Many of the phenotypes in human kidney disease are only detectable at the ultrastructural level. This holds also true for the model systems of genetic and epigenetic based disturbances of renal development, biology or aging. Our group applies transmission and scanning microscope techniques in human and animal tissue (e.g. mouse, rat, zebrafish, drosophila) in order to detect and characterize subtle ultrastructural alterations e.g. of the glomerular filtration barrier, the actin cytoskeleton or intracellular vesicle formation and tracking at a qualitative and quantitative level. Moreover, pre- and post-embedding immunogold labelling allows us to follow subcellular redistribution of proteins under disease conditions.

We are currently establishing freeze fracture/replica immunogold labelling of kidney tissue and correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) especially in combination with 3D clarity immunofluorescence imaging in order to broaden our toolbox for the analysis and understanding of renal structural alterations in disease.

Scientifically, the group is currently working on "The role of DNA repair mechanisms on podocyte aging and the consequences of kidney aging on other organs". This study is funded by the DFG and is performed in cooperation with Prof. Tobias Huber (UKE), Prof. Ketan Patel (Reading, UK) und Prof. Jan Hoeijmakers (Rotterdam, NL).

Proteostasis in Mucolipidosis Type II and III Prevent Proteinuria.
Sachs W, Sachs M, Krüger E, Zielinski S, Kretz O, Huber TB, Baranowsky A, Westermann LM, Voltolini Velho R, Ludwig NF, Yorgan TA, Di Lorenzo G, Kollmann K, Braulke T, Schwartz IV, Schinke T, Danyukova T, Pohl S, Meyer-Schwesinger C.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020 Aug

A Neural metabolic imbalance induced by MOF dysfunction triggers pericyte activation and breakdown of vasculature.
Sheikh BN, Guhathakurta S, Tsang TH, Schwabenland M, Renschler G, Herquel B, Bhardwaj V, Holz H, Stehle T, Bondareva O, Aizarani N, Mossad O, Kretz O, Reichardt W, Chatterjee A, Braun LJ, Thevenon J, Sartelet H, Blank T, Grün D, von Elverfeldt D, Huber TB, Vestweber D, Avilov S, Prinz M, Buescher JM, Akhtar A
Nat Cell Biol. 2020 Jul

Microbiota-Induced Type I Interferons Instruct a Poised Basal State of Dendritic Cells.
Schaupp L, Muth S, Rogell L, Kofoed-Branzk M, Melchior F, Lienenklaus S, Ganal-Vonarburg SC, Klein M, Guendel F, Hain T, Schütze K, Grundmann U, Schmitt V, Dorsch M, Spanier J, Larsen PK, Schwanz T, Jäckel S, Reinhardt C, Bopp T, Danckwardt S, Mahnke K, Heinz GA, Mashreghi MF, Durek P, Kalinke U, Kretz O, Huber TB, Weiss S, Wilhelm C, Macpherson AJ, Schild H, Diefenbach A, Probst HC.
Cell. 2020 May

Renal clearance of polymeric nanoparticles by mimicry of glycan surface of viruses.
Wyss PP, Lamichhane SP, Abed A, Vonwil D, Kretz O, Huber TB, Sarem M, Shastri VP.
Biomaterials. 2020 Feb

The tetraspanin CD9 controls migration and proliferation of parietal epithelial cells and glomerular disease progression.
Lazareth H, Henique C, Lenoir O, Puelles VG, Flamant M, Bollée G, Fligny C, Camus M, Guyonnet L, Millien C, Gaillard F, Chipont A, Robin B, Fabrega S, Dhaun N, Camerer E, Kretz O, Grahammer F, Braun F, Huber TB, Nochy D, Mandet C, Bruneval P, Mesnard L, Thervet E, Karras A, Le Naour F, Rubinstein E, Boucheix C, Alexandrou A, Moeller MJ, Bouzigues C, Tharaux PL.
Nat Commun. 2019 Jul

Compression of morbidity in a progeroid mouse model through the attenuation of myostatin/activin signalling.
Alyodawi K, Vermeij WP, Omairi S, Kretz O, Hopkinson M, Solagna F, Joch B, Brandt RMC, Barnhoorn S, van Vliet N, Ridwan Y, Essers J, Mitchell R, Morash T, Pasternack A, Ritvos O, Matsakas A, Collins-Hooper H, Huber TB, Hoeijmakers JHJ, Patel K.
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2019 Jun