Metabolic Inflammation

​​​Head of the working group:
Dr. troph. Ronald Biemann

​​Inflammation and hormonal imbalance are key drivers of diabetes-associated disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Our research focuses on molecular pathways dysregulated in obesity and diabetes, particularly adipose tissue dysfunction, systemic and local inflammation, and their contribution to disease progression. Using human samples, in vitro and in vivo models, and microfluidic systems, we study intercellular communication and tissue-specific mechanisms involved in these disorders. A major focus is on the molecular effects of lifestyle-induced weight loss in MetS, including changes in circulating biomarkers, adipose tissue gene expression, and obesity-associated inflammation. We further investigate the role of pericytes during weight loss, inflammation, and DKD. Our aim is to identify mechanisms that may enable targeted therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of MetS and its complications.

Five most representative publications

Zimmermann S, Roomp K, Meyer HJ, Mathew A, Struck MF, Blüher M, Martin HNG, Keller M, Landgraf K, Körner A, Hoffmann A, Böttcher Y, Biemann K, Ghosh A, Wolfrum C, Noé F, Isermann B, Schneider JG, Biemann R. Association of Lifestyle-Induced Weight Loss With Gene Expression in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Metabolic Syndrome. J Diabetes. 2025 Apr;17(4):e70083. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.70083.

Wagner F, Zeidler R, Ceglarek U, Kiess W, Kratzsch J, Gaudl A, Biemann R, Vogel M. Obesity Is Associated with Increased 11-Oxyandrogen Serum Concentrations during Puberty. Horm Res Paediatr. 2026;99(1):91-100. doi: 10.1159/000540433. Epub 2024 Jul 22.

Zimmermann S, Vogel M, Mathew A, Ebert T, Rana R, Jiang S, Isermann B, Biemann R. The Extent of Lifestyle-Induced Weight Loss Determines the Risk of Prediabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Recurrence during a 5-Year Follow-Up. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 26;14(15):3060. doi: 10.3390/nu14153060.

Krishnan S, Manoharan J, Wang H, Gupta D, Fatima S, Yu Y, Mathew A, Li Z, Kohli S, Schwab C, Körner A, Mertens PR, Nawroth P, Shahzad K, Naumann M, Isermann B, Biemann R. CD248 induces a maladaptive unfolded protein response in diabetic kidney disease. Kidney Int. 2023 Feb;103(2):304-319. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.09.024.

Biemann R, Buß E, Benndorf D, Lehmann T, Schallert K, Püttker S, Reichl U, Isermann B, Schneider JG, Saake G, Heyer R. Fecal Metaproteomics Reveals Reduced Gut Inflammation and Changed Microbial Metabolism Following Lifestyle-Induced Weight Loss. Biomolecules. 2021 May 12;11(5):726. doi: 10.3390/biom11050726.

Members



Dr. Ronald Biemann
Head of the group

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Robert Zeidler

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Martin Östreich

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Dr. Felix Förster

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Moritz Köhler

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Dr. Kathleen Biemann

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PD. Dr. Dr. Silke Meyer-Zimmermann
Medical doctor

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Dr. Shrey Kohli

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