Deutsch
Krönke lab
Investigating the molecular basis of inflammation and development of curative treatment approaches
Clinical Rheumatology
Research into the fundamentals of the immune response not only enables a better understanding of autoimmunity and inflammation, but is also the basis for the development of new and targeted therapeutic approaches for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Therefore, our group investigates basal molecular regulatory and control mechanisms that govern the innate and adaptive immune response. A specific focus are the role of distinct immune cell types such as macrophages, T cells and B cells during homeostasis or during inflammation and autoimmune disease. Another focus is a better understanding of the impact of metabolic processes on immune cell function (Immunometabolism).
Our research is performed using mouse models as well as by clinical and molecular characterization of patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). By identifying new basic principles and targets we seek to design new therapeutic approaches for these patients and directly apply them in our clinic (including the use of novel targeted therapies such as CAR T cells).
Group leader
Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard Krönke
Scientists
Dr. Johan Verhagen
Dr. Maria Dzamukova
PhD students
Artur Wilhelm
Eugenia Diez Garcia de Olalla
Josephine Pötzsch
Technician
Anja Fleischmann
Zahra Valizadeh Arschad
Auger, J. P., M. Zimmermann, M. Faas, U. Stifel, D. Chambers, B. Krishnacoumar, R. V. Taudte, C. Grund, G. Erdmann, C. Scholtysek, S. Uderhardt, O. Ben Brahim, M. Pascual Maté, C. Stoll, M. Böttcher, K. Palumbo-Zerr, M. S. J. Mangan, M. Dzamukova, M. Kieler, M. Hofmann, S. Blüml, G. Schabbauer, D. Mougiakakos, U. Sonnewald, F. Hartmann, D. Simon, A. Kleyer, A. Grüneboom, S. Finotto, E. Latz, J. Hofmann, G. Schett, J. Tuckermann, and G. Krönke. 2024. Metabolic rewiring promotes anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07282-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38600378.
Culemann, S., A. Grüneboom, J. Nicolás-Ávila, D. Weidner, K. F. Lämmle, T. Rothe, J. A. Quintana, P. Kirchner, B. Krljanac, M. Eberhardt, F. Ferrazzi, E. Kretzschmar, M. Schicht, K. Fischer, K. Gelse, M. Faas, R. Pfeifle, J. A. Ackermann, M. Pachowsky, N. Renner, D. Simon, R. F. Haseloff, A. B. Ekici, T. Bäuerle, I. E. Blasig, J. Vera, D. Voehringer, A. Kleyer, F. Paulsen, G. Schett, A. Hidalgo, and G. Krönke. 2019. Locally renewing resident synovial macrophages provide a protective barrier for the joint. Nature 572 (7771): 670-675. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1471-1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31391580.
Culemann, S., K. Knab, M. Euler, A. Wegner, H. Garibagaoglu, J. Ackermann, K. Fischer, D. Kienhöfer, G. Crainiciuc, J. Hahn, A. Grüneboom, F. Nimmerjahn, S. Uderhardt, A. Hidalgo, G. Schett, M. H. Hoffmann, and G. Krönke. 2023. Stunning of neutrophils accounts for the anti-inflammatory effects of clodronate liposomes. J Exp Med 220 (6). https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20220525. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36976180.
Faas, M., N. Ipseiz, J. Ackermann, S. Culemann, A. Grüneboom, F. Schröder, T. Rothe, C. Scholtysek, M. Eberhardt, M. Böttcher, P. Kirchner, C. Stoll, A. Ekici, M. Fuchs, M. Kunz, B. Weigmann, S. Wirtz, R. Lang, J. Hofmann, J. Vera, D. Voehringer, A. Michelucci, D. Mougiakakos, S. Uderhardt, G. Schett, and G. Krönke. 2021. IL-33-induced metabolic reprogramming controls the differentiation of alternatively activated macrophages and the resolution of inflammation. Immunity 54 (11): 2531-2546.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2021.09.010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34644537.
Mackensen, A., F. Müller, D. Mougiakakos, S. Böltz, A. Wilhelm, M. Aigner, S. Völkl, D. Simon, A. Kleyer, L. Munoz, S. Kretschmann, S. Kharboutli, R. Gary, H. Reimann, W. Rösler, S. Uderhardt, H. Bang, M. Herrmann, A. B. Ekici, C. Buettner, K. M. Habenicht, T. H. Winkler, G. Krönke, and G. Schett. 2022. Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Med 28 (10): 2124-2132. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02017-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36109639.
Mougiakakos, D., G. Krönke, S. Völkl, S. Kretschmann, M. Aigner, S. Kharboutli, S. Böltz, B. Manger, A. Mackensen, and G. Schett. 2021. CD19-Targeted CAR T Cells in Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. N Engl J Med 385 (6): 567-569. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2107725. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34347960.
Pfeifle, R., T. Rothe, N. Ipseiz, H. U. Scherer, S. Culemann, U. Harre, J. A. Ackermann, M. Seefried, A. Kleyer, S. Uderhardt, B. Haugg, A. J. Hueber, P. Daum, G. F. Heidkamp, C. Ge, S. Böhm, A. Lux, W. Schuh, I. Magorivska, K. S. Nandakumar, E. Lönnblom, C. Becker, D. Dudziak, M. Wuhrer, Y. Rombouts, C. A. Koeleman, R. Toes, T. H. Winkler, R. Holmdahl, M. Herrmann, S. Blüml, F. Nimmerjahn, G. Schett, and G. Krönke. 2017. Regulation of autoantibody activity by the IL-23-T. Nat Immunol 18 (1): 104-113. https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.3579. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27820809.
Scholtysek, C., J. Katzenbeisser, H. Fu, S. Uderhardt, N. Ipseiz, C. Stoll, M. M. Zaiss, M. Stock, L. Donhauser, C. Böhm, A. Kleyer, A. Hess, K. Engelke, J. P. David, F. Djouad, J. P. Tuckermann, B. Desvergne, G. Schett, and G. Krönke. 2013. PPARβ/δ governs Wnt signaling and bone turnover. Nat Med 19 (5): 608-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3146. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23542786.
Uderhardt, S., J. A. Ackermann, T. Fillep, V. J. Hammond, J. Willeit, P. Santer, M. Mayr, M. Biburger, M. Miller, K. R. Zellner, K. Stark, A. Zarbock, J. Rossaint, I. Schubert, D. Mielenz, B. Dietel, D. Raaz-Schrauder, C. Ay, T. Gremmel, J. Thaler, C. Heim, M. Herrmann, P. W. Collins, G. Schabbauer, N. Mackman, D. Voehringer, J. L. Nadler, J. J. Lee, S. Massberg, M. Rauh, S. Kiechl, G. Schett, V. B. O’Donnell, and G. Krönke. 2017. Enzymatic lipid oxidation by eosinophils propagates coagulation, hemostasis, and thrombotic disease. J Exp Med 214 (7): 2121-2138. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20161070. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28566277.
Uderhardt, S., M. Herrmann, O. V. Oskolkova, S. Aschermann, W. Bicker, N. Ipseiz, K. Sarter, B. Frey, T. Rothe, R. Voll, F. Nimmerjahn, V. N. Bochkov, G. Schett, and G. Krönke. 2012. 12/15-lipoxygenase orchestrates the clearance of apoptotic cells and maintains immunologic tolerance. Immunity 36 (5): 834-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2012.03.010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22503541.
