Animesh Sinha - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Animesh Sinha

Research paper thumbnail of Functions of accessory cells in B cell responses to thymus-independent antigens

The Journal of Immunology

The functions of adherent accessory (A) cells in thymus-independent (TI) B cell activation were i... more The functions of adherent accessory (A) cells in thymus-independent (TI) B cell activation were investigated using homogeneous A cell lines with distinct cell surface and functional characteristics, as well as inhibitors of antigen processing and interleukin 1 (IL 1) secretion. B cell responses to both type 1 and type 2 TI antigens were found to be strictly A cell dependent. Only A cells capable of IL 1 secretion could restore responsiveness in A cell-depleted spleen cells, regardless of Ia expression or antigen-processing capability. Moreover, recombinant IL 1 completely replaced A cell function in B cell responses to both TI 1 and TI 2 antigens. Finally, T cell depletion did not diminish the reconstitution by IL 1. Thus in contrast to T cell activation, IL 1 secretion is the only A cell function required in TI B cell activation, and the data are consistent with a direct role for IL 1 in B cell activation.

Research paper thumbnail of Advances in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus and Dermatomyositis: A Report from the 4th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—An Ongoing Need for International Consensus and Collaborations

Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2018

The 4 th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ICCLE) was held from May 20 t... more The 4 th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ICCLE) was held from May 20 to 21 in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the International Investigative Dermatology Meeting. Members of the steering committee were David Fiorentino, Manabu Fujimoto, Joerg Wenzel and the overall meeting organizer, Victoria P. Werth. Concha et al.

Research paper thumbnail of Diagnosis and Management of Pemphigus: recommendations by an International Panel of Experts

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Jan 10, 2018

Several European countries recently developed international diagnostic and management guidelines ... more Several European countries recently developed international diagnostic and management guidelines for pemphigus, which have been instrumental in the standardization of pemphigus management, OBJECTIVE: We now present results from a subsequent Delphi consensus to broaden the generalizability of recommendations. A preliminary survey, based on the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) guidelines, was sent to a panel of international experts to determine the level of consensus. The results were discussed at the International Bullous Diseases Consensus Group in March 2016 during the annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) conference. A second survey was sent following the meeting to more experts to achieve greater international consensus. The 39 experts participated in the first round of the Delphi-survey while 54 from 21 countries completed the second round. The number of statements in the survey was reduced from 175 topics in...

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide gene expression dataset used to identify potential therapeutic targets in androgenetic alopecia

Research paper thumbnail of Meeting Report of the Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting in Munich, September 2016

The Journal of investigative dermatology, Jun 1, 2017

Autoimmune blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of about a dozen complex disorders that ... more Autoimmune blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of about a dozen complex disorders that are characterized by intraepidermal (pemphigus) and subepidermal blistering (pemphigoid diseases and dermatitis herpetiformis). The Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting, organized by the Departments of Dermatology in Lübeck and Marburg and the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Munich, was held in September 2016 in Munich. The meeting brought together basic scientists and clinicians from all continents dedicating their work to autoimmune blistering diseases. Considerable advances have been made in describing incidences and prevalences of these diseases and linking comorbidities with autoantibody reactivities and clinical variants, for example, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor-associated noninflammatory bullous pemphigoid. Although new entities are still being described, diagnosis of most autoimmune blistering diseases can now be achieved using standardized and widely ava...

Research paper thumbnail of Vitiligo blood transcriptomics provides new insights into disease mechanisms and identifies potential novel therapeutic targets

BMC genomics, Jan 28, 2017

Significant gaps remain regarding the pathomechanisms underlying the autoimmune response in vitil... more Significant gaps remain regarding the pathomechanisms underlying the autoimmune response in vitiligo (VL), where the loss of self-tolerance leads to the targeted killing of melanocytes. Specifically, there is incomplete information regarding alterations in the systemic environment that are relevant to the disease state. We undertook a genome-wide profiling approach to examine gene expression in the peripheral blood of VL patients and healthy controls in the context of our previously published VL-skin gene expression profile. We used several in silico bioinformatics-based analyses to provide new insights into disease mechanisms and suggest novel targets for future therapy. Unsupervised clustering methods of the VL-blood dataset demonstrate a "disease-state"-specific set of co-expressed genes. Ontology enrichment analysis of 99 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) uncovers a down-regulated immune/inflammatory response, B-Cell antigen receptor (BCR) pathways, apoptosis and c...

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide transcriptional profiling data from skin of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) patients

Data in Brief, 2015

The disease Lupus erythematosus (LE), exhibits a variety of clinical manifestations with potentia... more The disease Lupus erythematosus (LE), exhibits a variety of clinical manifestations with potentially wide-ranging multi-organ damage to joints, tendons, kidney, lung, heart, blood vessels, central nervous system and skin [1,2] Systemic changes are likely to trigger organ specific manifestation of the disease. Here, we provide the data examined to address the gap in knowledge regarding causes and mechanisms contributing to the autoimmune attack on skin in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). The raw gene expression data files (CEL files) are provided with this article [3].

Research paper thumbnail of Monopathogenic vs multipathogenic explanations of pemphigus pathophysiology

Experimental Dermatology, 2016

This viewpoint highlights major, partly controversial concepts about the pathogenesis of pemphigu... more This viewpoint highlights major, partly controversial concepts about the pathogenesis of pemphigus. The monopathogenic theory explains intra-epidermal blistering through the "desmoglein (Dsg) compensation" hypothesis, according to which an antibodydependent disabling of Dsg 1-and/or Dsg 3-mediated cell-cell attachments of keratinocytes (KCs) is sufficient to disrupt epidermal integrity and cause blistering. The multipathogenic theory explains intra-epidermal blistering through the "multiple hit" hypothesis stating that a simultaneous and synchronized inactivation of the physiological mechanisms regulating and/or mediating intercellular adhesion of KCs is necessary to disrupt epidermal integrity. The major premise for a multipathogenic theory is that a single type of autoantibody induces only reversible changes, so that affected KCs can recover due to a self-repair. The damage, however, becomes irreversible when the salvage pathway and/or other cell functions are altered by a partnering autoantibody and/or other pathogenic factors. Future studies are needed to (i) corroborate these findings, (ii) characterize in detail patient populations with non-Dsgspecific autoantibodies, and (iii) determine the extent of the contribution of non-Dsg antibodies in disease pathophysiology.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiplexed autoantigen microarrays identify HLA as a key driver of anti-desmoglein and -non-desmoglein reactivities in pemphigus

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2016

Patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) harbor antibodies reactive against self-antigens expressed ... more Patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) harbor antibodies reactive against self-antigens expressed at the surface of keratinocytes, primarily desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and, to a lesser extent, Dsg1. Conventionally, only antibodies targeting these molecules have been thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis. This notion has been challenged by a growing pool of evidence that suggests that antibodies toward additional targets may play a role in disease. The aims of this study were to (i) establish high-throughput protein microarray technology as a method to investigate traditional and putative autoantibodies (autoAbs) in PV and (ii) use multiplexed protein array technology to define the scope and specificity of the autoAb response in PV. Our analysis demonstrated significant IgG reactivity in patients with PV toward the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes 3, 4, and 5 as well as thyroid peroxidase. Furthermore, we found that healthy first- and second-degree relatives of patients with...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a disease registry for autoimmune bullous diseases: initial analysis of the pemphigus vulgaris subset

Acta dermato-venereologica, Jan 15, 2015

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, potentially life threate-ning, autoimmune blistering skin dise... more Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, potentially life threate-ning, autoimmune blistering skin disease. The International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) has recently developed a disease registry with the aim to enhance our understanding of autoimmune bullous diseases with the long-term goal of acquiring information to improve patient care. Patients were recruited to the IPPF disease registry through direct mail, e-mail, advertisements, and articles in the IPPF-quarterly, -website, -Facebook webpage, and IPPF Peer Health Coaches to complete a 38-question survey. We present here the initial analysis of detailed clinical information collected on 393 PV patients. We report previously unrecognized gender differences in terms of lesion location, autoimmune comorbidity, and delay in diagnosis. The IPPF disease registry serves as a useful resource and guide for future clinical investigation.

Research paper thumbnail of Cellular level robotic surgery: Nanodissection of intermediate filaments in live keratinocytes

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 2015

We present the nanosurgery on the cytoskeleton of live cells using AFM based nanorobotics to achi... more We present the nanosurgery on the cytoskeleton of live cells using AFM based nanorobotics to achieve adhesiolysis and mimic the effect of pathophysiological modulation of intercellular adhesion. Nanosurgery successfully severs the intermediate filament bundles and disrupts cell-cell adhesion similar to the desmosomal protein disassembly in autoimmune disease, or the cationic modulation of desmosome formation. Our nanomechanical analysis revealed that adhesion loss results in a decrease in cellular stiffness in both, the case of biochemical modulation of the desmosome junctions or mechanical disruption of intercellular adhesion, supporting the notion that intercellular adhesion through intermediate filaments anchors the cell structure as focal adhesion does and that intermediate filaments are integral components in cell mechanical integrity. The surgical process could potentially help reveal the mechanism of autoimmune pathologyinduced cell-cell adhesion loss as well as its related pathways that lead to cell apoptosis.

Research paper thumbnail of BEID: Database for sequence-structure-function information on antigen-antibody interactions

Bioinformation, 2008

The B-cell Epitope Interaction Database (BEID; http://datam.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/BEID) is an open-ac... more The B-cell Epitope Interaction Database (BEID; http://datam.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/BEID) is an open-access database describing sequence-structure-function information on immunoglobulin (Ig)-antigen interactions. The current version of the database contains 164 antigens, 126 Ig and 189 Ig-antigen complexes extracted from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Each entry is manually verified, classified, and analyzed for intermolecular interactions between antigens and the corresponding bound Ig molecules. Ig-antigen interaction information that is stored in BEID includes solvent accessibility, hydrogen bonds, nonhydrogen bonds, gap volume, gap index, interface area and contact residues. The database can be searched with a userfriendly search tool and schematic diagrams for Ig-antigen interactions are available for download in PDF format. The ultimate purpose of BEID is to enhance the understanding of the rules of engagement between antigen and the corresponding bound Ig molecules. It is also a precious data source for developing computational predictors for B-cell epitopes.

Research paper thumbnail of How a single amino acid change may alter the immunological information of a peptide

Introduction 3. Methods 4. Results 4.1. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immu... more Introduction 3. Methods 4. Results 4.1. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immune recognition 4.2. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immunogenicity/pathogenicity 4.3. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and therapeutic peptides 5. Discussion 6. Contributions 7. References

Research paper thumbnail of Cell death: Apoptosis versus necrosis (Review)

International Journal of Oncology, 2002

Cell death and the subsequent post-mortem changes, called necrosis, are integral parts of normal ... more Cell death and the subsequent post-mortem changes, called necrosis, are integral parts of normal development and maturation cycle. Despite the importance of this process, the mechanisms underlying cell death are still poorly understood. In the recent literature, cell death is said to occur by two alternative, opposite modes: apoptosis, a programmed, managed form of cell death, and necrosis, an unordered and accidental form of cellular dying. The incorrect consequence is the overlapping of: a) the process whereby cells die, cell death; and b) the changes that the cells and tissues undergo after the cells die. Only the latter process can be referred to as necrosis and represents a 'no return' process in cell life. In this review, we discuss the excellent basic research developed in this field during last decades and problems that remain to be resolved in defining both experimentally and mechanicistically the events that lead to and characterize cell death. Contents 1. Introduction 2. The pathobiology of cell death 3. The biochemistry of cell death 4. The genetics of cell death 5. Apoptosis versus necrosis: the misconceptions 6. Cell death and cancer development 7. Conclusions 1. Introduction Cell death is part of normal development and maturation cycle, and is the component of many response patterns of living tissues to xenobiotic agents (i.e. micro organisms and chemicals) and to endogenous modulations, such as inflammation and disturbed blood supply (1,2). Cell death is an important variable in cancer development, cancer prevention and cancer therapy (3-5). In the treatment of cancer, the major approach is the removal, by surgery, of the neoplasm and/or the induction of cell death in neoplastic cells by radiation, toxic chemicals, antibodies and/or cells of the immune system (6-9). On the other hand, this pathobiological process remains poorly understood and the physiological and biochemical factors that lead to cell death are still not clear. One main factor is the existing confusion between 'apoptosis' process, as compared and contrasted with 'necrosis', leading to the overlapping of the ante mortem changes, i.e. the process of cell death, and the post-mortem changes, i.e. the necrosis process. 2. The pathobiology of cell death The elegant scientific exploration of sub-cellular molecular anatomy of the last decades have reinforced the cell concept as 'the smallest integrating unit in biology: a pseudo-intelligent computer that receives, screens, changes, reacts to and adapts to a host of environmental signals, all of this activity apparently

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of distinct murine T-cell receptors in the autoimmune encephalitogenic response to nested epitopes of myelin basic protein

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1988

The peptide p89-101 (Val-His-Phe-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ile-Val-Thr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Pro) of myelin basic protein... more The peptide p89-101 (Val-His-Phe-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ile-Val-Thr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Pro) of myelin basic protein is encephalitogenic in mice expressing H-2q and H-2s antigens. Six of 13 encephalitogen-specific T-cell clones were shown to express the variable beta-chain (V beta) 17a gene product (KJ23a+), whereas seven clones were KJ23a-. Both KJ23a+ and KJ23a- subpopulations were encephalitogenic in SJL/J mice when adoptively transferred. Depletion of KJ23a+ cells in vivo with the administration of the antibody KJ23a suppresses experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced with KJ23a+ T-cell lines. However, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced with either (i) encephalitogenic peptide p89-101, (ii) intact myelin basic protein, or (iii) KJ23a- T cells reactive to p89-101 cannot be prevented with monoclonal antibody KJ23a. These data indicate that in spite of the V beta 17a gene expression in a relatively large proportion of p89-101-specific T cells, such V beta gene use is not essential...

Research paper thumbnail of NMR probing of in silico identification of anti-HPV16 E7 mAb linear peptide epitope

Peptides, 2004

A proteomics-based approach was exploited in order to individuate peptide sequences having the im... more A proteomics-based approach was exploited in order to individuate peptide sequences having the immunogenic potential to evoke humoral response. The epitope search utilized two parameters: the similarity level of the peptide sequence to the host's proteins, and the peptide capability to bind to the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. By this approach, the human papillomavirus 16 E7 49-63 RAHYNIVTFCCKCDS peptide was individuated as the immunogenic epitope recognized by an anti-HPV16 E7 monoclonal antibody raised against the full-length viral oncoprotein. In this report, two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic experiments unequivocally probe the HPV16 E7 epitope individuation.

Research paper thumbnail of Consensus statement on definitions of disease, end points, and therapeutic response for pemphigus

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008

Our scientific knowledge of pemphigus has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despi... more Our scientific knowledge of pemphigus has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despite the availability of various therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, only a few multicenter controlled trials have helped to define effective therapies in pemphigus. A major obstacle in comparing therapeutic outcomes between centers is the lack of generally accepted definitions and measurements for the clinical evaluation of pemphigus patients. Common terms and endpoints of pemphigus are needed so that experts in the field can accurately measure and assess disease extent, activity, severity, and therapeutic response, and thus facilitate and advance clinical trials This consensus statement from the International Pemphigus Committee represents two years of collaborative efforts to attain mutually acceptable common definitions for pemphigus. These should assist in development of consistent reporting of outcomes in future studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Definitions and outcome measures for bullous pemphigoid: Recommendations by an international panel of experts

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2012

Our scientific knowledge of bullous pemphigoid (BP) has dramatically progressed in recent years. ... more Our scientific knowledge of bullous pemphigoid (BP) has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despite the availability of various therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, only a few multicenter controlled trials have helped to define effective therapies in BP. A major obstacle in sharing multicenter-based evidences for therapeutic efforts is the lack of generally accepted definitions for the clinical evaluation of patients with BP. Common terms and end points of BP are needed so that experts in the field can accurately measure and assess disease extent, activity, severity, and therapeutic response, and thus facilitate and advance clinical trials. These recommendations from the International Pemphigoid Committee represent 2 years of collaborative efforts to attain mutually acceptable common definitions for BP and proposes a disease extent score, the BP Disease Area Index. These items should assist in the development of consistent reporting of outcomes in future BP reports and studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Quantitative Analysis of Human Keratinocyte Cell Elasticity Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience, 2011

This paper presents the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and quantify the dynami... more This paper presents the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and quantify the dynamics of epithelial cell junction interactions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions at the nanoscale. Desmosomal junctions are specialized structures critical to cellular adhesion within epithelial tissues. Disassembly of these junctions is seen consequent to the development of autoantibodies directed at specific desmosomal proteins in blistering skin diseases such as Pemphigus. However, these structures are complex and mechanically inhomogeneous, making it difficult to study and the mechanisms of autoantibody mediated keratinocyte disassembly remain largely unknown. Here, we have used AFM system to image and measure the mechanical property of living skin epithelial cells in culture. We demonstrate that the force measurement data can possibly distinguish the cell with different antibody treatment. Our demonstration of the use of AFM for in situ imaging and elasticity measurement positioned us to begin to investigate disease mechanisms and monitor therapeutic strategies in blistering skin diseases in much greater detail, to meet the demands for understanding disease pathology at the local, or tissue level.

Research paper thumbnail of Global transcriptional analysis of psoriatic skin and blood confirms known disease-associated pathways and highlights novel genomic “hot spots” for differentially expressed genes

Genomics, 2012

There are major gaps in our knowledge regarding the exact mechanisms and genetic basis of psorias... more There are major gaps in our knowledge regarding the exact mechanisms and genetic basis of psoriasis. To investigate the pathogenesis of psoriasis, gene expression in 10 skin (5 lesional, 5 nonlesional) and 11 blood (6 psoriatic, 5 nonpsoriatic) samples were examined using Affymetrix HG-U95A microarrays. We detected 535 (425 upregulated, 110 downregulated) DEGs in lesional skin at 1% false discovery rate (FDR). Combining nine microarray studies comparing lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin, 34.5% of dysregulated genes were overlapped in multiple studies. We further identified 20 skin and 2 blood associated transcriptional "hot spots" at specified genomic locations. At 5% FDR, 11.8% skin and 10.4% blood DEGs in our study mapped to one of the 12 PSORS loci. DEGs that overlap with PSORS loci may offer prioritized targets for downstream genetic fine mapping studies. Novel DEG "hot spots" may provide new targets for defining susceptibility loci in future studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Functions of accessory cells in B cell responses to thymus-independent antigens

The Journal of Immunology

The functions of adherent accessory (A) cells in thymus-independent (TI) B cell activation were i... more The functions of adherent accessory (A) cells in thymus-independent (TI) B cell activation were investigated using homogeneous A cell lines with distinct cell surface and functional characteristics, as well as inhibitors of antigen processing and interleukin 1 (IL 1) secretion. B cell responses to both type 1 and type 2 TI antigens were found to be strictly A cell dependent. Only A cells capable of IL 1 secretion could restore responsiveness in A cell-depleted spleen cells, regardless of Ia expression or antigen-processing capability. Moreover, recombinant IL 1 completely replaced A cell function in B cell responses to both TI 1 and TI 2 antigens. Finally, T cell depletion did not diminish the reconstitution by IL 1. Thus in contrast to T cell activation, IL 1 secretion is the only A cell function required in TI B cell activation, and the data are consistent with a direct role for IL 1 in B cell activation.

Research paper thumbnail of Advances in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus and Dermatomyositis: A Report from the 4th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus—An Ongoing Need for International Consensus and Collaborations

Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2018

The 4 th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ICCLE) was held from May 20 t... more The 4 th International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ICCLE) was held from May 20 to 21 in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with the International Investigative Dermatology Meeting. Members of the steering committee were David Fiorentino, Manabu Fujimoto, Joerg Wenzel and the overall meeting organizer, Victoria P. Werth. Concha et al.

Research paper thumbnail of Diagnosis and Management of Pemphigus: recommendations by an International Panel of Experts

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Jan 10, 2018

Several European countries recently developed international diagnostic and management guidelines ... more Several European countries recently developed international diagnostic and management guidelines for pemphigus, which have been instrumental in the standardization of pemphigus management, OBJECTIVE: We now present results from a subsequent Delphi consensus to broaden the generalizability of recommendations. A preliminary survey, based on the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) guidelines, was sent to a panel of international experts to determine the level of consensus. The results were discussed at the International Bullous Diseases Consensus Group in March 2016 during the annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) conference. A second survey was sent following the meeting to more experts to achieve greater international consensus. The 39 experts participated in the first round of the Delphi-survey while 54 from 21 countries completed the second round. The number of statements in the survey was reduced from 175 topics in...

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide gene expression dataset used to identify potential therapeutic targets in androgenetic alopecia

Research paper thumbnail of Meeting Report of the Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting in Munich, September 2016

The Journal of investigative dermatology, Jun 1, 2017

Autoimmune blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of about a dozen complex disorders that ... more Autoimmune blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of about a dozen complex disorders that are characterized by intraepidermal (pemphigus) and subepidermal blistering (pemphigoid diseases and dermatitis herpetiformis). The Pathogenesis of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Meeting, organized by the Departments of Dermatology in Lübeck and Marburg and the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Munich, was held in September 2016 in Munich. The meeting brought together basic scientists and clinicians from all continents dedicating their work to autoimmune blistering diseases. Considerable advances have been made in describing incidences and prevalences of these diseases and linking comorbidities with autoantibody reactivities and clinical variants, for example, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor-associated noninflammatory bullous pemphigoid. Although new entities are still being described, diagnosis of most autoimmune blistering diseases can now be achieved using standardized and widely ava...

Research paper thumbnail of Vitiligo blood transcriptomics provides new insights into disease mechanisms and identifies potential novel therapeutic targets

BMC genomics, Jan 28, 2017

Significant gaps remain regarding the pathomechanisms underlying the autoimmune response in vitil... more Significant gaps remain regarding the pathomechanisms underlying the autoimmune response in vitiligo (VL), where the loss of self-tolerance leads to the targeted killing of melanocytes. Specifically, there is incomplete information regarding alterations in the systemic environment that are relevant to the disease state. We undertook a genome-wide profiling approach to examine gene expression in the peripheral blood of VL patients and healthy controls in the context of our previously published VL-skin gene expression profile. We used several in silico bioinformatics-based analyses to provide new insights into disease mechanisms and suggest novel targets for future therapy. Unsupervised clustering methods of the VL-blood dataset demonstrate a "disease-state"-specific set of co-expressed genes. Ontology enrichment analysis of 99 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) uncovers a down-regulated immune/inflammatory response, B-Cell antigen receptor (BCR) pathways, apoptosis and c...

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide transcriptional profiling data from skin of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) patients

Data in Brief, 2015

The disease Lupus erythematosus (LE), exhibits a variety of clinical manifestations with potentia... more The disease Lupus erythematosus (LE), exhibits a variety of clinical manifestations with potentially wide-ranging multi-organ damage to joints, tendons, kidney, lung, heart, blood vessels, central nervous system and skin [1,2] Systemic changes are likely to trigger organ specific manifestation of the disease. Here, we provide the data examined to address the gap in knowledge regarding causes and mechanisms contributing to the autoimmune attack on skin in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). The raw gene expression data files (CEL files) are provided with this article [3].

Research paper thumbnail of Monopathogenic vs multipathogenic explanations of pemphigus pathophysiology

Experimental Dermatology, 2016

This viewpoint highlights major, partly controversial concepts about the pathogenesis of pemphigu... more This viewpoint highlights major, partly controversial concepts about the pathogenesis of pemphigus. The monopathogenic theory explains intra-epidermal blistering through the "desmoglein (Dsg) compensation" hypothesis, according to which an antibodydependent disabling of Dsg 1-and/or Dsg 3-mediated cell-cell attachments of keratinocytes (KCs) is sufficient to disrupt epidermal integrity and cause blistering. The multipathogenic theory explains intra-epidermal blistering through the "multiple hit" hypothesis stating that a simultaneous and synchronized inactivation of the physiological mechanisms regulating and/or mediating intercellular adhesion of KCs is necessary to disrupt epidermal integrity. The major premise for a multipathogenic theory is that a single type of autoantibody induces only reversible changes, so that affected KCs can recover due to a self-repair. The damage, however, becomes irreversible when the salvage pathway and/or other cell functions are altered by a partnering autoantibody and/or other pathogenic factors. Future studies are needed to (i) corroborate these findings, (ii) characterize in detail patient populations with non-Dsgspecific autoantibodies, and (iii) determine the extent of the contribution of non-Dsg antibodies in disease pathophysiology.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiplexed autoantigen microarrays identify HLA as a key driver of anti-desmoglein and -non-desmoglein reactivities in pemphigus

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2016

Patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) harbor antibodies reactive against self-antigens expressed ... more Patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) harbor antibodies reactive against self-antigens expressed at the surface of keratinocytes, primarily desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and, to a lesser extent, Dsg1. Conventionally, only antibodies targeting these molecules have been thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis. This notion has been challenged by a growing pool of evidence that suggests that antibodies toward additional targets may play a role in disease. The aims of this study were to (i) establish high-throughput protein microarray technology as a method to investigate traditional and putative autoantibodies (autoAbs) in PV and (ii) use multiplexed protein array technology to define the scope and specificity of the autoAb response in PV. Our analysis demonstrated significant IgG reactivity in patients with PV toward the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes 3, 4, and 5 as well as thyroid peroxidase. Furthermore, we found that healthy first- and second-degree relatives of patients with...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a disease registry for autoimmune bullous diseases: initial analysis of the pemphigus vulgaris subset

Acta dermato-venereologica, Jan 15, 2015

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, potentially life threate-ning, autoimmune blistering skin dise... more Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, potentially life threate-ning, autoimmune blistering skin disease. The International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) has recently developed a disease registry with the aim to enhance our understanding of autoimmune bullous diseases with the long-term goal of acquiring information to improve patient care. Patients were recruited to the IPPF disease registry through direct mail, e-mail, advertisements, and articles in the IPPF-quarterly, -website, -Facebook webpage, and IPPF Peer Health Coaches to complete a 38-question survey. We present here the initial analysis of detailed clinical information collected on 393 PV patients. We report previously unrecognized gender differences in terms of lesion location, autoimmune comorbidity, and delay in diagnosis. The IPPF disease registry serves as a useful resource and guide for future clinical investigation.

Research paper thumbnail of Cellular level robotic surgery: Nanodissection of intermediate filaments in live keratinocytes

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 2015

We present the nanosurgery on the cytoskeleton of live cells using AFM based nanorobotics to achi... more We present the nanosurgery on the cytoskeleton of live cells using AFM based nanorobotics to achieve adhesiolysis and mimic the effect of pathophysiological modulation of intercellular adhesion. Nanosurgery successfully severs the intermediate filament bundles and disrupts cell-cell adhesion similar to the desmosomal protein disassembly in autoimmune disease, or the cationic modulation of desmosome formation. Our nanomechanical analysis revealed that adhesion loss results in a decrease in cellular stiffness in both, the case of biochemical modulation of the desmosome junctions or mechanical disruption of intercellular adhesion, supporting the notion that intercellular adhesion through intermediate filaments anchors the cell structure as focal adhesion does and that intermediate filaments are integral components in cell mechanical integrity. The surgical process could potentially help reveal the mechanism of autoimmune pathologyinduced cell-cell adhesion loss as well as its related pathways that lead to cell apoptosis.

Research paper thumbnail of BEID: Database for sequence-structure-function information on antigen-antibody interactions

Bioinformation, 2008

The B-cell Epitope Interaction Database (BEID; http://datam.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/BEID) is an open-ac... more The B-cell Epitope Interaction Database (BEID; http://datam.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/BEID) is an open-access database describing sequence-structure-function information on immunoglobulin (Ig)-antigen interactions. The current version of the database contains 164 antigens, 126 Ig and 189 Ig-antigen complexes extracted from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Each entry is manually verified, classified, and analyzed for intermolecular interactions between antigens and the corresponding bound Ig molecules. Ig-antigen interaction information that is stored in BEID includes solvent accessibility, hydrogen bonds, nonhydrogen bonds, gap volume, gap index, interface area and contact residues. The database can be searched with a userfriendly search tool and schematic diagrams for Ig-antigen interactions are available for download in PDF format. The ultimate purpose of BEID is to enhance the understanding of the rules of engagement between antigen and the corresponding bound Ig molecules. It is also a precious data source for developing computational predictors for B-cell epitopes.

Research paper thumbnail of How a single amino acid change may alter the immunological information of a peptide

Introduction 3. Methods 4. Results 4.1. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immu... more Introduction 3. Methods 4. Results 4.1. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immune recognition 4.2. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and immunogenicity/pathogenicity 4.3. Single amino acid changes, proteomic similarity, and therapeutic peptides 5. Discussion 6. Contributions 7. References

Research paper thumbnail of Cell death: Apoptosis versus necrosis (Review)

International Journal of Oncology, 2002

Cell death and the subsequent post-mortem changes, called necrosis, are integral parts of normal ... more Cell death and the subsequent post-mortem changes, called necrosis, are integral parts of normal development and maturation cycle. Despite the importance of this process, the mechanisms underlying cell death are still poorly understood. In the recent literature, cell death is said to occur by two alternative, opposite modes: apoptosis, a programmed, managed form of cell death, and necrosis, an unordered and accidental form of cellular dying. The incorrect consequence is the overlapping of: a) the process whereby cells die, cell death; and b) the changes that the cells and tissues undergo after the cells die. Only the latter process can be referred to as necrosis and represents a 'no return' process in cell life. In this review, we discuss the excellent basic research developed in this field during last decades and problems that remain to be resolved in defining both experimentally and mechanicistically the events that lead to and characterize cell death. Contents 1. Introduction 2. The pathobiology of cell death 3. The biochemistry of cell death 4. The genetics of cell death 5. Apoptosis versus necrosis: the misconceptions 6. Cell death and cancer development 7. Conclusions 1. Introduction Cell death is part of normal development and maturation cycle, and is the component of many response patterns of living tissues to xenobiotic agents (i.e. micro organisms and chemicals) and to endogenous modulations, such as inflammation and disturbed blood supply (1,2). Cell death is an important variable in cancer development, cancer prevention and cancer therapy (3-5). In the treatment of cancer, the major approach is the removal, by surgery, of the neoplasm and/or the induction of cell death in neoplastic cells by radiation, toxic chemicals, antibodies and/or cells of the immune system (6-9). On the other hand, this pathobiological process remains poorly understood and the physiological and biochemical factors that lead to cell death are still not clear. One main factor is the existing confusion between 'apoptosis' process, as compared and contrasted with 'necrosis', leading to the overlapping of the ante mortem changes, i.e. the process of cell death, and the post-mortem changes, i.e. the necrosis process. 2. The pathobiology of cell death The elegant scientific exploration of sub-cellular molecular anatomy of the last decades have reinforced the cell concept as 'the smallest integrating unit in biology: a pseudo-intelligent computer that receives, screens, changes, reacts to and adapts to a host of environmental signals, all of this activity apparently

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of distinct murine T-cell receptors in the autoimmune encephalitogenic response to nested epitopes of myelin basic protein

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1988

The peptide p89-101 (Val-His-Phe-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ile-Val-Thr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Pro) of myelin basic protein... more The peptide p89-101 (Val-His-Phe-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ile-Val-Thr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Pro) of myelin basic protein is encephalitogenic in mice expressing H-2q and H-2s antigens. Six of 13 encephalitogen-specific T-cell clones were shown to express the variable beta-chain (V beta) 17a gene product (KJ23a+), whereas seven clones were KJ23a-. Both KJ23a+ and KJ23a- subpopulations were encephalitogenic in SJL/J mice when adoptively transferred. Depletion of KJ23a+ cells in vivo with the administration of the antibody KJ23a suppresses experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced with KJ23a+ T-cell lines. However, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced with either (i) encephalitogenic peptide p89-101, (ii) intact myelin basic protein, or (iii) KJ23a- T cells reactive to p89-101 cannot be prevented with monoclonal antibody KJ23a. These data indicate that in spite of the V beta 17a gene expression in a relatively large proportion of p89-101-specific T cells, such V beta gene use is not essential...

Research paper thumbnail of NMR probing of in silico identification of anti-HPV16 E7 mAb linear peptide epitope

Peptides, 2004

A proteomics-based approach was exploited in order to individuate peptide sequences having the im... more A proteomics-based approach was exploited in order to individuate peptide sequences having the immunogenic potential to evoke humoral response. The epitope search utilized two parameters: the similarity level of the peptide sequence to the host's proteins, and the peptide capability to bind to the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. By this approach, the human papillomavirus 16 E7 49-63 RAHYNIVTFCCKCDS peptide was individuated as the immunogenic epitope recognized by an anti-HPV16 E7 monoclonal antibody raised against the full-length viral oncoprotein. In this report, two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic experiments unequivocally probe the HPV16 E7 epitope individuation.

Research paper thumbnail of Consensus statement on definitions of disease, end points, and therapeutic response for pemphigus

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008

Our scientific knowledge of pemphigus has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despi... more Our scientific knowledge of pemphigus has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despite the availability of various therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, only a few multicenter controlled trials have helped to define effective therapies in pemphigus. A major obstacle in comparing therapeutic outcomes between centers is the lack of generally accepted definitions and measurements for the clinical evaluation of pemphigus patients. Common terms and endpoints of pemphigus are needed so that experts in the field can accurately measure and assess disease extent, activity, severity, and therapeutic response, and thus facilitate and advance clinical trials This consensus statement from the International Pemphigus Committee represents two years of collaborative efforts to attain mutually acceptable common definitions for pemphigus. These should assist in development of consistent reporting of outcomes in future studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Definitions and outcome measures for bullous pemphigoid: Recommendations by an international panel of experts

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2012

Our scientific knowledge of bullous pemphigoid (BP) has dramatically progressed in recent years. ... more Our scientific knowledge of bullous pemphigoid (BP) has dramatically progressed in recent years. However, despite the availability of various therapeutic options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, only a few multicenter controlled trials have helped to define effective therapies in BP. A major obstacle in sharing multicenter-based evidences for therapeutic efforts is the lack of generally accepted definitions for the clinical evaluation of patients with BP. Common terms and end points of BP are needed so that experts in the field can accurately measure and assess disease extent, activity, severity, and therapeutic response, and thus facilitate and advance clinical trials. These recommendations from the International Pemphigoid Committee represent 2 years of collaborative efforts to attain mutually acceptable common definitions for BP and proposes a disease extent score, the BP Disease Area Index. These items should assist in the development of consistent reporting of outcomes in future BP reports and studies.

Research paper thumbnail of Quantitative Analysis of Human Keratinocyte Cell Elasticity Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience, 2011

This paper presents the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and quantify the dynami... more This paper presents the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and quantify the dynamics of epithelial cell junction interactions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions at the nanoscale. Desmosomal junctions are specialized structures critical to cellular adhesion within epithelial tissues. Disassembly of these junctions is seen consequent to the development of autoantibodies directed at specific desmosomal proteins in blistering skin diseases such as Pemphigus. However, these structures are complex and mechanically inhomogeneous, making it difficult to study and the mechanisms of autoantibody mediated keratinocyte disassembly remain largely unknown. Here, we have used AFM system to image and measure the mechanical property of living skin epithelial cells in culture. We demonstrate that the force measurement data can possibly distinguish the cell with different antibody treatment. Our demonstration of the use of AFM for in situ imaging and elasticity measurement positioned us to begin to investigate disease mechanisms and monitor therapeutic strategies in blistering skin diseases in much greater detail, to meet the demands for understanding disease pathology at the local, or tissue level.

Research paper thumbnail of Global transcriptional analysis of psoriatic skin and blood confirms known disease-associated pathways and highlights novel genomic “hot spots” for differentially expressed genes

Genomics, 2012

There are major gaps in our knowledge regarding the exact mechanisms and genetic basis of psorias... more There are major gaps in our knowledge regarding the exact mechanisms and genetic basis of psoriasis. To investigate the pathogenesis of psoriasis, gene expression in 10 skin (5 lesional, 5 nonlesional) and 11 blood (6 psoriatic, 5 nonpsoriatic) samples were examined using Affymetrix HG-U95A microarrays. We detected 535 (425 upregulated, 110 downregulated) DEGs in lesional skin at 1% false discovery rate (FDR). Combining nine microarray studies comparing lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin, 34.5% of dysregulated genes were overlapped in multiple studies. We further identified 20 skin and 2 blood associated transcriptional "hot spots" at specified genomic locations. At 5% FDR, 11.8% skin and 10.4% blood DEGs in our study mapped to one of the 12 PSORS loci. DEGs that overlap with PSORS loci may offer prioritized targets for downstream genetic fine mapping studies. Novel DEG "hot spots" may provide new targets for defining susceptibility loci in future studies.