Type 1 Diabetes Immunology

Our main research interest in Type 1 Diabetes Immunology (TDI) focuses on understanding the role of regulatory T cells in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes. To do so, we combine the analysis of human immune cells from different disease stages with mechanistic studies in murine and humanized in vivo models. We focus on the following research topics: We dissect key molecular mechanisms underlying regulatory T cell impairments in autoimmunity and investigate the heterogeneity, plasticity, and functional specialization of regulatory T cells in metabolic tissues of diabetes. Our studies have the overarching goal of facilitating the future context-specific manipulation of regulatory T cells in (autoimmune) diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease with a dramatically increasing incidence, particularly in childhood. It results from a breakdown in immune tolerance that causes the autoimmune-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and a subsequent loss of glycemic control. We aim to advance our understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying Type 1 Diabetes development. Our overall vision is to contribute to the development of immune therapies that can decelerate or even halt autoimmune progression and prevent diabetes complications.

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Our doctoral researcher Anne-Marie Bührer performing cell culture

Autoantigen-specific T cell and Treg responses

Personalized immunological models of human disease

Treg impairments during islet autoimmunity

Next-generation miRNA targeting strategies

Novel drug candidates to control T1D autoimmunity

Immune-metabolic crosstalk in target tissues of diabetes

A joint study by Helmholtz Munich, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and Goethe University Frankfurt reveals how a novel drug may help prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D) by restoring immune balance. The findings were published in Molecular…

3D representation of insulin protein structure illuminated with a blue glow on a black background_AdobeStock_1073210391

At this year’s Congress of the German Diabetes Association (DDG), three researchers from Helmholtz Munich were honored for their outstanding scientific achievements. Their groundbreaking work is helping to advance the understanding, prevention, and…

A study led by researchers from Helmholtz Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) unveils a key communication pathway between the immune system and metabolism in the hypothalamic region of the brain. By identifying the role of…

Every year on October 3rd, the German broadcaster WDR organizes the event "Doors Open with The Mouse." This year, 770 companies and research institutions across Germany participated, welcoming children and parents under the theme "Working Together."…

A recent discovery led by Helmholtz Munich researchers from the Type 1 Diabetes Immunology Research Unit has uncovered how regulatory immune T-cells (called Tregs) interplay and control metabolic tissues. The new findings published in Cell…

How do our muscles respond at the molecular level to exercise? Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) have unraveled the cellular basis and signaling pathways responsible for the positive…

Helmholtz Munich researchers receive 2.25 Mio US Dollar JDRF Grant

With a 2.25 million US dollar grant provided by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Prof. Matthias Hebrok, Prof. Heiko Lickert, and Prof. Carolin Daniel from the…

Prof. Carolin Daniel

TDI Department Head

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Dr. Isabelle Serr

Deputy Department Head

Dr. Maike Becker

Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Martin Scherm

Postdoc

Dr. Camilla Tondello

Postdoc

Michael Lauber

Bioinformatics Specialist

Laura Harrison

Scientific Coordinator

Maria Rocha Acevedo

Scientific Coordinator

Franziska Schadl

Biology Lab Technician

Anne Helena Neubig

Doctoral Researcher

Till Johannsmann

Doctoral Researcher

Gianmarco Spata

Doctoral Researcher

Sandra Maria Dirschl

Doctoral Researcher

Emily Schardey

Doctoral Researcher

Anne-Marie Bührer

Doctoral Researcher

Anna Kovordànyi

Student Assistant

Khushboo Garg

Master's Student

Hipp H, Tondello C, Gmehling H, Scholz LK, Stavridou A, Becker M, Bührer A-M, Hintermann E, Dirschl SM, Johannsmann TM, Scherm MG, Kohlhof H, Serr I, Christen U, Daniel C

Inhibition of pyrimidine de novo synthesis fosters Treg cells and reduces diabetes development in models of Type 1 Diabetes

Becker M, Kälin S, Neubig AH, Lauber M, Opaleva D, Hipp H, Salb VK, Ott VB, Legutko B, Kälin RE, Hippich M, Scherm MG, Nascimento LFR, Serr I, Hosp F, Nikolaev A, Mohebiany A, Krueger M, Flachmeyer B, Pfaffl MW, Haase B, Yi C-X, Dietzen S, Bopp T, Woods SC, Waisman A, Weigmann B, Mann M, Tschöp MH, Daniel C

Regulatory T cells in the mouse hypothalamus control immune activation and ameliorate metabolic impairments in high-calorie environments

Becker M, Joseph S, Garcia-Carrizo F, Tom R, Opaleva D, Serr I, Tschöp M, Schulz T, Hofmann S, Daniel C

Regulatory T cells require IL6 receptor alpha signaling to control skeletal muscle function and regeneration

Scherm MG, Serr I, Zahm AM, Schug J, Bellusci S, Manfredini R, Salb VK, Gerlach K, Weigmann B, Ziegler AG, Kaestner KH, Daniel C

miRNA142-3p targets Tet2 and impairs Treg differentiation and stability in models of type 1 diabetes

Becker M, Serr I, Salb VK, Ott VB, Mengel L, Blüher M, Weigmann B, Hauner H, Tschöp MH, Daniel C.

Short-term cold exposure supports human Treg induction in vivo

Serr I, Scherm MG, Zahm AM, Schug J, Flynn VK, Hippich M, Kälin S, Becker M, Achenbach P, Nikolaev A, Gerlach K, Liebsch N, Loretz B, Lehr C-M, Kirchner B, Spornraft M, Haase B, Segars J, Küper C, Palmisano R, Waisman A, Willis RA, Kim W-U, Weigmann B, Kaestner KH, Ziegler AG, Daniel C.

miRNA181a/NFAT5 axis links impaired T cell tolerance induction with autoimmune type 1 diabetes

Kälin S, Becker M, Ott VB, Serr I, Hosp F, Mollah MMH, Keipert S, Lamp D, Rohner-Jeanrenaud F, Flynn VK, Scherm MG, Nascimento LFR, Gerlach K, Popp V, Dietzen S, Bopp T, Krishnamurthy P, Kaplan MH, Serrano M, Woods SC, Tripal P, Palmisano R, Jastroch M, Bluher M, Wolfrum C, Weigmann B, Ziegler AG, Mann M, Tschöp MH, Daniel C.

A Stat6/Pten Axis Links Regulatory T Cells with Adipose Tissue Function

Serr I, Fürst RW, Ott VB, Scherm MG, Nikolaev A, Gökmen F, Kälin S, Zillmer S, Bunk M, Weigmann B, Kunschke N, Loretz B, Lehr CM, Kirchner B, Haase B, Pfaffl MW, Waisman A, Willis RA, Ziegler AG, Daniel C

miRNA92a taargets KLF2 and PTEN signaling to promote human T follicular helper precursors in T1D islet autoimmunity

Serr I, Fürst RW, Achenbach P, Scherm MG, Gökmen F, Haupt F, Sedlmeier E-M, Knopff A, Shultz L, Willis RA, Ziegler A-G, Daniel C.

Type 1 diabetes vaccine candidates promote human Foxp3+Treg induction in humanized mice

von Boehmer H and Daniel C

Therapeutic opportunities for manipulating Tregs in autoimmunity and cancer. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery

Daniel C, Weigmann B, Bronson R, von Boehmer H

Prevention of type 1 diabetes in mice by tolerogenic vaccination with a strong agonist insulin mimetope

Daniel C, Wennhold K, Kim HJ, von Boehmer H

Enhancement of antigen-specific Treg-vaccination in vivo

Nolting J, Daniel C, Reuter S, Stuelten C, Li P, Sucov H, Kim BG, Letterio JJ, Kretschmer K, Kim HJ, von Boehmer H

Retinoic acid can enhance conversion of naive into regulatory T cells independently of secreted cytokines