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Hunger J, Schregel K, Boztepe B, Agardy DA, Turco V, Karimian-Jazi K, Weidenfeld I, Streibel Y, Fischer M, Sturm V, Santarella-Mellwig R, Kilian M, Jähne K, Sahm K, Wick W, Bunse L, Heiland S, Bunse T, Bendszus M, Platten M, Breckwoldt MO. In vivo nanoparticle-based T cell imaging can predict therapy response towards adoptive T cell therapy in experimental glioma. Theranostics 2023; 13:5170-5182. [PMID: 37908732 PMCID: PMC10614679 DOI: 10.7150/thno.87248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Intrinsic brain tumors, such as gliomas are largely resistant to immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockade. Adoptive cell therapies (ACT) including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic T cell therapy targeting glioma-associated antigens are an emerging field in glioma immunotherapy. However, imaging techniques for non-invasive monitoring of adoptively transferred T cells homing to the glioma microenvironment are currently lacking. Methods: Ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) can be visualized non-invasively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dedicated MRI sequences such as T2* mapping. Here, we develop a protocol for efficient ex vivo labeling of murine and human TCR-transgenic and CAR T cells with iron oxide NPs. We assess labeling efficiency and T cell functionality by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). NP labeled T cells are visualized by MRI at 9.4 T in vivo after adoptive T cell transfer and correlated with 3D models of cleared brains obtained by light sheet microscopy (LSM). Results: NP are incorporated into T cells in subcellular cytoplasmic vesicles with high labeling efficiency without interfering with T cell viability, proliferation and effector function as assessed by cytokine secretion and antigen-specific killing assays in vitro. We further demonstrate that adoptively transferred T cells can be longitudinally monitored intratumorally by high field MRI at 9.4 Tesla in a murine glioma model with high sensitivity. We find that T cell influx and homogenous spatial distribution of T cells within the TME as assessed by T2* imaging predicts tumor response to ACT whereas incomplete T cell coverage results in treatment resistance. Conclusion: This study showcases a rational for monitoring adoptive T cell therapies non-invasively by iron oxide NP in gliomas to track intratumoral T cell influx and ultimately predict treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hunger
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Schregel
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Berin Boztepe
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dennis Alexander Agardy
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Verena Turco
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Ina Weidenfeld
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Streibel
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Fischer
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Sturm
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Kilian
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Kristine Jähne
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katharina Sahm
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, DKTK within DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Bunse
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Theresa Bunse
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Platten
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael O. Breckwoldt
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Schregel K, Heinz L, Hunger J, Pan C, Bode J, Fischer M, Sturm V, Venkataramani V, Karimian-Jazi K, Agardy DA, Streibel Y, Zerelles R, Wick W, Heiland S, Bunse T, Tews B, Platten M, Winkler F, Bendszus M, Breckwoldt MO. A Cellular Ground Truth to Develop MRI Signatures in Glioma Models by Correlative Light Sheet Microscopy and Atlas-Based Coregistration. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5574-5587. [PMID: 37429718 PMCID: PMC10376935 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1470-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor with poor overall survival. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the main imaging modality for glioblastoma but has inherent shortcomings. The molecular and cellular basis of MR signals is incompletely understood. We established a ground truth-based image analysis platform to coregister MRI and light sheet microscopy (LSM) data to each other and to an anatomic reference atlas for quantification of 20 predefined anatomic subregions. Our pipeline also includes a segmentation and quantification approach for single myeloid cells in entire LSM datasets. This method was applied to three preclinical glioma models in male and female mice (GL261, U87MG, and S24), which exhibit different key features of the human glioma. Multiparametric MR data including T2-weighted sequences, diffusion tensor imaging, T2 and T2* relaxometry were acquired. Following tissue clearing, LSM focused on the analysis of tumor cell density, microvasculature, and innate immune cell infiltration. Correlated analysis revealed differences in quantitative MRI metrics between the tumor-bearing and the contralateral hemisphere. LSM identified tumor subregions that differed in their MRI characteristics, indicating tumor heterogeneity. Interestingly, MRI signatures, defined as unique combinations of different MRI parameters, differed greatly between the models. The direct correlation of MRI and LSM allows an in-depth characterization of preclinical glioma and can be used to decipher the structural, cellular, and, likely, molecular basis of tumoral MRI biomarkers. Our approach may be applied in other preclinical brain tumor or neurologic disease models, and the derived MRI signatures could ultimately inform image interpretation in a clinical setting.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We established a histologic ground truth-based approach for MR image analyses and tested this method in three preclinical glioma models exhibiting different features of glioblastoma. Coregistration of light sheet microscopy to MRI allowed for an evaluation of quantitative MRI data in histologically distinct tumor subregions. Coregistration to a mouse brain atlas enabled a regional comparison of MRI parameters with a histologically informed interpretation of the results. Our approach is transferable to other preclinical models of brain tumors and further neurologic disorders. The method can be used to decipher the structural, cellular, and molecular basis of MRI signal characteristics. Ultimately, information derived from such analyses could strengthen the neuroradiological evaluation of glioblastoma as they enhance the interpretation of MRI data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schregel
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lennart Heinz
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Hunger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chenchen Pan
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Bode
- Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Fischer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Sturm
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kianush Karimian-Jazi
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dennis A Agardy
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yannik Streibel
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Zerelles
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Theresa Bunse
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Björn Tews
- Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion, Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Platten
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael O Breckwoldt
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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3
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Turco V, Pfleiderer K, Hunger J, Horvat NK, Karimian-Jazi K, Schregel K, Fischer M, Brugnara G, Jähne K, Sturm V, Streibel Y, Nguyen D, Altamura S, Agardy DA, Soni SS, Alsasa A, Bunse T, Schlesner M, Muckenthaler MU, Weissleder R, Wick W, Heiland S, Vollmuth P, Bendszus M, Rodell CB, Breckwoldt MO, Platten M. T cell-independent eradication of experimental glioma by intravenous TLR7/8-agonist-loaded nanoparticles. Nat Commun 2023; 14:771. [PMID: 36774352 PMCID: PMC9922247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor type, is considered an immunologically "cold" tumor with sparse infiltration by adaptive immune cells. Immunosuppressive tumor-associated myeloid cells are drivers of tumor progression. Therefore, targeting and reprogramming intratumoral myeloid cells is an appealing therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigate a β-cyclodextrin nanoparticle (CDNP) formulation encapsulating the Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 (TLR7/8) agonist R848 (CDNP-R848) to reprogram myeloid cells in the glioma microenvironment. We show that intravenous monotherapy with CDNP-R848 induces regression of established syngeneic experimental glioma, resulting in increased survival rates compared with unloaded CDNP controls. Mechanistically, CDNP-R848 treatment reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and orchestrates tumor clearing by pro-inflammatory tumor-associated myeloid cells, independently of T cells and NK cells. Using serial magnetic resonance imaging, we identify a radiomic signature in response to CDNP-R848 treatment and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) imaging reveals that immunosuppressive macrophage recruitment is reduced by CDNP-R848. In conclusion, CDNP-R848 induces tumor regression in experimental glioma by targeting blood-borne macrophages without requiring adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Turco
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany.,Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kira Pfleiderer
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Hunger
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie K Horvat
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg University, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kianush Karimian-Jazi
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Schregel
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Fischer
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gianluca Brugnara
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristine Jähne
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Volker Sturm
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Streibel
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duy Nguyen
- Junior Research Group Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandro Altamura
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg University, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dennis A Agardy
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shreya S Soni
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Abdulrahman Alsasa
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Theresa Bunse
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Junior Research Group Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Biomedical Informatics, Data Mining and Data Analytics, Faculty of Applied Computer Science and Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Martina U Muckenthaler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg University, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, DKTK within DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Vollmuth
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christopher B Rodell
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael O Breckwoldt
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Michael Platten
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) within the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany.
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