Photo of Daniel Appelgren

Daniel Appelgren

Associate Professor

I study mechanisms of cells in the immune system to understand the pathogenesis of inflammatory kidney diseases, focusing on a group of autoimmune diseases called ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Presentation

I analyse the release and inflammatory properties of DNA-protein complexes from the immune system’s neutrophils and T-cells, and how B-cells can regulate inflammation.

The leading cause of end stage renal disease, where dialysis or transplantation is needed for survival, is glomerulonephritis, which is characterised by inflammation of the kidney’s filtration unit, the glomeruli. My research is focused on a group of autoimmune diseases with high incidence of glomerulonephritis (70%); ANCA-associated vasculitis (ANCA=anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies). Excessive production and/or reduced removal rate of extracellular DNA-protein complexes is thought to contribute to inflammation and autoimmune reactions in these diseases. Dysregulated immune regulation contributes to these events.

The purpose with my research is to investigate, interfere with and modulate the release and removal of such structures from cells of the immune system, particularly neutrophils and T-cells, and to study how B-cells can regulate inflammation. This aims not only to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis but also to identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies for treatment. While current treatments can induce remission, about half of the patients experience a relapse within five years, and the mortality rate within this timeframe is 25%. There is therefore a great need for more efficient treatment, and biomarkers to monitor disease activity.

Graphic model

Publications

2023

Daniel Appelgren, Srinivasulu Puli, Thomas Hellmark, Pierre Pochard, Jacques-Olivier Pers, Jan Ernerudh, Per Eriksson, Mårten Segelmark (2023) Regulatory B cells are reduced in the blood in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and fail to regulate T-cell IFN-γproduction Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Vol. 213, p. 190-201 Continue to DOI
Gillian Dao Nyesiga, Lieneke Pool, Pavlos C. Englezou, Terese Hylander, Lars Ohlsson, Daniel Appelgren, Anette Sundstedt, Kristina Tillerkvist, Hanne R. Romedahl, Maria Wigren (2023) Tolerogenic dendritic cells generated in vitro using a novel protocol mimicking mucosal tolerance mechanisms represent a potential therapeutic cell platform for induction of immune tolerance Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 14, Article 1045183 Continue to DOI

2022

Daniel Appelgren, Kim Maree O´Sullivan (2022) Editorial: The role of leukocyte extracellular traps in Inflammation and autoimmunity Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 13, Article 1075026 Continue to DOI

2021

Camilla Skoglund, Daniel Appelgren, Ingela Johansson, Rosaura Casas, Johnny Ludvigsson (2021) Increase of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, Mitochondrial DNA and Nuclear DNA in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Children but Not in High-Risk Children Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 12, Article 628564 Continue to DOI

2020

Giannis Spyrou, Daniel Appelgren, Anders Rosén, Björn Ingelsson (2020) Sizing Up Extracellular DNA: Instant Chromatin Discharge From Cells When Placed in Serum-Free Conditions Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Vol. 8, Article 634 Continue to DOI

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