
Interdisciplinary Stroke research
The workgroup covers the research topics like risk factors and damage mechanisms of ischemic stroke as well as the characterization of its consequences using animal models. In addition the group is involved in a broad range of initiatives, reaching from the development of novel approaches in the field of telemedicine to clinical studies which aim to improve the patient care after an acute cerebral ischemia.
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Group Leader - Interdisciplinary Stroke Research
Director Department of Neurology/Group Leader Interdisciplinary Stroke Research
CCM: Campus Charité Mitte

Team members

Technician
Team Leader

Scientist

MSc candidate

Scientist
Team Leader
Scientist

Medical doctoral candidate

Technician

PhD candidate

PhD Student

Team Leader

PhD candidate
Scientist

Technician
PhD Student
Technician
Medical doctoral candidate

Scientist

Clinician Scientist
Projects
Endothelial function in cerebrovascular diseases
EPCAS - Endothelial Function and Progenitor Cells in Acute Ischemic Stroke (NCT01289795)
Endothelial dysfunction is a key component of atherosclerosis which contributes to the development of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. However, endothelial dysfunction (ED) is not established as a risk factor for ischemic stroke. As a novelty the proposed trial investigates the following variety of indirect markers of endothelial function in acute ischemic stroke: circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), endothelial microparticles (EMP), ENDOPAT (RH- PAT ratio) in two regards: 1) time after ischemic events (< 48h, Days 4-5, day 7 or at discharge) 2) etiological stroke subtypes. It is not known whether these parameters are changed after acute cerebral ischemia and could possibly serve as specific target for treatment.
Migraine and Endothelial Dysfunction (NCT01388699)
Our objectives are to determine whether novel endothelial function methods and novel markers of endothelial activation are associated with migraine in female migraineurs with aura. Migraine is an independent risk factor for stroke, especially in young women with aura symptoms. Endothelial dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies suggest that there is a link between migraine with aura and endothelial activation, dysfunction and impaired vascular reactivity. In this case-control study we examine several novel biomarkers of endothelial function such as endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial microparticles as well as novel methods such as reactive hyperemic peripheral arterial tonometry in female migraineurs with aura and age-matched controls.
PROSCIS-B Prospective Study with Incident Stroke Berlin (NCT01363856 )
Primary aim of this study is to develop a prognostic model of long-term vascular risk after stroke. Secondary aims are natural course of post stroke depression and dementia up to 3 years after first-ever stroke. The protocol and study design of PROSCIS-B study has been implemented in the Institute of Stroke and Dementia Research Stroke Study Munich (PROSCIS-M) that will serve as a validation cohort regarding multiple research questions regarding with a focus on vascular risk and functional outcome after stroke. We are currently finalizing the 3 years follow up in approx. 750 patients with stroke.
Ongoing research project are:
- Characteristics of activating endothelial receptor autoantibodies in stroke and impact on functional outcome at 1 year after ischemic stroke
- Association of Lipoprotein A with outcome after stroke
- Prediction of Vascular Risk at 1 year after stroke – development of a prognostic model
- Impact of socioeconomic status on vascular risk after stroke
- Biomarkers of endothelial activation and inflammation (VCAM, hsCRP) and outcome after stroke
ENDOBASE – Endothelial activation, cerebral small vessel disease and cognition in the Berlin Aging study II Endothelial activation and dysfunction may play a major and causal role in the development of small vessel disease. Small vessel disease is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. White matter lesions and cerebral microbleeds are both established markers for small vessel disease.
As a novelty the proposed study investigates the association of novel blood based markers for endothelial activation such as stromal derived factor-1 of endothelial activation and endothelial microparticles in a large cohort of elderly subjects from the Berlin Aging Study II with the following outcomes:
- Severity of small vessel disease using MRI markers
- Kognitive impairment
- Arterial stiffness
It is not known whether these novel markers of endothelial activation are associated with these outcomes and may serve as preclinical surrogate markers of underlying activity of endothelial dysfunction.
The Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) has been designed to identify and characterize factors that are associated with "healthy" versus "unhealthy" aging. Base –II is a multi-disciplinary and -institutional study that aims to include 1,822 elderly subjects. Similar to other industrialized countries, Germany is facing an aging population. While some are cognitive and physically healthy, others suffer from multiple age-related disorders and impairments in older age with reduced life expectancy and quality of life. The proposed study aims to investigate in a cross-sectional design the association between endothelial activation and a variety of outcome variables in 750 patients in this cohort with advanced brain imaging.
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Regeneration after stroke
Until now, translation of experimental studies into clinical reality has been sorely lacking. So far, most studies have focused on acute stroke outcome and early treatment paradigms affording neuro-protection. It is increasingly recognized that, in addition, it will be necessary to harness the capacity of the brain for neuro-regeneration after brain ischemia. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of post-stroke angiogenesis and neurogenesis appear as a promising approach to promote regeneration, thereby improving longer-term stroke outcome. During acute stroke, tissue may be salvaged by blood flow supplied from collateral vessels. In contrast, the formation of functionally intact vessels could re-establish cerebral blood flow in the damaged tissue in the chronic phase after stroke, therefore promoting neuronal regeneration according to the “vascular niche” hypothesis where adult neurogenesis occurs in an angiogenic environment. Here, we were able to show, that physical activity also improves long-term stroke outcome via augmentation of neo-vascularization and cerebral blood flow.
Despite the presence of neural stem cells and ongoing neuroneogenesis in some regions of the adult mammalian brain, neurons are not replaced in most brain regions after injury. Therefore, one aim of our work is to develop cell-based therapeutic strategies for post-stroke brain repair. This will require a deepened understanding of the key cellular players that might be recruited for the neuronal fate and the mechanisms that usually instruct them towards gliogenesis. Recently, we explored and modulated the fate determinants Olig2 and Pax6 after brain ischemia in order to redirect.
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Stress and Behavior
Chronic stress and Stroke outcome and susceptibility
The bodily stress response is crucial in managing allostatic mechanisms, however, chronic activation of this system creates “allostatic load” which may in turn lead to disease. The link between cardiovascular disease and stress is well established. Epidemiologic studies indicate that classical vascular risk factors are exacerbated by stress. However the exact mechanisms by which stress may increase stroke incidence is far from being understood. By using a 28 day chronic stress paradigm, we examine whether chronic stress induces endothelial dysfunction and increases stroke susceptibility. Our findings so far indicate a deleterious effect of chronic stress on the endothelium in association/relation with hypertenstion, which may increase stroke susceptibility.
Post Stroke behavioral testing
For decades, histological assessments were used as the only end point in stroke research, typically using lesion size determination to evaluate the potential therapeutic effectiveness of an agent in in-vivo stroke models. Failures in clinical trials have triggered a growing awareness in the scientific community that a thorough re-examination of the models and techniques used in stroke research is not only necessary but inevitable. According to this new approach, one of the key strategies to overcome the “translational road block” in stroke research is to use behavior testing to assess functional outcome as a relevant end point. In line with this concept we have established a wide range of behavioral tests which are suitable for in-depth behavioral analysis of post stroke disturbances observed in mouse models. Seven different sensory-motor tests ranging from Pole test to Corner test, anxiety tests such as plus maze and light dark box, tests for depression-like behaviors, memory and activity tests are successfully used in our research.
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Mechanisms of Ischemic Tolerance
Ischemic tolerance describes a phenomenon in which a sublethal noxious stimulus applied to the brain induces a transient resistance against a subsequent lethal ischemic insult. Focus of this research project is to gain further understanding in the mechanisms of ischemic tolerance in the early time window. Early ischemic tolerance occurs within minutes to a few hours after the preconditioning stimulus. Experiments are being performed using widely established murine in vivo-models of ischemic tolerance and transient focal cerebral ischemia. Particular interest in this field is to further elucidate the contribution of the potent vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) as well as its isoenzymes and signaling pathways involved in acutely preconditioned brains.
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PPARδ and stroke
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have emerged as important regulators of metabolic and inflammatory signaling. PPARs belong to nuclear receptors, a family of ligand-activated transcription factors, and consist of at least three subtypes, i.e. PPARα, PPARδ and PPARγ. The ability of these receptors to link metabolism to inflammatory signaling makes them potentially attractive targets for the treatment of human diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, animal studies on ischemic stroke have recently discovered that activation of PPARs suppresses post-ischemic inflammation in the brain and thereby reduces ischemic brain injury. Most studies on the role of PPARs in ischemic brain injury have focused on PPARα and PPARγ, much less is known on the role of PPARδ and its activation by synthetic ligands in experimental ischemic stroke. Objective of this research project is to characterize a highly potent and selective PPARδ agonist, as a potential neuroprotective agent in a murine ischemic stroke model. Furthermore, it is the aim to elucidate mechanisms how PPARδ and its activation by synthetic ligands acts neuroprotective in ischemic stroke.
For this project, the murine in vivo-model of focal cerebral ischemia as well as established in vitro-techniques of ischemia, for example oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in cell culture, are being used.
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Neurotoxicology
Neurotoxic phenomena are amongst the most common side effects of many antineoplastic agents and frequently necessitate alterations or termination of treatment, preventing optimal medical care. Furthermore they significantly increase the burden of disease for cancer patients by severely affecting quality of life.
Neurotoxicity in the peripheral nervous system: chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
Many chemotherapeutic substances induce a predominantly sensory axonal peripheral neuropathy often presenting with sensory deficits and pain. Using dorsal root ganglia and Schwann cell cultures we characterize pathomechanisms of neurotoxicity and identify molecular targets for preventive strategies. Increasing evidence suggests that an altered intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CIPN. For example, the cytostatic drug Paclitaxel modulates Ca2+ release from the endoplasmatic reticulum whereas salinomycin triggers Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane and Ca2+ release from mitochondria. Animals treated with these agents develop distinct behavior, electrophysiological and morphological changes that can be prevented by targeted pharmacological interventions.
In addition to preclinical research, CIPN is studied in patients to identify risk factors for CIPN development and to develop tools for clinical management.
Neurotoxicity in the central nervous system: post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (PCCI)
In recent years, changes of cognitive function in patients treated with chemotherapy have gained increased clinical and scientific focus. Patients often describe a reduction of visual-spatial and verbal memory as well as executive functions. The pathophysiology of those alterations, in non-scientific literature termed “chemobrain”, is completely unknown. Among many proposed pathomechanisms we focus on alterations of neurogenesis using neural stem cell (NSC), microglia and neuronal cultures. Many antineoplastic substances are highly toxic to NSC triggering caspase-dependent cell death. Animals treated with chemotherapy show impaired visual-spatial memory and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis which could be prevented by pharmacological treatments.
Clinical studies of PCCI include:
- CICARO (Chemotherapy induced cognitive alterations in recruits with ovarian cancer)
- TAVAB (Treatment of antibody related autoimmune diseases with bortezomib)
For more information on CIPN and PCCI please also visit the webside research consortium neurotoxicology.
Inflammation in the peripheral nervous System
Acute and chronic immune mediated inflammatory disorders of the peripheral nervous system lead to high morbidity and significantly impair patient’s quality of life. In contrast to autoimmune inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, much less scientific effort is allocated to these diseases. Our group is interested in the underlying disease mechanisms which are studied in animal models of acute and chronic autoimmune mediated polyneuropathies. In a second step these models are used to devise and test novel treatments for these disorders.
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Clinical Trials/Studies
Cream&Sugar
The exact role of triglyceride levels for the risk of secondary stroke is unknown. We hypothesize that the results of an oral triglyceride tolerance test (oTTT) three to seven days after first ischemic stroke are associated with the risk of recurrent stroke within 12 months. Primary endpoint of this prospective observational study is recurrent fatal or non-fatal stroke within 12 months. In Cream&Sugar, we cooperate with Prof. Laufs and his team from the Saarland University, Germany. Cream&Sugar receives funding by the BMBF, research grant CSB.
WAKE-UP
For many stroke patients, time of symptom onset is unknown, e.g. after awakening. Clot-busting therapy (thrombolysis) is not licensed for patients with unknown symptom onset. In this European multi-center placebo-controlled trial we investigate if patients with unknown symptom onset but a certain MRI pattern (the so called DWI-FLAIR mismatch) benefit from thrombolysis. In WAKE-UP we cooperate with Prof. Gerloff and Dr. Thomalla from the University of Hamburg (Sponsor), Germany, and many international partners (www.safestroke.eu/wake-up). WAKE-UP is funded by the European Union, FP7.
STEMO
Our team is actively participating in the STEMO project. STEMO is a special ambulance equipped with point-of–care laboratory and a CT scanner (see AG Audebert). STEMO deployment is associated with reduced alarm-to-needle times, higher thrombolysis rates and higher frequency of so-called golden hour thrombolysis. Dr. Ebinger, a member of the AG Endres, is deputy leader of the STEMO-consortium and medical leader of the STEMO team. In STEMO, we cooperate with the Berlin Fire Department, MEYTEC and many other partners.
BIOMARKERS AND MRI
A biomarker "is an indicator of a biological state" (Wikipedia). According to this definition, results of blood tests as well as MRI signatures can be regarded as biomarkers. In our quest to identify measures important for stroke diagnosis and prognosis, we cooperate with the Department of Emergency Medicine (AG Möckel), the Department of Psychiatry (AG Sterzer), the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J. Spranger), and the iCSB (esp. AG Fiebach). In BAPTISe, a biomarker study accompanying a randomized trial of physical exercise to restore function (PHYS-Stroke, AG Flöel), we cooperate with high quality rehab-centers within and around Berlin.
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Selected references
Actin dynamics shape microglia effector functions. Uhlemann R, Gertz K, Boehmerle W, Schwarz T, Nolte C, Freyer D, Kettenmann H, Endres M, Kronenberg G. Brain Struct Funct. 2015 May 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25989853
Circulating endothelial microparticles in female migraineurs with aura. Liman TG, Bachelier-Walenta K, Neeb L, Rosinski J, Reuter U, Böhm M, Endres M. Cephalalgia. 2015 Feb;35(2):88-94. doi: 10.1177/0333102414529671. Epub 2014 Apr 8. PMID: 24715500
Effect of the use of ambulance-based thrombolysis on time to thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized clinical trial. Ebinger M, Winter B, Wendt M, Weber JE, Waldschmidt C, Rozanski M, Kunz A, Koch P, Kellner PA, Gierhake D, Villringer K, Fiebach JB, Grittner U, Hartmann A, Mackert BM, Endres M, Audebert HJ; STEMO Consortium. JAMA. 2014 Apr 23-30;311(16):1622-31. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.2850. PMID: 24756512
Of mice and men: modelling post-stroke depression experimentally. Kronenberg G, Gertz K, Heinz A, Endres M. Br J Pharmacol. 2014 Oct;171(20):4673-89. doi: 10.1111/bph.1277
Epub 2014 Jul 2. Review. PMID: 24838087 5. Specific targeting of neurotoxic side effects and pharmacological profile of the novel cancer stem cell drug salinomycin in mice. Boehmerle W, Muenzfeld H, Springer A, Huehnchen P, Endres M. J Mol Med (Berl). 2014 Aug;92(8):889-900. doi: 10.1007/s00109-014-1155-0. Epub 2014 Apr 27. PMID: 24770997
Assessment of paclitaxel induced sensory polyneuropathy with "Catwalk" automated gait analysis in mice. Huehnchen P, Boehmerle W, Endres M. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 15;8(10):e76772. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076772. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24143194
Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion as an adequate preconditioning stimulus to induce early ischemic tolerance to focal cerebral ischemia. Speetzen LJ, Endres M, Kunz A. J Vis Exp. 2013 May 9;(75):e4387. doi: 10.3791/4387. PMID: 23685461
Essential role of interleukin-6 in post-stroke angiogenesis. Gertz K, Kronenberg G, Kälin RE, Baldinger T, Werner C, Balkaya M, Eom GD, Hellmann-Regen J, Kröber J, Miller KR, Lindauer U, Laufs U, Dirnagl U, Heppner FL, Endres M. Brain. 2012 Jun;135(Pt 6):1964-80. doi: 10.1093/brain/aws075. Epub 2012 Apr 3. PMID: 22492561
DWI-FLAIR mismatch for the identification of patients with acute ischaemic stroke within 4•5 h of symptom onset (PRE-FLAIR): a multicentre observational study. Thomalla G, Cheng B, Ebinger M, Hao Q, Tourdias T, Wu O, Kim JS, Breuer L, Singer OC, Warach S, Christensen S, Treszl A, Forkert ND, Galinovic I, Rosenkranz M, Engelhorn T, Köhrmann M, Endres M, Kang DW, Dousset V, Sorensen AG, Liebeskind DS, Fiebach JB, Fiehler J, Gerloff C; STIR and VISTA Imaging Investigators. Lancet Neurol. 2011 Nov;10(11):978-86. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70192-2. Epub 2011 Oct 4. PMID: 21978972
Improving outcome after stroke: overcoming the translational roadblock. Endres M, Engelhardt B, Koistinaho J, Lindvall O, Meairs S, Mohr JP, Planas A, Rothwell N, Schwaninger M, Schwab ME, Vivien D, Wieloch T, Dirnagl U. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008;25(3):268-78. doi: 10.1159/000118039. Epub 2008 Feb 22. Review. PMID: 18292653
Targeting eNOS for stroke protection. Endres M, Laufs U, Liao JK, Moskowitz MA. Trends Neurosci. 2004 May;27(5):283-9. Review. PMID: 15111011
Funding - Research Grants
Funding
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Fondation Leducq
- Corona Stiftung
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- European Union
- Industry