Prof. Dr. Tobias Huber

Our team initiated a Glomerular Research Programm for the analysis of signalling networks regulating glomerular diseases. This platform includes various transgenic mouse models and invertebrate models to identify different aspects of glomerular diseases. We truely believe in the inestimably value of scientific cooperation and many of our projects involve close local, national and international collaborations.                   

Glomerular kidney diseases are of major public health importance not only because of their high prevalence, but also because they are a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite the crucial importance of the kidney both as a target and as determinant of human disease, knowledge of the molecular networks underlying glomerular development, regeneration and diseases is very limited. Our studies aim to elucidate molecular programs that will help to formulate therapeutic interventions that delay the onset and progression of glomerular diseases.

Our research focuses on four main topics:

1.) Mechanisms of glomerular development.

2.) Slit diaphragm signalling and Neph1-Nephrin protein biology.

3.) Signalling networks regulating kidney regeneration and glomerular aging.

4.) mTor signalling in polycystic kidney disease.

10 selected publications:

• ARP3 controls the podocyte architecture at the kidney filtration barrier.
  Schell C, Sabass B, Helmstaedter M, Geist F, Abed A, Yasuda-Yamahara M, Sigle A, Maier JI, Grahammer F, Siegerist F, Artelt N, Endlich N, Kerjaschki D, Arnold HH, Dengjel J, Rogg M, Huber TB (2018).
  Dev Cell. 47(6):741-757
• A multi-layered quantitative in vivo expression atlas of the podocyte unravels kidney disease candidate genes.
  Rinschen MM, Gödel M, Grahammer F, Zschiedrich S, Helmstädter M, Kretz O, Zarei M, Braun DA, Dittrich S, Pahmeyer C, Schroder P, Teetzen C, Gee H, Daouk G, Pohl M, Kuhn E, Schermer B, Küttner V, Boerries M, Busch H, Schiffer M, Bergmann C, Krüger M, Hildebrandt F, Dengjel J, Benzing T, Huber TB (2018).
  Cell Rep. 23(8):2495-2508
• The FERM protein EPB41L5 regulates actomyosin contractility and focal adhesion formation to maintain the kidney filtration barrier.
  Schell C, Rogg M, Suhm M, Helmstadter M, Sellung D, Yasuda-Yamahara M, Kretz O, Kuttner V, Suleiman H, Kollipara L, Zahedi RP, Sickmann A, Eimer S, Shaw AS, Kramer-Zucker A, Hirano-Kobayashi M, Abe T, Aizawa S, Grahammer F, Hartleben B, Dengjel J, Huber TB. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017;114(23):E4621-E30.
• mTORC2 critically regulates renal potassium handling.
  Grahammer F, Nesterov V, Ahmed A, Steinhardt F, Sandner L, Arnold F, Cordts T, Negrea S, Bertog M, Ruegg MA, Hall MN, Walz G, Korbmacher C, Artunc F, Huber TB (2016).
  J Clin Invest. 126(5):1773-82.
• Mitochondrial Dynamics Controls T Cell Fate through Metabolic Programming.
  Buck MD, O'Sullivan D, Klein Geltink RI, Curtis JD, Chang CH, Sanin DE, Qiu J, Kretz O, Braas D, van der Windt GJ, Chen Q, Huang SC, O'Neill CM, Edelson BT, Pearce EJ, Sesaki H, Huber TB, Rambold AS, Pearce EL (2016).
  Cell. 166(1):63-76.
• Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.
  Godel M, Grahammer F, Huber TB (2015).
  N Engl J Med. 372(11):1073.
• Calciphylaxis.
  Zhou Q, Neubauer J, Kern JS, Grotz W, Walz G, Huber TB (2014).
  Lancet. 383(9922):1067.
• mTORC1 maintains renal tubular homeostasis and is essential in response to ischemic stress.
  Grahammer F, Haenisch N, Steinhardt F, Sandner L, Roerden M, Arnold F, Cordts T, Wanner N, Reichardt W, Kerjaschki D, Ruegg MA, Hall MN, Moulin P, Busch H, Boerries M, Walz G, Artunc F, Huber TB (2014).
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 111(27):E2817-26.
• Role of mTOR in podocyte function and diabetic nephropathy in humans and mice.
  Godel M, Hartleben B, Herbach N, Liu S, Zschiedrich S, Lu S, Debreczeni-Mor A, Lindenmeyer MT, Rastaldi MP, Hartleben G, Wiech T, Fornoni A, Nelson RG, Kretzler M, Wanke R, Pavenstadt H, Kerjaschki D, Cohen CD, Hall MN, Ruegg MA, Inoki K, Walz G, Huber TB (2011).
  J Clin Invest. 121(6):2197-209.
• Autophagy influences glomerular disease susceptibility and maintains podocyte homeostasis in aging mice.
  Hartleben B, Godel M, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Liu S, Ulrich T, Kobler S, Wiech T, Grahammer F, Arnold SJ, Lindenmeyer MT, Cohen CD, Pavenstadt H, Kerjaschki D, Mizushima N, Shaw AS, Walz G, Huber TB (2010).
  J Clin Invest. 120(4):1084-96.