Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology
Prof. Dr. Hermann-Josef Gröne
Neurons, isolated from hippocampus. Neurons lacking GSLs show reduced dendritic processes and early pruning (right slide).
The division performs research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying rejection reactions in malignant tumors and transplanted solid organs. Rejection reactions are regularly mounted by the organism to defend itself against tumors. However, these are frequently not sufficient to fight the disease sustainably.
Using organ transplants in animal models we can observe the course and characteristics of rejection under defined conditions. Our interest is focused on monocytes – inflammation-promoting immune cells of the recipient – and their main target: the endothelial cells coating the inside of the blood vessels of the donor organs. Two main groups of substances are studied with regard to the function of monocytes/macrophages, of endothelia and of parenchymal or tumor cells: lipid-activated nuclear receptors and glycosphingolipids. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the processes underlying tissue rejection and to transfer these findings to tumor rejection. This may lead to novel diagnostic methods and treatment relating to tumor rejection.
The division is also concerned with clinical surgical pathology and has established a reference center for renal diseases; it additionally provides a service for pathological analysis of tissue samples, including tissues from animal experiments.
The department is funded by the DFG (German Research Foundation) in specific projects and is part of concerted research activities of the DFG.
Selected Publications
Kiss, E., Popovic, Z., Bedke, J., Wang, S., Bonrouhi, M., Gretz, N., Stettner, P., Teupser, D., Thiery, J., Porubsky, S., Adams, J. & Gröne, HJ. (2011). Suppression of Chronic Damage in Renal Allografs by Liver X Receptor (LXR) Activation Relevant Contribution of Macrophage LXRa. Am. J. Pathol., 179, 92-103
Traykova-Brauch, M., Schönig, K., Greiner, O., Miloud, T., Jauch, A., Bode, M., Felsher, DW., Glick, AB., Kwiatkowski, DJ., Bujard, H., Horst, J., von Knebel Doerberitz, M., Niggli, FK., Kritz, W., Gröne, HJ. & Koesters, R. (2008). An efficient and versatile system for acute and chronic modulation of renal tubular function in transgenic mice. Nat. Med., 14, 979-984
Porubsky, S., Speak, AO., Luckow, B., Cerundolo, V., Platt, FM. & Gröne, HJ. (2007). Normal development and function of invariant natural killer T cells in mice with isoglobotrihexosylcermide (iGb3) deficiency. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A., 104, 5977-5982
Schaefer, L., Babelova, A., Kiss, E., Hausser, HJ., Baliova, M., Krzyzankova, M., Marsche, G., Young, MF., Mihalik, D., Götte, M., Malle, E., Schaefer, RM. & Gröne, HJ. (2005). The matrix component biglycan is proinflammatory and signals through Toll-like receptors 4 and 2 in macrophages. J. Clin. Invest., 115, 2223-2233
