PD Dr. Stefan Liebner
Institute of Neurology (Edinger-Institute)
Head, Blood-Brain Barrier Signaling Group
Building 89, 4.Floor, R402
Heinrich-Hoffmann-Str. 7
60528 Frankfurt/Main
Tel +49-(0)69-6301-84154
Fax +49-(0)69-6301-84150
E-Mail: liebner@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Scientific Focus
Our group is mainly interested in molecular mechanisms of cellular differentiation, focusing on the formation of endothelial characteristics towards the blod-brain barrier (BBB) phenotype. The aim is to understand BBB-differentiation and -dedifferentiation in order to be able to manipulate endothelilal barrier-characteristics under pathological conditions in the brain.
Methods
MICROSCOPY
Light- and Electronmicroscopy
standard light microscopy, immunfluorescence, confocal microscopy, standard techniques for TEM, immunogold labeling, freeze-fracture, fracturelabel
CELL CULTURE
Primary Cultures and Cell lines
preparation of endothelial cells from brain and lung, immortalization (Polyomamiddle T), experience with different epithelial cell-lines (293, MDCK I&II, CHO
etc.), co-culture systems, filter systems
Measurement of cell permeability and trans-endothelia/-epithelial electrical resistance
PROTEINBIOCHEMISTRY
Western-blot, immuno-precipitation, cell fractionation
MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY
PCR, transgenic techniques, Southern-/ Northern-blot, Gene expression analysis(Affymetrix)
Gene mutagenesis, chimeric constructs
Experience with different bacterial and viral vectors (retro- & lenti-virus)
ANIMAL MODELS
Experience with classical and conditional transgenic mouse models. Mouse development
Selected Publications
Bauer, S., N. van Alphen, A. Becker, A. Chiocchetti, R. Deichmann, T. Deller, T. Freiman, C.M. Freitag, J. Gehrig, A.M. Hermsen, P. Jedlicka, C. Kell, K.M. Klein, S. Knake, D.M. Kullmann, S. Liebner, B.A. Norwood, D. Omigie, K. Plate, A. Reif, P.S. Reif, Y. Reiss, J. Roeper, M.W. Ronellenfitsch, S. Schorge, G. Schratt, S.W. Schwarzacher, J.P. Steinbach, A. Strzelczyk, J. Triesch, M. Wagner, M.C. Walker, F. von Wegner, and F. Rosenow. 2017. Personalized translational epilepsy research — Novel approaches and future perspectives: Part II: Experimental and translational approaches. Epilepsy & Behavior.
1–6.doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.06.040.
Ziegler, N., K. Awwad, B. Fisslthaler, M. Reis, K. Devraj, M. Corada, S.P. Minardi, E. Dejana, K.H. Plate, I. Fleming, and S. Liebner. 2016. β-Catenin Is Required for Endothelial Cyp1b1 Regulation Influencing Metabolic Barrier Function. J Neurosci. 36:8921–8935. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0148-16.2016.
Gurnik, S., K. Devraj, J. Macas, M. Yamaji, J. Starke, A. Scholz, K. Sommer, M. Di Tacchio, R. Vutukuri, H. Beck, M. Mittelbronn, C. Foerch, W. Pfeilschifter, S. Liebner, K.G. Peters, K.H. Plate, and Y. Reiss. 2016. Angiopoietin-2-induced blood-brain barrier compromise and increased stroke size are rescued by VE-PTP-dependent restoration of Tie2 signaling. Acta Neuropathol. 131:753–773. doi:10.1007/s00401-016-1551-3.
Devraj, K., S. Poznanovic, C. Spahn, G. Schwall, P.N. Harter, M. Mittelbronn, K. Antoniello, P. Paganetti, A. Muhs, M. Heilemann, R.A. Hawkins, A. Schrattenholz, and S. Liebner. 2016. BACE-1 is expressed in the blood-brain barrier endothelium and is upregulated in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 36:1281–1294. doi:10.1177/0271678X15606463.
Reis, M., C.J. Czupalla, N. Ziegler, K. Devraj, J. Zinke, S. Seidel, R. Heck, S. Thom, J. Macas, E. Bockamp, M. Fruttiger, M.M. Taketo, S. Dimmeler, K.H. Plate, and S. Liebner. 2012. Endothelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibits glioma angiogenesis and normalizes tumor blood vessels by inducing PDGF-B expression. J Exp Med. 209:1611–1627. doi:10.1084/jem.20111580.