Psychoendocrinology and psychiatric biomarker research

​In this working group, we aim to investigate the relationship between hormones involved in the regulation of food intake and satiety and psychological phenomena. Our research focuses on the peptide hormones ghrelin and Growth-Differentiation-Factor-15 (GDF-15) and its receptor GDNF Family Receptor alpha Like (GFRAL). Our goal is to better understand and characterize the metabolic and modulatory effects of ghrelin and GDF-15, both in a clinical and experimental approach. 

Furthermore, we explore novel molecular methods in the development of laboratory-based biomarkers for psychiatric diseases. In an initial project, methylation profiles of cell-free DNA from the cerebrospinal fluid from patients suffering from schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease are investigated to look for disease-specific alterations. 

Wittekind DA, Kratzsch J, Mergl R, Wirkner K, Baber R, Sander C, Witte AV, Villringer A, Kluge M. Childhood sexual abuse is associated with higher total ghrelin serum levels in adulthood: results from a large, population-based study. Transl Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 22;13(1):219. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02517-z. PMID: 37349303; PMCID: PMC10287627.

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Wittekind DA, Scholz M, Kratzsch J, Löffler M, Horn K, Kirsten H, Witte V, Villringer A, Kluge M. Genome-wide association and transcriptome analysis suggests total serum ghrelin to be linked with GFRAL. Eur J Endocrinol. 2021 May 10;184(6):847-856. doi: 10.1530/EJE-20-1220. PMID: 33852427.

Wittekind DA, Kratzsch J, Mergl R, Riedel-Heller S, Witte AV, Villringer A, Kluge M. Serum ghrelin is positively associated with physiological anxiety but negatively associated with pathological anxiety in humans: Data from a large community-based study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022 Jun;140:105728. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105728. Epub 2022 Mar 14. PMID: 35305404.

Wittekind DA, Kratzsch J, Mergl R, Enzenbach C, Witte AV, Villringer A, Kluge M. Alcohol consumption is positively associated with fasting serum ghrelin in non-dependent adults: Results from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018 Nov;97:143-148. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.021. Epub 2018 Jul 18. PMID: 30029157.

Wittekind DA, Kratzsch J, Mergl R, Enzenbach C, Witte V, Villringer A, Kluge M. Higher fasting ghrelin serum levels in active smokers than in former and never-smokers. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Dec;21(10):748-756. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2019.1671610. Epub 2019 Oct 4. PMID: 31552785.

• The association between ghrelin and depressive and anxiety symptoms in a cross-sectional and longitudinal approach (Frau deVos)

• GDF-15 and its modulatory effects on liver function in alcohol abuse (Frau Dietzell)

• The association between GDF-15 and inflammatory and stress markers (Frau Zegarek)

• ​Cell-free DNA methylation profiles in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (Dr. Wittekind)

Wir suchen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n Doktorand/in für eine experimentelle Doktorarbeit zu dem Peptidhormon Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15).

Wir bieten Ihnen ein hochprofessionelles und sehr gut ausgestattetes Forschungsumfeld mit festen Ansprechpartnern und enger Betreuung. Sie bekommen die Möglichkeit, Labormethoden zu erlernen und in die wissenschaftliche Laborarbeit einzusteigen. Sie sollten ein Interesse an wissenschaftlichem Arbeiten und Wissbegierde mitbringen. Vorkenntnisse in Laborarbeit sind willkommen, aber keine Voraussetzung.

Bei Interesse melden Sie sich gerne bei PD Dr. med. habil. Dirk Wittekind (dirkalexander.wittekind@medizin.uni-leipzig.de, Tel.: 0341/ 97 22492). Wir freuen uns darauf, Sie kennenzulernen!