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Gröne lab

The Gröne lab studies the cellular and molecular processes of dedifferentiation, regeneration and atrophy of polarized cells, specifically renal tubular epithelia. The kidney expresses a complex array of epithelia with different morphology and function.

There are currently two major topics:

1: The role of glycosphingolipids, complex membrane lipids and part of lipid microdomains, in modulation of location and activity of membrane proteins (e.g. receptor kinases membrane transporters)

 2: The role of lipid-dependent transcription factors (e.g. Wnt pathway, nuclear receptors) in steering homeostasis and pathophysiologic reactions of polarized epithelia.

 In addition the group can take recourse to a large archive of human renal biopsies for translational studies.

We also have a consultative reporting on histology of human or animal tissue; transmission electron microscopy analysis is offered.

Selected references:

Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) in Urine Identifies Patients with Short-Term Risk of eGFR Loss.
Zewinger S, Rauen T, Rudnicki M, Federico G, Wagner M, Triem S, Schunk SJ, Petrakis I, Schmit D, Wagenpfeil S, Heine GH, Mayer G, Floege J, Fliser D, Gröne HJ, Speer T.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018; 30(11):2722-2733.

Investigations of Glucocorticoid Action in GN.
Kuppe C, van Roeyen C, Leuchtle K, Kabgani N, Vogt M, Van Zandvoort M, Smeets B, Floege J, Gröne HJ, Moeller MJ.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017; 28(5):1408-1420.

Tubular Dickkopf-3 promotes the development of renal atrophy and fibrosis.
Federico G, Meister M, Mathow D, Heine GH, Moldenhauer G, Popovic ZV, Nordström V, Kopp-Schneider A, Hielscher T, Nelson PJ, Schaefer F, Porubsky S, Fliser D, Arnold B, Gröne HJ.
JCI Insight. 2016; 21; 1(1):e84916. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.84916.

Zeb1 affects epithelial cell adhesion by diverting glycosphingolipid metabolism.
Mathow D, Chessa F, Rabionet M, Kaden S, Jennemann R, Sandhoff R, Gröne HJ, Feuerborn A.
EMBO Rep. 2015; 16(3):321-31.

Sulfatides are required for renal adaptation to chronic metabolic acidosis.
Stettner P, Bourgeois S, Marsching C, Traykova-Brauch M, Porubsky S, Nordström V, Hopf C, Koesters R, Sandhoff R, Wiegandt H, Wagner CA, Gröne HJ, Jennemann R.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013; 110(24):9998-10003.

Cell-specific in vivo functions of glycosphingolipids: lessons from genetic deletions of enzymes involved in glycosphingolipid synthesis.
Jennemann R, Gröne HJ.
Prog Lipid Res. 2013; 52(2):231-48.

Hepatic glycosphingolipid deficiency and liver function in mice.
Jennemann R, Rothermel U, Wang S, Sandhoff R, Kaden S, Out R, van Berkel TJ, Aerts JM, Ghauharali K, Sticht C, Gröne HJ.
Hepatology. 2010; 51(5):1799-809.

An efficient and versatile system for acute and chronic modulation of renal tubular function in transgenic mice.
Traykova-Brauch M, Schönig K, Greiner O, Miloud T, Jauch A, Bode M, Felsher DW, Glick AB, Kwiatkowski DJ, Bujard H, Horst J, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Niggli FK, Kriz W, Gröne HJ, Koesters R.
Nat Med. 2008; 14(9):979-84.

The matrix component biglycan is proinflammatory and signals through Toll-like receptors 4 and 2 in macrophages.
Schaefer L, Babelova A, Kiss E, Hausser HJ, Baliova M, Krzyzankova M, Marsche G, Young MF, Mihalik D, Götte M, Malle E, Schaefer RM, Gröne HJ.
J Clin Invest. 2005; 115(8):2223-33.

Cell-specific deletion of glucosylceramide synthase in brain leads to severe neural defects after birth.
Jennemann R, Sandhoff R, Wang S, Kiss E, Gretz N, Zuliani C, Martin-Villalba A, Jäger R, Schorle H, Kenzelmann M, Bonrouhi M, Wiegandt H, Gröne HJ.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102(35):12459-64.