Biology subjects

Skokowa, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Skokowa, J..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Tuning of granulopoietic signaling by de novo designed agonists

Enhancing cytokine-based therapies by systematically tuning how an agonist associates its receptor is emerging as a powerful new concept in drug discovery. Here, we report the design and characterization of agonists that tune the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) activity, which is central for the proliferation and granulocytic differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. Using design agonists, we study the impact of varying the receptor-binding affinity and dimerization geometry on receptor association, downstream signaling, and cellular response. Hence, we achieved agonists with altered signaling specificities that are hyper-thermostable, can outcompete the native ligand (G-CSF), and bias granulopoietic differentiation over triggering proliferation. Furthermore, the design agonists differentially modulate the kinetics and amplitudes of signal transduction pathways, and gene expression patterns. Unlike G-CSF, they achieve selective activation of gene sets with hematopoietic functions with minimal unwanted effects on immunomodulatory signaling. These findings demonstrate the potential of dissecting the complex G-CSFR signaling, and open up ways for new therapeutic applications for designed cytokines. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=116 SRC="FIGDIR/small/568662v3_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (30K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@af56e3org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@171920forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@12c2c0aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ff7556_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2022

naRNA is a canonical neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) component and novel inflammation-amplifying composite DAMP

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are a key antimicrobial feature of cellular innate immunity mediated by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), the primary human leukocyte population. NETs trap and kill microbes but have also been linked to inflammation, e.g. atherosclerosis, arthritis or psoriasis by unknown mechanisms. We here characterize naRNA (NET-associated RNA), as a new canonical, abundant, and unexplored inflammatory NET component. naRNA, upon release by NET formation, drove further NET formation in naive PMN, and induced macrophage and keratinocyte activation via TLR8 in humans and Tlr13 in mice, in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, in vivo naRNA strongly drove skin inflammation, whereas genetic ablation of RNA sensing drastically ameliorated psoriatic skin inflammation. Rather than accidentally assembling with LL37 on the NET, naRNA was intracellularly pre-associated in resting neutrophils as a composite DAMP, thus highlighting NET formation as a DAMP release process. This re-defines sterile NETs as an intentionally inflammatory agent, signaling and amplifying neutrophil activation. Moreover, in the many conditions previously linked to NETs and extracellular RNA, TLR-mediated naRNA sensing emerges as both potential cause and new intervention target. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=175 SRC="FIGDIR/small/499571v4_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (94K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11b866org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16139ceorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a2905org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@17b0e7e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Created with biorender.com

immunology↗