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Venema WJ, Hiddingh S, van Loosdregt J, Bowes J, Balliu B, de Boer JH, Ossewaarde-van Norel J, Thompson SD, Langefeld CD, de Ligt A, van der Veken LT, Krijger PHL, de Laat W, Kuiper JJW. A cis-regulatory element regulates ERAP2 expression through autoimmune disease risk SNPs. Cell Genom 2024; 4:100460. [PMID: 38190099 PMCID: PMC10794781 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the ERAP2 gene are associated with various autoimmune conditions, as well as protection against lethal infections. Due to high linkage disequilibrium, numerous trait-associated SNPs are correlated with ERAP2 expression; however, their functional mechanisms remain unidentified. We show by reciprocal allelic replacement that ERAP2 expression is directly controlled by the splice region variant rs2248374. However, disease-associated variants in the downstream LNPEP gene promoter are independently associated with ERAP2 expression. Allele-specific conformation capture assays revealed long-range chromatin contacts between the gene promoters of LNPEP and ERAP2 and showed that interactions were stronger in patients carrying the alleles that increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Replacing the SNPs in the LNPEP promoter by reference sequences lowered ERAP2 expression. These findings show that multiple SNPs act in concert to regulate ERAP2 expression and that disease-associated variants can convert a gene promoter region into a potent enhancer of a distal gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter J Venema
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hiddingh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jorg van Loosdregt
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - John Bowes
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Brunilda Balliu
- Department of Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joke H de Boer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Susan D Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Carl D Langefeld
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, and Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Aafke de Ligt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lars T van der Veken
- Department of Genetics, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter H L Krijger
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter de Laat
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jonas J W Kuiper
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Blanas A, Karsjens H, de Ligt A, Huijbers EJ, van Loon K, Denisov SS, Durukan C, Engbersen DJ, Groen J, Hennig S, Hackeng TM, van Beijnum JR, Griffioen AW. Vaccination with a bacterial peptide conjugated to SARS-CoV-2 RBD accelerates immunity and protects against COVID-19. iScience 2022; 25:104719. [PMID: 35813877 PMCID: PMC9252865 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor immunogenicity of critical epitopes can hamper vaccine efficacy. To boost immune recognition of non- or low-immunogenic antigens, we developed a vaccine platform based on the conjugation of a target protein to a chimeric designer peptide (CDP) of bacterial origin. Here, we exploited this immune Boost (iBoost) technology to enhance the immune response against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Despite its fundamental role during viral infection, RBD is only moderately immunogenic. Immunization studies in mice showed that the conjugation of CDP to RBD induced superior immune responses compared to RBD alone. CDP-RBD elicited cross-reactive antibodies against the variants of concern Delta and Omicron. Furthermore, hamsters vaccinated with CDP-RBD developed potent neutralizing antibody responses and were fully protected from lung lesion formation upon challenge with SARS-CoV-2. In sum, we show that the iBoost conjugate vaccine technology provides a valuable tool for both quantitatively and qualitatively enhancing anti-viral immunity. An iBoost-based CDP-RBD conjugate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Induction of potent RBD-specific humoral and cellular responses CDP-RBD vaccination protects hamsters from lung lesion formation
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Blanas
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Haiko Karsjens
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aafke de Ligt
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth J.M. Huijbers
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karlijn van Loon
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stepan S. Denisov
- School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Canan Durukan
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Groen
- Intravacc, Institute for Translational Vaccinology, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sven Hennig
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tilman M. Hackeng
- School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Arjan W. Griffioen
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author
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Schimmel L, van der Stoel M, Rianna C, van Stalborch AM, de Ligt A, Hoogenboezem M, Tol S, van Rijssel J, Szulcek R, Bogaard HJ, Hofmann P, Boon R, Radmacher M, de Waard V, Huveneers S, van Buul JD. Stiffness-Induced Endothelial DLC-1 Expression Forces Leukocyte Spreading through Stabilization of the ICAM-1 Adhesome. Cell Rep 2019; 24:3115-3124. [PMID: 30231995 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocytes follow the well-defined steps of rolling, spreading, and crawling prior to diapedesis through endothelial cells (ECs). We found increased expression of DLC-1 in stiffness-associated diseases like atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Depletion of DLC-1 in ECs cultured on stiff substrates drastically reduced cell stiffness and mimicked leukocyte transmigration kinetics observed for ECs cultured on soft substrates. Mechanistic studies revealed that DLC-1-depleted ECs or ECs cultured on soft substrates failed to recruit the actin-adaptor proteins filamin B, α-actinin-4, and cortactin to clustered ICAM-1, thereby preventing the ICAM-1 adhesome formation and impairing leukocyte spreading. This was rescued by overexpressing DLC-1, resulting in ICAM-1 adhesome stabilization and leukocyte spreading. Our results reveal an essential role for substrate stiffness-regulated endothelial DLC-1, independent of its GAP domain, in locally stabilizing the ICAM-1 adhesome to promote leukocyte spreading, essential for efficient leukocyte transendothelial migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Schimmel
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Miesje van der Stoel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carmela Rianna
- Biophysics Institute, University of Bremen, D-28334 Bremen, Germany
| | - Anne-Marieke van Stalborch
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aafke de Ligt
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Hoogenboezem
- Departmental Central Facility, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Tol
- Departmental Central Facility, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jos van Rijssel
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Szulcek
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, VU Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harm Jan Bogaard
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, VU Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Patrick Hofmann
- Department of Physiology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Reinier Boon
- Department of Physiology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Vivian de Waard
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stephan Huveneers
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap D van Buul
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Schimmel L, de Ligt A, Tol S, de Waard V, van Buul JD. Endothelial RhoB and RhoC are dispensable for leukocyte diapedesis and for maintaining vascular integrity during diapedesis. Small GTPases 2018; 11:225-232. [PMID: 28960175 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2017.1377815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Active remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells is necessary for allowing leukocytes to cross the barrier during the process of transendothelial migration (TEM). Involvement of RhoGTPases to regulate actin organization is inevitable, and we recently reported on the local function of RhoA in limiting vascular leakage during leukocyte TEM. As a follow-up we investigated here the possible involvement of two other closely-related GTPases; RhoB and RhoC, in regulating leukocyte TEM and vascular barrier maintenance. Physiological flow experiments showed no substantial involvement of either endothelial RhoB or RhoC in neutrophil adhesion and transmigration efficiency. Besides neutrophil TEM, we did not observe a role for endothelial RhoB or RhoC in limiting vascular leakage in both inflammatory conditions and during TEM. In conclusion, endothelial RhoB and RhoC are both dispensable for regulating leukocyte diapedesis and for maintaining vascular barrier function under inflammatory conditions and during leukocyte diapedesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Schimmel
- Department of Plasma Proteins, Molecular Cell Biology Lab, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aafke de Ligt
- Department of Plasma Proteins, Molecular Cell Biology Lab, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Tol
- Department of Central Facility, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vivian de Waard
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap D van Buul
- Department of Plasma Proteins, Molecular Cell Biology Lab, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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