Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental MedicineAirway research has been a focus at Fraunhofer ITEM ever since the institute was founded. One emphasis has been on protecting health from potentially harmful, in particular airborne substances – be they gases, aerosols, particles, fibers, or nanomaterials – and another one on investigating and developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, both at the preclinical and clinical levels. To characterize the exposure to airborne substances, Fraunhofer ITEM researchers implement novel nebulizers and test beds and further develop already established technologies such as the P.R.I.T.® in-vitro exposure system, for example for the characterization of materials such as nanocarriers that may be used as drug delivery systems in the long term.
Lung research
Research for healthy lungs
A synergetic development
The long-standing expertise in lung research is experiencing a synergetic further development of high clinical relevance. RNA molecules in particular are being investigated very successfully as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the benefit of patients with pulmonary diseases. Computer-assisted translational bioinformatics, used to predict molecular mechanisms based on RNA molecules, is of particular importance in this context. Fraunhofer ITEM researchers are currently exploring the potential of RNAs for toxicology and efficacy testing of drugs.
Advancing ideas to the proof of concept
Through their clinical research, Fraunhofer ITEM scientists enable a direct transfer of findings to humans, for example, by using chip cytometry and exhaled breath analysis.
To efficiently translate ideas from bench to bedside, the scientists use appropriate exposure systems, some of which have been developed specifically for this purpose, and innovative model systems that closely mimic the situation in patients. They use the generated data to further develop and refine their modeling approaches, so as to allow in-vitro results or findings to be extrapolated both qualitatively and quantitatively for the prediction of the expected in-vivo effect in humans. Candidate drugs can be tested at the institute for their efficacy and side effects to provide the proof of concept in humans, i.e. the necessary evidence of the drug’s mode of action.
Publications
- Bahudhanapati, H., Tan, J., Apel, R. M., Seeliger, B., Schupp, J., Li, X., Sullivan, D. I., Sembrat, J., Rojas, M., Tabib, T., Valenzi, E., Lafyatis, R., Mitash, N., Hernandez Pineda, R., Jawale, C., Peroumal, D., Biswas, P., Tedrow, J., Adams, T., Kaminski, N., Wuyts, W. A., McDyer, J. F., Gibson, K. F., Alder, J. K., Konigshoff, M., Zhang, Y., Nouraie, M., Prasse, A., Kass, D. J. (2024). Increased expression of CXCL6 in secretory cells drives fibroblast collagen synthesis and is associated with increased mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. European Respiratory Journal 63(1). doi: 10.1183/13993003.00088-2023 https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/63/1/2300088.long
- Blumer, S., Khan, P., Artysh, N., Plappert, L., Savic, S., Knudsen, L., Jonigk, D., Kuehnel, M. P., Prasse, A., Hostettler, K. E. (2024). The use of cultured human alveolar basal cells to mimic honeycomb formation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respiratory Research 25(1): 26. doi: 10.1186/s12931-024-02666-9 https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-024-02666-9 - Open Access
- Brandsma, J., Schofield, J. P. R., Yang, X., Strazzeri, F., Barber, C., Goss, V. M., Koster, G., Bakke, P. S., Caruso, M., Chanez, P., Dahlen, S. E., Fowler, S. J., Horvath, I., Krug, N., Montuschi, P., Sanak, M., Sandstrom, T., Shaw, D. E., Chung, K. F., Singer, F., Fleming, L. J., Adcock, I. M., Pandis, I., Bansal, A. T., Corfield, J., Sousa, A. R., Sterk, P. J., Sanchez-Garcia, R. J., Skipp, P. J., Postle, A. D., Djukanovic, R., Group, U. B. S. (2023). Stratification of asthma by lipidomic profiling of induced sputum supernatant. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.02.032 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674923002932?via%3Dihub
- Gress, C., Litzenburger, T., Schmid, R., Xiao, K., Heissig, F., Muller, M., Gupta, A., Hohlfeld, J. M. (2024). Transcriptomic characterization of the human segmental endotoxin challenge model. Scientific Reports 14(1): 1721. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51547-0 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51547-0 - Open Access
- Gress, C., Vogel-Claussen, J., Badorrek, P., Müller, M., Hohl, K., Konietzke, M., Litzenburger, T., Seibold, W., Gupta, A., Hohlfeld, J. M. (2023). The effect of bradykinin 1 receptor antagonist BI 1026706 on pulmonary inflammation after segmental lipopolysaccharide challenge in healthy smokers. Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics [Epub ahead of print]: 102246. doi: 10.1016/j.pupt.2023.102246 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1094553923000585?via%3Dihub
- Hilbold, E., Bär, C., Thum, T. (2023). COVID-19: Insights into long-term manifestations and lockdown impacts. J Sport Health Sci [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.02.006 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254623000194?via%3Dihub - Open Access
- Lukovic, D., Hasimbegovic, E., Winkler, J., Mester-Tonczar, J., Muller-Zlabinger, K., Han, E., Spannbauer, A., Traxler-Weidenauer, D., Bergler-Klein, J., Pavo, N., Goliasch, G., Batkai, S., Thum, T., Zannad, F., Gyongyosi, M. (2023). Identification of Gene Expression Signatures for Phenotype-Specific Drug Targeting of Cardiac Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 24(8). doi: 10.3390/ijms24087461 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/8/7461 - Open Access
- Metra, M., Adamo, M., Tomasoni, D., Mebazaa, A., Bayes-Genis, A., Abdelhamid, M., Adamopoulos, S., Anker, S. D., Bauersachs, J., Belenkov, Y., Bohm, M., Gal, T. B., Butler, J., Cohen-Solal, A., Filippatos, G., Gustafsson, F., Hill, L., Jaarsma, T., Jankowska, E. A., Lainscak, M., Lopatin, Y., Lund, L. H., McDonagh, T., Milicic, D., Moura, B., Mullens, W., Piepoli, M., Polovina, M., Ponikowski, P., Rakisheva, A., Ristic, A., Savarese, G., Seferovic, P., Sharma, R., Thum, T., Tocchetti, C. G., Van Linthout, S., Vitale, C., Von Haehling, S., Volterrani, M., Coats, A. J. S., Chioncel, O., Rosano, G. (2023). Pre-discharge and early post-discharge management of patients hospitalized for acute heart failure: A scientific statement by the Heart Failure Association of the ESC. European Journal of Heart Failure 25(7): 1115-1131. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2888 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejhf.2888 - Open Access
- Nagai, M., Shityakov, S., Smetak, M., Hunkler, H. J., Bär, C., Schlegel, N., Thum, T., Forster, C. Y. (2023). Blood Biomarkers in Takotsubo Syndrome Point to an Emerging Role for Inflammaging in Endothelial Pathophysiology. Biomolecules 13(6) 955. doi: 10.3390/biom13060995 https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/6/995 - Open Access
- Seferovic, P. M., Polovina, M., Rosano, G., Bozkurt, B., Metra, M., Heymans, S., Mullens, W., Bauersachs, J., Sliwa, K., de Boer, R. A., Farmakis, D., Thum, T., Olivotto, I., Rapezzi, C., Linhart, A., Corrado, D., Tschope, C., Milinkovic, I., Bayes Genis, A., Filippatos, G., Keren, A., Asanin, M., Krljanac, G., Maksimovic, R., Skouri, H., Ben Gal, T., Moura, B., Volterrani, M., Abdelhamid, M., Lopatin, Y., Chioncel, O., Coats, A. J. (2023). State-of-the-art document on optimal contemporary management of cardiomyopathies. European Journal of Heart Failure [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2979 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejhf.2979 - Open Access
- Wachtel, H., Emerson-Stadler, R., Langguth, P., Hohlfeld, J. M., Ohar, J. (2024). Aerosol Plumes of Inhalers Used in COPD. Pulm Ther [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1007/s41030-023-00249-5 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-023-00249-5 - Open Access
- Zannikos, P., Solanki, B., De Meulder, M., Badorrek, P., Hohlfeld, J. M., Singh, J. (2023). Pharmacokinetics of Nasal Esketamine in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis with and Without Nasal Decongestant Pretreatment and in Healthy Subjects with and Without Nasal Corticosteroid Pretreatment. Clinical Pharmacokinetics [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1007/s40262-023-01273-z https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40262-023-01273-z -