Daniel Kotlarz

Joint Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Leader

+49 89 3187 3854 daniel.kotlarz@helmholtz-munich.de

Building / Room: 3533, 206

We are aiming to decode disease signatures of Pediatric IBD using a system biology-driven approach.

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Big Data Preclinical Models Translational Genomics Multi-omics

2022 -

ITG at Helmholtz Munich

2017 -

Immune and genetic signatures of pediatric IBD
Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany

2016 -

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Research,
Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

2016

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, USA (Supervisor: Scott Snapper, MD, PhD)

2014 - 2016

Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. sci. nat. Christoph Klein)

2014 -

Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany

2020 - Dr. Daniel Kotlarz - Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize Winner
2019 - John Harries Prize, European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
2019 - Best Paper Prize, German Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
2018 - Rolf Becker-Preis 2018, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich and Stiftung „Rufzeichen Gesundheit!“ Baierbrunn
2018 - “Rising Star” scientist, 14th Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2015 - Innovation Prize, German University Hospital Association
2014 - Dr. Holger Müller Prize 2013, Dr. Holger Müller Stiftung

Ghalandary M, Li Y, Fröhlich T, Magg T, Liu Y, Rohlfs M, Hollizeck S, Conca R, Schwerd T, Uhlig HH, Bufler P, Koletzko S, Muise AM, Snapper SB, Hauck F, Klein C, Kotlarz D

Valosin-containing protein-regulated endoplasmic reticulum stress causes NOD2-dependent inflammatory responses NOD2 polymorphisms may affect sensing of the bacterial muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and trigger perturbed inflammatory responses. Genetic screening of a patient with immunodeficiency and enteropathy revealed a rare homozygous missense mutation in the first CARD domain of NOD2 (ENST00000300589; c.160G > A, p.E54K). Biochemical assays confirmed impaired NOD2-dependent signaling and proinflammatory cytokine production in patient's cells and heterologous cellular models with overexpression of the NOD2 mutant. Immunoprecipitation-coupled mass spectrometry unveiled the ATPase valosin-containing protein (VCP) as novel interaction partner of wildtype NOD2, while the binding to the NOD2 variant p.E54K was abrogated. Knockdown of VCP in coloncarcinoma cells led to impaired NF-κB activity and IL8 expression upon MDP stimulation. In contrast, tunicamycin-induced ER stress resulted in increased IL8, CXCL1, and CXCL2 production in cells with knockdown of VCP, while enhanced expression of these proinflammatory molecules was abolished upon knockout of NOD2. Taken together, these data suggest that VCP-mediated inflammatory responses upon ER stress are NOD2-dependent.

Khoshnevisan R, Anderson M, Babcock S, Anderson S, Illig D, Marquardt B, Sherkat R, Schröder K, Moll F, Hollizeck S, Rohlfs M, Walz C, Adibi P, Rezaei A, Andalib A, Koletzko S, Muise AM, Snapper SB, Klein C, Thiagarajah JR, Kotlarz D (2020). Inflamm Bowel Dis. 17.

NOX1 Regulates Collective and Planktonic Cell Migration: Insights From Patients With Pediatric-Onset IBD and NOX1 Deficiency. Genetic defects of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) provide critical insights into molecular factors controlling intestinal homeostasis. NOX1 has been recently recognized as a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human colonic epithelial cells. Here we assessed the functional consequences of human NOX1 deficiency with respect to wound healing and epithelial migration by studying pediatric IBD patients presenting with a stop-gain mutation in NOX1.

Li Y, Klein C, Kotzlarz D

Dysregulation of Cell Death in Human Chronic Inflammation Inflammation is a fundamental biological process mediating host defense and wound healing during infections and tissue injury. Perpetuated and excessive inflammation may cause autoinflammation, autoimmunity, degenerative disorders, allergies, and malignancies. Multimodal signaling by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) plays a crucial role in determining the transition between inflammation, cell survival, and programmed cell death. Targeting TNF signaling has been proven as an effective therapeutic in several immune-related disorders. Mouse studies have provided critical mechanistic insights into TNFR1 signaling and its potential role in a broad spectrum of diseases. The characterization of patients with monogenic primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) has highlighted the importance of TNFR1 signaling in human disease. In particular, patients with PIDs have revealed paradoxical connections between immunodeficiency, chronic inflammation, and dysregulated cell death. Importantly, studies on PIDs may help to predict beneficial effects and side-effects of therapeutic targeting of TNFR1 signaling.

Li Y, Fuhrer M, Bahrami E, Socha P, Klaudel-Dreszler M, Bouzidi A, Liu Y, Lehle AS, Magg T, Hollizeck S, Rohlfs M, Conca R, Field M, Warner N, Mordechai S, Shteyer E, Turner D, Boukari R, Belbouab R, Walz C, Gaidt MM, Hornung V, Baumann B, Pannicke U, Al Idrissi E, Ali Alghamdi H, Sepulveda FE, Gil M, de Saint Basile G, Honig M, Koletzko S, Muise AM, Snapper SB, Schwarz K, Klein C, and Kotlarz D

Human RIPK1 deficiency causes combined immunodeficiency and inflammatory bowel diseases Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) is a critical regulator of cell death and inflammation, but its relevance for human disease pathogenesis remains elusive. Studies of monogenic disorders might provide critical insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of RIPK1 for common diseases. Here, we report on eight patients from six unrelated pedigrees with biallelic loss-of-function mutations in RIPK1 presenting with primary immunodeficiency and/or intestinal inflammation. Mutations in RIPK1 were associated with reduced NF-κB activity, defective differentiation of T and B cells, increased inflammasome activity, and impaired response to TNFR1-mediated cell death in intestinal epithelial cells. The characterization of RIPK1-deficient patients highlights the essential role of RIPK1 in controlling human immune and intestinal homeostasis, and might have critical implications for therapies targeting RIPK1.

Lehle AS, Farin HF, Marquardt B, Michels BE, Magg T, Li Y, Liu Y, Ghalandary M, Lammens K, Hollizeck S, Rohlfs M, Hauck F, Conca R, Walz C, Weiss B, Lev A, Simon AJ, Gross O, Gaidt MM, Hornung V, Clevers H, Yazbeck N, Hanna-Wakim R, Shouval DS, Warner N, Somech R, Muise AM, Snapper SB, Bufler P, Koletzko S, Klein C, and Kotlarz D

Intestinal Inflammation and Dysregulated Immunity in Patients With Inherited Caspase-8 Deficiency

Kotlarz D, Marquardt B, Baroy T, Lee WS, Konnikova L, Hollizeck S, Magg T, Lehle AS, Walz C, Borggraefe I, Hauck F, Bufler P, Conca R, Wall SM, Schumacher EM, Misceo D, Frengen E, Bentsen BS, Uhlig HH, Hopfner KP, Muise AM, Snapper SB, Stromme P, and Klein C

Human TGF-beta1 deficiency causes severe inflammatory bowel disease and encephalopathy Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (encoded by TGFB1) is the prototypic member of the TGF-β family of 33 proteins that orchestrate embryogenesis, development and tissue homeostasis1,2. Following its discovery3, enormous interest and numerous controversies have emerged about the role of TGF-β in coordinating the balance of pro- and anti-oncogenic properties4,5, pro- and anti-inflammatory effects6, or pro- and anti-fibrinogenic characteristics7. Here we describe three individuals from two pedigrees with biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the TGFB1 gene who presented with severe infantile inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and central nervous system (CNS) disease associated with epilepsy, brain atrophy and posterior leukoencephalopathy. The proteins encoded by the mutated TGFB1 alleles were characterized by impaired secretion, function or stability of the TGF-β1–LAP complex, which is suggestive of perturbed bioavailability of TGF-β1. Our study shows that TGF-β1 has a critical and nonredundant role in the development and homeostasis of intestinal immunity and the CNS in humans.

Kotlarz D, Zietara N, Uzel G, Weidemann T, Braun CJ, Diestelhorst J, Krawitz PM, Robinson PN, Hecht J, Puchalka J, Gertz EM, Schaffer AA, Lawrence MG, Kardava L, Pfeifer D, Baumann U, Pfister ED, Hanson EP, Schambach A, Jacobs R, Kreipe H, Moir S, Milner JD, Schwille P, Mundlos S, and Klein C

Loss-of-function mutations in the IL-21 receptor gene cause a primary immunodeficiency syndrome Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) represent exquisite models for studying mechanisms of human host defense. In this study, we report on two unrelated kindreds, with two patients each, who had cryptosporidial infections associated with chronic cholangitis and liver disease. Using exome and candidate gene sequencing, we identified two distinct homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the interleukin-21 receptor gene (IL21R; c.G602T, p.Arg201Leu and c.240_245delCTGCCA, p.C81_H82del). The IL-21RArg201Leu mutation causes aberrant trafficking of the IL-21R to the plasma membrane, abrogates IL-21 ligand binding, and leads to defective phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), STAT3, and STAT5. We observed impaired IL-21–induced proliferation and immunoglobulin class-switching in B cells, cytokine production in T cells, and NK cell cytotoxicity. Our study indicates that human IL-21R deficiency causes an immunodeficiency and highlights the need for early diagnosis and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in affected children.

Kotlarz D, Beier R, Murugan D, Diestelhorst J, Jensen O, Boztug K, Pfeifer D, Kreipe H, Pfister ED, Baumann U, Puchalka J, Bohne J, Egritas O, Dalgic B, Kolho KL, Sauerbrey A, Buderus S, Gungor T, Enninger A, Koda YK, Guariso G, Weiss B, Corbacioglu S, Socha P, Uslu N, Metin A, Wahbeh GT, Husain K, Ramadan D, Al-Herz W, Grimbacher B, Sauer M, Sykora KW, Koletzko S, and Klein C

Loss of interleukin-10 signaling and infantile inflammatory bowel disease: implications for diagnosis and therapy Homozygous loss of function mutations in interleukin-10 (IL10) and interleukin-10 receptors (IL10R) cause severe infantile (very early onset) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was reported to induce sustained remission in 1 patient with IL-10R deficiency. We investigated heterogeneity among patients with very early onset IBD, its mechanisms, and the use of allogeneic HSCT to treat this disorder

Glocker EO, Kotlarz D, Boztug K, Gertz EM, Schaffer AA, Noyan F, Perro M, Diestelhorst J, Allroth A, Murugan D, Hatscher N, Pfeifer D, Sykora KW, Sauer M, Kreipe H, Lacher M, Nustede R, Woellner C, Baumann U, Salzer U, Koletzko S, Shah N, Segal AW, Sauerbrey A, Buderus S, Snapper SB, Grimbacher B, and Klein C

Inflammatory bowel disease and mutations affecting the interleukin-10 receptor. The molecular cause of inflammatory bowel disease is largely unknown.

Dr. Daniel Kotlarz

Skills

Professional Background

Joint Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Leader

Group Leader

Associated Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Resident Physician in Pediatrics

Honors and Awards

Selected Publications

Affiliations

LMU Klinikum