Dr. Jan Klohs

 

Main Goals, Keywords

Our research aims at studying pathophysiology in the brain with non-invasive imaging techniques. A major scientific focus is cerebral ischemia, where we are interested to learn how inflammatory processes after cerebral ischemia partake in blood-brain barrier impairment, hemorrhagic transformation and secondary tissue damage. To this end, we employ techniques like near-infrared fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging, molecular imaging probes, experimental models of cerebral ischemia, genetic mouse models and pharmacology.

Keywords: Stroke, optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, blood-brain barrier, thrombosis, mouse models of brain disorder

Group Members

1 group leader, 1 PhD student

Previous and Current Research

• Optical molecular imaging of inflammatory processes in the brain
• Molecular mechanism of blood-brain barrier impairment
• Magnetic resonance imaging of vascular pathology

Future Projects

In vivo imaging studies with experimental models of cerebral ischemia to investigate how neutrophils mediate blood-brain barrier impairment, hemorrhagic transformation and thrombosis after focal cerebral ischemia.

Techniques and Equipment

The imaging studies will be done under the auspice of the group of Prof. Markus Rudin at the Animal Imaging Center (AIC). The equipment comprises two high-field MRI systems (4.7T and 9.4T), planar and near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems and tomographs. Surgical techniques will be used in animal models of cerebral ischemia.

Selected Publications

• Klohs J, Baltes C, Princz-Kranz F, Ratering D, Nitsch RM, Knuesel I, Rudin M. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance microangiography reveals remodeling of the cerebral microvasculature in transgenic ArcAβ mice. J Neurosci. 2012 Feb 1;32(5):1705-13.
• Klohs J, Deistung A, Schweser F, Grandjean J, Dominietto M, Waschkies C, Nitsch RM, Knuesel I, Reichenbach JR, Rudin M. Detection of cerebral microbleeds with quantitative susceptibility mapping in the ArcAbeta mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011 Dec;31(12):2282-92. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.118. Epub 2011 Aug 17.
• Klohs J, Steinbrink J, Bourayou R, Mueller S, Cordell R, Licha K, Schirner M, Dirnagl U, Lindauer U, Wunder A. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging with fluorescently labeled albumin: a novel method for non-invasive optical imaging of blood-brain barrier impairment after focal cerebral ischemia in mice. J Neurosci Methods. 2009 May 30;180(1):126-32. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation

http://www.biomed.ee.ethz.ch