Mission Statement

“Understandung antibody-mediated kidney disase to investigate target specific therapeutical options

— Gunther Zahner, PhD

Team Members

PhD student

Annabel Schnarre

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Technican

Alper Yilmaz

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Research

@ 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.

Gunther Zahner, PhD

III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Martinistr. 52
20246 Hamburg, Germany

CV

Current Position

since 2011

Senior Physician, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Prof. Dr. Tobias B. Huber

University Training

1984 - 1989

Study of Biology, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Academic qualifications
 1990 - 1994 PhD Thesis, Institute of Biology, University of Stuttgart, docotoral adviser: Prof. Dr. Kurt Köhler
Previous professional career

Scientific postgraduate education:

1995 - 2010

Post doctoral fellow, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Prof. Dr. Rolf A.K. Stahl

Selected publications

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.
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.
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. 
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. 
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.
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.

Funding

Martinistraße 52
Campus Research II N25
20246 Hamburg Germany
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University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf