Neuroimmunology
We carry out research into neuropsychiatric diseases involving inflammation, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis.
Mechanisms of immune and nervous system crosstalk
Traditionally, research into multiple sclerosis has focused on the mechanisms occurring in the peripheral immune system. However, it has recently become clear that damage processes within the nervous system itself and crosstalk between the immune and nervous systems may be independently and thus even more crucial. We use different experimental models, in vivo life imaging and human samples to study health, pathology and develop therapeutic concepts.
Collaborative strategies for therapeutic translation
One of our goals is to identify pathology and prognostic markers of the disease course in neurological illnesses. Especially in the area of genetic markers, we are heavily involved in national and international networks (e.g. Governance Group International Multiple Sclerosis Consortium, Executive Board Member of German Competence Network for Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS)), which are making important advances.
Imaging, networks and behaviour
Further foci are therapeutic response markers and the use of magnetic resonance imaging techniques for the characterization of early inflammatory lesions and neuronal damage, which represent an important outcome parameter for diseases of the brain and spinal cord in humans as well as therapeutic response markers. Difficult to diagnose inflammatory conditions, which are a key area of our activities, can often lead to novel concepts in pathology and therapy.
Research Networks
In addition to the networks mentioned above, we are members of the CRC 128, SFB 1292 and CRC 1080, as well as the Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), the Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI) and the Rhine-Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2). Frauke Zipp is also a member of the International Women in Multiple Sclerosis (iWiMS) network. Apart from being member of the Advisory Board of the Rhine Main University Alliance and of the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science, she is active in the executive committee of ECTRIMS and the German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG) and the International Medical and Scientific Board with the MS International Federation (MSIF).
For more information, please contact zipp@uni-mainz.de.
Selected publications
Wasser B*, Ecker M*, Hanuscheck N, Ellwardt E, Gärtner Y, Engeroff K, Domingues M, Grünewald B, Oshaghi M, Wollnitzke P, Schroeter CB, Schmidt MHH5, Muthuraman M, Levkau B, Winter Y, Meuth SG, Nitsch R, von Engelhardt J, Bittner S§, Zipp F§. (2025) Non-canonical AMPA receptor blockade reduces lymph node egress and neuroinflammation. Sci Transl Med; in press. *equally contributing, §equally contributing and corresponding authors
Jakimovski D, Bittner S, Zivadinov R, Morrow SA, Benedict RH, Zipp F§, Weinstock-Guttman B§. (2024) Multiple sclerosis. Lancet; 403(10422):183-202. §equally contributing and corresponding authors
Wang AA*, Luessi F*, Neziraj T*, Pössnecker E*, Zuo M, Engel S, Hanuscheck N, Florescu A, Bugbee E, Ma XI, Rana F, Lee D, Ward LA, Kuhle J, Himbert J, Schraad M, van Puijenbroek E, Klein C, Urich E, Ramaglia V, Pröbstel AK§, Zipp F§, Gommerman JL§. (2024) B cell depletion with anti-CD20 promotes neuroprotection in a BAFF-dependent manner in mice and humans. Sci Transl Med; 16(737):eadi0295. §equally contributing and corresponding authors
Bittner, S., Pape, K., Klotz, L., Zipp, F. (2023) Implications of immunometabolism for smouldering MS pathology and therapy. Nat Rev Neurol; 19(8):477-488
Zipp, F., Bittner, S., Schafer, D.P. (2023) Cytokines as emerging regulators of central nervous system synapses. Immunity; 56(5):914-925
International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium*; MultipleMS Consortium (2023) Locus for severity implicates CNS resilience in progression of multiple sclerosis. Nature; 619(7969):323-331. *FZ in the governance group
Hanuscheck, N., Thalman, C., Domingues, M., Schmaul, S., Muthuraman, M., Hetsch, F., Ecker, M., Endle, H., Oshaghi, M., Martino, G., Kuhlmann, T., Bozek, K., van Beers, T., Bittner, S., von Engelhardt, J., Vogt, J., Vogelaar, C., Zipp, F. (2022) Interleukin-4 receptor signaling modulates neuronal network activity. J Exp Med; 219(6): e20211887
Bitar, L., Uphaus, T., Thalman, C., Muthuraman, M., Gyr, L., Ji, H., Domingues M., Endle, H., Groppa, S., Steffen, F., Koirala, N., Fan, W., Ibanez, L., Heitsch, L., Cruchaga, C., Lee, J., Kloss, F., Bittner S., Nitsch§, R., Zipp§, F., Vogt§, J. (2022) Inhibition of the enzyme autotaxin reduces cortical excitability and ameliorates the outcome in stroke. Science Translational Medicine; Vol 14, Issue 641
§equally contributing senior authors
Engel, S., Zipp, F. (2022) Preventing disease progression in multiple sclerosis—insights from large real-world cohorts. Genome Med; 14, 41.
Bittner, S. & Zipp, F. (2022) A lymphocyte-glia connection sets the pace for smoldering Inflammation. Cell; 184(23): 5696-5698.
Irani, SR., Nath, A., Zipp, F. (2021) The neuroinflammation collection: a vision for expanding neuro-immune crosstalk in Brain. Brain; 17;144(7):e59. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab187.
Bittner, S., Oh, J., Havrdova, EK., Tintore, M., Zipp, F. (2021) The potential of serum neurofilament as biomarker for multiple sclerosis. Brain; 144(19): 2954-2963.
Wasser, B.*, Luchtman, D.*, Löffel, J., Robohm, K., Birkner, K., Stroh, A., Vogelaar, CF., Zipp, F§, Bittner S§.(2020) CNS-localized myeloid cells capture living invading T cells during neuroinflammation. J Exp Med; 217(6): e20190812. *equally contributing, §equally contributing and corresponding
Birkner, K., Wasser, B., Ruck, T., Thalman, C., Luchtman, D., Pape, K., Schmaul, S., Bitar, L., Krämer-Albers, EM., Stroh, A., Meuth, S., Zipp, F.§, Bittner, S.§. (2020) ß1-Integrin- and KV1.2 Channel-Dependent Signaling Stimulates Glutamate Release From Th17 Cells. J Clin Invest; 130(2): 715-732. § equally contributing and corresponding
International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium*. (2019) Multiple sclerosis genomic map implicates peripheral immune cells and microglia in susceptibility. Science; 365: eaav7188. *FZ in governance group
Pape, K., Tamouza, R., Leboyer, M., Zipp, F. (2019) Immunoneuropsychiatry - novel perspectives on brain disorders. Nat Rev Neurol; 15: 317-328.
Ellwardt, E.*, Pramanik, G.*, Luchtman, D., Novkovic, T., Rosales Jubal, E., Vogt J, Arnoux I, Vogelaar CF, Mandal S, Schmalz M, Barger Z, Ruiz de Azua I, Kuhlmann T, Lutz B, Mittmann T, Bittner S, Zipp F§, Stroh A§. (2018) . Maladaptive cortical hyperactivity upon recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Nat Neurosci; 21(10): 1392-1403. *equally contributing, §equally contributing and corresponding
Bittner, S., Zipp, F. (2018) AAN unveils new guidelines for MS disease-modifying therapy. Nat Rev Neurol; 14(7): 384-386.
International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium*. (2018) Low-Frequency and Rare-Coding Variation Contributes to Multiple Sclerosis Risk. Cell; 175: 1–9. *FZ in governance
Vogelaar, CF.*, Mandal, S.*, Lerch, S.*, Birkner, K., Birkenstock, J., Bühler, U., Schnatz, A., Raine, CS., Bittner, S., Vogt, J., Kipnis, J., Nitsch, R., Zipp, F. (2018) Fast direct neuronal signaling via the IL-4 receptor as therapeutic target in neuroinflammation. Sci Transl Med; 10(430): eaao2304. * equally contributing
Larochelle, C.*, Uphaus, T.*, Broux, B., Gowing, E., Paterka, M., Michel, L., Dudvarski Stankovic, N., Bicker, F., Lemaitre, F., Prat, A.§, Schmidt, MMH.§, Zipp, F§. (2018). EGFL7 reduces CNS inflammation in mouse. Nat Commun; 9(1): 819. *,§ equally contributing
Paterka, M., Siffrin, V., Voss, JO., Werr, J., Hoppmann, N., Gollan, R., Belikan, P., Bruttger, J., Birkenstock ,J., Esplugues, E., Yogev, N., Flavel,l RA., Bopp, T., Zipp, F. (2016). Gatekeeper role of antigen-presenting CD11c+ cells in neuroinflammation. EMBO Journal; 35(1): 89-101.
Ulges, A., Witsch, E., Pramanik, G., Klein, M., Birkner, K., Bühler, U., Wasser, B., Luessi, F., Stergiou N., Dietzen, S., Brühl, T-J., Bohn, T., Bündgen, G., Kunz, H., Waisman, A., Schild, H., Schmitt, E., Zipp, F.§, Bopp T§. (2016) Protein kinase CK2 governs the molecular decision between encephalitogenic TH17 cell and Treg cell development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA; 113(36): 10145-50. § equally contributing
Larochelle, C., Uphaus, T., Prat, A., Zipp, F. (2016) Secondary progression in multiple sclerosis: neuronal exhaustion or distinct pathology? Trends Neurosci; 39(5): 325-339
Ellwardt, E., Walsh, JT., Kipnis, J., Zipp, F. (2016) Understanding the Role of T Cells in CNS Homeostasis. Trends Immunol; 37(2): 154-65.
Walsh, J. T., Hendrix, S., Boato, F., Smirnov, I., Zheng, J., Lukens, J. R., Gadani, S., Hechler, D., Golz, G., Rosenberger, K., Kammertons, T., Vogt, J., Vogelaar, C., Siffrin, V., Radjavi, A., Fernandez-Castaneda, A., Gaultier, A., Gold, R., Kanneganti, T. D., Nitsch, R., Zipp F.§, and Kipnis , J.§ (2015). MHCII-independent CD4+ T cells protect injured CNS neurons via IL-4. J Clin Invest; 125: 699-714. § equally contributing.
Methner, A., and Zipp, F. (2013) Multiple sclerosis in 2012: Novel therapeutic options and drug targets in MS. Nat Rev Neurol; 9: 72-73.
Liblau, R. S., Gonzalez-Dunia, D., Wiendl, H., and Zipp, F. (2013). Neurons as targets for T cells in the nervous system. Trends Neurosci; 36: 315-324.
IMSGC (Zipp F as part of strategy group). (2013) . Analysis of immune-related loci identifies 48 new susceptibility variants for multiple sclerosis. Nat Genet; 45: 1353-1360.
Roep, B. O., Buckner, J., Sawcer, S., Toes, R., and Zipp, F. (2012) The problems and promises of research into human immunology and autoimmune disease. Nat Med; 18: 48-53.
IMSGC (Zipp F as part of strategy group). (2011) Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis. Nature; 476: 214-219.
Siffrin, V., Vogt, J., Radbruch, H., Nitsch, R., and Zipp, F. (2010). Multiple sclerosis - candidate mechanisms underlying CNS atrophy. Trends Neurosci; 33: 202-210.
Siffrin, V., Radbruch, H., Glumm, R., Niesner, R., Paterka, M., Herz, J., Leuenberger, T., Lehmann, S. M., Luenstedt, S., Rinnenthal, J. L., Laube, G., Luche, H., Lehnardt, S., Fehling, H. J., Griesbeck, O., and Zipp, F. (2010) In vivo imaging of partially reversible th17 cell-induced neuronal dysfunction in the course of encephalomyelitis. Immunity; 33: 424-436.
Schulze-Topphoff, U., Prat, A., Prozorovski, T., Siffrin, V., Paterka, M., Herz, J., Bendix, I., Ifergan, I., Schadock, I., Mori, M. A., Van Horssen, J., Schroter, F., Smorodchenko, A., Han, M. H., Bader, M., Steinman, L., Aktas, O., and Zipp, F. (2009) Activation of kinin receptor B1 limits encephalitogenic T lymphocyte recruitment to the central nervous system. Nat Med; 15: 788-793.
Prozorovski, T., Schulze-Topphoff, U., Glumm, R., Baumgart, J., Schroter, F., Ninnemann, O., Siegert, E., Bendix, I., Brustle, O., Nitsch, R., Zipp, F.§, and Aktas, O.§ (2008) Sirt1 contributes critically to the redox-dependent fate of neural progenitors. Nat Cell Biol; 10: 385-394. § equally contributing.
Hoffmann, O., Priller, J., Prozorovski, T., Schulze-Topphoff, U., Baeva, N., Lunemann, J. D., Aktas, O., Mahrhofer, C., Stricker, S., Zipp, F.§, and Weber, J. R.§ (2007) TRAIL limits excessive host immune responses in bacterial meningitis. J Clin Invest; 117: 2004-2013. § equally contributing.
Zipp, F., and Aktas, O. (2006) The brain as a target of inflammation: common pathways link inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Trends Neurosci 29: 518-527.
Aktas, O., Smorodchenko, A., Brocke, S., Infante-Duarte, C., Schulze Topphoff, U., Vogt, J., Prozorovski, T., Meier, S., Osmanova, V., Pohl, E., Bechmann, I., Nitsch, R., and Zipp, F. (2005) Neuronal damage in autoimmune neuroinflammation mediated by the death ligand TRAIL. Neuron; 46: 421-432.
Wandinger, K. P., Lunemann, J. D., Wengert, O., Bellmann-Strobl, J., Aktas, O., Weber, A., Grundstrom, E., Ehrlich, S., Wernecke, K. D., Volk, H. D., and Zipp, F. (2003) TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) as a potential response marker for interferon-beta treatment in multiple sclerosis. Lancet; 361: 2036-2043
Diestel, A., Aktas, O., Hackel, D., Hake, I., Meier, S., Raine, C. S., Nitsch §, R., Zipp, F.§, and Ullrich, O.§ 2003. Activation of microglial poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-1 by cholesterol breakdown products during neuroinflammation: a link between demyelination and neuronal damage. J Exp Med; 198: 1729-1740. § equally contributing.
Aktas, O., Waiczies, S., Smorodchenko, A., Dorr, J., Seeger, B., Prozorovski, T., Sallach, S., Endres, M., Brocke, S., Nitsch, R., and Zipp, F. (2003) Treatment of relapsing paralysis in experimental encephalomyelitis by targeting Th1 cells through atorvastatin. J Exp Med; 197: 725-733.
Nitsch, R., Bechmann, I., Deisz, R. A., Haas, D., Lehmann, T. N., Wendling, U., and Zipp, F. (2000) Human brain-cell death induced by tumour-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Lancet; 356: 827-828.
Zipp, F., Weil, J. G., and Einhaupl, K. M. (1999) No increase in demyelinating diseases after hepatitis B vaccination. Nat Med; 5: 964-965.
