DIGS-BB – Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering / Research / Research Groups / Karsten Kretschmer

Karsten Kretschmer Group

Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Focus Immune Regulation

CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the forkhead box transcription factor Foxp3 have a vital function in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and the prevention of fatal multi-organ autoimmunity throughout life. In the last decade, Foxp3+ Treg cells have raised the hope for novel cell-based therapies to achieve tolerance in clinical settings of unwanted immune responses such as autoimmunity and graft rejection. Conceptually, the antigen-specific enhancement of Treg cell function is of particular importance because such strategies will minimize the requirements for pharmaceutical immunosuppression, sparing desired protective host immune responses to infectious and malignant insults. In this context, our research interests focus on molecular and cellular pathways that govern the generation, lifestyle and suppressor function of Foxp3+ Treg cells.

Karsten Kretschmer Research: Figure — Figure

Future Projects and Goals

Foxp3+ Treg cells as gain-of-function targets in autoimmunity and transplantation
Cell signaling and epigenetics in Foxp3+ Treg cell biology
Transcription regulation in tolerance and autoimmunity (incl. miRNAs)
Mechanisms of suppression by Foxp3+ Treg cells

Methodological and Technical Expertise

Mouse models of human autoimmune diseases (IPEX, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis)
Mouse molecular genetic tools (immune deficient mice, Cre recombinase transgenic mice etc.)
Flow cytometry and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS)
Experimental in vitro and in vivo approaches to study the biology of T cells

CV

since 2013
Professor, Molecular and Cellular Immunology/Focus Immune Regulation, TU Dresden

since 2009
Member of the Paul-Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID), Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung e. V. (DZD)

since 2007
Research Group Leader at the CRTD, TU Dresden

2003–2007
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston

1999–2003
PhD, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig

More Information

Kretschmer Group at TUD CRTD

Selected Publications

Petzold C, Steinbronn N, Gereke M, Strasser R, Sparwasser T, Bruder D, Geffers R, Schallenberg S, Kretschmer K.
Fluorochrome reporter-based definition of Foxp3+ regulatory T cell subphenotypes of distinct developmental origin.
Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44(12):3632–45.

Riewaldt J, Düber S, Boernert M, Krey M, Dembinski M, Weiss S, Garbe AI, Kretschmer K.
Severe developmental B lymphopoietic defects in Foxp3-deficient mice are refractory to adoptive regulatory T cell therapy.
Front Immunol. 2012. 3:141.

Petzold C, Schallenberg S, Stern JNH, Kretschmer K.
Targeted antigen delivery to DEC-205+ dendritic cells for tolerogenic vaccination.
Rev Diabet Stud. 2012; 9(4):305.

Schallenberg S, Tsai PY, Riewaldt J, Kretschmer K.
Identification of an immediate Foxp3− precursor population to Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs of non-manipulated mice.
J Exp Med. 2010. 207(7):1393.

Kretschmer K, Apostolou I, Hawiger D, Khazaie K, Nussenzweig MC, von Boehmer H.
Inducing and expanding regulatory T cells by foreign antigen.
Nat. Immunol. 2005. 6: 1219.

Contact

Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)
TU Dresden
Fetscherstraße 105
01307 Dresden

PhD Summer Selection 2024