Biology subjects

Goldmann, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Goldmann, T..

12 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

SERPINB13 is a prognostic biomarker for LUSC associated with an immune-inflamed tumor phenotype and modulated by immune cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer accounting for most cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite substantial recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, the prognosis for advanced-stage disease remains comparably poor, which is why the identification of novel molecular biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets influencing tumor development, progression, and metastasis remain important. This study focusses on SERPINB13, a serine-protease inhibitor expressed in selected tissues that is dysregulated in several tumor entities. However, its role in NSCLC still remains largely unclear. We analyzed SERPINB13 transcription in a cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases including both lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by transcriptome profiling. Epigenetic modifications were assessed via Methylation BeadChips. Additionally, SERPINB13 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an independent cohort of NSCLC comprising 126 LUSC patients. Correlation analyses were performed to associate SERPINB13 expression with key clinico-pathological parameters, including overall survival and extent of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. To functionally investigate the regulatory influence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on SERPINB13 expression in LUSC tumor cells in vitro, we utilized the SERPINB13-expressing LUSC cell line LUDLU-1. Here, gene transcription was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), confirmed by Western blot on the protein level. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant upregulation of SERPINB13 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) compared to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), highlighting a subtype-specific expression pattern. This differential expression was further associated with a distinct epigenetic DNA methylation signature at the SERPINB13 loci in LUSC, suggesting transcriptional regulation via hypomethylation. IHC analysis demonstrated that high SERPINB13 protein expression is significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in LUSC. Notably, SERPINB13 expression was enriched in immune-inflamed ("hot") tumors, characterized by elevated infiltrating lymphocytes and immune activation. Mechanistically, co-culture experiments with PBMCs induced SERPINB13 expression in a LUSC cell line in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the absence of direct cell contact. This suggests that soluble factors secreted by immune cells might play a key role in regulating SERPINB13 expression in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, SERPINB13 is a novel prognostic indicator in LUSC that is modulated by Immune cells. Further studies are necessary to decipher the crosstalk of Immune cells on the Serpin B13 expressing tumor cells in depth, with regard to a possible interventional strategy. immunomodulatory potential strategies and personalized therapeutic approaches in NSCLC.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2026

A Hierarchical Model of Purinergic Receptor Activation in Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Purinergic signaling coordinates diverse epithelial responses to extracellular nucleotides such as ATP, ADP, and UDP. Although many epithelial cell types co-express multiple P2 receptors, the logic by which these receptors integrate nucleotide signals has remained unclear. Here, using primary human airway epithelial cells as a model, we reveal a hierarchical system in which P2Y2 functions as a central licensing receptor that both enables and constrains downstream activation of P2Y6 and P2Y12. Molecular analysis, calcium assays, and pharmacological profiling show that P2Y6 and P2Y12 exhibit intrinsic activity when co-express to P2Y2 but in turn lose responsiveness to their specific agonists upon upstream activation of P2Y2. This gating mechanism filters background noise by secondary nucleotides and enforces contextual control over downstream signaling. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized principle of purinergic receptor coordination that may apply broadly across epithelial systems, and offer new insight into nucleotide signaling as a therapeutic target.

Cell Biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Protein expression level of P2RY12 correlates with survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and exhibits diagnostic potential for Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Lung

P2Y12 receptor (P2RY12), mainly expressed on platelets, is known for its central role in hemostasis. P2RY12 activation is also involved in cancer development through platelet adhesion to cancer cells supporting immune-evasion, promoting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, among others. P2RY12 is known as an actionable target, and P2RY12 antagonists are in clinical use for cardiovascular diseases. However, very little data are available regarding the protein expression of P2RY12 in lung carcinomas. We performed immunohistochemical staining for P2RY12 in a cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples comprising 320 adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and 158 squamous cell carcinomas (LUSC). Results were evaluated using a dual approach combining microscopic assessment and digital image analysis (QuPath). Results were correlated with clinical-pathological data. We found significantly higher P2RY12 protein expression in LUSC compared to LUAD (p<0.001) via eyeballing (absent/low expression in 21.7% (34/158) and moderate/high expression in 78.3% (124/158) of LUSC cases versus absent/low expression in 98.4% (315/320) and moderate/high expression in 1.6% (5/320) of LUAD cases). Digital analysis yielded similar results. High P2RY12 expression was associated with a significantly better 5-year overall survival rate for the entire cohort (p=0.0048) as well as for the LUAD (p=0.015) and LUSC (p=0.05) subgroups. Furthermore, P2RY12 showed excellent discriminatory performance for classifying carcinomas as LUAD or LUSC, with an AUC of 0.916 in ROC-analysis. High P2RY12 expression is linked to a better prognosis and might serve as a promising novel prognostic biomarker for NSCLC. Its assessment could be implemented in future routine diagnostic workup. At the same time, the data suggest that P2RY12 could also serve as a diagnostic marker for LUSC.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2025

Distinct and Combined Interferon-α/β-receptor-1 Loss in Neurons and Astrocytes Disrupt Brain Energy Metabolism and Drive Parkinsonian Dementia

Dysregulated interferon-alpha/beta-receptor 1 (IFNAR1) signaling was recently identified to contribute to the development of sporadic Parkinsons Disease (PD) into PD with Dementia (PDD). The molecular, cellular, and phenotypic impacts of brain IFNAR1 loss in aging have not been explored in vivo, which may reveal novel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Here it is shown that baseline IFNAR1 expression varies in the major brain cell types, including neurons and astrocytes, and is differentially affected in PD and Lewy Body Dementia patients compared to unaffected controls. Neuron- and astrocyte-specific transcriptomic and proteomic alterations in Ifnar1-/- mice implicate mitochondrial defects and synergistic dysfunctional neurotransmission upon IFNAR1 loss, leading to glucose hypermetabolism measured by functional metabolic analysis. Consequently, Ifnar1-/- mice exhibited PDD-like pathogenesis, including dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra, cortical neurodegeneration, Lewy-body-like inclusions, neuroinflammation, and progressive PDD-like behavior deficits. Brain cell-specific IFNAR1 loss examined in vivo revealed delayed but distinct development of PDD-like phenotypes, where neuropathology, motor, and cognitive behavior deficits were specifically recapitulated only in mice lacking neuronal IFNAR1, and behavior resembling neuropsychiatric abnormalities recapitulated only in mice lacking astrocytic IFNAR1. This work supports a crucial role of IFNAR1 in brain homeostasis and emphasizes a need for understanding neurodegenerative pathophysiology in cell-specific contexts. HighlightsO_LIIFNAR1 and related type-I IFN genes are differentially expressed among major brain cell types in Parkinsons Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and unaffected controls C_LIO_LIEarly molecular alterations in Ifnar1-/- mice show lack of immunomodulation contributing to neuroinflammation, mitochondrial defects, and dysregulated energy metabolism C_LIO_LIIfnar1-/- mice develop a progressive Parkinsonian-like disease phenotype, including dopaminergic cell loss in substantia nigra, cortical neurodegeneration, phosphorylated (p)alpha-synuclein+ and pTau+ Lewy-body-like inclusions, neuroinflammation, and progressive motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric disturbance-like behavior deficits C_LIO_LINeuropathologies, motor, and cognitive deficits are recapitulated in mice lacking neuronal IFNAR1 (Syn1Cre;Ifnar1fl/fl) whereas neuropsychiatric abnormalities are recapitulated in mice lacking astrocytic IFNAR1 (GFAPCre;Ifnar1fl/fl) C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Mycobacterial infection uncovers plasticity of Kupffer cells

Bona fide Kupffer cells (KCs) are prenatally seeded and show unique functional and immunophenotypic features among tissue macrophages. They are considered as terminally differentiated, and adaptability in disease is attributed to recruited, monocyte-derived KCs. Here, we investigated the extent of KC plasticity and the impact of origin in mycobacterial infections that target macrophages and can persist for months. Fate-mapping combined with high-resolution imaging revealed the emergence of a unique, infection specific KC subset which downregulated the signature markers CLEC4F and VSIG4 ("KClow"). KClow were derived from bona fide KCs and located exclusively to granuloma cores. In contrast, monocyte-derived macrophages were contained at the granuloma borders and contributed to this tissue reaction. ATAC and single-cell RNA sequencing identified a specific signature of KClow with high antimycobacterial activity and specialization to a hypoxic microenvironment. Despite their fundamental deviation from the classical KC phenotype, KClow showed remarkable adaptability, and were capable to return to a homeostatic-like KC state. Accordingly, mycobacterial infections unmask KCs as highly plastic cells, capable of responding to extreme environmental changes.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

The proteasome activator PA200 regulates tumor cell invasion

Proteasome activator 200 (PA200) is upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and linked to poor prognosis. We previously demonstrated that the overexpression of PA200 in NSCLC is associated with immune evasion and reduced responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The cell autonomous function of PA200 in cancer growth, however, is not solved. We here demonstrate that deletion of PA200 in two distinct lung cancer cell lines induced cell-specific alterations in proteasome composition and activities with a minor direct impact on overall proteasome activity. Deficiency of PA200 in lung cancer cells did not consistently alter tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. However, we observed concerted inhibition of tumor cell migration and invasion with conserved downregulation of the integrin ITGB3 and transcriptional dysregulation of multiple cell adhesion and ECM regulators. Our transcriptome profiling revealed a striking disparity in the transcriptional response to PA200 deletion in the two lung cancer cell lines. Together with our PA200 interactome analysis that uncovered an unexpected cell-dependent profile of PA200-interacting proteins, our data indicate that the function of PA200 is cell-specific and depends on the cellular context. In conclusion, we here demonstrate that PA200 cell-autonomously regulates the invasive capacities of tumor cells thereby potentially promoting lung cancer spread and metastasis formation. This mechanism might add to PA200-related immune evasion and may contribute to the observed poor prognosis of PA200-overexpressing lung cancer patients.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Turning the tables: Loss of adaptive immunity reverses sex differences in tuberculosis

Sex-based differences in innate immunity may play a crucial role in susceptibility to and progression of tuberculosis (TB), a disease that disproportionately affects men. This study aimed to examine whether early host-pathogen interactions contribute to the heightened vulnerability of males to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Using recombination activating gene knockout (RAG KO) mice, which lack adaptive immunity, we were able to isolate and analyze innate immune responses to Mtb without the influence of T and B cells. Surprisingly, and in stark contrast to wild-type mice that reflect the male bias as observed in humans, female RAG KO mice were more susceptible to Mtb than their male counterparts. Increased lung CFU in females was accompanied by a significant rise in inflammation, indicated by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as a massive influx of neutrophils into the lungs. In contrast, male mice exhibited higher levels of IFN-{gamma} and CCL5, along with a greater presence of NK cells in their lungs, suggesting that, in the absence of adaptive immunity, males benefit from a more robust NK cell response, potentially offering greater protection by better controlling inflammation and slowing disease progression.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Ablation of B cell-derived IL-10 increases tuberculosis resistance

Due to the historical dogma, that host defense against intracellular pathogens is mediated by cell-mediated immunity, B cells have been considered unimportant in providing protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and remained understudied for decades. However, emerging evidence suggests a more complex and multifaceted role for B cells in tuberculosis (TB) immunity. They accumulate at the side of infection in both animal models and human TB patients, suggesting a potential link to protective immunity. Still, the diverse roles of B cells in TB immunity continue to be unraveled. Apart from antibodies, B cells produce a wide range of cytokines, which can influence the local immune response. Here we addressed the relevance of interleukin 10 (IL-10) secreting B cells in long-term control of the Mtb Beijing strain HN878. Our research highlights the previously unknown role of B cell-derived IL-10 as a negative regulator of protective immunity in TB. For the first time, we demonstrate that mice lacking B cell-derived IL-10 show increased resistance to aerosol Mtb infection, as evidenced by a delayed onset of clinical symptoms and prolonged survival. Notably, this effect was significantly more pronounced in males compared to females, and was accompanied by male-specific immune alterations, indicating a previously unknown sex-specific regulatory role of B cell-derived IL-10 during Mtb infection.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Glycodelin acts as an immunomodulator in NSCLC and is a predictor of poor prognosis for patients receiving immunotherapy

Lung cancer has been shown to be targetable by novel immunotherapies which reactivate the immune system and enable tumor cell killing. However, treatment failure and resistance to these therapies is common. Consideration of sex as a factor influencing therapy resistance is still rare. We hypothesize that the success of the treatment is impaired by the presence of the immunosuppressive pregnancy-associated glycoprotein glycodelin that is expressed in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We demonstrate that the glycan pattern of NSCLC-derived glycodelin detected by a lectin-based enrichment assay highly resembles amniotic fluid-derived glycodelin A, which is known to have immunosuppressive properties. NSCLC-derived glycodelin interacts with immune cells in vitro and regulates the expression of genes associated with inflammatory and tumor microenvironment pathways. In tumor microarray samples of patients, high glycodelin staining in tumor areas results in an impaired overall survival of female patients. Moreover, glycodelin colocalizes to tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells and pro-tumorigenic M2 macrophages. High serum concentrations of glycodelin prior to immunotherapy are associated with a poor progression-free survival (p < 0.001) of female patients receiving PD-(L)1 inhibitors. In summary, our findings suggest that glycodelin not only is a promising immunological biomarker for early identification of female patients that do not benefit from the costly immunotherapy, but also represents a promising immunotherapeutic target in NSCLC to improve therapeutic options in lung cancer. BackgroundImmunotherapy is one of the major achievements in the last decade of lung cancer treatment. However, resistance to treatment is common und not well understood. Glycodelin is an immunosuppressive protein well described during the establishment of a pregnancy. We investigated its influence on immune cells and patients receiving immunotherapy with a focus on the sex of the patients. Translational relevanceOur study examined that NSCLC-derived glycodelin shares similarities to amniotic fluid-derived glycodelin A and is predictive for a worse response to immunotherapy in female patients. Therefore, glycodelin might be a key player influencing a sex-specific response to immunotherapy in lung cancer.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Characterization of USH1C/harmonin in the human retina provides insights into pathophysiology and therapy options for Usher syndrome

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of hereditary deafness-blindness in humans. USH is a complex genetic disorder, assigned to three clinical subtypes differing in onset, course, and severity, with USH1 being the most severe. Rodent USH1 models do not reflect the ocular phenotype observed in human patients to date; hence, little is known about the pathophysiology of USH1 in the human eye. One of the USH1 genes, USH1C, exhibits extensive alternative splicing and encodes numerous harmonin protein isoforms that function as scaffolds for organizing the USH interactome. RNA-seq analysis of human retinas uncovered harmonin_a1 as the most abundant transcript of USH1C. Bulk RNA-seq analysis and immunoblotting showed abundant expression of harmonin in Muller glia cells (MGCs) and retinal neurons. Furthermore, harmonin was localized in the terminal endfeet and apical microvilli of MGCs, presynaptic region (pedicle) of cones, and outer segments of rods as well as at adhesive junctions of MGCs and photoreceptors in the outer limiting membrane (OLM). Our data provide evidence for the interactions of harmonin with OLM molecules in photoreceptors (PRCs) and MGCs and rhodopsin in PRCs. Subcellular expression and colocalization of harmonin correlate with the clinical phenotype observed in USH1C patients. In addition, primary cilia defects in USH1C patient-derived fibroblasts could be reverted by the delivery of harmonin_a1 transcript isoform. Our data provide novel insights into PRC cell biology, USH1C pathophysiology, and for developing gene therapy treatment.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Immune-evasion of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma mediated by cAMP response element-binding protein

cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) mediates proliferative and inflammatory gene transcription in neurodegeneration and cancer, but its role in malignant immune-evasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unknown. We show that human LUAD of smokers are frequently altered along the CREB pathway and we employ mouse models to discover that KRAS-mutant LUAD co- opt CREB to evade immune rejection by tumoricidal neutrophils. For this, KRAS- driven CREB activation suppresses CXC-chemokine expression and prevents recruitment of CXCR1+ neutrophils. CREB1 is shown to be pro-tumorigenic in five different LUAD models, a function that is dependent on host CXCR1. Pharmacologic CREB blockade prevents tumor growth and restores neutrophil recruitment only when initiated before immune-evasion of KRAS-mutant LUAD. CREB and CXCR1 expression in human LUAD are compartmentalized to tumor and stromal cells, respectively, while CREB-regulated genes and neutrophils impact survival. In summary, CREB-mediated immune evasion of KRAS-mutant LUAD relies on signaling to neutrophil CXCR1 and is actionable.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

WNT6-ACC2-induced accumulation of triacylglycerol rich lipid droplets is exploited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

In view of emerging drug-resistant tuberculosis, host directed therapies are urgently needed to improve treatment outcomes with currently available anti-tuberculosis therapies. One option is to interfere with the formation of lipid-laden “foamy” macrophages in the infected host. Here, we provide evidence that WNT6, a member of the evolutionary conserved WNT signaling pathway, promotes foam cell formation by regulating key lipid metabolic genes including acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 (ACC2) during pulmonary TB. In addition, we demonstrate that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) facilitates its intracellular growth and dissemination in the host by exploiting the WNT6-ACC2 pathway. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that lack of functional WNT6 or ACC2 significantly reduces intracellular TAG levels, Mtb growth and necrotic cell death of macrophages. In combination with the anti-TB drug isoniazid, pharmacological inhibition of ACC2 improved anti-mycobacterial treatment in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we propose the WNT6-ACC2 signaling pathway as a promising target for a host-directed therapy to reduce intracellular replication of Mtb by modulating neutral lipid metabolism.Competing Interest StatementDrs. N. Reiling and J. Brandenburg (Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, 23845 Borstel, Germany) have filed a patent application entitled ACC inhibitors as means and methods for treating mycobacterial diseases(WO2018007430A1, patent pending).View Full Text

immunology↗