Hafsa Munir

Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (DKFZ)

Lymph nodes (LNs) are organs of the immune system, critical for maintenance of homeostasis and initiation of immune responses, yet there are few models that accurately recapitulate LN functions in vitro. To tackle this issue, an engineered murine LN (eLN) has been developed, replicating key cellular components of the mouse LN; incorporating primary...

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous immune population with diverse immunosuppressive functions in solid tumors. Here, we explored the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulating MDSC differentiation and immunosuppressive properties via signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα)/CD47 signaling. In a murine melanoma model,...

In this issue of JEM, Podstawka et al. (2021. J. Exp. Med.https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20210409) show that B cells can limit neutrophil responses within the lung microvasculature by marginating and acting on marginated neutrophils. This study provides a new view of B cells and reveals a novel mechanism of cell-mediated intravascular regulation.

Tumors consist of cancer cells and a network of non-cancerous stroma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are known to support tumorigenesis, and are emerging as immune modulators. Neutrophils release histone-bound nuclear DNA and cytotoxic granules as extracellular traps (NET). Here we show that CAFs induce NET formation within the tumor and syste...

Recent advances have identified a growing array of roles played by lymphatics in the tumor microenvironment, from providing a route of metastasis to immune modulation. The tumor microenvironment represents an exceptionally complex, dynamic niche comprised of a diverse mixture of cancer cells and normal host cells termed the stroma. This review disc...

Tumors are comprised of cancer cells and a network of non-cancerous stromal cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are well known to support tumorigenesis and are emerging as immune modulators. While many leukocyte populations are well studied in cancer, neutrophils have received less attention. Neutrophils can release histone-bound nuclear DN...

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are used in therapy, often by injection into the blood. Objective: We aimed to compare the adhesive and migratory properties of MSC from umbilical cords (UCMSC), bone marrow (BMMSC) or trabecular bone (TBMSC), which might influence delivery to injured tissue. Methods: MSC were perfused through glass cap...

This chapter discusses the regulatory role of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) during an inflammatory response. MSC are a heterogeneous population of multipotent cells that normally contribute towards tissue maintenance and repair but have garnered significant scientific interest for their potent immunomodulatory potential. It is through the...

Tumours have developed strategies to interfere with most steps required for anti-tumour immune responses. Although many populations contribute to anti-tumour responses, tumour-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells dominate, hence, many suppressive strategies act to inhibit these. Tumour-associated T cells are frequently restricted to stromal zones rather...

Tumours have developed strategies to interfere with most steps required for anti-tumour immune responses. Although many populations contribute to anti-tumour responses, tumour-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells dominate, hence many suppressive strategies act to inhibit these. Tumour-associated T cells are frequently restricted to stromal zones rather t...

We investigated the adhesive behaviour of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in blood, which might influence their fate when infused as therapy. Isolated human bone marrow (BM) or umbilical cord (UC) MSC adhered efficiently from flow to the matrix proteins, collagen or fibronectin, but did not adhere to endothelial selectins. However, when suspended in b...

Objectives Synovial fibroblasts actively regulate the inflammatory infiltrate by communicating with neighbouring endothelial cells (EC). Surprisingly, little is known about how the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) alters these immunomodulatory properties. We examined the effects of phase of RA and disease outcome (resolving vs persistence)...

Chronic inflammation is associated with formation of ectopic fat deposits that might represent damage-induced aberrant mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Such deposits are associated with increased levels of inflammatory infiltrate and poor prognosis. Here we tested the hypothesis that differentiation from MSC to adipocytes in inflamed ti...

This poster will introduce 3 major topics for international education. 1. English Salon. The English Salon is an academic discussion group held twice a week to encourage active communications between students and foreign staff. From October 2014 to January 2017 there have been 177 sessions held with a total of 690 participants. 2. The Japan Medical...

Erythropoiesis is the physiological process by which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate into erythroid progenitors, erythroblasts and erythrocytes. The RAS-related protein is known to be involved in the proliferation, differentiation and survival of cells. However, its role in erythropoiesis has not yet been reported. In this study, we c...

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, indicating that current cancer therapies are ineffective. Therefore, new treatments with high specificity and low toxicity are needed. Cancerous cells can be distinguished from normal cells based on expression of key proteins, namely surface proteins, scaffold proteins and signaling molec...

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are tissue-resident stromal cells capable of modulating immune responses, including leukocyte recruitment by endothelial cells (EC). However, the comparative potency of MSC from different sources in suppressing recruitment, and the necessity for close contact with endothelium remain uncertain, although these factors...

Background and objectives Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) act as endogenous regulators of the inflammatory infiltrate, communicating with blood vascular endothelial cells (EC) to limit leukocyte recruitment. Indeed exploiting these properties therapeutically is the principle underpinning clinical trials into chronic inflammatory diseases, including rh...

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) possess a range of immunomodulatory properties which they exert via soluble mediators and through direct cell-cell contact. Due to these immune regulatory properties, the safety and clinical efficacy of MSC treatment has been tested in a number of autoimmune disorders. In this review we analyse the current data from ear...

Stromal cells regulate the recruitment of circulating leukocytes during inflammation through cross-talk with neighboring endothelial cells. Here we describe two in vitro “vascular” models for studying the recruitment of circulating neutrophils from flow by inflamed endothelial cells. A major advantage of these models is the ability to analyze each...