Main research areas
The Institute's research focuses on functionally oriented structural and ultrastructural analysis, in particular of the lungs and heart, under physiological and pathological conditions. Current research focuses on experimental investigations of the following topics:
The research focuses on type 2 alveolar epithelial cells, their function as surfactant producers and their regenerative potential to repair damage to the blood-air barrier, as well as alveolar macrophages.
Funding:
German Research Foundation (2019-2022) Pulmonary Aging: Impact of cell senescence on lung inflammation and repair in endotoxin and Klebsiella pneumoniae induced lung injury. (BR 5347/2-1)
German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Recent publications:
The Role of Pulmonary and Systemic Immunosenescence in Acute Lung Injury
Aging impairs alveolar epithelial type II cell function in acute lung injury
Age-Related Structural and Functional Changes in the Mouse Lung
Diet-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are often associated with cardiopulmonary impairment and disease. Our studies should help to understand which structural and molecular changes occur in the cells of the lung and heart as a result of a malnutrition rich in fat or sugar, and whether these can be reduced by intervention strategies such as physical activity or oral administration of the body's own autophagy inducer spermidine.
Funding:
Dr. Robert Nursing Foundation (2018-2020) Differential effects of sugar- and fat-induced obesity on type 2 pneumocytes and the pulmonary surfactant system and their modulation by physical activity.
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (2019-2022) Differential effects of sugar- and fat-induced obesity on hypoxia- and hyperoxia-associated damage to the lung and heart and their modulation by the endogenous substance spermidine.
German Center for Lung Research (2024-2027) Lifestyle factors in respiratory health and disease.
Recent publications:
Dietary Carbohydrates and Fat Induce Distinct Surfactant Alterations in Mice
Lipofibroblasts in Structurally Normal, Fibrotic, and Emphysematous Human Lungs - PubMed (nih.gov)
Obesity impacts hypoxia adaptation of the lung - PubMed (nih.gov)
Pathophysiological aspects of human bronchopulmonary dysplasia are analyzed in animal models of impaired lung development. One focus is the connection between impaired vascular and alveolar development.
Funding:
German Research Foundation (2019-2022) What is the problem of blood vessels in bronchopulmonary dysplasia? (MU 3118/8-1)
German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Recent publications:
Recent developments in 3-D reconstruction and stereology to study the pulmonary vasculature
Artificial respiration is often a life-saving measure. However, it is also associated with mechanical stress of the lungs, which can lead to a deterioration and impairment of organ function in a previously diseased lung. The focus here is on characterizing the pattern of damage caused by mechanical stress and investigating strategies to mitigate this.
Funding:
German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Recent publications:
Alveolar Micromechanics in Bleomycin-induced Lung Injury
The Institute'smethodological focus is on advanced microscopic, especially electron microscopic, as well as quantitative microscopic (stereological) methods, which are supplemented by molecular biological and functional techniques. In Electron Microscopy, the acquisition of modern scanning electron microscopes has contributed to the increased use of high-resolution, three-dimensional investigations in our research. The Institute is involved in the German Center for Lung Research as an imaging platform (microscopy) at the BREATH site.
Funding:
German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Publications:
On the Topological Complexity of Human Alveolar Epithelial Type 1 Cells.
Volume-CLEM: a method for correlative light and electron microscopy in three dimensions.