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News Preiffer 06.2020
Prof. Dr. Alexander Pfeifer (left) and Dr. Thorsten Gnad (right) from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University Hospital Bonn.
© Katharina Wislsperger/UKBonn

Publication

Receptor makes mice strong and slim

Study by the University of Bonn identifies molecule that regulates two side effects of aging

Increasing abdominal girth and shrinking muscles are two common side effects of aging. Researchers at the University of Bonn from the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation have discovered a receptor in mice that regulates both effects. Experiments with human cell cultures suggest that the corresponding signaling pathways might also exist in humans. The study, which also involved researchers from Spain, Finland, Belgium, Denmark and the USA, has now been published in the renowned journal "Cell Metabolism".

Publication

Thorsten Gnad, Gemma Navarro, Minna Lahesmaa, Laia Reverte-Salisa, Francesca Copperi, Arnau Cordomi, Jennifer Naumann, Aileen Hochhäuser, Saskia Haufs-Brusberg, Daniela Wenzel, Frank Suhr, Naja Zenius Jespersen, Camilla Scheele, Volodymyr Tsvilovskyy, Christian Brinkmann, Joern Rittweger, Christian Dani, Mathias Kranz, Winnie Deuther-Conrad, Holger K. Eltzschig, Tarja Niemi, Markku Taittonen, Peter Brust, Pirjo Nuutila, Leonardo Pardo, Bernd K. Fleischmann, Matthias Blüher, Rafael Franco, Wilhelm Bloch, Kirsi A. Virtanen, Alexander Pfeifer: Adenosine/A2B receptor signaling ameliorates the effects of ageing and counteracts obesity. Cell Metabolism, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.006

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B cells maintain antigen presentation in the splenic marginal zone

—A team of international researchers, including ImmunoSensation³ members Prof. Niels Lemmermann and Prof. Andreas Schlitzer, shows that B cells support antiviral CD8⁺ T-cell responses beyond antibody production. In a murine CMV model, B-cell deficiency weakened virus-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses. Mechanistically, B-cell-derived lymphotoxin β maintained CD169⁺ macrophages and Langerin⁺ cDC1 cells in the splenic marginal zone, enabling efficient T-cell priming. The study was published in Cellular & Molecular Immunology.
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New findings on infection with the Epstein-Barr virus

—The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause certain types of cancer or autoimmune diseases, but how the body controls this common viral infection is largely unknown. Bonn researchers have now identified genetic and non-genetic factors that help the body fight EBV. To do this, they evaluated genome sequencing data, which is actually intended for characterizing the human genome, in a new way. Using the new technique, they were able to estimate the amount of EBV in the blood and find correlations in large health data sets. Their findings have now been published in the renowned journal Nature.
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New insights into the human immune defense against poxviruses

—An international research team involving Bonn scientist has made an important contribution to understanding the human immune response to poxviruses: The scientists were able to show for the first time that different human cell types recognize poxviruses via different sensors in order to trigger inflammatory responses. At the same time, the team developed the world's first nanobodies that can specifically block the DNA sensor AIM2 – a tool that opens up new possibilities for inflammation and infection research. The paper has now been published in The EMBO Journal.
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