Dept. of Neurology
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Klinikum Großhadern
Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany

Tel. ++ 49 89 7095 2560
Fax ++ 49 89 7095 5561
hans-walter.pfister(at)med.uni-muenchen.de

Publications

Klinische Schwerpunkte

1. Entzündliche Erkrankungen des Zentralnervensystems (z. B. Meningitis)

• Mechanisms of brain injury and hearing impairment in meningitis
• Pathophysiological role of HIV-proteins (e.g., Nef) in HIV-associated neuronal injury
• Mechanisms of the adhesion of Borrelia burgdorferi on neuronal cells and Borrelia burgdorferi induced neuronal injury

2. Lyme-Borreliose

3. HIV-Infektion

4. Neurologische Intensivmedizin

5. Schädel-Hirn-Trauma

Main Research Topics

1. Infections of the central nervous system

2. Mechanisms of traumatic brain injury

3. Intensive care neurology (e.g., treatment of increased intracranial pressure, surgical decompression in space-occupying brain infarction)

4. Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

5. Role of angiogenesis (and antiangiogenetic treatment strategies) in glioblastoma

Selected Literature

- Kastenbauer S, Pfister HW (2003) Pneumococcal meningitis in adults: spectrum of complications and prognostic factors in a series of 87 cases. Brain 126: 1015-1025

- Koedel U, Angele B, Rupprecht T, Wagner H, Roggenkamp A, Pfister HW, Kirschning CJ (2003) Toll-like receptor 2 participates in mediation of immune response in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. J Immunol 170: 438-444

- Koedel U, Winkler F, Angele B, Fontana A, Flavell RA, Pfister HW (2002) Role of Caspase-1 in experimental pneumococcal meningitis: evidence from pharmacologic caspase inhibition and Caspase-1 deficient mice. Ann Neurol 51: 319-329

- Eugster HP, Frei K, Winkler F, Koedel U, Pfister W, Lassmann H, Fontana A (2001) Superantigen overcomes resistance of IL-6-deficient mice towards MOG-induced EAE by a TNF-R1 controlled pathway. Eur J Immunol 31: 2302-2312

- Koedel U, Kohleisen B, Sporer B, Fontana A, Erfle V, Pfister HW (1999) HIV type 1 Nef protein is a viral factor for leukocyte recruitment into the central nervous system. J Immunol 163: 1237-1245

Methods

1) Cell culture systems (e.g., cerebal endothelial cells, astrocytes, human granulocytes, macrophages)

2) Models of experimental meningitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cold-induced brain injury

3) Measurement of cerebral blood flow using laser-doppler flowmetry, monitoring of intracranial pressure and blood-brain barrier permeability

4) RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western-blot, chemiluminescence, zymography, histology

Grants

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Wilhelm-Sander-Stiftung

Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung

Forschungs-/Lehrfonds der Universität München

Team Members

PD Dr. Uwe Ködel

Dr. Stefan Kastenbauer

Dr. Robert Paul

Dr. Stefan Lorenzl

Dr. Tobias Rupprecht

Dr. Bernd Sporer

Dr. Frank Winkler

Matthias Klein

Dagmar Förth

Barbara Angele

Bernadette Popp

Cooperation with

Prof. A. Fontana (Zurich, CH)

Prof. R. A. Flavell (New Heaven, USA)

Prof. P. L. Huang (Boston, USA)

Prof. M. F. Beal (New York, USA)

Prof. M. Kopf (Zurich, CH)