Theurich Lab - Cancer- and Immunometabolism
Research Topics
- Metabolism of cytotoxic lymphocytes
- Metabolic targets in myeloma & lymphoma
- Metaflammation and Cancer
- Translational immunometabolism
Cells continuously need to adapt to energetic demands determined by their functional status. On the other hand, nutrient availability and competition with other cells of the local microenvironment shape their metabolic programs and fitness. This is particularly true for migrating immune cells invading cancerous or inflamed tissues. Moreover, also systemic factors such as pathologic body composition (e.g. obesity) and corresponding alterations of the immune system (metaflammation) have been demonstrated as crucial factors of dysregulated distinct immune responses. Our research group therefore aims to understand how tumor immunity is regulated by metabolic pathways and how local and systemic factors such as the tumor microenvironment as well as body composition and metaflammation contribute to these complex networks. We ultimately aim to develop immunometabolic interventions as novel therapeutic approaches against cancer.
Selected Publications
IL-6/Stat3-Dependent Induction of a Distinct, Obesity-Associated NK Cell Subpopulation Deteriorates Energy and Glucose Homeostasis.
Theurich S, Tsaousidou E, Hanssen R, Lempradl AM, Mauer J, Timper K, Schilbach K, Folz-Donahue K, Heilinger C, Sexl V, Pospisilik JA, Wunderlich FT, Brüning JC (2017).
Cell Metab. 2017 Jul 5;26(1):171-184. PubMed
NK cells link obesity-induced adipose stress to inflammation and insulin resistance.
FM, Jelenčić V, Valentić S, Šestan M, Wensveen TT, Theurich S, Glasner A, Mendrila D, Štimac D, Wunderlich FT, Brüning JC, Mandelboim O, Polić B (2015).
Nat immunol. 2015 Apr;16(4):376-85. PubMed
Targeting Tumor-Infiltrating B Cells in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma.
Theurich S, Schlaak M, Steguweit H, Heukamp LC, Wennhold K, Kurschat P, Rabenhorst A, Hartmann K, Schlösser H, Shimabukuro-Vornhagen A, Holtick U, Hallek M, Stadler R, von Bergwelt-Baildon M.
J Clin Oncol. 2016 Apr 20;34(12):e110-6. PubMed
Influence of obesity and gender on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) undergoing rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy.
Fürstenau M, Hopfinger G, Robrecht S, Fink AM, Al-Sawaf O, Langerbeins P, Cramer P, Tresckow JV, Maurer C, Kutsch N, Hoechstetter M, Dreyling M, Lange E, Kneba M, Stilgenbauer S, Döhner H, Hensel M, Kiehl MG, Jaeger U, Wendtner CM, Goede V, Fischer K, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Eichhorst B, Hallek M, Theurich S (2020).
Leukemia 2020 Apr;34(4):1177-1181. PubMed
Obesity exacerbates colitis-associated cancer via IL-6-regulated macrophage polarisation and CCL-20/CCR-6-mediated lymphocyte recruitment.
Wunderlich CM, Ackermann PJ, Ostermann AL, Adams-Quack P, Vogt MC, Tran ML, Nikolajev A, Waisman A, Garbers C, Theurich S, Mauer J, Hövelmeyer N, Wunderlich FT.
Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 25;9(1):1646. PubMed