Neumann-Haefelin, Christoph - assoc. RG 49
Prof. Dr. Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 49
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Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Kerpener Str. 62
50937 Cologne
Introduction
The focus of our research group are protective immune responses as well as immunopathology in the context of viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C, D and E) as well as liver and biliary cancer. Central players for the control of these dieseases are CD8+ T cells. In chronic viral infections and cancer, virus-host interactions shape CD8+ T cell differentiation towards a dysfunctional state referred to as “CD8+ T cell exhaustion”. The exact underlying mechanisms as well as variations in clinical and immunological phenotypes among patient groups (e.g. effect of gender, effect of comorbidities like obesity and metabolic syndrome) are incompletely understood.
We use a wide range of techniques including flow cytometry and cell culture to characterize rare populations of human virus- or cancer-specific CD8+ T cells.
Our Aims
Long-term translational goals of our research are the development of novel antiviral strategies contributing to functional cure of hepatitis B and D virus infection, successful vaccination strategies against hepatitis C virus, and novel treatment options for immunocompromised patients suffering from chronic hepatitis E virus infection. In liver and biliary cancers, improved immunotherapies with reduced risk of adverse effects such as checkpoint inhibitor associated autoimmune disorders as well as definition of biomarkers for treatment responses are an important goal.
Specifically, we aim to:
- Understand dysfunction of virus-specific CD8+ T cells in chronic viral hepatitis and cancer to identify targets for the development of immunotherapeutic approaches
- Link clinical differences between patient groups (e.g. impact of gender, age, comorbidities) to possibly underlying differences in immune control by CD8+ T cells to enable personalized treatment and risk assessment
Lab Website
For more information, please check this research site.
Selected Publications (since 2020)
- Schwarz T, Ptok J, Damagnez M, Menne C, Alizei ES, Lang-Meli J, Maas M, Habermann D, Hoffmann D, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Lauer GM, Kefalakes H, Cornberg M, Kraft ARM, Gliga S, Bock HH, Horn PA, Maini MK, Thimme R, Wedemeyer H, Nattermann J, Heinemann FM, Luedde T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Walker A, Timm J. HBV shows different levels of adaptation to HLA class I-associated selection pressure correlating with markers of replication. J Hepatol. 2025 May;82(5):805-815.
- Zhang Z, Langenbach M, Sagar S, Fetsch V, Stritzker J, Severa E, Meng K, Winkler F, Rana N, Zoldan K, Godbole I, Solis S, Weber JS, Rafei-Shamsabadi D, Lehr S, Diehl R, Venhoff AC, Voll RE, Buettner N, Neumann-Haefelin C, Boettler T, Hofmann M, Boerries M, Meiss F, Zeiser R, Thimme R, Herati RS, Bengsch B. Efficacy of CTLA-4 checkpoint therapy is dependent on IL-21 signaling to mediate cytotoxic reprogramming of PD-1+CD8+ T cells. Nat Immunol. 2025 Jan;26(1):92-104.
- Heim K*, Sagar*, Sogukpinar Ö, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Emmerich F, Kraft ARM, Cornberg M, Kielbassa S, Knolle P, Wohlleber D, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Thimme R, Hofmann M. Attenuated effector T cells are linked to control of chronic HBV infection. Nat Immunol. 2024 Sep;25(9):1650-1662.
- Luxenburger H*, Reeg DB*, Lang-Meli J*, Reinscheid M, Eisner M, Bettinger D, Oberhardt V, Salimi Alizei E, Wild K, Graeser A, Karl V, Sagar, Emmerich F, Klein F, Panning M, Huzly D, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Elling R, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Neumann-Haefelin C. Boosting compromised SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity with mRNA vaccination in liver transplant recipients. J Hepatol. 2023 May;78(5):1017-1027.
- Kemming J, Gundlach S, Panning M, Huzly D, Huang J, Lütgehetmann M, Pischke S, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Emmerich F, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Tanriver Y, Warnatz K, Boettler T, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Fischer N, Neumann-Haefelin C. Mechanisms of CD8+ T-cell failure in chronic hepatitis E virus infection. J Hepatol. 2022 Oct;77(4):978-990.
- Lang-Meli J*, Luxenburger H*, Wild K*, Karl V*, Oberhardt V, Salimi Alizei E, Graeser A, Reinscheid M, Roehlen N, Reeg DB, Giese S, Ciminski K, Götz V, August D, Rieg S, Waller CF, Wengenmayer T, Staudacher D, Huzly D, Bengsch B, Kochs G, Schwemmle M, Emmerich F, Boettler T, Thimme R*, Hofmann M*, Neumann-Haefelin C*. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell epitope repertoire in convalescent and mRNA-vaccinated individuals. Nat Microbiol. 2022 May;7(5):675-679.
- Oberhardt V*, Luxenburger H*, Kemming J*, Schulien I*, Ciminski K, Giese S, Csernalabics B, Lang-Meli J, Janowska I, Staniek J, Wild K, Basho K, Marinescu MS, Fuchs J, Topfstedt F, Janda A, Sogukpinar O, Hilger H, Stete K, Emmerich F, Bengsch B, Waller CF, Rieg S, Sagar, Boettler T, Zoldan K, Kochs G, Schwemmle M, Rizzi M, Thimme R*, Neumann-Haefelin C*, Hofmann M*. Rapid and stable mobilization of CD8+ T cells by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Nature. 2021 Sep;597(7875):268-273.
- Schulien I*, Kemming J*, Oberhardt V*, Wild K*, Seidel LM*, Killmer S, Sagar, Daul F, Salvat Lago M, Decker A, Luxenburger H, Binder B, Bettinger D, Sogukpinar O, Rieg S, Panning M, Huzly D, Schwemmle M, Kochs G, Waller CF, Nieters A, Duerschmied D, Emmerich F, Mei HE, Schulz AR, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Boettler T*, Bengsch B*, Thimme R*, Hofmann M*, Neumann-Haefelin C*. Characterization of pre-existing and induced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells. Nat Med 2021;27(1):78-85.
- Hensel N, Gu Z, Sagar, Wieland D, Jechow K, Kemming J, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Gostick E, Sogukpinar O, Emmerich F, Price DA, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Eils R, Conrad C, Bartenschlager R, Grün D, Ishaque N, Thimme R, Hofmann M. Memory-like HCV-specific CD8+ T cells retain a molecular scar after cure of chronic HCV infection. Nat Immunol 2021;22(2):229-239.
- Smits M, Zoldan K, Ishaque N, Gu Z, Jechow K, Wieland D, Conrad C, Eils R, Fauvelle C, Baumert TF, Emmerich F, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Boettler T. Follicular T helper cells shape the HCV-specific CD4+ T cell repertoire after virus elimination. J Clin Invest 2020;130(2):998-1009.