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Der akute Myokardinfarkt stellt eine der weltweit häufigsten Todesursachen dar. Dieser wird durch einen Verschluss einer den Herzmuskel versorgenden Koronararterie verursacht. Trotz erheblicher Fortschritte bei der akuten mechanischen Wiedereröffnung eines akuten Gefäßverschlusses entwickelt sich oft eine irreversible Schädigung des Herzmuskels, die im Verlauf zu einer Herzschwäche führt. Diese wird auch durch akute und chronische Entzündungsvorgänge hervorgerufen, die zu einer Einwanderung von weißen Blutzellen in das geschädigte Herzen führten.

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) are among the principal causes of visual loss worldwide. The biochemical events responsible for RNV are to date not fully understood. Recently microglia (MG), the resident immune cells of the retina, have been discussed to be implicated in the development of RNV. However, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms still need to be explored.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited disorder characterized by progressive myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and a high risk for arrhythmias. The disease is caused by mutations in genes encoding for proteins of the sarcomere.

There is no causative treatment available and the aim of current therapies is to prevent sudden cardiac death and pathologic myocardial remodeling.
Additional to the underlying genetic predisposition, there are multiple factors influencing disease course in HCM.

The main function of the kidneys is the removal of metabolic end products (MEP) from the blood. When the kidney function is severely impaired, MEP cannot be effectively removed from the blood, causing subsequent diseases that finally lead to death. The artificial removal of MEP is based on the filtration of free circulating MEP through dialysis membranes. Some MEP are not water soluble and attach to plasma proteins.

Platelet activation is an important step in hemostasis. However, uncontrolled activation of platelets may be fatal, since clotting can result in the formation of pathogenic thrombi leading to occlusion of blood vessels. In patients with coronary heart disease, atherothrombus formation is often the cause of the acute coronary syndrome. While clinical use of anti-platelet therapy already belongs to the routine therapy of coronary heart disease, the underlying molecular mechanism of athero-thrombosis is still not fully understood.
 

Starting at birth, the immune system needs to rapidly adapt to extrauterine life and its microorganisms. This is a delicate process with potential immediate and long-term health implications. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly host-adapted β-herpesvirus, which establishes life-long persistence. In the history of mankind, and currently in most developing countries, CMV infects most infants in the first year of life.

Although allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is an effective curative treatment for several neoplasic and non-neoplasic diseases, the procedure is not devoid of complications. Relapse of the underlying disease and Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) are frequent complications after allo-HCT, they contribute to morbidity and mortality and are the main cause of treatment failure. 

Aging is associated with changes in the cardiovascular system, which can lead to vascular stiffness and heart failure. In this respect, a lower nitrogen monoxide (NO) availability can be observed. This decreasing availability can be counteracted by a dietary intake of nitrate (e.g. ingredient of spinach and beetroot). The protective effect of nitrate appears in increasing blood flow and cardiac output improvement. Even in an acute myocardial infarction, the presence of NO decreases the death of heart muscle cells and thus reduces the infarct size.

Hypercholesterolemia is a primary risk factor of cardiovascular disease. However, epidemiological studies suggest that hypercholesterolemia is also a risk factor for chronic inflammatory diseases e.g. neurodegeneration, arthritis) and tumor development. With the recent establishment of a connection between hypercholesterolemia and extramedullary hematopoiesis, we here hypothesize that the generation of neutrophils in the spleen under hypercholesterolemia represents an important link between hypercholesterolemia and chronification of inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death for women. Several subtypes exist. We are investigating a particularly dangerous and aggressive strain that overexpresses the growth factor receptor HER2. Approved drugs for HER2 positive breast cancer lose their efficacy in many patients eventually as drug resistance develops; the causes are not sufficiently known to develop more effective new medicines.