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IMG_2295_Gruppenbild AG Körner_nur HI-MAG_crop
Helmholtz-Munich | @ Friederike Butte

Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Research

While the consequences of obesity are generally recognized in adulthood, the pathogenic processes that lead to obesity and its complications are effective considerably earlier in childhood. We have shown that early childhood is a vulnerable age for the development of obesity, which is sustained into adulthood. Moreover, our research demonstrated that even in children, obesity is already linked to emerging cardiometabolic dysfunction, which is closely associated with alterations in adipose tissue biology.

Our research group focuses on the origins, mechanisms, and consequences of childhood obesity and metabolic deterioration. We place particular emphasis on the early development of metabolic complications and the role of adipose tissue function, employing a holistic translational approach that integrates experimental research with epidemiological, clinical, and genetic studies. We develop novel and more precise risk detection and implement trials on novel treatment opportunities.

Our overarching goal is to address childhood obesity by advancing our understanding of its epidemiological and clinical correlations, underlying mechanisms - with a special focus on adipose tissue dysfunction - and the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors. Through this deeper insight, we aim to identify novel targets for prevention and therapeutic intervention.

While the consequences of obesity are generally recognized in adulthood, the pathogenic processes that lead to obesity and its complications are effective considerably earlier in childhood. We have shown that early childhood is a vulnerable age for the development of obesity, which is sustained into adulthood. Moreover, our research demonstrated that even in children, obesity is already linked to emerging cardiometabolic dysfunction, which is closely associated with alterations in adipose tissue biology.

Our research group focuses on the origins, mechanisms, and consequences of childhood obesity and metabolic deterioration. We place particular emphasis on the early development of metabolic complications and the role of adipose tissue function, employing a holistic translational approach that integrates experimental research with epidemiological, clinical, and genetic studies. We develop novel and more precise risk detection and implement trials on novel treatment opportunities.

Our overarching goal is to address childhood obesity by advancing our understanding of its epidemiological and clinical correlations, underlying mechanisms - with a special focus on adipose tissue dysfunction - and the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors. Through this deeper insight, we aim to identify novel targets for prevention and therapeutic intervention.

Projects

Metabolic syndrome cholesterol. Health blood sugar. Disease risk factors. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome blood sugar image.
Happy Photo Stock - stock.adobe.com

Mechanisms and risk prediction of childhood obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction in children

Explore Project
Adipocytes, lipocytes and fat cells, are the cells that primarily compose adipose tissue, close-up view of cells
mirifadapt - stock.adobe.com
Waves of epigenetic changes across generations
Vladimir - stock.adobe.com
Hypothalamic-like neurons developed from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells
Helmholtz Munich | @ Martha Hanschkow

Contact Körner Lab

Mitarbeiterin-/PI-Foto Antje Körner

Prof. Dr. Antje Körner

Head of Childhood Obesity & Metabolic Research Group View profile
MA-Foto Kathrin Landgraf - freigestellt

Dr. Kathrin Landgraf

Post-Doc, Körner Lab
MA-Foto Robert Stein - freigestellt

Dr. Robert Stein

Clinician Scientist, Körner Lab
IMG_2306_Eric Wenzel_edit crop_freigestellt

Dr. Eric Wenzel

Clinician Scientist, Körner Lab
IMG_2364_Gefion Liebau_edit crop_freigestellt

Gefion Liebau

Clinician Scientist, Körner Lab
MA-Foto Katja Piotrwski EH6A1778_freigestellt

Dr. Katja Piotrowski

Science Manager, Körner Lab
Christin Mannewitz

Christin Mannewitz

Team Assistant, Körner Lab
MA-Foto Martha Hanschkow - freigestellt

Martha Hanschkow

PhD Candidate, Körner Lab
MA-Foto Kushan Ranakombu_freigstellt

Dr. Kushan Kumara De Silva Ranakombu

Postdoc, Körner Lab
Mariana Ponce de Leon Rodriguez

Dr. Mariana Ponce de Léon Rodríguez

Postdoc, Körner Lab
Omar Alhaji_edit_freigestellt

Omar Alhaji

PhD Candidate, Körner Lab
IMG_2355_Marie Sternberg_edit crop

Marie Sternberg

Study Assistant, Körner Lab (guest)
IMG_2474_Nicole Maier_edit crop_freigestellt

Nicole Maier

Study Assistant, Körner Lab
MA-Foto Klara Meyer EH6A7405_freigestellt

Dr. Klara Meyer

Clinician Scientist, Körner Lab (on maternity leave)

Helen Myers

Study Nurse, Körner Lab (on maternity leave)
IMG_2373_Antje Berthold_edit crop_freigestellt

Antje Berthold

Lab Assistant, Körner Lab

Selected Publications of the Körner Lab

See all

2024 Nature

Tomar A, Gomez-Velazquez M, Gerlini R, Comas-Armangué G, Makharadze L, Kolbe T, Boersma A, Dahlhoff M, Burgstaller JP, Lassi M, Darr J, Toppari J, Virtanen H, Kühnapfel A, Scholz M, Landgraf K, Kiess W, Vogel M, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Marschall S, Hrabě de Angelis M, Kotaja N, Körner A, Teperino R.

Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs

Epidemiologic and functional evidence of paternal contribution to offspring obesity and metabolic risk

2023 Lancet Reg Health Eur

Hammel MC, Stein R, Kratzsch J, Vogel M, Eckert AJ, Triatin RD, Colombo M, Meigen C, Bager R, Stanik J, Spielau U, Stoltze A, Wirkner K, Tönjes A, Snieder H, Holl RW, Stumvoll M, Blüher M, Kiess W, Körner A

Fasting indices of glucose-insulin-metabolism across life span and prediction of glycemic deterioration in children from new references

Evidence for superiority of age specific insulin-based cut-offs for prediction of metabolic failure

2022 Nat Metab

Yang CH, Fagnocchi L, Apostle S, Wegert V, Casaní-Galdón S, Landgraf K, Panzeri I, Dror E, Heyne S, Wörpel T, Chandler DP, Lu D, Yang T, Gibbons E, Guerreiro R, Bras J, Thomasen M, Grunnet LG, Vaag AA, Gillberg L, Grundberg E, Conesa A, Körner A, PERMUTE & Pospisilik A

Independent phenotypic plasticity axes define distinct obesity sub-types

Translation of molecular determinants for obesity-overgrowth subtypes from mice to human

2016 Cell

Dalgaard K, Landgraf K, Heyne S, Lempradl A, Longinotto J, Gossens K, Ruf M, Orthofer M, Strogantsev R, Selvaraj M, Lu TT, Casas E, Teperino R, Surani MA, Zvetkova I, Rimmington D, Tung YC, Lam B, Larder R, Yeo GS, O'Rahilly S, Vavouri T, Whitelaw E, Penninger JM, Jenuwein T, Cheung CL, Ferguson-Smith AC, Coll AP, Körner A, Pospisilik JA

Trim28 Haploinsufficiency Triggers Bi-stable Epigenetic Obesity

First evidence on obesity polyphenism in children triggered by epigenetic mechanisms. >125 citations

2015 Diabetes

Landgraf K, Rockstroh D, Wagner IV, Weise S, Tauscher R, Schwartze JT, Löffler D, Bühligen U, Wojan M, Till H, Kratzsch J, Kiess W, Blüher M, Körner A

Evidence of early alterations in adipose tissue biology and function and its association with obesity-related inflammation and insulin resistance in children

First study providing evidence of adipose tissue dysfunction developing already in childhood. >125 citations

2007 Nat Genet.

Dina C, Meyre D, Gallina S, Durand E, Körner A, Jacobson P, Carlsson LM, Kiess W, Vatin V, Lecoeur C, Delplanque J, Vaillant E, Pattou F, Ruiz J, Weill J, Levy-Marchal C, Horber F, Potoczna N, Hercberg S, Le Stunff C, Bougnères P, Kovacs P, Marre M, Balkau B, Cauchi S, Chèvre JC, Froguel P

Variation in FTO contributes to childhood obesity and severe adult obesity.

One of the two papers that initially found FTO as the strongest genetic candidate for obesity. >1,500 citations