Biology subjects

Immler, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Immler, R..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Anchored for action: a dual role for integrin β1 in mast cell perivascular positioning and vasoactivity to license leukocyte recruitment

Mast cells (MCs) are tissue-resident sentinels of the innate immune system that play pivotal roles in host defense and inflammation. Perivascular MCs exert a particularly strong influence on the onset and dynamics of inflammation through the rapid, directional release of proinflammatory mediators into the circulation. Yet, the mechanisms governing their attachment to the vessel wall - a prerequisite for intravascular degranulation - remain poorly defined. Using a conditional knockout of integrin {beta}1 (Itgb1) in MCs, we investigated how perivascular positioning, degranulation, and vasoactive function contribute to inflammatory responses. In vivo imaging revealed that Itgb1 is essential for positioning MCs within the perivascular niche, particularly around arterioles. The absence of Itgb1 markedly reduced directional MC degranulation into blood vessels during skin inflammation. In vitro, Itgb1-deficient MCs displayed impaired degranulation kinetics together with altered SHIP1/PI3K-AKT signaling and calcium influx upon P2X7 ligation by ATP. During contact hypersensitivity, mice lacking Itgb1 in MCs exhibited strongly diminished ear swelling and reduced recruitment of multiple leukocyte subsets. Mechanistically, disordered MC positioning and attenuated degranulation impaired endothelial activation, resulting in decreased leukocyte adhesion and extravasation. These findings uncover a dual role for Itgb1 in regulating MC responsiveness and pro-inflammatory vasoactive function, establishing Itgb1-mediated perivascular MC positioning as a key prerequisite for effective leukocyte recruitment. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/723399v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (80K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2268d8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1114842org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19efc2borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@bd90cf_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Preimplantation factor (PIF) is an endogenous inhibitor of potassium channel KV1.3 regulating neutrophil function during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a unique period regarding immune cell regulation. Within the placenta, maternal immune cells play a central role in immune surveillance and tissue remodeling. However, regulatory mechanisms of systemic immunity during pregnancy are less clear. Here, we show that neutrophil function is altered in pregnant mice (E13.5), indicated by increased slow rolling velocity and reduced adhesion. Mechanistically, PreImplantation factor (PIF), a 15 amino acid peptide which is produced by human and murine trophoblast cells of the placenta, is continuously secreted into the maternal circulation and plays a key role in modulating neutrophil function via blocking the voltage-gated potassium channel KV1.3. This resulted in impaired intracellular Ca2+ signaling and subsequently disturbance of neutrophil post-arrest modifications and a higher susceptibility to physiological shear forces in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, PIF-mediated KV1.3 blockade impaired E-selectin-mediated release of S100A8/A9 and phagocytosis. Taken together, we have identified PIF as an important modulator of neutrophil function during pregnancy suggesting a critical role in regulating innate immune responses throughout gestation.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Neutrophils are critical for placental and fetal infection with the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

Fetal listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), represents a severe infectious disease. During pregnancy, the unique intrauterine environment permits Lm to breach the maternal-fetal barrier by infiltrating the placental trophoblast layer and ultimately leading to significant fetal morbidity and mortality. However, the exact pathways remain incompletely understood. In this study, we sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the early stages of placental and fetal Lm infection. Our results reveal that neutrophils serve as a survival niche for Lm within the vasculature, facilitating placental and fetal infection in the mouse in vivo. This finding was further substantiated by in vitro studies using TLR2-stimulated trophoblast cells and Lm-infected neutrophils. Additionally, tissue-clearing analysis of Lm-infected placentas demonstrated neutrophil colocalization with Lm is rare within placental tissue. Collectively, our findings identify maternal neutrophils as an essential viability niche for Lm enabling their entry into trophoblast cells, thereby promoting placental and fetal infection. One Sentence SummaryMaternal circulating neutrophils act as survival niche for Listeria monocytogenes and facilitate placental/fetal infection with Listeria during pregnancy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Cytosolic S100A8/A9 promotes Ca2+ supply at LFA-1 adhesion clusters during neutrophil recruitment

S100A8/A9 is an endogenous alarmin secreted by myeloid cells during many acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. Despite increasing evidence of the proinflammatory effects of extracellular S100A8/A9, little is known about its intracellular function. Here, we show that cytosolic S100A8/A9 is indispensable for neutrophil post-arrest modifications during outside-in signaling under flow conditions in vitro and neutrophil recruitment in vivo, independent of its extracellular functions. Mechanistically, genetic deletion of S100A9 in mice (Mrp14-/-, functional S100a8/a9-/-) caused dysregulated Ca2+ signatures in activated neutrophils resulting in reduced Ca2+ availability at the formed LFA-1/F-actin clusters with defective {beta}2 integrin outside-in signaling during post-arrest modifications. Consequently, we observed impaired cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell polarization and spreading, as well as cell protrusion formation in Mrp14-/- compared to WT neutrophils, making Mrp14-/- cells more susceptible to detach under flow, thereby preventing efficient neutrophil recruitment and extravasation into inflamed tissue. One-sentence summaryintracellular S100A8/A9 is indispensable for firm leukocyte adhesion under flow

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

eATP/P2X7R axis drives nanoparticle induced neutrophil recruitment in the pulmonary microcirculation

Exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) is frequently associated with adverse cardiovascular effects. In contrast, NPs in nanomedicine hold great promise for precise lung-specific drug delivery, especially considering the extensive pulmonary capillary network that facilitates interactions with bloodstream-suspended particles. Therefore, exact knowledge about interactions and effects of engineered NPs with the pulmonary microcirculation are instrumental for future application of this technology in patients. To unravel the real-time dynamics of intravenously delivered NPs and their effects in the pulmonary microvasculature, we employed intravital microscopy of the mouse lung. PEG amine-modified quantum dots (aQDs) with a low potential for biomolecule and cell interactions and carboxyl-modified quantum dots (cQDs) with a high interaction potential were used, representing two different NP subtypes. Only aQDs triggered rapid neutrophil recruitment in microvessels and their subsequent recruitment to the alveolar space. Application of specific inhibitors revealed that the aQDs induced neutrophil recruitment was linked to cellular degranulation, TNF-, and DAMP release into the circulation, particularly extracellular ATP (eATP). Stimulation of the ATP-gated P2X7R induced the expression of E-selectin on microvascular endothelium with the subsequent E-selectin depended neutrophilic immune response. Leukocyte integrins (LFA-1 and MAC-1) mediated adhesion and reduction in neutrophil crawling velocity on the vascular surface. In summary, this study unravels the complex cascade of neutrophil recruitment during NP-induced sterile inflammation. Thereby we demonstrate novel adverse effects for NPs in the pulmonary microcirculation and provide critical insights for optimizing NP-based drug delivery and therapeutic intervention strategies, to ensure their efficacy and safety in clinical applications. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=132 SRC="FIGDIR/small/584398v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (36K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d10acborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1bbfe7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d3e415org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2328de_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Extratubular polymerized uromodulin induces leukocyte recruitment and inflammation in vivo

Uromodulin (UMOD) is produced and secreted by tubular epithelial cells. Secreted UMOD polymerizes (pUMOD) within the lumen, where it regulates salt transport and protects the kidney from bacteria and stone formation. Under various pathological conditions, pUMOD accumulates within the tubular lumen and reaches extratubular sites where it may interact with renal interstitial cells. Here, we investigated the potential of extratubular pUMOD to act as a damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule thereby creating local inflammation. We found that intrascrotal and intraperitoneal injection of pUMOD induced leukocyte recruitment in vivo and led to TNF- secretion by F4/80 positive macrophages. Additionally, pUMOD directly affected vascular permeability and increased neutrophil extravasation independent of macrophage-released TNF-. Interestingly, pUMOD did not directly upregulate adhesion molecules on endothelial cells and did not directly activate {beta}2 integrins on neutrophils. In obstructed neonatal murine kidneys, we observed extratubular UMOD accumulation with tubular atrophy and leukocyte infiltrates. Finally, we found extratubular UMOD deposits associated with peritubular leukocyte infiltration in kidneys from patients with inflammatory kidney diseases. Taken together, we identified extratubular pUMOD as a strong inducer of leukocyte recruitment, underlining its critical role in mounting an inflammatory response in various kidneys pathologies.

immunology↗