Main areas of research
The incidence of allergic diseases has increased dramatically in recent decades. More and more people are reacting to allergens, i.e. harmless antigens, not with immunological tolerance but with a pathological T helper 2 cell-dominated immune response. This epidemic development is attributed to altered environmental influences that have a significant impact on the immune system.
The aim of the research group led by Gesine Hansen is to understand the immunological mechanisms involved in the development of allergy and asthma and to identify protective factors that can be used to develop causal therapy concepts for allergic diseases. One focus is on the investigation of immunological tolerance and perinatal influences on the development of tolerance and allergy.
At the cellular level, the role of the T cell, especially the regulatory T cell and the modification of T cell activation and differentiation by costimulatory molecules (e.g. CD137, CD30, ICOS) or by bacterial and viral immunostimulators is of particular interest. New research projects on the role of B cells and macrophages in the development of tolerance complement this focus.
Another focus of the working group is the investigation of immunodeficiencies and the development of innovative technologies for immunological and genetic research.
Further information
Employees
Pulmonary Transplantation of human iPSC-derived Macrophages ameliorates Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis. Happle C, Lachmann N, Ackermann M, Mirenska A, Göhring G, Thomay K, Mucci A, Glomb T, Suzuki T, Chalk C, Glage S, Dittrich-Breiholz O, Trapnell B, Moritz T, Hansen G., Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201708-1562OC.
B cells control maternofetal priming of allergy and tolerance in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation. Happle C, Jirmo A, Meyer-Bahlburg A, Habener A, Hoymann H.G, Hennig C, Skuljec J, Hansen G., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018. 141: 685-696 e686.
Pulmonary transplantation of macrophage progenitors as effective and long-lasting therapy for hereditary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Happle C, Lachmann N, Skuljec J, Wetzke M, Ackermann,M, Brennig S, Mucci A, Jirmo AC, Groos S, Mirenska A, Hennig C, Rodt T, Bankstahl JP, Schwerk N, Moritz T, Hansen G., Science Transl Med. 2014. 6: 250ra113. DOI: 10.1126/ scitranslmed.3009750.
Gene correction of human induced pluripotent stem cells repairs the cellular phenotype in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Lachmann N, Happle C, Ackermann M, Luttge D, Wetzke M, Merkert S, Hetzel M, Kensah G, Jara- Avaca M, Mucci A, Skuljec J, Dittrich AM, Pfaff N, Brennig S, Schambach A, Steinemann D, Gohring G, Cantz T, Martin U, Schwerk N, Hansen G*, Moritz T* (*equal contribution), Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014. 189: 167-182. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201306-1012OC.
High-content cytometry and transcriptomic biomarker profiling of human B-cell activation. Hennig C, Ilginus C, Boztug K, Skokowa J, Marodi L, Szaflarska A, Sass M, Pignata C, Kilic SS, Caragol I, Baumann U, Klein C, Welte K, Hansen G., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014. 133: 172-180 e171-110. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.06.047.
Basophils from humans with systemic lupus erythematosus do not express MHC-II. Dijkstra D, Hennig C, Witte T, Hansen G., Nature Medicine. 2012. 18: 488-489; 489-490. DOI: 10.1038/nm.2663.
Allergy prevention starts before conception: maternofetal transfer of tolerance protects against the development of asthma. Polte T, Hennig C, Hansen G., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008. 122: 1022-1030 e1025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.014.
CD137- mediated immunotherapy for allergic asthma. Polte T, Foell J, Werner C, Hoymann HG, Braun A, Burdach S, Mittler RS, Hansen G., J Clin Invest. 2006. 116: 1025-1036. DOI: 10.1172/ JCI23792.
Direct evidence for a critical role of CD30 in the development of allergic asthma. Polte T, Behrendt AK, Hansen G., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006. 118: 942-948. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.07.014.
CD4(+) T helper cells engineered to produce latent TGF-beta1 reverse allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity and inflammation. Hansen, G., McIntire, J. J., Yeung, V. P., Berry, G., Thorbecke, G. J., Chen, L., DeKruyff, R. H. and Umetsu, D. T., J Clin Invest 2000. 105: 61-70.
Allergen-specific Th1 cells fail to counterbalance Th2 cell-induced airway hyperreactivity but cause severe airway inflammation. Hansen G, Berry G, DeKruyff RH, Umetsu DT, J Clin Invest 1999. 103:175-183. DOI: 10.1172/JCI5155.
- SFB587 587 "Immune Response of the Lung in Infection and Allergy"
- Gesine Hansen is the spokesperson of the SFB - Research Training Group Allergology
- BMBF research group "Cellular Approaches for Rare Pulmonary Diseases (CARPuD)"
- German Center for Lung Diseases
- DFG (SFB 587, Clinical Research Unit, Research Training Group, several individual grants)
- BMBF (Junior Research Group Asthma, CARPuD),
- MHH (HILF program)
- BMBF funding "German Center for Lung Diseases"
- Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation