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Selected publications from the group

List of selected publications from our research group exemplifying the projects we are conducting.

A group of researchers posing around a logo of complement conference in Madrid
The group in Madrid at Complement Worshop

Blom. A. M., Pertoft H. and Fries E. (1995) Inter-a-inhibitor is required for the formation of the hyaluronan-containing coat on fibroblasts and mesothelial cells. J. Biol. Chem.270, 9698-9701.

Blom A. M., Mörgelin M., Öyen M., Jarvet J. and Fries E. (1999) Structural characterization of inter-a-inhibitor - evidence for an extended shape., J. Biol. Chem.274, 298-304.

Blom A. M., Webb J., Villoutreix B. and *Dahlbäck B. (1999) A cluster of positively charged amino acids in the N-terminal modules of C4BP a-chain is crucial for the C4b binding and factor I cofactor function., J. Biol. Chem.274, 19237-19245.

Blom A. M., Berggård K., Webb J. H., Villoutreix B., Lindahl G. and Dahlbäck B. (2000) Human C4b-binding protein has overlapping but not identical binding sites for C4b and streptococcal M-proteins., J. Immunol., 164, 5328-5336.

Webb, J. H., Villoutreix, B. O., Dahlbäck, B. and Blom A. M. (2001) Localization of a hydrophobic binding site for protein S on the b-chain of C4BP., J. Biol. Chem., 276, 4330-433

Ram S., Cullinane M., Blom A. M., Gulati S., McQuillen D. P., Monks B. G., O’ Connell C., Boden R., Elkins Ch., Pangburn M. K., Dahlback B. and Rice P. A. (2001) Binding of C4b-binding protein to porin: A molecular mechanism of serum resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae., J. Exp. Med., 193, 281-295

Blom, A. M.Rytkönen, A., Vasquez, P., Dahlbäck, B. and Johnsson, A-B. (2001) A novel interaction between type IV pili of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and complement regulatory protein - C4b-binding protein., J. Immunol., 166, 6764-6770.

Blom A. M., Kask L. and B. Dahlbäck (2001) Structural requirements for the complement regulatory activities of C4b-binding protein., J. Biol. Chem276, 27136-27144.

Kask L., Hillarp A., Ramesh B., Dahlbäck B., and Blom A. M. (2002) Structural requirements for the intra-cellular subunit polymerization of the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein., Biochemistry41, 9349-9357.

Webb, J.H., Blom A. M. and Dahlbäck B. (2002) Vitamin K-dependent protein S localizing complement regulator C4b-binding protein to the surface of apoptotic cells., J. Immunol169, 2580-2586.

Spiller B. O., Blackbourne, D., Mark L, Proctor D. and *Blom A. M., (2003) Functional activity of the complement regulator encoded by Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus., J. Biol. Chem., 278, 9283-9289.

Blom A. M.Villoutreix B. O, and Dahlbäck B. (2003) Mutations in a-chain of C4BP that selectively affect its Factor I cofactor function., J. Biol. Chem., 278, 43437-43442.

Kask L., Trouw, L., Dahlbäck, B. and Blom A. M. (2004) C4b-binding protein-protein S complex inhibits phagocytosis of apoptotic cells., J. Biol. Chem., 279, 23869-23873.

Mark L., Lee W. H., Villoutreix B. O., Proctor D., Blackbourn, D., Spiller B. O. and Blom A. M. (2004) KSHV complement control protein mimics human molecular mechanisms for inhibition of the complement system., J. Biol. Chem.279.

Trouw L., Nilsson S., Goncalvez I., Landberg G. and Blom A. M. (2005) C4b-binding protein binds to necrotic cells and DNA, which limits DNA release and inhibits complement activation., J. Exp. Med., 201, 1937-1948.

Sjöberg A., Önnerfjord, P., Mörgelin, M., Heinegård, D. and Blom A. M. (2005) Extracellular matrix and inflammation: fibromodulin activates the classical pathway of complement by directly binding C1q., J. Biol. Chem., 280, 32301-8.

Ngampasutadol J., Ram S., Blom A. M., Jarva H., Jerse A. E., Lien E., Goguen J., Gulati S. and Rice P. A. (2005) Human C4b-binding protein selectively interacts with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and results in species-specific infection, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA102, 17142-17147.

Sjöberg A., Trouw L., McGrath F., Hack E. C. and Blom A. M. (2006) Regulation of complement activation by C-reactive protein: targeting of the inhibitory activity of C4b-binding protein., J. Immunol., 176, 7612-20.

Sjöberg A. P., Trouw L., Clark S. J., Sjölander, J., Heinegård D., Sim R. B., Day A. J., and Blom A. M. (2007) Factor H variant associated with age-related macular degeneration (H384) and non-disease-associated form bind differentially to C-reactive protein, fibromodulin, DNA and necrotic cells., J. Biol. Chem.282, 10894-10900.

Hallström T., Jarva H., Riesbeck K., and Blom A. M. (2007) Interaction with C4b-binding protein contributes to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae serum resistance. J. Immunol., 178, 6359-66.

Popadiak K., Potempa J., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2007) Biphasic effect of gingipains from Porphyromonas gingivalis on human complement system., J. Immunol., 178, 7242-50.

Jarva H., Ngampasutadol J., Ram S., Rice P. A., Villoutreix B. O. and Blom A. M. (2007) Molecular characterization of the interaction between porins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and C4b-binding protein., J. Immunol., 179, 540-7.

 Trouw L. A., Bengtsson A., Gelderman K., Dahlbäck B, Sturfelt G. and Blom A. M. (2007) C4b-binding protein and factor H compensate for the loss of membrane bound complement regulators to protect apoptotic cells against complement attack., J. Biol. Chem., 282, 28540-8.

Okroj M., Hsu F., Ajona D., Pio R., Blom A. M. (2008) Non-small cell lung cancer cells produce a functional set of complement factor I and its soluble cofactors., Mol. Immunol., 45, 169-179.

Blom A. M., Bergström F., Edey M., Diaz-Torres M., Kavanagh, D., Lampe A., Goodship J. A., Strain L., Moghal N., McHugh M., Inward C., Tomson C., Goodship T. H. J. (2008) A novel non-synonymous polymorphism (p.Arg240His) in C4b-binding protein is  associated with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and leads to impaired alternative pathway cofactor activity., J. Immunol.180, 6385-91.

Trouw L. A., Nielsen H. M., Minthon L., Londos E., Landberg, G., Veerhuis, R., Janciauskiene S. and Blom A. M. (2008) C4b-binding protein in Alzheimer’s disease: binding to Abeta1-42 and dead cells., Mol. Immunol., 45, 3649-60.

Potempa M., Potempa J., Okroj M., Popadiak K., Eick S., Nguyen K., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2008) Binding of complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein contributes to serum resistance of Porphyromonas gingivalis., J. Immunol.181, 5537-44.

Nilsson S. C., Trouw L. A., Renault N., Miteva M., Genel F., Zelazko M., Muller K., Marquart H., Sjöholm A. G, Truedsson L., Villoutreix B. O. and Blom A. M. (2008) Genetic, molecular and functional analysis of complement factor I deficiency, Eur. J. Immunol., 39, 310-323.

Okroj M., Mark L., Stokowska A., Wong S. W., Rose N., Blackbourn, D., Spiller O. B. and Blom A. M., (2009) Functional activity of the complement inhibitor encoded by Rhesus Rhadinovirus, RCP., J. Biol. Chem., 284, 505-14.

Blom A.M., Nandakumar K.S. and Holmdahl R. (2009) C4b-binding protein (C4BP) inhibits development of experimental arthritis in mice., Annals Rheum. Dis., 68, 136-42. Blom and Nandakumar contributed equally

Happonen K., Sjöberg A., Mörgelin, M., Heinegård, D. and Blom A. M. (2009) Interaction of small leucine-rich repeat proteins of extracellular matrix with complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein., J. Immunol., 182, 1518-25

Potempa M., Potempa J., Kantyka T., Nguyen K., Wawrzonek K., Manandhar S., Popadiak K., Riesbeck K., Eick S. and Blom A. M. (2009) Interpain, cysteine proteinase from Prevotella intermedia inhibits complement by degrading complement factor C3., PLOS Pathogens5, e1000316

Leffler J., Herbert A.P., Norström E., Schmidt Q. C., Barlow P., Blom A. M. and Martin M. (2010) Annexin-II and DNA serve as Factor H ligands on the surface of apoptotic cells., J. Biol. Chem285, 3766-76.

Nilsson S. C., Nita I., Månsson L., Groeneveld T. W., Trouw L. A., Villoutreix, B. O. and Blom A. M. (2010) Analysis of binding sites on the surface of complement inhibitor factor I that are required for its activity., J. Biol. Chem285, 6235-45.

Happonen K., Saxne T., Aspberg A., Mörgelin M., Heinegård D. and Blom A. M. (2010) Regulation of complement by COMP allows for a novel molecular diagnostic principle in rheumatoid arthritis., Arthritis & Rheumatism62, 3574-83 

Kalchishkova N., Melin-Furst C., Heinegård D. and Blom A. M. (2011) The NC4 domain of the cartilage-specific collagen IX inhibits complement directly due to attenuation of membrane attack formation and through binding and enhancing activity of complement inhibitors C4b-binding protein and factor H., J. Biol. Chem., 286, 27915-26.

Jönsen A., Nilsson S. C., Ahlqvist E., Svenungsson E., Gunnarsson I., Eriksson K. G., Bengtsson A., Zickert A., Eloranta M-L, Truedsson L., Rönnblom L., Nordmark G., Sturfelt G. and Blom A. M. (2011) Mutations in genes encoding complement inhibitors CD46 and CFH affect time of nephritis onset in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus., Arthr. Res. Ther., 13, R206.

Jusko M., Potempa J., Jasim K., Ksiazek M., Kulczycka M., Riesbeck K., Garred P., Eick S. and Blom A.M. (2012) Karilysin, metalloproteinase from Tannerella forsythia inhibits the classical and lectin pathways of complement., J. Immunol., 188, 2338-49.

Leffler J., Martin M., Gullstrand B., Tydén H., Lood C., Truedsson L., Bengtsson A. A. and Blom A. M. (2012) Neutrophil extracellular traps in systemic lupus erythematosus patients that are not degraded activate complement exacerbating the disease., J. Immunol., 188, 3522-31.

Happonen K. E., Saxne T., Geborek P., Andersson M., Bengtsson A. A., Hesselstrand R., Heinegård D., Blom A. M. (2012) Serum COMP-C3b complexes in rheumatic diseases and relation to anti-TNF-a treatment., Arthr. Res. Ther., 14, R15.

Happonen K., Melin-Furst C., Saxne T., Heingård D. and Blom A. M. (2012) PRELP inhibits the formation of the complement membrane attack complex., J. Biol. Chem., 287, 8092-100.

Sjölander J., Westermark G.T., Renström E., Blom A.M. (2012) Islet amyloid polypeptide triggers limited complement activation and binds complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein, which enhances fibril formation., J. Biol. Chem.287, 10824-33.

King B. C., Nowakowska J., Karsten C. M., Köhl J., Renström E., Blom A. M. (2012) Truncated and full-length Thioredoxin-1 have opposing activating and inhibitory properties for human complement, with relevance to endothelial surfaces, J. Immunol., 188, 4103-12.

Sanchez Gallego J. I., Groeneveld T. W. L., Krentz S., Nilsson S. C., Villoutreix B.O. and Blom A. M. (2012) Analysis of binding sites on complement inhibitor factor I using artificial N-glycosylation sites., J. Biol. Chem.287, 13572-83.

Okroj M., Holmquist E., Sjölander J., Corrales L., Saxne T., Wisniewski H-G., and Blom A. M. (2012) Heavy chains of inter alpha inhibitor (IaI) inhibit human complement system at early stages of the cascade., J. Biol. Chem., 287, 20100-10. 

Agarwal V., Hammerschmidt S., Malm S., Bergmann S., Riesbeck K., and Blom A. M. (2012) Enolase of Streptococcus pneumoniae binds human complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein and contributes to complement evasion., J. Immunol., 189, 3575-84.

Martin M., Leffler J. and Blom A. M. (2012) Annexin A2 and A5 serve as new ligands for C1q on apoptotic cells., J. Biol. Chem. 287, 33733-44.

Foltyn Zadura A., Zipfel P.F., Bokarewa M., Sturfelt G., Saxne T., Jönsen A., Hillarp A., Tarkowski A., Trouw L.A. and *Blom A.M. (2012) Anti-Factor H autoantibodies and deletion of Complement Factor H-Related protein-1 (CFHR1) in rheumatic diseases in comparison to atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome., Art. Res Ther., 14, R185.

 Agarwal V., Kuchipudi A., Fulde M., Riesbeck K., Bergmann S., Blom A. M. (2013) Streptococcus pneumoniae endopeptidase O (PepO): a multifunctional plasminogen and fibronectin binding protein, facilitating evasion of innate immunity and invasion of host cells., J. Biol. Chem., 288, 6849-63.

Holmquist E., Okroj M., Nodin B., Jirström K. and Blom A. M. (2013) Sushi Domain-Containing Protein 4 (SUSD4) inhibits complement by disrupting the formation of the classical C3 convertase., FASEB J., 27, 2355-66.

Mohlin F., Mercier E., Fremeaux-Bacchi V., Liszewski M. K., Atkinson J. P., Gris J.C. and Blom A. M. (2013) Analysis of genes coding for CD46, CD55 and C4b-binding protein  (C4BP) in patients with idiopathic, recurrent, spontaneous pregnancy loss., Eur. J. Immunol., 43, 1617-29.

van de Ven J. P. H., Nilsson S. C., Tan P. L., Buitendijk G. H., Ristau T., Mohlin F., Nabuurs S. B., Schoenmaker-Koller F., Smailhodzic D., Campochiaro P. A., Zack D. J., Duvvari M. R., , Bakker B., Paun C.C., Boon C. J. F., Uitterlinden A.G., Liakopoulos S., Klevering B. J., Fauser S., Daha M. R., Katsanis N., Klaver C. C. W., Blom A. M., Hoyng C. B. and *den Hollander A. I. (2013) A functional variant in the CFI gene confers high risk of age-related macular degeneration., Nature Genetics, 45, 813-7. van de Ven and Nilsson shared first authors; Blom, Hoyng and den Hollander jointly directed the work as senior authors (equal contribution)

Jusko M., Potempa J., Kantyka T., Bielecka E., Miller H. K., Kalinska M., Dubin G., Garred P., Shaw L. N. and Blom A. M. (2013) Staphylococcal proteases aid evasion of human complement system., J. Inn. Imm., 6, 31-46.

Nandakumar K. S., Collin M., Happonen K. E., Croxford A. M., Lundström, S. L., Zubarev, R., Rowley M., Blom A. M. and Holmdahl R. (2013) Dominant suppression of arthritis by glycan hydrolyzed IgG., PNAS, 110, 10252-7.

Leffler J., Gullstrand B., Jönsen A., Nilsson J., Martin M., Blom A. M., and Bengtsson A. A. (2013) Degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps co-varies with disease activity in longitudinally followed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus., Arthr. Res. Ther., 15, R84.

Escudero-Esparza A., Kalchishkova N., Kurbasic E., Jiang W. G. and Blom A. M. (2013) The novel complement inhibitor human CUB and Sushi multiple domains (CSMD1) protein promotes Factor I-mediated degradation of C4b and C3b and inhibits the membrane attack complex assembly., FASEB J.27, 5083-93.

Agarwal V., Ahl J., Riesbeck K., and Blom A. M. (2013) An alternative role of C1q in bacterial infections: facilitating Streptococcus pneumoniae adherence and invasion of host cells., J. Immunol., 191, 4235-45.

Ermert D., Weckel A., Agarwal V., Frick I.M, Björck L and Blom A. M. (2013) Binding of complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein to highly virulent Streptococcus pyogenes M1 strain is mediated by protein H and enhances adhesion and invasion of endothelial cells., J. Biol. Chem., 288, 32172-83.

Okroj M., Eriksson I., Österborg A., and Blom A. M. (2013) Killing of CLL and NHL cells by rituximab and ofatumumab under limited availability of complement., Med. Oncol., 30, 759.

Krus U., King B.C., Nagaraj V., Gandasi, N. R., Sjölander J., Buda P., Garcia-Vaz E., Gomez M. F., Ottosson-Laakso E., Storm P., Fex M., Vikman P., Zhang E., Barg. S., Blom A. M., and Renström E. (2014) The complement inhibitor CD59 regulates insulin secretion by modulating exocytotic events., Cell Metabol.19, 883-900. (Blom and Renström shared senior authors)

Agarwal V., Sroka M., Fulde M., Bergmann S., Riesbeck K., and Blom. A. M. (2014) Binding of Streptococcus pneumoniae Endopeptidase O (PepO) to Complement Component C1q Modulates the Complement Attack and Promotes Host Cell Adherence., J. Biol. Chem.289, 15833-44

Blom A. M., Bergmann S., Fulde M., Riesbeck K., and Agarwal A. (2014) Streptococcus pneumoniae phosphoglycerate kinase is a novel complement inhibitor affecting the membrane attack complex formation. J. Biol. Chem., 289, 32499-511.

Agarwal V., Talens S., Grandits A. M., and Blom A. M. (2015) A novel interaction between complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein and plasminogen that enhances plasminogen activation., J. Biol. Chem., 290, 18333-42.

Ermert D., Shaughnessy J., Joeris T., Kaplan J., Pang C. J., Kurt-Jones E. A., Rice P.A., Ram S. and Blom A. M. (2015) Virulence of group A streptococci is enhanced by human complement inhibitors., PLOS Pat11, e1005043.

Jusko M., Potempa J., Mizgalska D., Bielecka E., Ksiazek M., Riesbeck K., Garred P., Eick S. and Blom A. M. (2015) A metalloproteinase mirolysin of Tannerella forsythia inhibits all pathways of the complement system., J. Immunol., 195, 2231-40.

Leffler J., Ciacma K., Gullstrand B., Bengtsson A. A., Martin M., Blom A. M. (2015) A subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus fails to degrade DNA from multiple clinically relevant sources., Arthr. Res. Ther., 17: 205.

Englund E., Reitsma B., King B. C., Escudero-Esparza A., Owen S., Orimo A., Okroj M., Anagnostaki L., Jiang W. G., Jirström K. and Blom A. M. (2015) The human complement inhibitor Sushi Domain-Containing Protein 4 (SUSD4) expression in tumor cells and T cells is associated with better prognosis of breast cancer patients., BMC Cancer15:737.

Martin M., Leffler J., Smolag K.I., Mytych J., Björk A., Chaves L.D., Alexander J.J., Quigg R.J., and Blom A.M. (2016) Factor H uptake regulates intracellular C3 activation during apoptosis and decreases the inflammatory potential of nucleosomes., Cell Death Diff., 23, 903-911.

Liu G., Gradstedt H., Ermert D., Englund E., Singh B., Su Y., Johansson M.E., Aspberg A., Agarwal V., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2015) Moraxella catarrhalis evades host innate immunity via targeting Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein., J. Immunol., 196: 1249-58.

Holmquist E., Bartoschek M., Reitsma B., Jacobsson L., Escudero-Esparza A., Orimo A., Leandersson K., Hagerling C., Aspberg A., Storm P., Okroj M., Mulder H., Jirström K., Pietras K., and Blom A.M. (2016) Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) contributes to the development and metastasis of breast cancer., Oncogene, 35, 5585-5596.

Kulak K., Westermark G., Papac-Milicevic N., Renström E., Blom A.M. and King B.C. (2017) The serum protein C4b-binding protein inhibits pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide-induced inflammasome activation, Diabetologia60, 1522-1533.

Blom A.M., Magda M., Kohl L., Shaughnessy J., Ram S. and Ermert D. (2017) Factor H–IgG chimeric proteins as therapeutic approach against gram positive bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes., J. Immunol., 199, 3828-3839.

Ermert D., Weckel A., Mörgelin M., Shaughnessy J., Rice P.A., Björck L., Ram S. and Blom A.M. (2018) Human IgG increases virulence of Streptococcus pyogenesthrough complement evasion., J. Immunol., 200, 3495-3505.

Mohlin F.C., Gros P., Mercier E., Gris J-C. and Blom A.M. (2018) Analysis of C3 gene variants in patients with idiopathic, recurrent, spontaneous pregnancy loss., Front. Immunol., 9, 1813.

King B.C., Kulak K., Krus U., Rosberg R., Golec E., Wozniak K., Gomez M.F., Zhang E., O’Connell D., Renström E., and Blom A.M. (2019) Complement C3 protects against autophagy related b-cell death via ATG16L1 interaction and regulation of autophagy., Cell Metabolism29, 202-210.

Papadakos K.S., Bartoschek M., Rodriguez C., Gialeli C., Jin S., Lendahl U., Pietras K., and Blom A.M. (2019) Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein initiates cancer stem cells through activation of Jagged1-Notch3 signaling., Matrix Biology, 81, 107-121.

Bettoni S., Shaughnessy J., Maziarz K., Ermert D., Gulati S., Zheng B., Mörgelin M., Jacobsson S., Riesbeck K., Unemo M., Ram S. and Blom A.M. (2019) C4BP-IgM protein as a novel therapeutic approach to treat Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. J. Clin Invest. Insight, 4, e131886

Smolag K.I., Leandersson K., Jirström K., Hagerling C., Barlow P., Martin M. and Blom A.M. (2020) Complement inhibitor factor H differentiates human monocytes into immunosuppressive macrophages., Oncoimmunology, 9, e1731135.

Colineau L., Laabei M., Liu G., Ermert D., Lambris J.D., Riesbeck K. and Blom A.M. (2020) Interaction of Streptococcus pyogeneswith extracellular matrix components resulting in immunomodulation and bacterial eradication., Matrix Biology Plus6-7, 100020

Vogt L.M., Kwasniewicz E., Talens S., Scavenius C., Bielecka E., Ekdahl K.N., Enghild J.J., Mörgelin M., Saxne T., Potempa J. and Blom A.M. (2020) ­Apolipoprotein E triggers complement activation in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients by binding C1q., J. Immunol., 204, 2779-2790.

Laabei M., Colineau L., Serena Bettoni, Maziarz K., Ermert D., Riesbeck K., Ram S. and Blom A.M. (2020) Antibacterial fusion proteins enhance Moraxella catarrhalis killing., Frontiers Immunol., 11, e2122.

Martin M., Trattner Evetovics R., Nilsson S.C., Björk A., Zickert A., Blom A.M. and Gunnarsson I. (2020) Plasma C4d correlates with C4d deposition in kidneys and with treatment response in systemic lupus erythematosus., Frontiers Immunol., 11, e582737.