Krieg, Thomas - SRG 02

Alteration of connective tissue is a hallmark of many common diseases. A tightly controlled balance of synthesis and degradation is crucial for guaranteeing the physiological function of bone, cartilage, tendon and skin and all other organs in which connective tissue represents the scaffold.

Our group concentrates on skin diseases with the aim to unravel the cellular and molecular basis of fibrotic and degenerative processes. These are common burdens leading to chronic ulcerations, inadequate healing, reduced strength or fibrotic responses. The resulting diseases represent a major medical and socio-economic problem, and care for these patients needs to be improved.

The Krieg lab aims to better understand mechanisms controlling activation of fibroblasts with a special focus on activation by fibroblast communication with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM).

We want to translate our findings into understanding the molecular basis of diseases associated with excessive fibroblast activation and to design targeted therapies.

Our group aims at investigating the mechanisms underlying the control of connective tissue synthesis and the role of cell-matrix interactions.

Fibroblasts represent a heterogeneous group of cells, which derive from different cellular origins, and are the key cells orchestrating the formation of connective tissues following any type of injury. Their phenotype and function are regulated by interactions with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), mediated by specific receptors, and by the activity of growth factors and cytokines through complex paracrine and autocrine regulatory loops.

As a model we use fibroblasts obtained from patients with scleroderma, an autoimmune-driven chronic fibrotic disease that involves the skin but can also affect many other organs. To ensure that results from our experimental work gain direct entry into translational applications, we have initiated a large clinical network for scleroderma patients together with the Department of Dermatology.

For more information, please check the research site.