Scientific Focus
My group is investigating basic mechanisms of pain and inflammation with the final aim of elucidating novel therapeutic drug targets. On the one hand we are generally interested in regulations of protein and microRNA levels in the spinal cord and the DRGs after peripheral nociceptive stimulation. On the other hand, we are particularly focussing on different kinases which might have an impact on nociceptive transmission and processing. These kinases comprise I-kB kinase epsilon as well as AMP-activated kinases.
Methods
– Cell culture of primary cells (neurons, astrocytes) and permanent cultures (e.g. macrophages)
– Protein/peptide analysis by immunohistochemistry, Western Blot and 2D gel electrophoresis
– RNA analysis by in situ hybridization, quantitative RT-PCR
– Transcription factor analysis
– In vivo rodent models for inflammatory and neuropathic pain, analysis of mechanical, heat and cold hyperalgesia and allodynia, motor coordination
Selected Publications
1.King-Himmelreich TS, Möser CV, Wolters MC, Schmetzer J, Schreiber Y, Ferreirós N, Russe OQ, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E. AMPK contributes to aerobic exercise-induced antinociception downstream of endocannabinoids.
Neuropharmacology. 2017 May 4. pii: S0028-3908(17)30198-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.002.
2. King-Himmelreich TS, Möser CV, Wolters MC, Schmetzer J, Möller M, Schreiber Y, Ferreirós N, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E., (2017), AMP-activated kinase and the endogenous endocannabinoid system might contribute to antinociceptive effects of prolonged moderate caloric restriction in mice, Mol Pain , doi: 10.1177/1744806917703111.
3. Niederberger E, Resch E, Parnham M, Geisslinger G, (2017) Drugging the pain epigenome, Nat Rev Neurol, 13(7):434-447
4. Olbrich K, Costard L, Möser CV, Syhr KMJ., King-Himmelreich TS., Wolters MC., Schmidtko A, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E (2017) Cleavage of SNAP-25 ameliorates cancer pain in a mouse model of melanoma, Eur J Pain 21, 101-111.
5. Möser CV, Meissner M, Laarmann K, Olbrich K, King-Himmelreich TS, Wolters MC, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E (2016) The protein kinase IKKepsilon contributes to tumour growth and tumour pain in a melanoma model. Biochem Pharmacol. 103, 64-73.
6. King-Himmelreich TS, Schramm S, Wolters MC, Schmetzer J, Möser CV, Knothe C, Resch E, Peil J, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E, (2016) The impact of endurance exercise on global and AMPK gene-specific DNA methylation., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016;474(2):284-90.
7. Möser CV, Stephan H, Altenrath K, Kynast KL, Russe OQ, Olbrich K, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E. (2015) TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) modulates inflammatory hyperalgesia by regulating MAP kinases and NF-κB dependent genes.J Neuroinflammation.. doi: 10.1186/s12974-015-0319-3.
8. King TS, Russe OQ, Möser CV, Ferreirós N, Kynast KL, Knothe C, Olbrich K, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E.(2015) AMP-activated protein kinase is activated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eur J Pharmacol.762:299-305.
9. Russe OQ, Möser CV, Kynast KL, King TS, Stephan H, Niederberger E (2013) Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase reduces inflammatory nociception. The Journal of Pain 14:1330-40.
10. Kynast K, Russe OQ, Möser CV, Geisslinger, G, Niederberger E (2013) Modulation of CNS-specific microRNA-124a alters the inflammatory response in the formalin test in mice. Pain 154:368-76.
11. Möser CV, Kynast K, Baatz K, Russe OQ, Ferreirós N, Costiuk H, Lu R., Schmidtko A, Tegeder I, Geisslinger G, Niederberger E (2011) The protein kinase IKKε is a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory hyperalgesia. J Immunol 187:2617-25.