Biology subjects

Duerschmied, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Duerschmied, D..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Platelet C5aR1 mediates sex-specific ischemia-driven revascularization through estradiol-dependent CXCL4 release

BackgroundSex-specific differences in cardiovascular diseases remain incompletely understood at the molecular level. ObjectivesHere, we investigated the role of the platelet complement receptor C5aR1 as a sex-specific critical mediator of revascularization following hindlimb ischemia. MethodsIschemia-driven revascularization was analyzed in the hind limb ischemia (HLI) model using wild type (WT) and complement receptor-deficient male and female mice, and involved mechanisms were analyzed in platelets and megakaryocyte-shed platelets ex vivo. ResultsIn WT mice, ischemic tissue exhibited robust complement activation with C3b and C5a accumulation that correlated strongly with deposition of the anti-angiogenic factor CXCL4 (PF4). Mechanistically, C5a stimulation of platelets triggered CXCL4 secretion, and female animals with a platelet-specific deletion of C5aR1 (using PF4-Cre-C5aR1fl/fl mice) showed a significantly delayed revascularization. Female mice exhibited substantially lower platelet C5aR1 expression, and C5a-induced CXCL4 secretion was virtually abolished compared to male animals. The sex-specific difference in tissue CXCL4 deposition was not present any more in the absence of C5aR1 from platelets. We observed that megakaryocytes, which give rise to platelets, express estradiol receptors. Importantly, estradiol stimulation of megakaryocytes suppressed C5aR1 expression during pro-platelet formation, uncovering a hormone-dependent regulatory mechanism. ConclusionsThe here described estradiol-C5aR1-CXCL4 axis provides a molecular explanation for sex-specific differences in ischemic revascularization known from patient studies. Our findings establish a novel and unexpected mechanistic link between sex hormones, a complement-platelet crosstalk and the angiogenic response to ischemia with potential clinical implications for sex-specific personalized therapeutic strategies.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Platelet C5aR1 Aggravates Myocardial Infarction through Platelet-Neutrophil Interactions and CXCL4-Dependent NET Release

Platelet activation is a central driver of myocardial infarction. The complement anaphylatoxin C5a is abundantly generated during myocardial infarction, and its receptor C5aR1 is highly expressed on platelets. However, the functional role of platelet C5aR1 in myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown. Here, we show that platelet&[ndash]expressed C5aR1 critically amplifies thromboinflammatory cardiac injury by promoting platelet&[ndash]mediated neutrophil activation after MI. Platelet&[ndash]specific C5aR1 deletion reduced infarct size, fibrosis, and adverse remodeling while enhancing neovascularization and preserving cardiac function. Mechanistically, cell&[ndash]specific C5aR1 deletion markedly reduced myocardial platelet&[ndash]neutrophil accumulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, while circulating platelet&[ndash]neutrophil complexes were increased. Ex vivo, C5a&[ndash]stimulated platelets robustly induced NET release from neutrophils in a platelet C5aR1&[ndash] and CXCL4&[ndash]dependent manner, whereas platelets lacking C5aR1 failed to trigger NET formation. Pharmacological C5aR1 inhibition with PMX205 phenocopied the genetic platelet&[ndash]specific deletion, resulting in comparable cardioprotection. Together, these findings identify platelet C5aR1 as a druggable target of platelet&[ndash]neutrophil&[ndash]NET signaling that exacerbates myocardial injury and limits reparative healing after MI, highlighting platelet C5aR1 as a potential therapeutic approach to restrain thromboinflammation.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Ex vivo detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells: rapid induction, prolonged contraction, and formation of functional memory

CD8+ T cells are critical for the elimination and long-lasting protection of many viral infections, but their role in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is unclear. Emerging data indicates that SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are detectable in the majority of individuals recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, optimal virus-specific epitopes, the role of pre-existing heterologous immunity as well as their kinetics and differentiation program during disease control have not been defined in detail. Here, we show that both pre-existing and newly induced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are potentially important determinants of immune protection in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, our results can be summarized as follows: First, immunodominant SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes are targeted in the majority of individuals with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Second, MHC class I tetramer analyses revealed the emergence of phenotypically diverse and functionally competent pre-existing and newly induced SARS-CoV-2-specific memory CD8+ T cells that showed similar characteristics compared to influenza-specific CD8+ T cells. Third, SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are more robustly detectable than antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2-spike protein. This was confirmed in a longitudinal analysis of acute-resolving infection that demonstrated rapid induction of the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells within a week followed by a prolonged contraction phase that outlasted the waning humoral immune response indicating that CD8+ T-cell responses might serve as a more precise correlate of antiviral immunity than antibody measurements after convalescence. Collectively, these data provide new insights into the fine specificity, heterogeneity, and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory CD8+ T cells, potentially informing the rational development of a protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

immunology↗