Research Topics

Our experimental research focused on endogenous anti-inflammatory or regulatory signaling cascades in conditions of acute and chronic inflammation and their potential for therapeutic interventions. We have special interest in mechanisms of the innate immune response and their specific modulation by immune-related mediators such as metabolites, cytokines, and growth factors. In this context, we currently focus on a better understanding of monocyte-associated functions.We are also interested in researching biomarkers to better understand physiological mechanisms in health and disease.

Publications since 2018

 2023

• Wirthgen, E.*, Weber, F.*, Kubickova-Weber, L., Schiller, B., Schiller, S., Radke, M., & Däbritz, J. Identifying predictors of clinical outcomes using the projection-predictive feature selection-a proof of concept on the example of Crohn's disease. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11, 1170563
• Klamt J., De Laffolie J., Wirthgen E., Stricker S., Däbritz J. (2023). Predicting Complications in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Patients Followed in CEDATA-GPGE Registry, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2023

2022

• Hornschuh, M., Haas, V., Winkel, P. P., Gökyildirim, M. Y., Mullins, C. S., Wrobel, I. M., Manteuffel C. & Wirthgen, E. (2022). Negative Magnetic Sorting Preserves the Functionality of Ex Vivo Cultivated Non-Adherent Human Monocytes. Biology, 11(11), 1583.

• Manteuffel C, Puppe B, Hartwig T, Wirthgen E. (2022).  Learning, health and productivity of group-housed sows conditioned to signal-feeding under realistic husbandry conditions.   Livestock Science, 266, 105111

• Hinterseher, J., Günther, J., Zlatina, K., Isernhagen, L., Viergutz, T., Wirthgen, E., Höflich A., Vernunft A., Galuska, S. P. (2022). Milk Polysialic Acid Levels Rapidly Decrease in Line with the N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Concentrations during Early Lactation in Dairy Cows. Biology, 12(1), 5.

2021

• Hornschuh, M., Wirthgen, E., Wolfien, M., Singh, K. P., Wolkenhauer, O., & Däbritz, J. (2021). The role of epigenetic modifications for the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Clinical Epigenetics, 13(1), 1-14.

• Casalegno Garduño, R., & Däbritz, J. (2021). New Insights on CD8+ T Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Therapeutic Approaches. Frontiers in Immunology, 4100.

• Wirthgen, E., Hornschuh, M., Wrobel, I. M., Manteuffel, C., & Däbritz, J. (2021). Mimicking of Blood Flow Results in a Distinct Functional Phenotype in Human Non-Adherent Classical Monocytes. Biology, 10(8), 748.

2020

• Wirthgen, E., Leonard, A. K., Scharf, C., & Domanska, G. (2020). The immunomodulator 1-methyltryptophan drives tryptophan catabolism toward the kynurenic acid branch. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 313.

• Riess, C., Schneider, B., Kehnscherper, H., Gesche, J., Irmscher, N., Shokraie, F., Classen CF, Wirthgen E, Domanska G, Zimpfer A, Strüder D, Junghanss C, Maletzki C. (2020). Activation of the Kynurenine pathway in human malignancies can be suppressed by the Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Dinaciclib. Frontiers in Immunology, 11.

• Cornish, J. S., Wirthgen, E., & Däbritz, J. (2020). Biomarkers predictive of response to thiopurine therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Frontiers in Medicine, 8.

2019

• Günther J, Däbritz J, and  Wirthgen, E. "Limitations and off-target effects of tryptophan-related IDO inhibitors in cancer treatment." Frontiers in Immunology 10 (2019): 1801.

2018

• Nipkow, M., E. Wirthgen, P. Luft, A. Rebl, A. Hoeflich and T. Goldammer, Characterization of igf1 and igf2 genes during maraena whitefish (Coregonus maraena) ontogeny and the effect of temperature on embryogenesis and igf expression. Growth Horm IGF Res, 2018. 40: p. 32-43.
• Mense, K., J. Heidekorn-Dettmer, E. Wirthgen, Y. Brockelmann, R. Bortfeldt, S. Peter, M. Jung, C. Hoflich, A. Hoeflich and M. Schmicke, Increased Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP)-2, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-4 Are Associated With Fetal Mortality in Pregnant Cows. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2018. 9: p. 310.
• Brenmoehl, J., C. Walz, M. Spitschak, E. Wirthgen, M. Walz, M. Langhammer, A. Tuchscherer, R. Naumann and A. Hoeflich, Partial phenotype conversion and differential trait response to conditions of husbandry in mice. J Comp Physiol B, 2018. 188(3): p. 527-539.
• Wirthgen, E., W. Otten, M. Tuchscherer, A. Tuchscherer, G. Domanska, J. Brenmoehl, J. Günther, D. Ohde, W. Weitschies, A. Seidlitz, E. Scheuch and E. Kanitz, Effects of 1-Methyltryptophan on Immune Responses and the Kynurenine Pathway after Lipopolysaccharide Challenge in Pigs. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018, 19(10): p. 3009.
• Wirthgen, E., S. Goumon, M. Kunze, C. Walz, M. Spitschak, A. Tuchscherer, J. Brown, C. Höflich, L. Faucitano and A. Hoeflich, Effects of Transport Duration and Environmental Conditions in Winter or Summer on the Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Proteins in the Plasma of Market-Weight Pigs. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2018. 9: p. 36-36.
• Brenmoehl, J., D. Ohde, E. Wirthgen and A. Hoeflich, Cytokines in milk and the role of TGF-beta. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2018. 32(1): p. 47-56.
• Wirthgen, E.*, A. Hoeflich, A. Rebl and J. Günther, Kynurenic Acid: The Janus-Faced Role of an Immunomodulatory Tryptophan Metabolite and Its Link to Pathological Conditions. Frontiers in Immunology, 2018. 8(1957).