Research Group Cellular Neurophysiology

The Work Group Cellular Neurophysiology (Group Leader: Dr. Moritz Frech) is concerned with the generation and characterization of model systems of neurodegenerative diseases based on hiPSC technology. The focus is on patient-specific neural model systems, which are generated by hiPSCs from skin fibroblasts of NPC1 patients.

These neuronal cell systems are characterized among other things by functional electrophysiological methods, such as the patch clamp technique, but also by molecular biological methods such as qRT-PCR, Western Blot or immunocytochemical staining. The analyses serve to gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenic processes in the affected cells and thus to develop therapeutic approaches that positively influence the course of the disease.

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Research Group Cellular Neurophysiology

Dr. Moritz Frech (Group Leader)
Maik Liedtke (PhD Student)
Christin Völkner (PhD Student)
Fatima Efendic (PhD Student)
Alexandra Jürs (MD Candidate)
Luise Arndt (MD Candidate)
Nicole Schottmann (M.Sc. Student)

Figure A: Skin fibroblasts of NPC1 patients show typical accumulations of cholesterol in the Filipin staining, which appear as bright areas around the cell nucleus. (Modified from Trilck et al, 2013, Orph. J. Rare Dis.)
Figure B: Patients' fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into so-called patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. These cells typically form colonies and have a pluripotent status and thus can be differentiated by targeted manipulation in various cell types of the human body. (Modified from Trilck et al, 2013, Orph. J. Rare Dis.)
Figure C: The hIPSCs depicted in (B) can be differentiated in e.g. in nerve cells (neurons). The panel in (C) shows neuronal differentiated cells, expressing the neuron-specific protein MAP2. (Modified from Trilck et al, 2013, Orph. J. Rare Dis.)
Figure D: By means of electrophysiological investigations, functional profiles of neuronal matured cells can be generated. On the basis of this, e.g. deviations in the signal transmission of the cells may be studied, which may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. The top panel in (D) shows a measurement of sodium and potassium currents typical of neurons. The bottom insert shows postsynaptic currents that occupy a maturation of a functional network.