Antje Körner Group: "Childhood Obesity & Endocrinology"

Mechanisms and risk prediction of childhood obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction in children

Alterations of the cardiovascular system are frequent complications seen in children and adults with obesity. We decipher complexity of factors leading to early progressive childhood obesity with rapid deterioration of metabolic function. For this we integrate genetic predisposition with environmental modifiers and investigate mechanisms with particular focus on the communication of adipose tissue and cardiometabolic system, define predictors and risk factors for progressive metabolic dysfunction and establish preventive and early interventional strategies in children and young adults with obesity.​

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Drivers of adipose tissue dysfunction

Normal adipose tissue development is critical for maintaining a healthy metabolic state. The early emergence of obesity is associated with adipose tissue dysfunction (hypertrophy, inflammation, dysbalance in adipokines) already in children, which contributes to cardiometabolic impairment. We identify and characterize drivers of healthy and dysfunctional adipose tissue development and obesity. For this, we apply a translational approach combining in vitro and in vivo studies with biological characterization of adipose tissue samples of children with normal weight and overweight across the entire age range (Leipzig Adipose Childhood Cohort). We employ molecular profiling including spatial transcriptomices linked to biological characterization of adipose tissue and clinical phenotypes. Our particular goal is not only to identify new functional candidate genes involved in human adipogenesis and adipose tissue dysfunction as a cause for early-onset obesity and associated insulin resistance in children.to find targets to revert adipose tissue function and thus enable a healthy non-risk deposition of fat.​

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Genetic and epigenetic background of childhood obesity 

Capitalizing on our unique populational (LIFE Child, n>5800) and childhood obesity (Leipzig Childhood obesity cohort, n>2500) cohorts covering the entire paediatric age range and with longitudinal follow ups, we will define the (epi)genetic predisposition for childhood obesity with particular progressively deteriorating phenotypes. We prove functional mechanisms of new molecular candidates involved in human adipose tissue dysfunction as a cause for early-onset obesity and associated insulin resistance in children. Based on the dissection of phenotype heterogeneity we develop composite risk scores of genetic and non-genetic factors contributing to risk. This will be leveraged to identify targetable protective factors. 

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Learning from extreme patient phenotypes  

Our identification of novel traits and variants for monogenic obesity has several implications: i) We need to revise diagnostic algorithms to identify these patients. ii) We can understand human pathophysiology. iii) We need new treatment options. We address these challenges by developing new diagnostic tools. From in depth characterization (metabolic chamber, fMRI) of patients with distinct severe phenotypes, we uncover new pathophysiological mechanisms. We explore the underlying mechanisms using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from affected patients and experimental humanized animal models. This translational approach may ultimately inform new treatment strategies, which we have already started to test.​

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A list of our current and former group members and our MD students you can find
here​.

 Find all publications here​.​​

10 MOST IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS (original work only)

• ​Tomar A, Go​mez-Velazquez M, Gerlini R, Comas-Armangué G, Makharadze L, Kolbe T, Boersma A, Dahlhoff M, Burgstaller JP, Lassi M, Darr J, Toppari J, Virtanen H, Kühnapfel A, Scholz M, Landgraf K, Kiess W, Vogel M, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Marschall S, Hrabě de Angelis M, Kotaja N, Körner A, Teperino R. Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs. Nature. 2024 Jun;630(8017):720-727. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07472-3. 
• Hammel MC, Stein R, Kratzsch J, Vogel M, Eckert AJ, Triatin RD, Colombo M, Meigen C, Baber R, Stanik J, Spielau U, Stoltze A, Wirkner K, Tönjes A, Snieder H, Holl RW, Stumvoll M, Blüher M, Kiess W, Körner A. Fasting indices of glucose-insulin-metabolism across life span and prediction of glycemic deterioration in children with obesity from new diagnostic cut-offs. Lancet Reg Health-Eu. 2023 May 23;30:100652. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100652. 
• Kempf E, Landgraf K, Stein R, Hanschkow M, Hilbert A, Abou Jamra R, Boczki P, Herberth G, Kühnapfel A, Tseng YH, Stäubert C, Schöneberg T, Kühnen P, Rayner NW, Zeggini E, Kiess W, Blüher M, Körner A. Aberrant expression of agouti signaling protein (ASIP) as a cause of monogenic severe childhood obesity. Nat Metab. 2022 Dec;4(12):1697-1712. doi: 10.1038/s42255-022-00703-9. 
• Yang CH, Fagnocchi L, Apostle S, Wegert V, Casaní-Galdón S, Landgraf K, Panzeri I, Dror E, Heyne S, Wörpel T, Chandler DP, Lu D, Yang T, Gibbons E, Guerreiro R, Bras J, Thomasen M, Grunnet LG, Vaag AA, Gillberg L, Grundberg E, Conesa A, Körner A; PERMUTE; Pospisilik JA. Independent phenotypic plasticity axes define distinct obesity sub-types. Nat Metab. 2022 Sep;4(9):1150-1165. doi: 10.1038/s42255-022-00629-2. 
• Landgraf K, Klöting N, Gericke M, Maixner N, Guiu-Jurado E, Scholz M, Witte AV, Beyer F, Schwartze JT, Lacher M, Villringer A, Kovacs P, Rudich A, Blüher M, Kiess W, Körner A. The Obesity-Susceptibility Gene TMEM18 Promotes Adipogenesis through Activation of PPARG. Cell Rep. 2020 Oct 20;33(3):108295. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108295. 
• Geserick M, Vogel M, Gausche R, Lipek T, Spielau U, Keller E, Pfäffle R, Kiess W, Körner A. Acceleration of BMI in Early Childhood and Risk of Sustained Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2018 Oct 4;379(14):1303-1312. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1803527
• Dalgaard K, Landgraf K, Heyne S, Lempradl A, Longinotto J, Gossens K, Ruf M, Orthofer M, Strogantsev R, Selvaraj M, Lu TT, Casas E, Teperino R, Surani MA, Zvetkova I, Rimmington D, Tung YC, Lam B, Larder R, Yeo GS, O'Rahilly S, Vavouri T, Whitelaw E, Penninger JM, Jenuwein T, Cheung CL, Ferguson-Smith AC, Coll AP, Körner A, Pospisilik JA. Trim28 Haploinsufficiency Triggers Bi-stable Epigenetic Obesity. Cell. 2016 Jan 28;164(3):353-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.12.025. 
• Landgraf K, Rockstroh D, Wagner IV, Weise S, Tauscher R, Schwartze JT, Löffler D, Bühligen U, Wojan M, Till H, Kratzsch J, Kiess W, Blüher M, Körner A. Evidence of early alterations in adipose tissue biology and function and its association with obesity-related inflammation and insulin resistance in children. Diabetes. 2015 Apr;64(4):1249-61. doi: 10.2337/db14-0744. 
• Revollo JR, Körner A, Mills KF, Satoh A, Wang T, Garten A, Dasgupta B, Sasaki Y, Wolberger C, Townsend RR, Milbrandt J, Kiess W, Imai S. Nampt/PBEF/Visfatin regulates insulin secretion in beta cells as a systemic NAD biosynthetic enzyme. Cell Metab. 2007 Nov;6(5):363-75. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2007.09.003. 
• Dina C, Meyre D, Gallina S, Durand E, Körner A, Jacobson P, Carlsson LM, Kiess W, Vatin V, Lecoeur C, Delplanque J, Vaillant E, Pattou F, Ruiz J, Weill J, Levy-Marchal C, Horber F, Potoczna N, Hercberg S, Le Stunff C, Bougnères P, Kovacs P, Marre M, Balkau B, Cauchi S, Chèvre JC, Froguel P. Variation in FTO contributes to childhood obesity and severe adult obesity. Nat Genet. 2007 Jun;39(6):724-6. doi: 10.1038/ng2048.

​​​​​​​Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) ​ 

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• MD-LEICS​: Modern Diseases - Leipzig Clinician Scientist Programm ​
• African-German Scientific Exchange in the Field of Public Health​
• Klinische Forschergruppe (KFO)152 Atherobesity; K03512/1+2 atherobesity 
• ​Sonderforschungsbere​ich (SFB)1052 Obesity Mechanisms; C1052/C5​                                                                                                     ​   ​

Bundesministerium für Bildu​ng und Forschung (BMBF)  ​​

• Deutsches Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendgesundheit 
• Integriertes Forschungs - und Behandlungszentrum (IFB)  
• Competence Net Obesity
• JPI HDHL Metadis (CarbHealth)                                              ​

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• EU 7th FP „Beta-JUDO" 7th framework
• LIFE Child                                                                                   
• Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft                                 
• Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung
• Deutsche Hochdruckliga
• European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology                  
• European Association for the Study of Diabetes             
• Novo Nordisk Foundation​                                                                            

• Antje Körner has been awarded the Leipzig Science Award 2025. The prize, endowed with 10,000 €, recognizes her research in the field of childhood obesity and metabolic diseases.

  The Leipzig Science Award is presented every two years by the City of Leipzig, Leipzig University, and the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig. It honors scientific achievements that enhance Leipzig's national and international visibility as a research hub. --> press release ​for more information ​

• January 2025: Paper published in Nature Genetics: New Subtypes of Fat Cells Discovered in the Human Body. ​The research team, led by Prof. Esti Yeger-Lotem and Prof. Assaf Rudich from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in collaboration with scientists of Leipzig University, Prof. Antje Körner and Prof. Matthias Blüher, were using single-nucleus RNA sequencing to analyze the diversity of fat cells in subcutaneous and visceral fat tissues in humans. DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-02048-3​
• Antje Körner has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Obesity Prize for Excellence (EASO and Novo Nordisk Foundation)​. Watch an inspiring video highlighting her innovative research.​
• June 2024: Exciting new study publised in Nature​ from Helmholtz Munich reveals fathers' diets before conception impacts children's health! Data from LIFE Child supported the research showing healthier paternal diets reduce kids' obesity and diabetes risk. 
• 01.06.2024: SaxoChiLD is partnering with DZKJ ​to research a healthy future for children and adolescents. Universität Leipzig: Deutsches Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendgesundheit startet in die Aufbauphase (uni-leipzig.de)
• May 2024: We congratulate Dr. Kathrin Landgraf on successfully completing her habilitation on the topic "Childhood Obesity - Multifactorial Pathogenesis and the Role of Adipose Tissue". 
• ​Prof. Dr. Antje Körner is appointed as Co-Chair of the EASO working group on pediatric obesity. Childhood Obesity - EASO​
• Congratulations to Mandy Geserick! Defended her M.D. thesis summa cum laude.
• May 2024: Poster award received by Lea Prengemann at the DDG conference (DDG/Deckbar) ​
• Prof. Dr. Antje Körner at the German Parliament:
  In the 2nd Helmholtz Munich Expert Hour on April 10, 2024, representatives from politics and science gathered once again to discuss pressing health issues and stay informed about the latest developments in research. Helmholtz Munich zu Gast im Bundestag: Durchbrüche bei den Volkskrankheiten Adipositas und Diabetes - Helmholtz Munich (helmholtz-munich.de)​
  
• Obesity Prize for Excellence for Prof. Dr. Antje Körner: Antje Körner has been named as the 2024 recipient of the EASO-Novo Nordisk Foundation Obesity Prize for Excellence. The prize recognizes outstanding research or technology contributions which improve the understanding of obesity, its aetiology, complications, prevention, and management. It includes a DKK 2 million award, with DKK 1.7 million allocated for research. The research of Antje Körner has significantly contributed to the understanding of the origin and consequences of childhood obesity. find out more: Universität Leipzig: Obesity Prize for Excellence for Antje Körner (uni-leipzig.de)​​
• ​February 2024: Dr. Robert Stein receives project funding from the German Diabetes Society (DDG: Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft) for the project "Identification of subtypes of children and adolescents at risk of diabetes using cluster analyses and their relevance in relation to the occurrence of (pre)diabetes".​​
• Oscar Karges successfully applied for a doctoral sponsorship from the Medical Faculty of the Leipzig University.​
  
• ​​01.07.2023: Prof. Dr. Antje Körner to head the Metabolism Division at HI-MAG:  Prof. Dr. Antje Körner started as head of the Metabolism Division at the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) on July 1, 2023. Antje Körner has joined HI-MAG as the head of Metabolic Research with a joint professorship at the University of Leipzig.  press release HI-MAG;  press release Leipzig University​
• 09.05.2023: Poster award received by Martha Hanschkow at the CRC Retreat 2023 (Impressions of I. CRC1052 Retreat in 2023 - Sfb1052 Mechanismen der Adipositas)

• 24.03.2023: Dr. Kathrin Landgraf received the Outstanding ECR Presentation Award (Runner-up) at the 46^th ATDG conference; Adipose Biology: Metabolic Buffering in an Obesogenic World, Edinburgh, UK​
• ​​19.12.2022: Published in Nature Metabolism: Our discovery of ectopic expression of agouti signaling protein (ASIP) as one monogenic cause of childhood obesity.; Aberrant expression of agouti signaling protein (ASIP) as a cause of monogenic severe childhood obesity; DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00703-9 ​
• 04.11.2022: Elena Kempf successfully defended her doctoral thesis (title: Molecular and functional alterations related to growth in childhood obesity) with the grade Summa Cum Laude!       
• September 2022: DFG funding for African-German Scientific Exchange in the Field of Public Health; Starting reserach project between University Leipzig and University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) 
• DDG Promotionsförderung for our medical doctoral students Lea Prengemann and Johannes Riedel! - Lea Prengemann is working on insulin resistance in children under growth hormone therapy and Johannes Riedel will investigate the transition of adolescents with obesity into adulthood from a psychosocial perspective as part of the CO-FU trial. --> Promotionsförderprogramm: Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft e.V. (ddg.info)​​
  
• 20.07.2022: Franziska Voigtmann​ successfully defended her doctoral thesis (title: „Identifikation einer neuen Leptinrezeptor (LEPR) -Variante und Nachweis der funktionellen Relevanz für die Therapieentscheidung von Patientinnen mit morbider Adipositas") with the grade Summa Cum Laude!                                      Published in Metabolism: DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154438
• 30.06.2022: DFG funds MD-LEICS - Modern Diseases Leipzig - Clinician Scientist program led by Prof. Dr. Antje Körner --> DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - DFG fördert zehn weitere Clinician Scientist-Programme an Medizinischen Fakultäten
• 27.05.2022: Prof. Dr. Antje Körner received the Elliot-Joslin Prize 2022 by the German Diabetes Society (DDG) --> Universität Leipzig: Auszeichnung für Adipositasforschung im Kinderalter (uni-leipzig.de)​
• 23.06.2021: Published online now: We present new evidence on growth alterations in children with obesity here. (pdf). We provide height reference values specific for children with obesity  --> FREE access via Ped(z)App, CrescNet, R-package.
• 15.05.2021: Published online now: We present longitudinal evidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as a risk factor for dysglycemia in children here (pdf).
• 01.04.2021: Prof. Dr. Antje Körner will receive funding from the German Research Foundation for sequencing in childhood cohorts in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Eleftheria Zeggini ("Molecular resolutions of diabesity in children").
• 10.03.2021: A milestone for research in Saxony: The “SaxoChiLD” (Saxonian Child health innovation Leipzig-Dresden) project becomes a partner of the new German Research Center for Child and Youth Health and is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Antje Körner. Please find more information here.
• 10.11.2020: Prof. Dr. Antje Körner  has received the internationally prestigious Research Award of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) 2020 for achievements of outstanding quality in pediatric endocrinology for her work in experimental and clinical childhood obesity research. The award winners can be found here.
• 26.09.2019: Dr. Kathrin Landgraf received the Yound Investigators Award by the scientific journal "Molecular Metabolism" for presenting the best abstract at the 7th Helmholtz Diabetes Conference held in Munich.

• 21.01.2019: Elena Kempf received the Young Scientist Prize 2019Young Scientist Prize 2019 in the category "Obesity" awarded at the Leipzig Research Festival of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Life Sciences with her work on "Characterization of subcutaneous stromal vascular cells in order to establish new cell models for human adipogenesis".
• 08.08.2018: Martha Hanschkow received the "ESPE Early Career Scientific Development Grant" by the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and works as a visiting scientist in the lab of Dr. Anne Bouloumie in Toulouse, where she works on the characterization of the stromavascular fraction of adipose tissue samples.

​ THESIS PROJECTS / DISSERTATIONS​

• MD theses​

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