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Group leader: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory

Prof. em. Dr. Hans Werner Müller
Department of Neurology
Heinrich-Heine-University
Moorenstraße 5
40225 Düsseldorf


Research Interest

We are interested in the understanding of the molecular basis of nerve injury and repair - both in the peripheral and central nervous system. Using genomic, proteomic and system biology approaches we analyse the cellular responses to injury and study the functional role and regulatory network of regeneration-associated genes (RAGs) in axonal regeneration. With respect to translational neuroscience, the development of therapeutic strategies to improve axonal repair and functional outcome following brain and spinal cord trauma is a major aim in our laboratory. Recently we have established novel treatment strategies in spinal cord injury based on pharmacological suppression of scarring, adult somatic stem cell grafting or implantation of novel micro-connector chips. Treatments resulted in enhanced axon regeneration, neuroprotection and functional (locomotor) recovery.

Selected Publications
  1. Estrada, V., Brazda, N., Schmitz, C., Heller, S., Blazyca, H., Martini, R. and Müller, H.W. (2014) Long-lasting significant functional improvement in chronic severe spinal cord injury following scar resection and polyethylene glycol implantation. Neurobiol. Dis. 67, 165-179. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.03.018 PubMed
  2. Brazda, N., Voss, C., Estrada, V., Lodin, H., Weinrich, N., Seide, K., Müller, J. and Müller, H.W. (2013) A mechanical microconnector system for restoration of tissue continuity and long-term drug application into the injured spinal cord. Biomaterials 34,10056-10064. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.09.057. Epub 2013 Oct 3. PubMed
  3. Schira, J., Gasis, M., Estrada, V., Hendricks, M., Schmitz, C., Trapp, T., Kruse, F., Kögler, G., Wernet, P. and Müller, H.W. (2012) Significant clinical, neuropathological and behavioural recovery from acute spinal cord trauma by transplantation of a well-defined somatic stem cell from human umbilical cord blood. Brain 135:431-46. PubMed
  4. Opatz, J., Küry, P., Schiwy, N., Järve, A., Estrada, V., Brazda, N., Bosse, F., Müller, H. W. (2009). SDF-1 stimulates neurite growth on inhibitory CNS myelin. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 40:293-300. PubMed
  5. Klapka, N., Hermanns, S., Straten, G., Masanneck, C., Duis, S., Hamers, F., Müller, D., Zuschratter, W., Müller, H. W. (2005). Suppression of fibrous scarring in spinal cord injury of rat promotes long-distance regeneration of corticospinal tract axons, rescue of primary motoneurons in somatosensory cortex and significant functional recovery. Eur. J. Neurosci. 22:3047-3058. PubMed
  6. Küry, P., Greiner-Petter, R., Cornely, C., Jürgens, T., Müller, H. W. (2002). Mash 2 is expressed in the adult sciatic nerve and regulates the expression of Krox24, Mob-1, CXCR4 and p57kip2 in Schwann cells. J. Neurosci. 22:7586-7595. PubMed
  7. Zoidl, G., Blass-Kampmann, S., D’Urso, D., Schmalenbach, C., Müller, H. W. (1995). Retroviral-mediated gene transfer of the peripheral myelin protein PMP22 in Schwann cells: modulation of cell growth. EMBO J. 14:1122-1128. PubMed
  8. Matsunami, N., Smith, B., Ballard, L., Lensch, M. W., Robertson, M., Albertsen, H., Hanemann, C. O., Müller, H. W., Bird, T., White, R., Chance, P. F. (1992). Peripheral myelin protein-22 gene maps in the duplication in chromosome 17p11.2 associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A. Nature Genetics 1:176-179. PubMed
  9. Spreyer, P., Kuhn, G., Hanemann, C. O., Gillen, C., Schaal, H., Kuhn, R., Lemke, G., Müller, H. W. (1991). Axon-regulated expression of a Schwann cell transcript that is homologous to a "growth arrest-specific" gene. EMBO J. 10:3661-3668. PubMed
  10. Müller, H.W., Gebicke-Härter, P. J., Hangen, D. H., Shooter, E. M. (1985). A specific 37,000-Dalton protein that accumulates in regenerating but not in nonregenerating mammalian nerves. Science 228:499-501. PubMed
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