Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne

RG Comparative Medicine

Research Group Comparative Medicine

The research group Comparative Medicine focuses on laboratory animal science and human clinical studies. The laboratory animal science studies are primarily in the field of reproductive biology and microbiology. With respect to the human clinical studies, our goal is to determine the cytokine profiles during various diseases. This provides knowledge about different biological processes and can aid in the diagnostic of diseases at their early stages of development.

Cytokine profiling

These research projects are focused mainly on determining cytokine profiles. Cytokines are small proteins involved in cell signaling. They are produced by various cell types, including immune cells, and are especially important for immune responses such as after bacterial infection. Therefore, cytokines can aid in extending the knowledge about diverse biological processes. Furthermore, they are a promising category of biomarkers for diagnosis because they are present in the early phases of diseases. To determine cytokine profiles for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various diseases, we are using the ELISA-based multiplex method to measure cytokines in different matrices such as serum, saliva, urine, synovial fluid, and tissue lysates. The multiplex method enables the quantification of multiple proteins in a single sample volume. Its use lies in the small sample size required (fluids: 12.5 µl per 96-well, lysates: 200 to 1000 µg protein per 96-well), prevention of pain by using matrices which can be obtained non-invasively (e.g. saliva and urine instead of tissue biopsies or blood draws) and reduction in time (hours instead of days).
Current projects include foreign-body-associated infections resulting from Staphylococcus epidermidis, cardiac arrest, stroke, healing of tendons in the elbow following tendon transplantation, and macular degeneration. Cytokine profiling is also performed to determine its suitability for diagnosis of implant-associated infections after orthopaedic surgeries including total knee replacements and spine surgeries, elbow arthroplasties, infectious and non-infectious spondylodiscitis.

  • Raspa M, Paoletti R, Peltier M, Majjouti M, Protti M, Mercolini L, Mahabir E, and Scavizzi F (2022). Oral D-Aspartate Treatment Improves Sperm Fertility in Both Young and Adult B6N Mice. Animals (Basel)12. doi:10.3390/ani12111350.
  • Yu X, Elfimova N, Muller M, Bachurski D, Koitzsch U, Drebber U, Mahabir E, Hansen HP, Friedman SL, Klein S, Dienes HP, Hosel M, Buettner R, Trebicka J, Kondylis V, Mannaerts I, and Odenthal M (2022). Autophagy-Related Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells Reduces Cellular miR-29a by Promoting Its Vesicular Secretion. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol13, 1701-1716. doi:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.02.013.
  • Brinkmann J, Zeissler EC, Scharrenberg JS, Schenk J, Majjouti M, Oberste M, Yagdiran A, Scheyerer MJ, Jung N, Siewe J, and Mahabir E (2022). The diagnostic value of cytokines for the discrimination of vertebral osteomyelitis and degenerative diseases of the spine. Cytokine150, 155782. doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155782.
  • Fraemke A, Ferrari N, Friesen D, Haas F, Klaudius M, Mahabir E, Schmidt L, and Joisten C (2022). HOMA Index, Vitamin D Levels, Body Composition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Juvenile Obesity: Data from the CHILT III Programme, Cologne. Int J Environ Res Public Health19. doi:10.3390/ijerph19042442.
  • Selle J, Dinger K, Jentgen V, Zanetti D, Will J, Georgomanolis T, Vohlen C, Wilke R, Kojonazarov B, Klymenko O, Mohr J, V Koningsbruggen-Rietschel S, Rhodes CJ, Ulrich A, Hirani D, Nestler T, Odenthal M, Mahabir E, Nayakanti S, Dabral S, Wunderlich T, Priest J, Seeger W, Dötsch J, Pullamsetti SS, Alejandre Alcazar MA. (2022). Maternal and perinatal obesity induce bronchial obstruction and pulmonary hypertension via IL-6-FoxO1-axis in later life. NatCommun. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31655-z. PMID: 35896539
  • Kasper P, Breuer S, Hoffmann T, Vohlen C, Janoschek R, Schmitz L, Appel S, Fink G, Hünseler C, Quaas A, Demir M, Lang S, Steffen HM, Martin A, Schramm C, Bürger M, Mahabir E, Goeser T, Dötsch J, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, Bae-Gartz I. (2021). Maternal Exercise Mediates Hepatic Metabolic Programming via Activation of AMPK-PGC1α Axis in the Offspring of Obese Mothers. Cells. doi: 10.3390/cells10051247. PMID: 34069390
  • Crispatzu G, Rehimi R, Pachano T, Bleckwehl T, Cruz-Molina S, Xiao C, Mahabir E, Bazzi H, Rada-Iglesias A. (2021). The chromatin, topological and regulatory properties of pluripotency-associated poised enhancers are conserved in vivo. NatCommun. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24641-4. PMID: 34272393
  • Breuer S, Kasper P, Vohlen C, Janoschek R, Hoffmann T, Appel S, Müller-Limberger E, Mesaros A, Rose-John S, Garbers C, Müller S, Lackmann JW, Mahabir E, Dötsch J, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, Bae-Gartz I. (2021). Brain-Restricted Inhibition of IL-6 Trans-Signaling Mildly Affects Metabolic Consequences of Maternal Obesity in Male Offspring. Nutrients. doi: 10.3390/nu13113735. PMID: 34835991
  • Raspa M, Paoletti R, Mahabir E, Scavizzi F. (Epub 2020). d-aspartate treatment in vitro improves mouse sperm fertility in young B6N mice. Theriogenology. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.02.031. PMID: 32142981
  • Körner RW, Majjouti M, Alcazar MAA, Mahabir E. (2020). Of Mice and Men: The Coronavirus MHV and Mouse Models as a Translational Approach to Understand SARS-CoV-2.Viruses. doi: 10.3390/v12080880. PMID: 32806708
  • Ferrari N, Schmitz L, Schmidt N, Mahabir E, Van de Vondel P, Merz WM, Lehmacher W, Stock S, Brockmeier K, Ensenauer R, Fehm T, Joisten C. (2020). A lifestyle intervention during pregnancy to reduce obesity in early childhood: the study protocol of ADEBAR - a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. doi: 10.1186/s13102-020-00198-5. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32944252
  • Mahabir, E., Durand, S., Henderson, K.S., and Hardy, P. (2019). Comparison of two prevalent individually ventilated caging systems for detection of murine infectious agents via exhaust air particles. Lab Anim 53, 84-8.
  • Rumpel, S., Scholl, C., Gobel, A., Palme, R., and Mahabir, E. (2019). Effect of Ground Transportation on Adrenocortical Activity in Prepuberal Female Mice from Five Different Genetic Backgrounds. Animals (Basel) 9.
  • Salabarria, A.C., Braun, G., Heykants, M., Koch, M., Reuten, R., Mahabir, E., Cursiefen, C., and Bock, F. (2019). Local VEGF-A blockade modulates the microenvironment of the corneal graft bed. Am J Transplant10.1111/ajt.15331.
  • Schmitz, L., Ferrari, N., Schwiertz, A., Rusch, K., Woestmann, U., Mahabir, E., and Graf, C. (2019). Impact of endurance exercise and probiotic supplementation on the intestinal microbiota: a cross-over pilot study. Pilot Feasibility Stud5, 76.
  • Zarghooni, K., Hackenberg, R.K., Sander, G., and Mahabir, E. (2019). Suitability of serum cytokine profiling for early diagnosis of implant-associated infections after orthopaedic surgery: A preliminary prospective study. Cytokine116, 88-96.

Ferrari N, Bae-Gartz I, Bauer C, Janoschek R, Koxholt I, Mahabir E, Appel S, Alejandre Alcazar MA, Grossmann N, Vohlen C, Brockmeier K, Dotsch J, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, and Graf C (2018). Exercise during pregnancy and its impact on mothers and offspring in humans and mice. J Dev Orig Health Dis 9, 63-76.

Heykants M, Scherb H, Michel G, and Mahabir E (2018). Influence of polygamous versus monogamous mating on embryo production in four different strains of mice after superovulatory treatment. Theriogenology 114, 85-94.

Macheleidt IF, Dalvi PS, Lim SY, Meemboor S, Meder L, Kasgen O, Muller M, Kleemann K, Wang L, Nurnberg P, Russeler V, Schafer SC, Mahabir E, Buttner R, and Odenthal M (2018). Preclinical studies reveal that LSD1 inhibition results in tumor growth arrest in lung adenocarcinoma independently of driver mutations. Mol Oncol 12, 1965-1979.

Mahabir E, Durand S, Henderson KS, and Hardy P (2018). Comparison of two prevalent individually ventilated caging systems for detection of murine infectious agents via exhaust air particles. Lab Anim10.1177/0023677218785929, 23677218785929.

Mahabir E, Volland R, Landsberger A, Manz S, Na E, Urban I, and Michel G (2018). Reproductive Performance after Unilateral or Bilateral Oviduct Transfer of 2-Cell Embryos in Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 57, 110-114.

Raspa M, Mahabir E, Paoletti R, Protti M, Mercolini L, Schiller P, and Scavizzi F (2018). Effects of oral d-aspartate on sperm quality in B6N mice. Theriogenology 121, 53-61.

Schroeder DC, Maul AC, Mahabir E, Koxholt I, Yan X, Padosch SA, Herff H, Bultmann-Mellin I, Sterner-Kock A, Annecke T, Hucho T, Bottiger BW, and Guschlbauer M (2018). Evaluation of small intestinal damage in a rat model of 6 Minutes cardiac arrest. BMC Anesthesiol 18, 61. Esther Mahabir-Brenner.

Oberste M, Grossheinrich N, Wunram HL, Graf JL, Ziemendorff A, Meinhardt A, Fricke O, Mahabir E, and Bender S (2018). Effects of a 6-week, whole-body vibration strength-training on depression symptoms, endocrinological and neurobiological parameters in adolescent inpatients experiencing a major depressive episode (the "Balancing Vibrations Study"): study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Trials 19, 347.

  • Appel S, Schulze-Edinghausen M, Kretschmer T, Storck S, Janoschek R, Bae-Gartz I, Handwerk M, Wohlfarth M, Nusken KD, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, Heykants M, Mahabir E, and Dotsch J (2017). Maternal obesity attenuates predelivery inflammatory reaction in C57BL/6N mice. J Reprod Immunol 122, 10-3.
  • Ferrari N, Bae-Gartz I, Bauer C, Janoschek R, Koxholt I, Mahabir E, Appel S, Alejandre Alcazar MA, Grossmann N, Vohlen C, Brockmeier K, Dotsch J, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, and Graf C (2017). Exercise during pregnancy and its impact on mothers and offspring in humans and mice. J Dev Orig Health Dis10.1017/S2040174417000617, 1-14.

Head

Prof. Dr. Esther Mahabir-Brenner CMMC Cologne
Prof. Dr. Esther Mahabir-Brenner

Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne & PI - Lab. of Comparative Medicine - CMMC Research Building

Head - Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) | RG Comparative Medicine

+49 221 478 89540

+49 221 478 3984

Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne & PI - Lab. of Comparative Medicine - CMMC Research Building

Robert-Koch-Str. 21

50931 Cologne

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Publications - Esther Mahabir-Brenner

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