Department of Cell Biology
Since several decades, our research focuses on the biology and signaling of the transcription factor NF-kB, a key player in neuroprotection, (neuro)inflammation, (stem) cell proliferation and cancer formation. We are particularly interested in understanding NF-kB-signalling in the context of the nervous system and its disorders. Here, we apply knockout mouse lines to investigate the role of NF-kB in neuroprotection, memory formation, neuronal circuit development and neurogenesis in the adult aging hippocampus.
Our research also aims to understand the role of NF-kB in proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in the context of clinical applications. We are currently investigating this research topic using adult human neural crest-derived stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse embryonic stem cells but are also searching for novel human stem cells sources. On technological level, we apply CRIPR/CAS for guided deletions of NF-kB-subunits as well as single cells analysis to understand lineage choices of stem cells in the context of differentiation.
We are always looking for a highly motivated Bachelor- or Masterstudents, please feel free to contact us in case you are interested in our research topics.
April 2018
Recently, we successfully published the review article “Subunit-Specific Role of NF-kB in Cancer” (B. Kaltschmidt et al., 2018 ). Extending the commonly accepted role of NF-kB in cancer formation and progression, we discuss the activity and importance of different NF-kB subunits in distinct types of cancer. In particular, non-canonical NF-kB RELB signaling is described to be mostly present in hematological cancers, while solid cancers reveal constitutive canonical NF-kB RELA or c-REL activity (see below). We likewise emphasize the linkage between NF-kB signaling and cancer therapy by discussing current strategies and ongoing clinical trials with particular regards to the recently described pivotal role of NF-kB c-REL in cancer-targeting immune responses (see below). For further information, see our research topic “Subunit-Specific Role of NF-kB in Cancer”.
Congratulations to Anna Höving who was awarded by the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Helweg Foundation for the best Master degree in Molecular Cell Biology!
Anna performed her Master Thesis "Single Cell Analysis of Adult Human Neural Crest-derived Stem Cells" in our lab where she applied SmartSeq2 on single Human Neural Crest-derived Stem Cells and Stem Cell-derived Neurons to compare the Transcription Profiles in the Context of Differentiation Processes.