Kretzschmar Group
Adult Stem Cell Niches in Cancer
Adult stem cells–the cells that maintain and regenerate the tissues in our body–reside in a specialised microenvironment termed the stem cell niche. While stem cell niches are tissue-specific, two cellular components–fibroblasts and immune cells–have surfaced as prominent niche members across the body. Stem cells take cues from their microenvironment to control smooth transition between several plastic states, which are critical to maintain tissue homoeostasis and to regenerate in response to injury. Conversely, in diseases such as cancer, aberrant (stem) cells can acquire the ability to remodel their microenvironment allowing for the progression of disease.
We aim to decipher the crosstalk between stem/tumour cells and their microenvironment using the epithelia of the head and neck region as model system. To unravel the fundamental mechanisms underlying tissue homeostasis and tumourigenesis, we apply organoid technology, immune/stromal cell–organoid co-cultures, 3D whole-mount imaging and advanced transcriptomics and use both mouse models and patient material. It is our ultimate goal to exploit this communication to improve therapeutic treatments of head and neck cancer patients.
Recent publications
A Roadmap for the Human Oral and Craniofacial Cell Atlas. Caetano AJ, Human Cell Atlas Oral and Craniofacial Bionetwork, Sequeira I, Byrd KM. Journal of Dental Research. 2022 Oct; 101(11):1274-1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345221110768
Modelling adult stem cells and their niche in health and disease with epithelial organoids. Szabó L*, Seubert AC*, Kretzschmar K. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 17. (*shared first authors). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.006
Uncovering the mode of action of engineered T cells in patient cancer organoids. Dekkers JF, Alieva M, Cleven A, Keramati F, Wezenaar AKL, van Vliet EJ, Puschhof J, Brazda P, Johanna I, Meringa AD, Rebel HG, Buchholz MB, Barrera Román M, Zeeman AL, de Blank S, Fasci D, Geurts MH, Cornel AM, Driehuis E, Millen R, Straetemans T, Nicolasen MJT, Aarts-Riemens T, Ariese HCR, Johnson HR, van Ineveld RL, Karaiskaki F, Kopper O, Bar-Ephraim YE, Kretzschmar K, Eggermont AMM, Nierkens S, Wehrens EJ, Stunnenberg HG, Clevers H, Kuball J, Sebestyen Z, Rios AC. Nat Biotechnol. 2022 Jul 25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01397-w
Troy/Tnfrsf19 marks epidermal cells that govern interfollicular epidermal renewal and cornification. Kretzschmar K*,#, Boonekamp KE*, Bleijs M, Asra P, Koomen M, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Giovannone B, Clevers H#. Stem Cell Reports. 2021 Sep 14;16(9):2379-2394. (*shared first authors and #co-corresponding authors).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.07.007
Generation and Characterization of Murine Oral Mucosal Organoid Cultures. Seubert AC, Krafft M, Kretzschmar K. J Vis Exp. 2021 Jul 31;(173). https://dx.doi.org/10.3791/62529
Cancer research using organoid technology. Kretzschmar K. J Mol Med (Berl). 2021 Apr;99(4):501-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-020-01990-z
Establishment of patient-derived cancer organoids for drug-screening applications. Driehuis E, Kretzschmar K#, Clevers H#. Nat Protoc. 2020 Oct;15(10):3380-3409. (#co-corresponding authors). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-020-0379-4
Impressions of our research
Kai Kretzschmar
Junior Group Leader
Kai studied biology at Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main (DE) and received his PhD degree in genetics from the University of Cambridge (UK) in 2014. During his PhD research with Prof. Fiona M. Watt, Kai investigated epidermal stem cells and their niche. He then joined the group of Prof. Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht (NL). There he mapped cardiac regeneration on the single-cell level, developed new epithelial organoid models and discovered a new epidermal stem cell population marked by Troy/Tnfrsf19. Since 2020, Kai is a Junior Group Leader at the MSNZ Würzburg.
Marion Krafft
Technician
Marion finished her MTLA training at the University of Würzburg in 2018. Since October 2020, she is working at the MSNZ in the groups of Dr Kai Kretzschmar and Dr Angela Riedel.
Her laboratory skills include different cell culture techniques (cell lines and organoid cultures) as well as various RNA and DNA based methods, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and mouse experiments. In addition she is responsible for the lab organization in general.
Anna Seubert
PhD Student
Anna studied biochemistry at the University of Würzburg and, since September 2020, she is a PhD student in the Kretzschmar group.
Anna’s project is focussed on the homeostasis of the oral mucosa and the processes underlying tumour formation. To gain further insights, she is using 3D whole-mount imaging, organoid technology and advanced transcriptomics.
Lili Szabo
PhD Student
Lili studied Biology at the Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest, where she absolved her Master project on characterization the role of extracellular proteins in the tumour microenvironment. Since September 2020, she is a PhD student in the Kretzschmar group.
Lili’s project is focussed on the crosstalk between tumour cells and their cellular microenvironment in head and neck cancer. To better understand this cell–cell communication, she is applying innovative methods such as organoid technology, immune/stromal cell–organoid co-cultures and single-cell transcriptomics.
Nadja Harnischfeger
PhD Student
Tel.: +49 931 31-XXXXX
After obtaining her bachelor's degree in biology, Nadja continued her studies in this field of science and specialized in pharmaceutical biology and molecular tumour biology during her master's studies at the University of Würzburg. In September 2022, she started her PhD in Kretzschmar group.
Nadja’s PhD project is focused on patient-derived oral cancer organoids and their application for translational medicine.
Philip Rothbächer
MD Student
Tel.: +49 931 31-XXXXX
Philip studied dental medicine at the University of Würzburg and finished his state examination in May 2022. Since July 2022, he is an MD student in the Kretzschmar group shared with the Hartmann group at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery.
Philip is interested in oral immunity and inflammation and applies RNA-based methods, flow cytometry and organoid technology in his research.
Katayoun Sedighi
MSc Student
Tel.: +49 931 31-XXXXX
After obtaining her bachelor's degree in genetics, Katayoun started ber master's degree in biochemistry with a focus on oncology at the University of Würzburg. Since January 2022, she is a master's student in Kretzschmar group.
Katayoun is interested in the role of stromal fibroblasts in the tumour microenvironment of head and neck cancer. To model the interaction between maligant cells and fibroblasts, she is setting up an organoid-based co-culture system of these two cell types.
Sebastian John
MD Student
Tel.: +49 931 31-XXXXX
You?
We are always looking for enthusiastic and highly motivated students (BSc or MSc level), PhD students and postdocs. Should you have a particular interest in our research field, please get in touch with Dr Kretzschmar to discuss possible opportunities.
A must read for students planning to apply for a position in the lab: How to Pick a Graduate Advisor.
Alumni
Vivien Reinecke (MSc student, 2020–2021)
Nina Dehnert (MSc student, summer 2021)
Shivani Rajhansa (BSc student, summer 2021)
Camille Daligaut (MSc student, summer 2022)
Kilian Merz (MSc student, summer 2022)
Funding
We are grateful for current and past funding from the German Cancer Aid, the European Research Council, the Graduate School of Life Sciences Würzburg, the IZKF Würzburg, the Single-Cell Center Würzburg, and the Foundation Tumor Research Head Neck.
You can find us here:
Institute for Virology and Immunobiology
MSNZ
Versbacher Str. 7
D-97078 Würzburg
