Detail

Keywords

Immunomodulation; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Orthodontic Appliances; Peri-Implantitis; Periodontitis

Research group(s)

• Competence Center for Periodontal Research
  Head: Oleh Andrukhov
  Members:
  Oleh Andrukhov
  Christian Behm
  Katharina Schwarz

Research interests

My main research focus are the immunomodulatory activities of mesenchymal stromal cells in the oral cavity. Thereby, we are mainly focused on their role in periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and the orthodontic tooth movement. We investigate how different conditions, including inflammatory conditions and various mechanical forces, influence the behaviour of mesenchymal stromal cells, especially their reciprocal cross-talk with the innate and adaptive immune system. Additionally, we are interested in the immune response during periodontitis, peri-implantitis and orthodontic tooth movement.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

qPCR, Flow cytometry, bulk RNA sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, applying mechanical forces to in vitro models, co-culture models, immunofluorescence microscopy,

Selected publications

1. Behm, C. et al. (2024) ‘Heterogeneity in Dental Tissue–Derived MSCs Revealed by Single-Cell RNA-seq’, Journal of Dental Research, 103(11), pp. 1141–1152. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345241271997.
2. Behm, C. et al. (2024) ‘Paracrine- and cell-contact-mediated immunomodulatory effects of human periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stromal cells on CD4+ T lymphocytes’, Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 15(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-024-03759-4.
3. Behm, C. et al. (2024) ‘1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 distinctly impacts the paracrine and cell-to-cell contact interactions between hPDL-MSCs and CD4+ T lymphocytes’, Frontiers in Immunology, 15. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1448597.
4. Behm, C., Zhao, Z. and Andrukhov, O. (2022) ‘Immunomodulatory Activities of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells in Orthodontic Forces-Induced Inflammatory Processes: Current Views and Future Perspectives’, Frontiers in Oral Health, 3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2022.877348.
5. Behm, C. et al. (2021) ‘Interleukin-1β Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Human Periodontal Ligament-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells under In Vitro Simulated Static Orthodontic Forces’, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(3), p. 1027. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031027.