Research

The general functions of microglia include two main aspects: they maintain brain homeostasis and provide host defense against intrinsic and invading pathogens, thereby influencing the pathogenesis and progression of neurological disorders. Microglia are highly mobile and continually survey the microenvironment. They modulate neuronal circuits by active synaptic pruning and also influence neurogenesis. Microglia express versatile neurotransmitter receptors, allowing active crosstalk between neurons and microglia. In addition, genetic studies revealed that variants in microglial-specific or enriched genes, like TREM2 or CD33, increase risks for neurodegenerative diseases.

Our lab focuses on understanding the role of microglia cells in physiology and pathology. We combined advanced biochemical, molecular and cell biological, electrophysiological, animal behavioral, and imaging techniques to study the interaction between microglia and neurons in different mouse and iPSC-derived human models. We are collaborating with one of the pioneers of glial research, Prof. Helmut Kettenmann, to establish a lab focusing on microglia.

Biography

2023-present Associate Professor, School of life and health sciences, SIAT

2021-2022    Assistant Professor, School of life and health sciences, SIAT

2019-2020    Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Center, University of Munich (Ludwig- Maximilians-University, Munich)

2014-2019    Ph.D. Neuroscience, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, University of Munich (Ludwig- Maximilians-University, Munich)

2011-2014    M.S. Biology, Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven)

Selected publications

1. X Xiang, S Tahirovic, S Ziegler, C Haass, M Brendel*. Response to Comment on "Microglial activation states drive glucose uptake and FDG-PET alterations in neurodegenerative diseases." Science Translational Medicine. 2022 Aug 24;14(659):eabn5104. (JCR Q1, IF=19.4)

2. X Xiang, K. Wind, T Wiedemann, T Blume, Y Shi, N Briel, L Beyer, G Biechele, F Eckenweber, A Zatcepin, S Lammich, S Ribicic, S Tahirovic, et al. Microglial activation states drive glucose uptake and FDG-PET alterations in neurodegenerative diseases. Science Translational Medicine2021, Oct 13;13(615). (JCR Q1, IF=19.4)

3. X Xiang, TM Piers, B Wefers, K Zhu, A Mallach, B Brunner, G Kleinberger, W Song, M Colonna, J Herms, W Wurst, JM Pocock, C Haass*; The Trem2 R47H Alzheimer's risk variant impairs splicing and reduces Trem2 mRNA and protein in mice but not in humans, Molecular Neurodegeneration, 2018, 13(1): 0-49.  (JCR Q1, IF=18.9)

4. X Xiang, G Werner, B Bohrmann, A Liesz, F Mazaheri, A Capell, R Feederle, I Knuesel, G Kleinberger, C Haass*; TREM2 deficiency reduces the efficacy of immunotherapeutic amyloid clearance, EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2016, 8(9): 992-1004.  (JCR Q1, IF=14.2)

5. LM Bartos, ST Kunte, P Beumers, X Xiang, K Wind, S Ziegler, P Bartenstein, H Choi, DS Lee, C Haass, L von Baumgarten, S Tahirovic, NL Albert, S Lindner, M Brendel*. Single cell radiotracer allocation via immunomagentic sorting (scRadiotracing) to disentangle PET signals at cellular resolution. J Nucl Med.2022, May 19:jnumed.122.264171. (JCR Q1, IF=11.1)

6. T Blume, M Deussing, G Biechele, P F eters, B Zott, C Schmidt, N Franzmeier, K Wind, F Eckenweber, C Sacher, Y Shi, K Ochs, G Kleinberger, X Xiang, C Focke, S Lindner, et al. Chronic PPARγ Stimulation Shifts Amyloidosis to Higher Fibrillarity but Improves Cognition. Front Aging Neurosci.2022, Mar 30;14:854031. (JCR Q2, IF=5.7)

7. G Biechele, T Blume, M Deussing, B Zott, Y Shi, X Xiang, N Franzmeier, G Kleinberger, et al. Pre-therapeutic microglia activation and sex determine therapy effects of chronic immunomodulation. Theranostics. 2021, Aug 19;11(18):8964-8976. (JCR Q1, IF=11.6)

8. Safaiyan, S. Besson-Girard, T. Kaya, L. Cantuti-Castelvetri, L. Liu, H. Ji, M. Schifferer, G. Gouna, F. Usifo, N. Kannaiyan, D. Fitzner, X. Xiang, M.J. Rossner, M. Brendel, O. Gokce, M. Simons, White matter aging drives microglial diversity, Neuron2021, 109(7), 1100-1117 e10.  (JCR Q1, IF=18.7)

9. Schlepckow, K.M. Monroe, G. Kleinberger, L. Cantuti-Castelvetri, S. Parhizkar, D. Xia, M. Willem, G. Werner, N. Pettkus, B. Brunner, A. Sulzen, B. Nuscher, H. Hampel, X. Xiang,R. Feederle, S. Tahirovic, J.I. Park, R. Prorok, C. Mahon, C.C. Liang, J. Shi, D.J. Kim, H. Sabelstrom, F. Huang, G. Di Paolo, M. Simons, J.W. Lewcock, C. Haass, Enhancing protective microglial activities with a dual function TREM2 antibody to the stalk region, EMBO Mol Med 2020, 12(4), e11227. (JCR Q1, IF=14.2)

10. Takalo, R. Wittrahm, B. Wefers, S. Parhizkar, K. Jokivarsi, T. Kuulasmaa, P. Makinen, H. Martiskainen, W. Wurst, X. Xiang, M. Marttinen, P. Poutiainen, A. Haapasalo, M. Hiltunen, C. Haass, The Alzheimer's disease-associated protective Plcgamma2-P522R variant promotes immune functions, Molecular Neurodegeneration2020,15(1), 52.  (JCR Q1, IF=18.9)

11. K Zhu, X Xiang, S Filser, P Marinkovic, M Dorostkar, S Crux, U Neumann, D Shimshek, G Rammes, C Haass, SF Lichtenthaler, J Gunnersen; J Herms*; Beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 Inhibition Impairs Synaptic Plasticity via Seizure Protein 6, Biological Psychiatry, 2018, 83(5): 428-437.  (JCR Q1, IF=12.8)