a highly characteristic ciliary pattern: the oral pattern is as in Longispatha, but the bulge and circumoral kinety extend spirally to the posterior end of the body while the somatic kineties course meridionally. This is achieved by inserting some shortened kineties in the curves of the oral bulge.

Rearrangement of the retino-collicular projection after partial optic nerve crush in the adult rat.

The establishment of retino-collicular topography is a well-investigated model of axon pathfinding and it was believed that this topography is irreversibly fixed throughout life. We now report that, after partial crush of the adult rat optic nerve, the anterograde transport of intravitreally-injected tracers via axons of surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in all retinal quadrants is confined to the rostro-medial part of the superior colliculus (SC). This indicates that the retino-collicular topography is rearranged after partial crush of the adult rat optic nerve. The reorganization starts in the injured optic nerve where surviving axonal fibres are demyelinized and bundled in the periphery of the optic nerve distal to the crush site. This is followed by a displacement of surviving axons to the medial part of the optic tract (OT) within 2 weeks. The infiltration of macrophages with the subsequent production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha at the lesion site is a prerequisite for the altered retino-collicular projection as blockade of tumour necrosis factor-alpha signalling with the neutralizing antibody Infliximab abolishes reorganization in the SC and lateralization of RGC axons in the optic nerve and OT. This suggests that optic nerve inflammation is necessary for a progressive bundling of surviving RGC axons, probably via clearance of cellular debris which, in turn, may lead to a redistribution of RGC axons to the medial OT and rostro-medial SC.