Know-how and research interests

Serum protein markers are identified for the early detection of lung diseases and the prevention of organ damage caused by oxygen deficiency or inflammation (e.g. in the case of heart attack or stroke).

 Lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) – caused by smoking or environmental toxins – are diseases that increase worldwide. Once they are diagnosed, the chances of cure for the patients are already severely limited. Biomarkers (measurable indicators in the serum) help to detect these diseases at a very early stage. With further clinical diagnosis, risk patients can receive medical advice or therapy at an early stage of the illness.

 Inflammation of any kind in the body causes scars. In the case of skin injuries, heart attack, stroke and autoimmune diseases the body’s immune system is activated and defence cells are sent to the inflammation area, with the consequence of an increase of the size of the damage zone. By a better understanding and control of these processes, we intend to improve organ regeneration and -protection.

Research topic

• Applied Immunology: Early Detection and Treatment of Inflammatory Processes

Techniques and infrastructure of the research group

Diverse basic molecular and cellular biology techniques, immunological and functional assays, subcellular fractionation, 2D-electrophoresis, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, analysis of protein-phospholipid interactions, phagocytosis assays, coronary perfusion assay, various animal experiments.

5 selected publications:

1.     Ankersmit HJ, Tugulea S, Spanier T, Weinberg AD, Artrip JH, Burke EM, Flannery M, Mancini D, Rose EA, Edwards NM, Oz MC, Itescu S. Activation-induced T-cell death and immune dysfunction after implantation of left-ventricular assist device. Lancet 1999 Aug 14;354(9178):550-5.

2.     Michael Mildner, Angela Storka, Michael Lichtenauer, Veronika Mlitz1, Minoo Ghannadan, Konrad Hoetzenecker, Stefanie Nickl, Balazs Dome, Erwin Tschachler, and Hendrik Jan Ankersmit. Primary sources and immunological prerequisites for sST2 secretion in humans Cardiovasc Res. 2010 Sep 1;87(4):769-77.

3.     Ankersmit H, Nickl S, Hoeltl E, Toepker M, Lambers C, Mitterbauer A, Kortuem B, Zimmermann M, Moser B, Bekos C, Steinlechner B, Hofbauer H, Klepetko W, Schenk P, Dome B. Increased serum levels of HSP27 as a marker for incipient chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young smokers. Respiration. 2012;83(5):391-9.

4.     Lichtenauer M, Mildner M, Hoetzenecker K, Zimmermann M, Podesser BK, Sipos W, Berényi E, Dworschak M, Tschachler E, Gyöngyösi M, Ankersmit HJ. Secretome of apoptotic peripheral blood cells (APOSEC) confers cytoprotection to cardiomyocytes and inhibits tissue remodelling after acute myocardial infarction: a preclinical study. Basic Res Cardiol. 2011 Nov;106(6):1283-97.

5.     Hoetzenecker K, Assinger A, Lichtenauer M, Mildner M, Schweiger T, Starlinger P, Jakab A, Berényi E, Pavo N, Zimmermann M, Gabriel C, Plass C, Gyöngyösi M, Volf I, Ankersmit HJ. Secretome of apoptotic peripheral blood cells (APOSEC) attenuates microvascular obstruction in a porcine closed chest reperfused acute myocardial infarction model: role of platelet aggregation and vasodilation. Basic Res Cardiol. 2012 Sep;107(5):292. Epub 2012 Aug 17.