Translational models of asthma phenotypes

Research team in the area of asthma phenotyping (L. to R.: A. Habener, PD Dr. A. Meyer-Bahlburg, Prof. Dr. G. Hansen)

MHH

Allergic asthma is a major chronic disease of both, children and adults. Besides well-known contributions of T cells and several other immune cells, the role of B cells in this disease is largely unknown.

B cells produce immunoglobulins including IgE, that can procure the initiation of allergic disease. They can act as antigen presenting cells and secrete cytokines. The B cell function is determined by their developmental and differentiation status. Thereby, the cytokine B cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) maintains the homeostatic development, differentiation and proliferation of B cells. Additionally, regulatory B cells have been recently described, that may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

The aim of the project is to study the role of B cells in the onset of asthma and respiratory tolerance. Studies in this subject will be conducted in the mouse model including the analysis of B cell deficient mice and human system in the pediatric asthma-cohort of the DZL.

Scientific Head:

Prof. Dr. Gesine Hansen
PD Dr. Almut Meyer-Bahlburg

Cooperating Partners within the DZL: Airway Research Center North (ARCN),
Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich

Research at the Fraunhofer ITEM

Fraunhofer ITEM

The project of Professor Braun is focused on human ex vivo models like the technique of precision cut lung slice (PCLS). The aim is to establish predictive preclinical models for the creation of human-specific (bio-) pharmaceutics. Human lung tissue from tumor resections is used in an established method. This method is suitable for the measurements of toxically, inflammatory and obstructive properties. All models can be set up in different species like mouse, rat an human in order to test the various properties of the species for further analyses.

Scientific Head:

Prof. Dr. Armin Braun

Cooperating Partners within the DZL: Airway Research Center North (ARCN),
Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)