Research Topics

Our 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.

Current publications:

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