Research Agenda
Our overall aim is the identification, validation and translation of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
Most projects focus on autoimmune skin blistering diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, bullous pemphigoid or pemphigus. In addition, we have established model systems for psoriasis, SLE and contact dermatitis.
We believe that cooperations with other academic centers and industry are the key to contribute to the high medical need to develop effective and save treatment options for patients affected by chronic skin inflammatory diseases. Please fell free to contact us if you are interested in our reagents or if you would like to start a cooperation.
Current Projects
Drug development for chronic inflammatory skin diseases
With a focus on pemphigus and pemphigpid dissease we persue different pathways for drug development for chronic inflammatory skin diseases. See our growing list of identified and validated drug targets for pemphigoid diseases.
Impact of genes and environment on complex traits
With the Research Training Froup "Genes, Environment and Inflammation" we investigate how genes and diet impact on complex phenotypes in the mouse.
Allergy Research
Here we focus on type IV allergic reactions to heparin.
Animal model systems
The following mouse model systems are established:
- Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Delayed type hypersensitivity
- Psoriasis
Internal Documents
Graduations (last 5 years)
We think that education of young scientists, from both natural sciences and medicine is very important to drive research in the field of autoimmunity. Therefore we offer the opportunity to obtain the Dr. rer. nat. degree (PhD equivalent) and the Dr. med. degree for MDs.
2021
- Pia Stüssel, Dr. med.*
- Hannah Zillikens, Dr. med.
- Zitao Zeng, Dr. rer. nat.
- Saeedeh Ghorbanalipoor, Dr. rer. nat.
- Nina Mitschker, Dr. med.
- Kerstin Neuschütz, Dr. med. (Katja Bieber)
2020
- Katharina Schulze Dieckhoff, Dr. med.
- Heiko Körber-Ahrens, Dr. med.
- Phillip Kouki, Dr. med.
2019
- Sören Dräger, Dr. med.*
- Linda Heimberg, Dr. med.
- Shirin Emtenani, Dr. rer. nat.
- Katzuku Matzumoto, Dr. rer. nat. (together with J Hundt)
2018
- Nikolai Grund, Dr. med.
- Martin Hänsel, Dr. med.
- Iswariya Venkataraman, Dr. rer. nat.
- Mikko Armbrust, Dr. med.
2017
- Mareike Witte, Dr. med.*
- Artem Vorobyev, Dr. med.*
- Moritz Magens, Dr. med.
- Rittika Chunder, Dr. rer. nat.
*summa cum laude
Recent Publications
Boch et al, Lichen planus. Front Med. 2021; 8:737813
Comprehensive and state-of-the-art review on lichen planus - from pathogenesis to diagnosis and emerging treatments
Hiroyasu et al, Granzyme B inhibition reduces disease severity in autoimmune blistering diseases. Nat Commun. 2021;12:302
Mast cell- and/or basophil-derrived granzyme B promotes skin pathology in pemphigoid disease that is amendable to pharmacological inhibition
Khil'chenko et al, Alterations of Total Serum Immunoglobulin Concentrations in Pemphigus and Pemphigoid: Selected IgG2 Deficiency in Bullous Pemphigoid. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:472
IgG deficiency seems to be assocaited with both bullius pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. Hence, substitution may by an interesting adjuvant treatment.
Burmester et al, Identification of novel therapeutic targets for blocking acantholysis in pemphigus. Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177:5114
Kinase-inhibitor drug screening & validation was used to novel therapeutic targets in pemphigus using a humon organ culture model.
Stüssel et al, Propranolol Is an Effective Topical and Systemic Treatment Option for Experimental Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140:2408
Repurposing propranolol for bullous pemphigoid.
Please contact us, if you require a reprint.
