Molecular mechanisms of neutrophil activation and NET formation

We aim to understand the biophysical driving forces that lead to neutrophil activation and chromatin decondensation. Together with the Kruss Lab (Dpt. of Physical Chemistry, Bochum) we use innovative imaging techniques such as STED microscopy, AFM and life-cell imaging to unravel the fascinating process NET formation.

Inflammatory dermatological diseases 

We use mouse models and human samples to understand the role of the innate immune system, particulary neutrophilic granulocytes, in chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, urticaria and systemic lupus erythematosus. 

Development of novel imaging methods

We use nanosensor-based probes that fluoresce in the near infrared (nIR) to detect small mediators of intercellular communication. Furthermore, we develop affordable and feasible super-resolution microscopy methods in the form of expansion microscopy to evaluate neutrophil morphology. 

Selected Publications

Hollsapple, J., Schnitzler, L., Rusch, L., Baldeweg, T.H., Neubert, E., Kruss, S., Erpenbeck L., Expansion microscopy of nuclear structure and dynamics in neutrophils, BioRxiv Aug 2022, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.21.499684

Hollstein, M.M., Münsterkötter, L., Schön, M. P., Bergmann, A., Husar, T.M., Abratis, A., Eidizadeh, A., Schaffrinski, M., Zachmann, K., Schmitz, A., Holsapple, J.S., Stanisz-Bogeski, H., Schanz, J., Fischer, A., Groß, U., Leha, A., Zautner, A.E., Schnelle, M., Erpenbeck, L., Long-term effects of homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on humoral and cellular immune responses, Allergy 2022 Aug;77(8):2560-2564

Hollstein, M.M., Münsterkötter, L., Schön, M. P., Bergmann, A., Husar, T.M., Abratis, A., Eidizadeh, A., Schaffrinski, M., Zachmann, K., Schmitz, A., Holsapple, J.S., Stanisz-Bogeski, H., Schanz, J., Fischer, A., Groß, U., Leha, A., Zautner, A.E., Schnelle, M., Erpenbeck, L., Long-term effects of homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on humoral and cellular immune responses, Allergy 2022 Aug;77(8):2560-2564

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

Spreinat A., Selvaggio G., Erpenbeck L., Kruss S.*, Multispectral nIR absorption imaging for histology of skin cancer, Journal of Biophotonics, 2020 Jan;13(1):e201960080 *contributed equally, corresponding authors

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

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

Neubert, E., Senger-Sander, S. N., Manzke, V. S., Busse, J., Polo, E., Scheidmann, S. E. F., Schon, M. P., Kruss, S., Erpenbeck, L., Serum and Serum Albumin Inhibit in vitro Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), Front. Immunol., 2019 Jan 24;10:12


Updated 10/2022