— Gunther Zahner, PhD
@ Tomas et al. 2022, Kidney International
Currently two Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-specific experimental membranous nephritis models are established. In the one with mice, the complete human PLA2R is expressed specifically in podocytes, leading to the spontaneous development of PLA2R titer very early after birth. Consequently, granular immune complexes (green) and subepithelial electron-dense deposits are generated followed by severe proteinuria six weeks after birth (see graph). In a second model, a chimeric PLA2R consisting of human CysR-CTLD1, the most immunogenic part, and murine CTLD2-CTLD8, is specifically expressed in podocytes. This chimeric PLA2R expression is tolerated and therefore suitable for directed active immunisation using huPLA2R protein. After active immunisation, membranous nephropathy develops after 6 to 10 weeks including all expected features of the disease.
Using these models, we investigate the course of pathophysiology from disease initiation up to the end point of severe proteinuria including the still controversially discussed role of the complement system. Furthermore, both models are currently used to investigate highly specific therapies of different settings.
III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Martinistr. 52
20246 Hamburg, Germany
since 2011 |
Senior Physician, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Prof. Dr. Tobias B. Huber |
1984 - 1989 |
Study of Biology, University of Stuttgart, Germany |
1990 - 1994 | PhD Thesis, Institute of Biology, University of Stuttgart, docotoral adviser: Prof. Dr. Kurt Köhler |
Scientific postgraduate education:
1995 - 2010 |
Post doctoral fellow, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Prof. Dr. Rolf A.K. Stahl |
1. | Hengel FE, Dehde S, Lassé M, Zahner G, Seifert L, Schnarre A, Kretz O, Demir F, Pinnschmidt HO, Grahammer F, Lucas R, Mehner LM, Zimmermann T, Billing AM, Oh J, Mitrotti A, Pontrelli P, Debiec H, Dossier C, Colucci M, Emma F, Smoyer WE, Weins A, Schaefer F, Alachkar N, Diemert A, Hogan J, Hoxha E, Wiech T, Rinschen MM, Ronco P, Vivarelli M, Gesualdo L, Tomas NM, Huber TB; International Society of Glomerular Disease. N Engl J Med. 2024 Aug 1;391(5):422-433.
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2. | Seifert L, Riecken K, Zahner G, Hambach J, Hagenstein J, Dubberke G, Huber TB, Koch-Nolte F, Fehse B, Tomas NM. Kidney Int. 2024 Apr;105(4):886-889.
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3. | Tomas NM, Schnarre A, Dehde S, Lucas R, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Kretz O, Koellner SMS, Wiech T, Koch-Nolte F, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Kidney Int. 2023 Nov;104(5):916-928.
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4. | Seifert L, Zahner G, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Hickstein N, Dehde S, Wulf S, Köllner SMS, Lucas R, Kylies D, Froembling S, Zielinski S, Kretz O, Borodovsky A, Biniaminov S, Wang Y, Cheng H, Koch-Nolte F, Zipfel PF, Hopfer H, Puelles VG, Panzer U, Huber TB, Wiech T, Tomas NM. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 28;14(1):473.
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5. | Tomas NM, Dehde S, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Huang M, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Maybaum J, Lucas R, von der Heide JL, Kretz O, Köllner SMS, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Kidney Int. 2023 Feb;103(2):297-303.
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6. | Köllner SMS, Seifert L, Zahner G, Tomas NM. Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 3;13:822508. |
7. | Meyer-Schwesinger C, Tomas NM, Dehde S, Seifert L, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Wiech T, Koch-Nolte F, Huber TB, Zahner G. Kidney Int. 2020 May;97(5):913-919. |
8. | Reinhard L, Zahner G, Menzel S, Koch-Nolte F, Stahl RAK, Hoxha E. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020 Jan;31(1):197-207. |
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20246 Hamburg Germany