Otto Loewi Forschungszentrum

RESEARCH FOCUS INFLAMMATION, AUTOIMMUNITY AND CANCER

PI: Johannes Fessler

Focus: The research unit "Aging & Metabolism in Autoimmunity" focuses on the influence of aging, nutrition and metabolism and their interplay on the immune system. Special attention is given to the regulation of autoreactive T cells. T cells from patients with autoimmune diseases suffer from premature aging and often exhibit altered cellular metabolism. Both can lead to an increased pro-inflammatory immune response and consequently to chronic, tissue-damaging inflammation. Our group investigates possible connections and their underlying mechanisms of aging and immune metabolism for the regulation of immune responses in the context of autoimmune diseases.

Network: We conduct cross-team research at the Otto Loewi Research Center with the teams of Herbert Strobl, Sandra Holasek, Stefano Angiari and Artem Kalinichenko. In addition, we are closely linked to the Divisions of Rheumatology and Immunology (Martin Stradner), Nephrology (Kathrin Eller), Pediatric Hemato-Oncology (Wolfgang Schwinger) and the Department of Neurology (Michael Khalil). Metabolic studies are performed in collaboration with the Gottfried Schatz Center. We also collaborate with other groups in Austria and internationally (Harvard Medical School, University of Toronto and University of Indiana).

Projects

Metabolic and epigenetic regulation of Th9 cells

  • The functional plasticity of T-cells is a cardinal feature of T-cell mediated immunity. Th9 cells are a distinct subpopulation of CD4+ effector T-cells and are involved in both protective immunity and immunopathologies including cancer, chronic allergic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Extension of our knowledge on Th9 biology and their metabolic regulation would improve our understanding on pathomechanisms and treatment options for these diseases.
  • Duration: 2025-2029
  • Funded by: FWF (PAT9714324)
  • Project partners: Kathrin Eller (Nephrology), Martin Stradner, Matteo Villa (Rheumatology), Frank Madeo, Tobias Eisenberg (KF Uni Graz), Vijay Kuchroo (Harvard Medical School), Chao Wang (University of Toronto), Lionel Apetoh (University of Indiana), Lloyd Bod (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Pre-Sjögren Syndrome Targeted Immunology Evaluation

  • Primary Sjögren's syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked for years. Thus, most of our knowledge on its  pathophysiology is derived from cohorts of patients with established long-standing disease. In these patients signs of chronic inflammation, cellular aging and dysregulation of the adaptive immune system are abundant. However, it is not known whether these are genuine drivers of the disease or mere epiphenomena of chronic inflammation. Our main objective is to uncover the immune dysregulations present at or even before the clinical onset of pSS.
  • Duration: 2025-2029
  • Funded by: FWF (PIN3316924)
  • Project partners: Martin Stradner (Rheumatology), Divi Cornec (University of Brest)

Investigating the effects of an aged immune system

  • Immune aging refers to changes that affect the ability of the immune system to respond effectively to infections, vaccines, and other challenges and is associated with a spectrum of morbidities and mortality. In this project we aim to identify individuals with signs of premature immune aging and investigate it’s association with immune dysfuction.
  • Duration: 2024-2029
  • Funded by: Medical University of Graz
  • Project partners: Martin Stradner (Rheumatology), Agnes Mooslechner (Pharmacology), Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch (Endocrinology)

Polyamine metabolism in autoimmune diseases

  • Patients with autoimmune diseases often exhibit a chronic, exaggerated pro-inflammatory immune response. Recently, we have shown in a mouse model that polyamine metabolism plays an important role in the regulation of this inflammatory immune response. However, to what extent this disorder is actually involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases in humans is what we want to investigate in this project.
  • Duration: 2020-2025
  • Funded by: Medical University of Graz
  • Project partners: Herbert Strobl, Sandra Holasek and Stefano Angiari (all Immunology), Martin Stradner (Rheumatology), Michael Khalil (Neurology), Frank Madeo and Tobias Eisenberg (Uni Graz), Vijay Kuchroo (Harvard Medical School), Chao Wang (University of Toronto), Lionel Apetoh (University of Indiana).

Metabolic alterations in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

  • T cells in autoimmune diseases such as primary Sjögren's syndrome suffer from a prematurely aged phenotype. This phenotype favors inflammatory immune responses and thus the chronicity of this disease. This project addresses the impact of this premature T cell aging on cellular metabolism and whether metabolic alterations could represent a potential therapeutic target.
  • Duration: 2020-2025
  • Funded by: Medical University of Graz
  • Project partners: Herbert Strobl, Sandra Holasek and Stefano Angiari (all Immunology), Martin Stradner (Rheumatology), Tobias Madl, Wolfgang Graier (Gottfried Schatz Center) Wolfgang Schwinger (Pediatric Hemato-Oncology)

 

Division of Immunology

Ass.-Prof. PD Dr.
Johannes Fessler,  BSc MSc
T: +43 316 385 71158