Prof. Dr. med. Heiner Wedemeyer / Dr. rer. nat. Norman Woller working group

Inflammation of the liver can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore represents a major health problem in Germany. At least half a million people are affected by chronic viral hepatitis in Germany. In addition, more than 15% of the population have a fatty liver, which in many cases leads to liver cirrhosis. Almost 10,000 people die of a liver tumor every year in Germany.

In viral hepatitis, the immune system plays a central role in eliminating the virus. If the infection becomes chronic, specialized lymphocytes are unable to completely remove the virus from the body. This leads to a state of exhaustion in these immune cells. Chronic infections promote the development of a cirrhotic liver, which in turn often leads to liver cell cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Understanding the causal chain of acute infection, chronic infection, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer is the basis for the development of new possibilities for prevention and early intervention.

Our research group focuses on the basics of the hepatic inflammatory response and the immune control of viral infections and hepatocellular carcinomas in the liver. T lymphocytes as a component of the adaptive immune system are crucial for the clinical outcome of the inflammatory response. They are able to kill virus-infected cells as well as tumor cells in a highly specific manner and thus halt or even prevent the pathological process. One focus of our group is the investigation of this lymphocyte population in connection with hepatological diseases. We are also investigating the significance of interferon responses in the context of viral liver inflammation and carcinomas. Hepatitis D and hepatocellular carcinoma, for which we have established unique cohorts and therapy studies worldwide, are a particular focus of our research group.