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Stadler CR, Ellinghaus U, Fischer L, Bähr-Mahmud H, Rao M, Lindemann C, Chaturvedi A, Scharf C, Biermann I, Hebich B, Malz A, Beresin G, Falck G, Häcker A, Houben A, Erdeljan M, Wolf K, Kullmann M, Chang P, Türeci Ö, Şahin U. Preclinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of an RNA-encoded T cell-engaging bispecific antibody targeting human claudin 6. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadl2720. [PMID: 38776391 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adl2720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
We present the preclinical pharmacology of BNT142, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated RNA (RNA-LNP) encoding a T cell-engaging bispecific antibody that monovalently binds the T cell marker CD3 and bivalently binds claudin 6 (CLDN6), an oncofetal antigen that is absent from normal adult tissue but expressed on various solid tumors. Upon BNT142 RNA-LNP delivery in cell culture, mice, and cynomolgus monkeys, RNA is translated, followed by self-assembly into and secretion of the functional bispecific antibody RiboMab02.1. In vitro, RiboMab02.1 mediated CLDN6 target cell-specific activation and proliferation of T cells, and potent target cell killing. In mice and cynomolgus monkeys, intravenously administered BNT142 RNA-LNP maintained therapeutic serum concentrations of the encoded antibody. Concentrations of RNA-encoded RiboMab02.1 were maintained longer in circulation in mice than concentrations of directly injected, sequence-identical protein. Weekly injections of mice with BNT142 RNA-LNP in the 0.1- to 1-μg dose range were sufficient to eliminate CLDN6-positive subcutaneous human xenograft tumors and increase survival over controls. Tumor regression was associated with an influx of T cells and depletion of CLDN6-positive cells. BNT142 induced only transient and low cytokine production in CLDN6-positive tumor-bearing mice humanized with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). No signs of adverse effects from BNT142 RNA-LNP administration were observed in mice or cynomolgus monkeys. On the basis of these and other findings, a phase 1/2 first-in-human clinical trial has been initiated to assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of BNT142 RNA-LNP in patients with CLDN6-positive advanced solid tumors (NCT05262530).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leyla Fischer
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Martin Rao
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Imke Biermann
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Georg Beresin
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Georg Falck
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Aline Häcker
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Astrid Houben
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Kristina Wolf
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Philip Chang
- BioNTech US Inc., 40 Erie Street, Suite 110, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Özlem Türeci
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- HI-TRON (Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology) Mainz by DKFZ, Obere Zahlbacherstr. 63, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Uğur Şahin
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- HI-TRON (Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology) Mainz by DKFZ, Obere Zahlbacherstr. 63, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- TRON gGmbH-Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Freiligrathstraße 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center (UMC) of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Obere Zahlbacherstr. 63, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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2
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Bi L, Ai C, Zhang H, Chen Z, Deng Y, Xiong J, Lv Z. Prognostic characteristics of T-cell mediated cell killing-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma. Autoimmunity 2023; 56:2250097. [PMID: 37624966 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2023.2250097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Constituted by various heterogeneous cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is capable of promoting tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through extensive crosstalk. The pivotal factor influencing the survival time of patients and their response to immunotherapy lies in the intratumoral immune environment. We obtained 112 differential genes related to T cell-mediated tumor killing in LUAD by employing bioinformatics analysis on the basis of the TCGA and TISIDB databases. Then the 6-gene prognostic risk score model (CA9, OIP5, TIMP1, SEC11C, FURIN, and TLR10) was constructed by conducting univariate LASSO as well as multivariate Cox regression analyses. The median risk score was taken as the threshold to classify the samples into two groups. Survival analysis revealed that the low-risk group exhibited a more favorable prognosis. Subsequently, the Cox regression analysis combined with clinical information (age, gender, and pathological stage) and the risk score of LUAD patients demonstrated the potential of this model as an independent prognostic factor. The nomogram established based on clinical information and a risk score in combination with the calibration curve indicated that this model had good predictive ability. Notable enrichment of the differential genes from the high- and low-risk groups was discovered in immune-associated processes or pathways, as shown by the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. The combined use of single-sample gene enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and immunophenoscore (IPS) demonstrated heightened immune infiltration and IPS scores in the low-risk group, indicating that immunotherapy was likely to show good efficacy in patients from this group. To sum up, the prognostic model of LUAD constructed based on T-cell-mediated cell killing-related genes was not only capable of screening the prognosis of LUAD patients but was also used for screening those LUAD patients with high sensitivity to immunotherapy. Our study offered novel insights into the clinical treatment and prognostic prediction of LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Bi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Ai
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhengyu Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yiping Deng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongzhu Lv
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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3
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Hattori T, Maso L, Araki KY, Koide A, Hayman J, Akkapeddi P, Bang I, Neel BG, Koide S. Creating MHC-Restricted Neoantigens with Covalent Inhibitors That Can Be Targeted by Immune Therapy. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:132-145. [PMID: 36250888 PMCID: PMC9827112 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular oncoproteins can be inhibited with targeted therapy, but responses are not durable. Immune therapies can be curative, but most oncogene-driven tumors are unresponsive to these agents. Fragments of intracellular oncoproteins can act as neoantigens presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), but recognizing minimal differences between oncoproteins and their normal counterparts is challenging. We have established a platform technology that exploits hapten-peptide conjugates generated by covalent inhibitors to create distinct neoantigens that selectively mark cancer cells. Using the FDA-approved covalent inhibitors sotorasib and osimertinib, we developed "HapImmune" antibodies that bind to drug-peptide conjugate/MHC complexes but not to the free drugs. A HapImmune-based bispecific T-cell engager selectively and potently kills sotorasib-resistant lung cancer cells upon sotorasib treatment. Notably, it is effective against KRASG12C-mutant cells with different HLA supertypes, HLA-A*02 and A*03/11, suggesting loosening of MHC restriction. Our strategy creates targetable neoantigens by design, unifying targeted and immune therapies. SIGNIFICANCE Targeted therapies against oncoproteins often have dramatic initial efficacy but lack durability. Immunotherapies can be curative, yet most tumors fail to respond. We developed a generalizable technology platform that exploits hapten-peptides generated by covalent inhibitors as neoantigens presented on MHC to enable engineered antibodies to selectively kill drug-resistant cancer cells. See related commentary by Cox et al., p. 19. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamitsu Hattori
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Lorenzo Maso
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Kiyomi Y. Araki
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Akiko Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York.,Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - James Hayman
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Padma Akkapeddi
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Injin Bang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Benjamin G. Neel
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York.,Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Corresponding Authors: Shohei Koide, Smilow Research Center, Room 1105, 522 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Phone: 646-501-4601; E-mail: ; and Benjamin G. Neel, Smilow Research Center, Suite 1201, 522 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Phone: 212-263-3019; E-mail:
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Corresponding Authors: Shohei Koide, Smilow Research Center, Room 1105, 522 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Phone: 646-501-4601; E-mail: ; and Benjamin G. Neel, Smilow Research Center, Suite 1201, 522 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Phone: 212-263-3019; E-mail:
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Kühl L, Schäfer AK, Kraft S, Aschmoneit N, Kontermann RE, Seifert O. eIg-based bispecific T-cell engagers targeting EGFR: Format matters. MAbs 2023; 15:2183540. [PMID: 36864566 PMCID: PMC9988351 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2183540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies are molecules with versatile modes of action and applications for therapy. They are commonly developed as T-cell engagers (TCE), which simultaneously target an antigen expressed by tumor cells and CD3 expressed by T-cells, thereby inducing T-cell-mediated target cell killing. There is growing evidence that the molecular composition and valency for the target antigen influence the activity of TCEs. Here, the eIg platform technology was used to generate a set of bispecific TCEs targeting epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and CD3. These molecules either included or lacked an Fc region and exhibited one binding site for CD3 and either one or two binding sites for EGFR (1 + 1 or 2 + 1 formats) utilizing different molecular arrangements of the binding sites. In total, 11 different TCE formats were analyzed for binding to target cells and T cells, T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells, and for the activation of T cells (release of cytokines and proliferation of T-cells). Bivalent binding to EGFR strongly increased binding and T cell-mediated killing. However, the molecular composition and position of the CD3-binding arm also affected target cell killing, cytokine release, and T-cell proliferation. Our findings support that screening of a panel of formats is beneficial to identify the most potent bispecific TCE, and that format matters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Kühl
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Annelie K Schäfer
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kraft
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadine Aschmoneit
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Roland E Kontermann
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Oliver Seifert
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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Gandullo-Sánchez L, Ocaña A, Pandiella A. HER3 in cancer: from the bench to the bedside. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:310. [PMID: 36271429 PMCID: PMC9585794 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02515-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The HER3 protein, that belongs to the ErbB/HER receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, is expressed in several types of tumors. That fact, together with the role of HER3 in promoting cell proliferation, implicate that targeting HER3 may have therapeutic relevance. Furthermore, expression and activation of HER3 has been linked to resistance to drugs that target other HER receptors such as agents that act on EGFR or HER2. In addition, HER3 has been associated to resistance to some chemotherapeutic drugs. Because of those circumstances, efforts to develop and test agents targeting HER3 have been carried out. Two types of agents targeting HER3 have been developed. The most abundant are antibodies or engineered antibody derivatives that specifically recognize the extracellular region of HER3. In addition, the use of aptamers specifically interacting with HER3, vaccines or HER3-targeting siRNAs have also been developed. Here we discuss the state of the art of the preclinical and clinical development of drugs aimed at targeting HER3 with therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Gandullo-Sánchez
- grid.428472.f0000 0004 1794 2467Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC, IBSAL and CIBERONC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alberto Ocaña
- grid.411068.a0000 0001 0671 5785Hospital Clínico San Carlos and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Atanasio Pandiella
- grid.428472.f0000 0004 1794 2467Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC, IBSAL and CIBERONC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Kühl L, Aschmoneit N, Kontermann RE, Seifert O. The eIg technology to generate Ig-like bispecific antibodies. MAbs 2022; 14:2063043. [PMID: 35427197 PMCID: PMC9037507 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2063043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies have emerged as therapeutic molecules with a multitude of modes of action and applications. Here, we present a novel approach to solve the light-chain problem for the generation of bispecific Ig-like antibodies using the second constant domain of IgE (EHD2) genetically modified to force heterodimerization. This was achieved by introducing a C14S mutation in one domain and a C102S mutation in the other domain, which removed of one of the crossover disulfide bonds. Substituting the CH1 and CL domains of an antigen binding fragment (Fab) with these heterodimerizing EHD2 (hetEHD2) domains resulted in Fab-like building blocks (eFab). These eFabs were used to generate different bispecific antibodies of varying valency and molecular composition employing variable domains with different specificities and from different origins. Formats included bivalent bispecific IgG-like molecules (eIgs) and Fc-less Fab-eFab fusion proteins, as well as tri- and tetravalent Fab-eIg fusion proteins. All proteins, including bispecific antibodies for dual receptor targeting and for retargeting of T cells, efficiently assembled into functional molecules. Furthermore, none of the hetEHD2-comprising molecules showed binding to the two Fcε receptors and are thus most likely do not induce receptor cross-linking and activation. In summary, we established the eIg technology as a versatile and robust platform for the generation of bispecific antibodies of varying valency, geometry, and composition, suitable for numerous applications. Abbreviations: antibody drug conjugate (ADC), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), constant domain of IgE (Cε), receptor of Cε (CεRI or CεRII), cluster of differentiation (CD), constant domain of heavy chain (CH), constant domain of light chain (CL), (single-chain) diabody ((sc)Db), diabody-immunoglobulin (Db-Ig), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fragment antigen-binding (Fab), Fab with hetEHD2 (eFab), Fab-EHD2 with T121G in chain 1 and S10I in chain 2 (EFab), bispecific Ig domain containing hetEHD2 (eIg), extracellular domain (ECD), epidermal growth factor receptor 1, 2, 3 (EGFR, HER2, HER3), heavy chain domain 2 of IgE (EHD2), EHD2 domain with C102S (EHD2-1), EHD2 domain with C14S and N39Q (EHD2-2), (human or mouse) fragment crystalline ((hu or mo)Fc), heavy chain (HC), heterodimerized second domain of IgE (hetEHD2), high molecular weight (HMW), immunoglobulin (Ig), light chain (LC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET), heavy chain domain 2 of IgM (MHD2), peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), prolactin receptor (PRLP), Stokes radius (RS), single-chain Fragment variable (scFv), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), single-chain TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (scTRAIL), variable domain of heavy chain (VH), variable domain of light chain (VL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Kühl
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadine Aschmoneit
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Roland E. Kontermann
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Oliver Seifert
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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Aschmoneit N, Kühl L, Seifert O, Kontermann RE. Fc-comprising scDb-based trivalent, bispecific T-cell engagers for selective killing of HER3-expressing cancer cells independent of cytokine release. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003616. [PMID: 34782429 PMCID: PMC8593740 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bispecific T-cell engagers are an established therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies but face several challenges when it comes to their application for the treatment of solid tumors, including on-target off-tumor adverse events. Employing an avidity-mediated specificity gain by introducing an additional binding moiety for the tumor-associated antigen can be achieved using formats with a 2+1 stoichiometry. Methods Besides biochemical characterization and validation of target cell binding to cancer cells with different HER3 expression, we used in vitro co-culture assays with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HER3-expressing target cells to determine T-cell activation, T-cell proliferation and PBMC-mediated cancer cell lysis of HER3-positive cell lines by the trivalent, bispecific antibodies. Results In this study, we developed trivalent, bispecific antibodies comprising a silenced Fc region for T-cell retargeting to HER3-expressing tumor cells, combining a bivalent single-chain diabody (scDb) fused to a first heterodimerizing Fc chain with either an Fab or scFv fused to a second heterodimerizing Fc chain. All these HER3-targeting T-cell engagers comprising two binding sites for HER3 and one binding site for CD3 mediated target cell killing. However, format and orientation of binding sites influenced efficacy of target cell binding, target cell-dependent T-cell activation and T-cell-mediated target cell killing. Beneficial effects were seen when the CD3 binding site was located in the scDb moiety. These molecules showed efficient killing of medium HER3-expressing cancer cells with very low induction of cytokine release, while sparing target cells with low or undetectable HER3 expression. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that these trivalent, bispecific antibodies represent formats with superior interdomain spacing resulting in efficient target cell killing and a potential advantageous safety profile due to very low cytokine release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Aschmoneit
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Lennart Kühl
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Oliver Seifert
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Roland E Kontermann
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany .,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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