Our group aims to better understand the physiology and pathology of the axon-oligodendrocyte-myelin unit. In particular, we investigate how oligodendrocyte stress arises, why certain brain regions are especially vulnerable to oligodendrocyte degeneration, and how these cells can be protected via S1PR5-mediated pathways. To address these questions, we employ state-of-the-art approaches such as immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, and lipidomics. Whenever possible, we validate our preclinical findings by comparing them with post-mortem samples from MS patient donors.

A detailed overview of our main areas of research can be found here: AG Kaddatz 

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie e. V. (DGN)
• Verein zur Förderung der Auszubildenden und Studierenden an der Universitätsmedizin Rostock e.V.

Nutma E, Fancy N, Weinert M, Tsartsalis S, Marzin MC, Muirhead RCJ, Falk I, Breur M, de Bruin J, Hollaus D, Pieterman R, Anink J, Story D, Chandran S, Tang J, Trolese MC, Saito T, Saido TC, Wiltshire KH, Beltran-Lobo P, Phillips A, Antel J, Healy L, Dorion MF, Galloway DA, Benoit RY, Amossé Q, Ceyzériat K, Badina AM, Kövari E, Bendotti C, Aronica E, Radulescu CI, Wong JH, Barron AM, Smith AM, Barnes SJ, Hampton DW, van der Valk P, Jacobson S, Howell OW, Baker D, Kipp M, Kaddatz H, Tournier BB, Millet P, Matthews PM, Moore CS, Amor S, Owen DR. Translocator protein is a marker of activated microglia in rodent models but not human neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 28;14(1):5247 [JIF 2023: 16,6]

Zhan J, Gao Y, Heinig L, Beecken M, Huo Y, Zhang W, Wang P, Wei T, Tian R, Han W, Yu ACH, Kipp M, Kaddatz H. Loss of the Novel Myelin Protein CMTM5 in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions and Its Involvement in Oligodendroglial Stress Responses. Cells. 2023 Aug 17;12(16):2085. [JIF 2023: 6,0]

Greiner T, Manzhula K, Baumann L, Kaddatz H, Runge J, Keiler J, Kipp M, Joost S. Morphology of the murine choroid plexus: Attachment regions and spatial relation to the subarachnoid space. Front Neuroanat. 2022 Oct 31;16:1046017. [JIF 2022: 2,9]

Gasterich N, Bohn A, Sesterhenn A, Nebelo F, Fein L, Kaddatz H, Nyamoya S, Kant S, Kipp M, Weiskirchen R, Zendedel A, Beyer C, Clarner T. Lipocalin 2 attenuates oligodendrocyte loss and immune cell infiltration in mouse models for multiple sclerosis. Glia. 2022 Nov;70(11):2188-2206. [JIF 2022: 6,2]

Wittekindt M, Kaddatz H, Joost S, Staffeld A, Bitar Y, Kipp M, Frintrop L. Different Methods for Evaluating Microglial Activation Using Anti-Ionized Calcium-Binding Adaptor Protein-1 Immunohistochemistry in the Cuprizone Model. Cells. 2022 May 24;11(11):1723. [JIF 2022: 6,0]

Vankriekelsvenne E, Chrzanowski U, Manzhula K, Greiner T, Wree A, Hawlitschka A, Llovera G, Zhan J, Joost S, Schmitz C, Ponsaerts P, Amor S, Nutma E, Kipp M, Kaddatz H. Transmembrane protein 119 is neither a specific nor a reliable marker for microglia. Glia. 2022 Jun;70(6):1170-1190 [JIF 2022: 6,2]

Zhan J, Fegg FN, Kaddatz H, Rühling S, Frenz J, Denecke B, Amor S, Ponsaerts P, Hochstrasser T, Kipp M. Focal white matter lesions induce long-lasting axonal degeneration, neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits. Neurobiol Dis. 2021 Jul;155:105371. [JIF 2021: 7,0]

Kaddatz H, Joost S, Nedelcu J, Chrzanowski U, Schmitz C, Gingele S, Gudi V, Stangel M, Zhan J, Santrau E, Greiner T, Frenz J, Müller-Hilke B, Müller M, Amor S, van der Valk P, Kipp M. Cuprizone-induced demyelination triggers a CD8-pronounced T cell recruitment. Glia. 2021 Apr;69(4):925-942. [JIF 2021: 8,0]

Schröder N, Schaffrath A, Welter JA, Putzka T, Griep A, Ziegler P, Brandt E, Samer S, Heneka MT, Kaddatz H, Zhan J, Kipp E, Pufe T, Tauber SC, Kipp M, Brandenburg LO. Inhibition of formyl peptide receptors improves the outcome in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2020 Apr 24;17(1):131. [JIF 2020: 8,3]

Zhan J, Yakimov V, Rühling S, Fischbach F, Nikolova E, Joost S, Kaddatz H, Greiner T, Frenz J, Holzmann C, Kipp M. High Speed Ventral Plane Videography as a Convenient Tool to Quantify Motor Deficits during Pre-Clinical Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Cells. 2019 Nov 14;8(11):1439. [JIF 2019: 4,8]

• Wang W, Gao Y, Lee HK, Yu AC, Kipp M, Kaddatz H and Zhan J. The cGAS/STING Pathway: Friend or Foe in Regulating Cardiomyopathy. Cells. 2025 May 25;14(11):778. [JIF 2025: 5,2]
• Zhan J, Kipp M, Han W, Kaddatz H. Ectopic lymphoid follicles in progressive multiple sclerosis: From patients to animal models. Immunology. 2021 Nov;164(3):450-466. [JIF 2021: 7,2]