Farbiges Abbild der DNA-Sequenzen

Metabolic risk factors at the genetic level 

Metabolic risk factors, such as arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2 or glucose intolerance as well as disorders of lipid metabolism are multifactorial polygenic diseases that can occur cumulatively in an individual. The link for this clinical clustering of risk factors lies on the genetic level, whereby the pathogenesis of such multifactorial diseases is directly influenced by multiple environmental factors, called “lifestyle”, depending on the individual genetic predisposition. Genetics and lifestyle interaction can be caused by changes in short-, medium- and long-term gene regulation in direct response to a physiological stimulus in the sense of physiological memory or even “physiological inheritance”.

The integration of the data of a phenotype with the underlying genotype and its specific reaction to environmental influences is regarded as systems biology and is an essential content of translational medicine. It is not yet clear whether the numerous relevant gene loci have the same meaning or whether there are dominant gene loci. An established approach in polygenic multifactorial diseases is to characterize defects of identified signaling disorders in genetically defined patients and then to define the role of these newly identified gene loci in common manifestations.

The main focus of the research group is to investigate complex molecular processes in the development and progression of polygenic diseases as well as their alteration by environmental influences and to use genetic analyses as part of the research project. Besides the investigation of known target genes, the identification and subsequent validation of new candidate genes associated with e.g. arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2 or glucose intolerance and disorders of lipid metabolism is an essential part of the research.

Aims of research

  • To investigate complex molecular processes in the development and progression of polygenic diseases and their alteration by environmental influences and to make genetic analyses available as part of the research project
  • Investigation of known target genes and identification and subsequent validation of new candidate genes associated with e.g. arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2 or glucose intolerance and disorders of lipid metabolism
  • The working group also provides support in the field of DNA (sequencing, genotyping) and expression analysis (transcriptome analysis, methylation)

Team

Selected Publications

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