Isabella Wimmer

Abstract:

We investigate pathological mechanisms in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Our main focus lies on multiple sclerosis (MS), but we are also interested in antibody-mediated autoimmune enecephalitis, neuromyelitis optica, MOG antibody-associated disease, etc.

Currently, we examine the effects of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) by collecting and analyzing blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with neuroinflammatory diseases. Additionally, we are establishing culture models of human glial cells for in vitro screenings of DMT functions.

Techniques:

• Immunohistochemistry
• Multi-color (> 14 parameters) flow cytometry
• Immunoprofiling of blood immune cells and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells
• Human microglia cultures (in preparation)
• Single-cell sequencing of low-input samples like CSF cells (in preparation)

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2231-2120

Selected Publications:

1. Wimmer I, Scharler C, Kadowaki T, Hillebrand S, Scheiber‐Mojdehkar B, Ueda S, Bradl M, Berger T, Lassmann H, Hametner S (2021) Iron accumulation in the choroid plexus, ependymal cells and CNS parenchyma in a rat strain with low‐grade haemolysis of fragile macrocytic red blood cells Brain Pathol, 31(2): 333-345
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2. Wimmer I, Scharler C, Zrzavy T, Kadowaki T, Mödlagl V, Rojc K, Tröscher A, Kitic M, Ueda S, Bradl M, Lassmann H (2019) Microglia pre-activation and neurodegeneration precipitate neuroinflammation without exacerbating tissue injury in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 7 (1): 14
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3. Wimmer I, Tietz S, Nishihara H, Deutsch U, Sallusto F, Gosselet F, Lyck R, Muller W, Lassmann H, Engelhardt B (2019) PECAM-1 Stabilizes Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Favors Paracellular T-Cell Diapedesis Across the Blood-Brain Barrier During Neuroinflammation Front Immunol, 10: 711
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4. Wimmer I, Tröscher A, Brunner F, Rubino S, Bien C, Weiner H, Lassmann H, Bauer J (2018) Systematic evaluation of RNA quality, microarray data reliability and pathway analysis in fresh, fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples Sci Rep, 8 (1): 6351
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5. Fischer MT, Wimmer I, Höftberger R, Gerlach S, Haider L, Zrzavy T, Hametner S, Mahad D, Binder CJ, Krumbholz M, Bauer J, Bradl M, Lassmann H. (2013) Disease-specific molecular events in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions Brain, 136(Pt 6): 1799-1815
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