Activators of the Innate Immune System
The studies in our group are mainly concerned with the innate immune mechanisms underlying the biological activities of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and...
Laboratory Marina Freudenberg
The major interests of the laboratory are the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the biological activity of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) and other bacterial components, the role of these components in the microbial recognition by the innate immune system and the conditions under which the activity of such components can be altered. Of particular interest is the infection induced LPS hypersensitivity and its role in the innate immune response and defense against intruding pathogens.
Sensitivity to LPS is determined by a locus on mouse chromosome 4, designated the lps gene. Mutations of this gene result in unresponsiveness to the lethal and other biological effects of LPS. The identification of the lps gene and its product, with participation of our group, end of 1998, as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) brought the breakthrough into a new era for the field of endotoxin research and of microbial products generally. Since the discovery of TLR4, ten different TLR's acting as signaling receptors for microbial components have been identified. This enabled further the study of signaling pathways involved in the activation of cells of the innate immune system.
Group Leader
1947
born in Opava, Czechoslov. Rep., studies in medicine, Charles University Prague, Czechoslov. Rep. and J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Germany
1971-1972
Residency in internal medicine and surgery, University hospital Frankfurt/M., Germany
1972-1974
PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany
1974-1980
Postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany
Since 1981
Research scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
1995
Habilitation at the medical faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Since 2001
Extraordinary professor, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Project Areas
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IFN-ab dependent sensitization
IFN-ab is a key mediator of sensitization to PAMP´s during the early stage of viral infection. This hypersensitivity leads to an overproduction of cytokines...
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Involvement of TLRs and their ligands in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)
ACD is a T cell mediated inflammatory skin disease caused by reactive haptens and metal ions, the underlying mechanisms of which are not completely understood....
Recent Publications
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Crucial role for human Toll-like receptor 4 in the development of contact allergy to nickel.
Schmidt M, Raghavan B, Müller V, Vogl T, Fejer G, Tchaptchet S, Keck S, Kalis C, Nielsen PJ, Galanos C, Roth J, Skerra A, Martin SF, Freudenberg MA, Goebeler M. (2010)
Nat. Immunol. 11, 814-819 -
Innate, antigen-independent role for T cells in the activation of the immune system by Propionibacterium acnes.
Tchaptchet S, Kirberg J, Freudenberg N, Schamel WW, Galanos C, Freudenberg MA. (2010)
Eur. J. Immunol. 40, 2506-2516 -
MyD88/TLR9 mediated immunopathology and gut microbiota dynamics in a novel murine model of intestinal Graft-versus-Host-Disease.
Heimesaat, M.M., Nogai, A., Bereswill, S., Plickert, R., Fischer, A., Loddenkemper, C., Steinhoff, C., Tchaptchet, S., Thiel, E., Freudenberg, M.A., Göbel, U.B., and Uharek, L. (2010)
Gut. 59, 1079-87 -
Activation of murine macrophages via TLR2 and TLR4 is negatively regulated by a Lyn/PI3K module and promoted by SHIP1.
Keck, S., Freudenberg, M.A., and Huber, M. (2010)
J Immunol. 184, 809-818 -
Innate and adaptive immune responses in contact dermatitis: analogy with infections.
Freudenberg, M.A., Esser, P.R., Jakob, T., Galanos, C. and Martin, S.F. (2009)
G. Ital. Dermatol. Venereol. 2,173-185 -
Bruton's tyrosine kinase is dispensable for the Toll-like receptor-mediated activation of mast cells.
Zorn, C.N., Keck, S., Hendriks, R.W., Leitges, M., Freudenberg, M.A. and Huber, M. (2009)
Cell Signal. 1,79-86 -
Key role of splenic myeloid DCs in the IFN-alphabeta response to adenoviruses in vivo.
Fejer, G., Drechsel, L., Liese, J., Schleicher, U., Ruzsics, Z., Imelli, N., Greber, U.F., Keck, S., Hildenbrand, B., Krug, A., Bogdan, C. and Freudenberg, M.A. (2008)
PLoS Pathog. 11, e1000208 -
Toll-like receptor and IL-12 signaling control susceptibility to contact hypersensitivity.
Martin, S., Dudda, J.C., Bachtanian, E., Lembo, A., Burghard, S., Liller, S., Dürr, C., Fejer, G., Vassileva, R., Freudenberg, N., Heimesaat, M.M., Bereswill, S., Termeer, C.C., Johner, C., Galanos, C. and Freudenberg, M.A. (2008)
J. Exp. Med. 9, 2151-2162 -
Lipopolysaccharide sensing an important factor in the immune response to Gram-negative bacterial infections: Benefits and hazards of LPS hypersensitivity.
Freudenberg, M.A., Tchaptchet, S., Keck, S., Fejer, G., Huber, M., Schütze, N., Beutler, B. and Galanos, C. (2008)
Immunobiol. 213, 193-203
Group Members
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Group Leader
Freudenberg, Marinaphone: -404 / -401
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Ph.D. Students
Wan, Jingynanphone: -412 / -401
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Master Students
Engelhard, Peggyphone: -401 / -404
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Wegner, Mareikephone: -414
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Research Assistants
Branzk, Noraphone: -414
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Technicians
Ippisch, Jasminphone: -401
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Lüderitz, Petraphone: -401
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Galanos, Chrisphone: -404
