The Kettenmann lab has studied the functions of all the three major types of glial cells in the brain, the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglial cells. It has become evident in the last decades that brain activity is a concerted action of neurons and glial cells which are similarly abundant in the human brain. Only by understanding the complex interactions between these cell populations, the functions and dysfunctions of the nervous system can be deciphered.

A major recent focus of the lab is on the role of microglial cells in the normal and in the pathologic brain. The Kettenmann team found that microglial cells can express classical neurotransmitter receptors formerly considered to be a hallmark of neurons. Activation of these receptors influences microglial functions. The interaction of microglial cells with their brain environment is studied in vivo, in live mice by 2-photon microscopy. One read-out parameter of microglia activity is Ca2+signaling by using specific mouse lines with microglia-specific indicators. Another approach of the lab to get closer to the human system is the use of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human microglial cells also in a tissue context.

Within the context of pathology, they are currently studying the importance of microglial cells in stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and psychiatric diseases. Another line of research addresses the question how microglia interact with glioma cells. They aim to understand this interaction on a molecular level with the goal to identify therapeutic targets.

2020 - present, Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at the Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

2020 - present, Senior Professor at the Humboldt University Berlin (Charité)

1997 - 2020, Professor for Cellular Neurobiology at the Humboldt University Berlin (Charité)

1993 - 2022, Research group leader Cellular Neurosciences at the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin

1992 -1995, Head of the project group Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg

1982 -1987, University of Heidelberg, Habilitation/ Professorial qualification

1980 -1982, University of Heidelberg PhD Biology

1973 -1980, University of Heidelberg and University of Miami, Master in Biology

Selected publications

Recent primary publications

Bakina O, Conrad T, Mitic N, Vidal RO, Obrusnik T, Sai S, Nolte C, Semtner M, Kettenmann H. (2024) In situ Patch-seq analysis of microglia reveals a lack of stress genes as found in FACS-isolated microglia. PLoS One. 19:e0302376

Yalcin F, Haneke H, Efe IE, Kuhrt LD, Motta E, Nickl B, Flüh C, Synowitz M, Dzaye O, Bader M, Kettenmann H. (2024) Tumor associated microglia/macrophages utilize GPNMB to promote tumor growth and alter immune cell infiltration in glioma. Acta Neuropathol Commun.;12:50.

Chen X, Zhao Y, Huang Y, Zhu K, Zeng F, Zhao J, Zhang H, Zhu X, Kettenmann H,Xiang X. (2023) TREM2 promotes glioma progression and angiogenesis mediated by microglia/brain macrophages. Glia.;71:2679-2695.

Kuhrt LD, Motta E, Elmadany N, Weidling H, Fritsche-Guenther R, Efe IE, Cobb O, Chatterjee J, Boggs LG, Schnauß M, Diecke S, Semtner M, Anastasaki C, Gutmann DH, Kettenmann H. (2023) Neurofibromin 1 mutations impair the function of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia.Dis Model Mech. 16:dmm049861.

Huang Y, Motta E, Nanvuma C, Kuhrt LD, Yuan Y, Xia P, Lubas M, Zhu S, Schnauss M, Qazi N, Hu F, Zhang H, Lei T, Synowitz M, Flüh C, Kettenmann H. (2022) Microglia/macrophage-derived human CCL18 promotes glioma progression via CCR8-ACP5 axis analyzed in humanized slice model.Cell Rep. 39:110670.

Huang Y, Zhang Q, Lubas M, Yuan Y, Yalcin F, Efe IE, Xia P, Motta E, Buonfiglioli A, Lehnardt S, Dzaye O, Flueh C, Synowitz M, Hu F, Kettenmann H (2020) Synergistic Toll-like Receptor 3/9 Signaling Affects Properties and Impairs Glioma-Promoting Activity of Microglia . J Neurosci 40:6428-6443.

Recent reviews

Paolicelli RC, …Kettenmann H, …Wyss-Coray T. (2022) Microglia states and nomenclature: A field at its crossroads. Neuron. 110:3458- 3483.

Escartin C, … Kettenmann H, …. Verkhratsky A. (2021) Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions. Nat Neurosci. 312-325.

Sierra A, Paolicelli RC, Kettenmann H (2019)Cien Años de Microglía: Milestones in a Century of Microglial Research.Trends in Neuroscience 42:778-792.

Gutmann DH, Kettenmann H (2019) Microglia/ Brain Macrophages as Central Drivers of Brain Tumor Pathobiology,Neuron.104:442-449.

Wolf SA, Boddeke HW, Kettenmann H. (2017) Microglia in Physiology and Disease. Annu Rev Physiol. 79:619-643.

Hambardzymyan D, Gutmann DH and Kettenmann H. (2016) The role of microglia/macrophages in glioma maintenance and progression. Nature Neurosci,29;19(1):20-7.

Kettenmann H., Kirchhoff F. and Verkhratsky A. (2013)Microglia: New roles for the synaptic stripper. Neuron77: 10 – 18.

Scientific research projects

1. Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation for Neurological Diseases in Shenzhen. Funding period: 2023.03-2025.03

2. International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences（Microglial protein Gpnmb as drug target in Alzheimer's disease）2024.1.1-2026.12.30

Other Notable Achievements

2013 - 2015 President of the German Neuroscience Society

2008 - 2010 President of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

2007 - present, Member of Academia Europaea

2003 - present, Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

1998 - present, Editor-in-Chief of the journal GLIA