Biology subjects

Oberndorfer, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Oberndorfer, F..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Amygdala metabolic activity on FDG PET is associated with survival, response to immune checkpoint inhibition, and tumor immune signaling in non-small cell lung cancer

Amygdala metabolic activity (AmygAc) measured by [18F]FDG PET has been associated with chronic psychological stress and adverse clinical outcomes, but its relationship with antitumor immunity and treatment response remains incompletely understood. We investigated AmygAc as a host-derived imaging biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examined its association with survival, response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), and the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, baseline [18F]FDG PET scans from 256 treatment-naive patients with NSCLC were analyzed to quantify AmygAc. Overall survival was assessed in the full cohort, and treatment response was evaluated in 79 patients who subsequently received neoadjuvant ICI therapy. AmygAc was integrated with clinical and tumor-derived imaging parameters. To investigate its biological correlates, tumor tissue from a selected subcohort was analyzed using multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

A neutrophil-B-cell axis governs disease tolerance during sepsis via Cxcr4

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled systemic inflammation and coagulation, leading to multi-organ failure. Therapeutic options to prevent sepsis-associated immunopathology remain scarce. Here, we established a model of long-lasting disease tolerance during severe sepsis, manifested by diminished immunothrombosis and organ damage in spite of a high pathogen burden. We found that, both neutrophils and B cells emerged as key regulators of tissue integrity. Enduring changes in the transcriptional profile of neutrophils, included upregulated Cxcr4 expression in protected, tolerant hosts. Neutrophil Cxcr4 upregulation required the presence of B cells, suggesting that B cells promoted tissue tolerance by suppressing tissue damaging properties of neutrophils. Finally, therapeutic administration of a Cxcr4 agonist successfully promoted tissue tolerance and prevented liver damage during sepsis. Our findings highlight the importance of a critical B-cell/neutrophil interaction during sepsis and establish neutrophil Cxcr4 activation as a potential means to promote disease tolerance during sepsis. SummaryWe show that a B cell/neutrophil interaction in the bone marrow facilitates tissue tolerance during severe sepsis. By affecting neutrophil Cxcr4 expression, B cells can impact neutrophil effector functions. Finally, therapeutic activation of Cxcr4 successfully promoted tissue tolerance and prevented liver damage during sepsis.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

ACE2 is the critical in vivo receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in a novel COVID-19 mouse model with TNF- and IFNγ-driven immunopathology

Despite tremendous progress in the understanding of COVID-19, mechanistic insight into immunological, disease-driving factors remains limited. We generated maVie16, a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2, by serial passaging of a human isolate. In silico modelling revealed how Spike mutations of maVie16 enhanced interaction with murine ACE2. MaVie16 induced profound pathology in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice and the resulting mouse COVID-19 (mCOVID-19) replicated critical aspects of human disease, including early lymphopenia, pulmonary immune cell infiltration, pneumonia and specific adaptive immunity. Inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines IFN{gamma} and TNF substantially reduced immunopathology. Importantly, genetic ACE2-deficiency completely prevented mCOVID-19 development. Finally, inhalation therapy with recombinant ACE2 fully protected mice from mCOVID-19, revealing a novel and efficient treatment. Thus, we here present maVie16 as a new tool to model COVID-19 for the discovery of new therapies and show that disease severity is determined by cytokine-driven immunopathology and critically dependent on ACE2 in vivo. Key pointsO_LIThe mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain maVie16 causes fatal disease in BALB/c mice and substantial inflammation, pneumonia and immunity in C57BL/6 mice C_LIO_LITNF/IFN{gamma} blockade ameliorates maVie16-induced immunopathology C_LIO_LIMaVie16 infection depends on ACE2 and soluble ACE2 inhalation can prevent disease C_LI

immunology↗