Prof. Dr. Luise Erpenbeck

Neutrophils and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
– Basic mechanisms and translational significance

Mosaic of confocal time-lapse images of a neutrophil undergoing NET formation over the course of 100min, live cell imaging. Chromatin is stained with Hoechst (blue), the cell membrane in red.
© Erpenbeck

Immunology/ Inflammation/ Biophysics/ Neutrophils/ Translational Dermatology      

Neutrophils are the most abundant form of white blood cells, comprising between 50 to 70% of all leukocytes. They are key effectors of the innate immune system and possess an impressive arsenal of antimicrobial defence strategies, including the release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). While NETs are able to immobilize and eliminate invading pathogens, dysregulated NET formation is associated with the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we aim to understand how the formation of NETs is regulated both on a single-cell level and by collective decision making. We are particularly interested in intercellular communication of neutrophils amongst each other and with other cells of the immune system, including platelets and the adaptive immune system. Furthermore, we have a long-standing interest in biophysical aspects of neutrophil biology, including cytoskeletal changes during NET formation and nuclear mechanics. Through my work as a dermatologist we have access to a variety of clinical samples and investigate the importance of neutrophils and NETs in the context of important inflammatory diseases such as lupus erythematosus or psoriasis. PhD students will be working in a young, enthusiastic and highly cooperative environment with innovative, state-of-the-art imaging approaches (including the development of novel imaging methods) and a strong clinical relevance.

 

 

Prof. Dr. Luise Erpenbeck
© E. Wibberg, Uni MS
Prof. Dr. Luise Erpenbeck
Department of Dermatology
University Medical Center Münster
Von-Esmarch-Straße 58
48149 Münster
T: +49 (0) 251 -83-59526
luise.erpenbeck@ukmuenster.de

Vita

  • 2003 – 2010                Medical studies at the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg,
                                             and the Georg-August-University, Göttingen
  • 2006 – 2007                Research Year at the Rudolf-Virchow-Center for Experimental Medicine,
                                             Würzburg, Schön Lab
  • 2010 – 2012                Guest Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute for Intelligent Systems Stuttgart/
                                             Heidelberg, Spatz Lab
  • 2011- 2012 and          Physician and Scientists at the Dpt. of Dermatology, University Medical
  • 2014 – 2019                Center Göttingen
  • 2012 – 2014                Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital (Harvard Medical School),
                                            Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  • March 2019                 Board Examination for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology
  • 2020 - 2021                 Senior Physician at the Dpt. of Dermatology,
                                            University Medical Center Göttingen
  • Since August 2021     W3 Professorship at the Dpt. of Dermatology,
                                            University Medical Center, Münster

 

Selected references

Neubert E, Meyer D, Rocca F, Kwaczala-Tessmann A, Grandke J, Senger-Sander S, Geisler C, Egner A, Schön MP, Erpenbeck L*, Kruss S*. (2018). Chromatin swelling drives neutrophil extracellular trap release. Nat Commun 9(1), 3767 *contributed equally

Neubert E, Senger-Sander SN, Manzke VS, Busse J, Polo E, Scheidmann SEF, Schön MP, Kruss S, Erpenbeck L. (2019). Serum and Serum Albumin Inhibit in vitro Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). Front Immunol 24;10:12

Erpenbeck L, Gruhn AL, Kudryasheva G, Günay G, Meyer D, Busse J, Neubert E, Schön MP, Rehfeldt F, Kruss S. (2019). Effect of Adhesion and Substrate Elasticity on Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation. Front Immunol 1;10:2320

Neubert L, Bach KM, Busse J, Bogeski I, Schön MP, Kruss S, Erpenbeck L. (2019). Blue and long-wave ultraviolet light induce in vitro Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Front Immunol 25;10:2428

Selvaggio G, Chizhik A, Nißler R, Kuhlemann I, Meyer D, Vuong L, Preiß H, Herrmann N, Mann FA, Lv Z, Oswald TA, Spreinat A, Erpenbeck L, Großhans J, Karius V, Janshoff A, Giraldo JP, Kruss S. (2020). Exfoliated near infrared fluorescent silicate nanosheets for (bio)photonics. Nat Commun 20;11(1):149

Links

Erpenbeck Lab

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