Group Prof. Dr. Ruth Stassart

​​​Research

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) has exceptional plasticity that enables successful regeneration of axons and subsequent functional recovery. Nerve repair occurs through transdifferentiation of PNS glial cells, Schwann cells, which control axonal regrowth and restore the electrically insulating myelin sheath required for rapid impulse propagation. Our research group focuses on the molecular mechanisms and cellular interactions that control peripheral nerve regeneration. We hypothesize that the response of Schwann cells and axons to acute nerve injury is also an essential component of chronic peripheral nerve diseases, such as hereditary or metabolic neuropathies. Translating the repair strategy of acutely damaged nerves to chronic PNS diseases will help us to gain new insights into the pathomechanisms of peripheral neuropathies and to develop therapeutic strategies that promote nerve integrity and function.

Publications​

Myelin insulation as a risk factor for axonal degeneration in autoimmune demyelinating disease. Schäffner E, Bosch-Queralt M, Edgar JM, Lehning M, Strauß J, Fleischer N, Kungl T, Wieghofer P, Berghoff SA, Reinert T, Krueger M, Morawski M, Möbius W, Barrantes-Freer A, Stieler J, Sun T, Saher G, Schwab MH, Wrede C, Frosch M, Prinz M, Reich DS, Flügel A, Stadelmann C, Fledrich R, Nave KA, Stassart RM. Nature Neuroscience. 2023 Jul;26(7):1218-1228. doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01366-9

Neuregulin-1 type I dependent autoparacrine stimulation of Schwann cells in peripheral neuropathies. Fledrich R, Akkermann D, Abdelaal T, Schütza V, Hermes D,  Schäffner E, Soto-Bernardini MC, Götze T, Klink A, Kusch K, Krueger M, Kungl T, Frydrychowicz C, Möbius W, Brück W, Müller WC, Bechmann I, Sereda MW, Schwab MH,  Nave KA, Stassart RM. Nature Communications. 2019, Apr 1;10(1):1467. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09385-6

​A role for Schwann cell-derived neuregulin-1 in remyelination. Stassart RM, Fledrich R, Velanac V, Brinkmann BG, Schwab MH, Meijer D, Sereda MW, Nave KA. Nature Neuroscience. 2013 Jan;16(1):48-54. doi: 10.1038/nn.3281

Schwann cell functions in peripheral nerve development and repair. Bosch-Queralt M, Fledrich R, Stassart RM. Neurobiol Dis. 2023 Jan;176:105952. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105952

Axo-glial interdependence in peripheral nerve development. Fledrich R, Kungl T, Nave KA, Stassart RM. Development. 2019 Nov 12;146(21). pii: dev151704. doi: 10.1242/dev.151704. Review.​

Team

Funding