Molecular Cardiology
Projektleiterin Prof. Dr. Diana Lindner
Our research interest
Heart failure often occur as a consequence of various cardiovascular diseases and typically associated with cardiac remodeling in which inflammation and fibrosis play crucial roles. In a healthy heart, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a scaffold for cardiac cells, ensuring the structural integrity of the heart, but also serves as a reservoir for latent growth factors. Under pathological conditions, excessive deposition of ECM proteins can lead to increased stiffness of the myocardial tissue which resulting in systolic and diastolic dysfunction. In contrast, dampened fibrotic remodeling in the context of myocardial infarction can lead to inadequate scarring, resulting in ventricular dilatation or even rupture.
Our research group is focused on the regulation of cardiac inflammation and fibrotic remodeling in different types of heart failure. Therefore, animal models are used to experimentally induce heart failure, e.g. by myocardial infarction or viral myocarditis. We also combine in vivo animal models with in vitro cell culture experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of the various underlying heart diseases and their progression to heart failure.
Methods
In vivo heart failure models and technics:
- Hemodynamic measurements to characterize LV function
- Myocardial infarction (LAD-ligation and ischemia/reperfusion)
- Cardiac hypertrophy by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or by DOCA/nephrectomy
- Viral myocarditis induced by Coxsackie-Virus B3
- Diabetic cardiomyopathy (STZ model)
In vitro models and technics:
- Isolation and culture of primary cardiac cells (fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes)
- Ischemic cell culture system
- Migration assays and co-culture experiments
Main analysis methods:
- Gene expression analyses
- TaqMan
- Bulk RNA sequencing
- Single-cell sequencing
- Histology
- Routine staining methods (e.g., Picro-Sirius, Haematoxylin-eosin)
- Immunohistology (Chromogenic and Fluorescent)
- In-situ hybridization
- Confocal microscopy
- FACS analyses
Dr. med. Lucas Bacmeister
Virginia K. Haacke
Research Technician
Kevin Gehlweiler
Molekularmediziner, M.Sc., Doktorand
Miriam Disch
Molekularmedizinerin, M.Sc., Doktorandin
Hongtong Su
Medizinerin, Doktorandin
Svenja Kupsch
technische Labortechnologin, B.Sc. Biologie
Anja Turnschek
Masterstudentin, B.Sc. Molekulare Medizin
Jannis Tilger
Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, B.Sc. Molekulare Medizin
Open positions
We are currently accepting applications for Master's students. We offer you the opportunity to be trained in up-to-date laboratory methods, animal care as well as project design, data analysis and presentation. You will have the opportunity to present data at scientific conferences and contribute to scientific publications.
Recent key publications
Stoffers B*, Wolf H*, Bacmeister L, Kupsch S, Vico T, Marchini T, Brehm MA, Yan I, Becher PM, Ardeshirdavani A, Escher F, Kim SV, Klingel K, Kirchhof P, Blankenberg S, Zeller T, Wolf D, Hilgendorf I, Westermann D, Lindner D. Gpr15-Mediated T Cell Recruitment During Acute Viral Myocarditis Facilitated Virus Elimination and Improved Outcome. Nature Cardiovascular Research. (2024); 3; [PMID: 39195892]; IF (2023): 9.4
Bacmeister L, Cavus E, Bohnen S, Tahir E, Wolf H, Buellesbach A, Heidenreich A, Haacke VK, Weber S, Hilgendorf I, Zeller T, Ojeda F, Radunski UK, Lund GK, Adam G, Blankenberg S, Westermann D, Muellerleile K, Lindner D. Serum Concentrations of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Procollagen Type I Carboxy Terminal Propeptide Discriminate Infarct-Like Myocarditis and Non-St-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Heart Association. (2024); 13; [PMID: 38989835]; IF (2023): 5.0
Pietsch N, Chen CY, Kupsch S, Bacmeister L, Geertz B, Herrera-Rivero M, Siebels B, Voss H, Kramer E, Braren I, Westermann D, Schluter H, Mearini G, Schlossarek S, van der Velden J, Caporizzo MA, Lindner D, Prosser BL, Carrier L. Chronic Activation of Tubulin Tyrosination Improves Heart Function. Circulation research. (2024); 135; [PMID: 39279670]; IF (2023): 16.5
Bräuninger H, Kruger S, Bacmeister L, Nystrom A, Eyerich K, Westermann D, Lindner D. Matrix Metalloproteinases in Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction. Basic research in cardiology. (2023); 118; [PMID: 37160529]; IF: 7.5
Bräuninger H, Stoffers B, Fitzek ADE, Meissner K, Aleshcheva G, Schweizer M, Weimann J, Rotter B, Warnke S, Edler C, Braun F, Roedl K, Scherschel K, Escher F, Kluge S, Huber TB, Ondruschka B, Schultheiss HP, Kirchhof P, Blankenberg S, Puschel K, Westermann D*, Lindner D*. Cardiac Sars-Cov-2 Infection Is Associated with Pro-Inflammatory Transcriptomic Alterations within the Heart. Cardiovascular research. (2022); 118; [PMID: 34647998]; IF: 10.8
Bräuninger H, Thottakara T, Schon J, Voss S, Dhople V, Warnke S, Scherschel K, Schrage B, Kirchhof P, Blankenberg S, Volker U, Westermann D, Hammer E*, Lindner D*. Cytokine-Mediated Alterations of Human Cardiac Fibroblast's Secretome. Int J Mol Sci. (2021); 22; [PMID: 34830141]; IF: 6.208
Lindner D, Fitzek A, Bräuninger H, Aleshcheva G, Edler C, Meissner K, Scherschel K, Kirchhof P, Escher F, Schultheiss HP, Blankenberg S, Puschel K, Westermann D. Association of Cardiac Infection with Sars-Cov-2 in Confirmed Covid-19 Autopsy Cases. JAMA Cardiol. (2020); 5; [PMID: 32730555]; IF: 14.676
Bacmeister L, Schwarzl M, Warnke S, Stoffers B, Blankenberg S, Westermann D, Lindner D. Inflammation and Fibrosis in Murine Models of Heart Failure. Basic research in cardiology. (2019); 114; [PMID: 30887214]; IF: 11.981
Hinrichs S, Scherschel K, Kruger S, Neumann JT, Schwarzl M, Yan I, Warnke S, Ojeda FM, Zeller T, Karakas M, Keller T, Meyer C, Blankenberg S, Westermann D, Lindner D. Precursor Proadrenomedullin Influences Cardiomyocyte Survival and Local Inflammation Related to Myocardial Infarction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2018); 115; [PMID: 30166452]; IF: 9.580
Lindner D, Zietsch C, Tank J, Sossalla S, Fluschnik N, Hinrichs S, Maier L, Poller W, Blankenberg S, Schultheiss HP, Tschope C, Westermann D. Cardiac Fibroblasts Support Cardiac Inflammation in Heart Failure. Basic research in cardiology. (2014); 109; [PMID: 25086637]; IF: 5.414
Westermann D*, Lindner D*, Kasner M, Zietsch C, Savvatis K, Escher F, von Schlippenbach J, Skurk C, Steendijk P, Riad A, Poller W, Schultheiss HP, Tschope C. Cardiac Inflammation Contributes to Changes in the Extracellular Matrix in Patients with Heart Failure and Normal Ejection Fraction. Circulation. Heart failure. (2011); 4; [PMID: 21075869]; IF: 6.286