Prof. Dr. Oliver Ullrich

 

Main Goals, Keywords

Elucidation of cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune surveillance of the central nervous system, identification of possible therapeutic targets, Investigation of interaction of inflammation and neuronal stem cells

Keywords: Endocannabinoid system, neuroinflammation, signal transduction, neuronal stem cells

Group Members

1 professor, 3 senior research fellows, 1 postdoctoral fellow, 1 PhD student, 2 technicians, 1 master student

Previous and Current Research

Inflammatory reactions in the CNS, which result from a loss of control and involve a network of non-neuronal and neuronal cells, contribute significantly to the onset and progress of several major neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, constant immune surveillance is indispensable for neuroprotection and neurorepair, in particular during pathological conditions. To avoid inflammatory escalation, the CNS harbours an impressive arsenal of cellular and molecular mechanisms enabling strict control of immune reactions – the so-called “immune privilege”. In the last years, several in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies suggested that the endocannabinoid system participate crucially in CNS immune control and neuroprotection, therefore playing an important role in the cellular network of communication in and between the nervous and immune system during neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. In our research projects, we aim to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms, how the endocannabinoid system controls and modulates CNS immune system and how it is related to and involved in inflammation, neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neurorepair.

Future Projects

• Regulation of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression and secretion by the endocannabinoid system in macrophageal cells (PI: Ullrich)
• Signal transduction of endocannabinoids in human CD4 T lymphocytes (PI: Ullrich)
• Protection of the neuronal stem cell pool from stress induced premature aging (PI: Wolf)
• The impact of in utero viral infection on neuronal stem cell fitness (PI: Wolf)

Further research projects address the cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects from medicinal plants from the tropical rain forest and aim to identify new bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. In collaborative projects we investigate potential new therapeutic approaches against neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and the underlying molecular pathways. Beyond our research in basic and applied neuroimmunology, we are interested in one of the fundamental questions about the conditions of life on Earth: If and why gravity is required for mammalian cell function and signal transduction (see Division of Space Biotechnology).

Techniques and Equipment

Cell culture, primary neuronal cultures, organotypic brain slice culture, laser dissection microscopy, tissue fractionation, state-of-the art molecular biological and biochemical analysis, immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis, real-time PCR, immunohisto- and -cytochemistry, confocal microscopy

Selected Publications

• Wolf, S.A., Bick-Sander, A., Fabel, K., Leal-Galicia, P., Tauber, S., Ramirez-Rodriguez, G., Müller, A., Melnik, A., Waltinger, T.P., Ullrich, O., Kempermann, G. Cannabinoid receptor CB1 mediates baseline and activity-induced survival of new neurons in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Cell Commun Signal. Jun 17; 8: 12 (2010).
• Häke, I., Schönenberger, S., Neumann, J., Franke, K., Paulsen-Merker, K., Reymann, K., Ismail, G., Bin Din, L., Said, I.M., Latiff, A., Wessjohann, L., Zipp, F., Ullrich, O. Neuroprotection and enhanced neurogenesis by extract from the tropical plant Knema laurina after inflammatory damage in living brain tissue. J Neuroimmunol. Jan 3; 206(1-2): 91-9 (2009). Epub 2008 Nov 22.

Funding

German Research Foudation (DFG), European Space Agency (ESA), German Aerospace Center (DLR)