Biology subjects

Dittrich, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Dittrich, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Single extracellular vesicle analysis performed by imaging flow cytometry in contrast to NTA rigorously assesses the accuracy of urinary extracellular vesicle preparation techniques

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from several body fluids, including urine, appear as promising biomarkers. Within the last decade, numerous groups have compared the efficacy of EV preparation protocols. Frequently, the efficacy of EV preparation methods is judged by the recovery of particles as estimated by conventional nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) or other particle quantification devices. Here, at the example of different urinary EV (uEV) preparation methods, we determined the particle yield in obtained samples with conventional NTA, analyzed their EV content by imaging flow cytometry (IFCM) and quantified the intensity of TSG101 and the contaminant protein uromodulin (UMOD) in Western blots. Our results demonstrate a correlation among CD9-positive objects detected by IFCM and TSG101 Western blot intensities, while particle numbers as determined by NTA correlated with the amount of UMOD. Consequently, our results question the reliability of conventional NTA analyses for identifying the optimal EV preparation method. Here, in our method comparison, a combination of size exclusion chromatography followed by ultra-filtration showed the highest CD9-positive object and TSG101 protein recovery, and in relation to the number of CD9-positive objects, the lowest amount of UMOD contamination.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Independent human mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicle preparations differentially affect symptoms in an advanced murine Graft-versus-Host-Disease model

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) harvested from cell culture supernatants of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) suppress acute inflammation in preclinical models of various diseases. Furthermore, they promote regeneration of damaged tissues. Following successful clinical treatment of a steroid-refractory Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GvHD) patient with EVs prepared from conditioned media of human bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs, we aim to improve MSC-EV production and quality control towards clinical application. Observing functional differences of independent MSC-EV preparations in vitro, we established an optimized murine GvHD model for the analysis of independent MSC-EV preparations in vivo. To this end, T cell depleted allogeneic BM cells co-transplanted with naive allogeneic spleen-derived T cells induced GvHD symptoms with reproducible strengths in mice being preconditioned by ionizing irradiation. Administration of MSC-EV preparations with confirmed in vitro immune modulatory properties at three consecutive days significantly suppressed GvHD symptoms. In contrast, application of MSC-EV preparations lacking these in vitro immune modulating capabilities failed to suppress GvHD symptoms. Thus, our results reveal therapeutic differences among independent MSC-EV preparations that had been produced in a standardized manner. Thus, given this functional heterogeneity, any individual MSC-EV preparation considered for the clinical application should be evaluated for its potency prior to administration to patients.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies constitute a correlate of protection against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 reactivations

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) cause ubiquitous human infections. For vaccine development, knowledge concerning correlates of protection against HSV is essential. Therefore, we investigated if humans principally can produce highly protective cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies upon natural infection and whether such antibody responses correlate with protection from HSV reactivation. We established a high-throughput HSV-1 GFP reporter virus-based assay and screened 2496 human plasma samples for HSV-1 cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies. We conducted a survey among the blood donors to analyze the correlation between the presence of cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies in plasma and the frequency of HSV reactivations. In total, 128 of 2496 blood donors (5.1 %) exhibited high levels of HSV-1 cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies in the plasma. Such individuals showed a significantly lower frequency of HSV reactivations compared to subjects without sufficient levels of HSV-1 cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies. This study provides two important findings: (I) a fraction of humans produce HSV cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies upon natural infection and (II) such antibodies correlate with protection against recurrent HSV. Moreover, these elite neutralizers can provide promising material for hyperimmunoglobulin, the isolation of superior antiviral antibodies and information for the design of a vaccine against HSV. ImportanceHerpes simplex virus 1 infections can cause painful mucosal lesions at the oral or genital tract and severe, life threatening disease in immunosuppressed patients or neonates. There is no approved vaccine available, and the emergence of drug resistances especially in long time treated patients makes the treatment increasingly difficult. We tested 2496 people for HSV-1 cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies. Five percent exhibited functional titers such antibodies and showed significantly lower risk of reactivations, uncovering cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies as a correlate of protection against Herpes simplex virus reactivations. Isolation of the cell-to-cell spread inhibiting antibodies from B-cells of these donors may contribute to develop novel antibody-based interventions for prophylactic and therapeutic use and provide starting material for vaccine development.

immunology↗