• Center of Digital Health

Molecular Epidemiology

Irina Lehmann

Prof. Lehmann's Molecular Epidemiology research group at BIH and Charité investigates the pathomechanisms and risk factors of lung diseases with the aim of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, as well as identifying high-risk patients at an early stage and developing targeted prevention strategies for them. As part of the medical informatics initiative, it is leading a project at BIH and Charité that aims to develop predictive models for the deterioration of lung function in patients with asthma or COPD, known as exacerbations.

Univ. Prof. Dr. Irina Lehmann

BIH-Professorin für „Umweltepigenetik und Lungenforschung“

E-mail:
irina.lehmann[at]charite.de
Address:
Luisenstraße 65
10115 Berlin

Contact for inquirie

Prof. Dr. Irina Lehmann
+49 30 450 543 081
Irina.lehmann@bih-charite.de

In longitudinal cohort and patient studies we combine genome-wide epigenetic analyses with system medicine approaches to identify predictive markers for disease. Research in this field is driven by two major aims: the early identification of high risk patients and the characterization of sensitive time windows and subpopulations as basis for individualized prevention strategies.

There is strong evidence that many diseases developed during adulthood might have a origin in the childhood period. We are therefore are particularly interested in epigenetic programming during early life with a focus on lung diseases and early childhood asthma.

Research focus

  • Epigenetics of childhood asthma
  • Early childhood imprinting of asthma/allergies, overweight and behavioral disorders
  • Epigenetic alterations by particulate air pollution

Selected publications

  • Selected publications

    Loske J, Röhmel J, Lukassen S, Stricker S, Magalhães VG, Liebig J, Chua RL, Thürmann L, Messingschlager M, Seegebarth A, Timmermann B, Klages S, Ralser M, Sawitzki B, Sander LE, Corman VM, Conrad C, Laudi S, Binder M, Trump S, Eils R, Mall MA, Lehmann I. Pre-activated antiviral innate immunity in the upper airways controls early SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. Nature Biotechnology. 2022 Mar;40(3):319-324.doi: 10.1038/s41587-021-01037-9. Epub 2021 Aug 18.

    Thürmann L, Herberth G, Seiwert B, Schlittenbauer L, Rolle‐Kampczyk U, Röder S, Sack U, Borte M, von Bergen M, Trump S, Reemtsma T, Lehmann I. Prenatal paraben exposure and atopic dermatitis‐related outcomes among children. Allergy. 2021 Oct;76(10):3122-3132. doi: 10.1111/all.14890. Epub 2021 May 20.

    Trump S, Lukassen S, Anker MS, Chua RL, Liebig J, Thürmann L, Corman VM, Binder M, Loske J, Klasa C, Krieger T, Hennig BP, Messingschlager M, Pott F, Kazmierski J, Twardziok S, Albrecht JP, Eils J, Hadzibegovic S, Lena A, Heidecker B, Bürgel T, Steinfeldt J, Goffinet C, Kurth F, Witzenrath M, Völker MT, Müller SD, Liebert UG, Ishaque N, Kaderali L, Sander LE, Drosten C, Laudi S, Eils R, Conrad C, Landmesser U, Lehmann I. Hypertension delays viral clearance and exacerbates airway hyperinflammation in patients with COVID-19. Nature Biotechnology. 2021 Jun;39(6):705-716. doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-00796-1. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

    Chua RL, Lukassen S, Trump S, Hennig BP, Wendisch D, Pott F, Debnath O, Thürmann L, Kurth F, Völker MT, Kazmierski J, Timmermann B, Twardziok S, Schneider S, Machleidt F, Müller-Redetzky H, Maier M, Krannich A, Schmidt S, Balzer F, Liebig J, Loske J, Suttorp N, Eils J, Ishaque N, Liebert UG, von Kalle C, Hocke A, Witzenrath M, Goffinet C, Drosten C, Laudi S, Lehmann I, Conrad C, Sander LE, Eils R. COVID-19 severity correlates with airway epithelium-immune cell interactions identified by single-cell analysis. Nature Biotechnology. 2020 Aug;38(8):970-979. doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-0602-4. Epub 2020 Jun 26

    Sadik A, Somarribas Patterson LF, Öztürk S, Mohapatra SR, Panitz V, Secker PF, Pfänder P, Loth S, Salem H, Prentzell MT, Berdel B, Iskar M, Faessler E, Reuter F, Kirst I, Kalter V, Foerster KI, Jäger E, Guevara CR, Sobeh M, Hielscher T, Poschet G, Reinhardt A, Hassel JC, Zapatka M, Hahn U, von Deimling A, Hopf C, Schlichting R, Escher BI, Burhenne J, Haefeli WE, Ishaque N, Böhme A, Schäuble S, Thedieck K, Trump S, Seiffert M, Opitz CA. IL4I1 Is a Metabolic Immune Checkpoint that Activates the AHR and Promotes Tumor Progression. Cell. 2020 Sep 3;182(5):1252-1270.e34. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.038. Epub 2020 Aug 19.

    Leppert B, Strunz S, Seiwert B, Schlittenbauer L, Schlichting R, Pfeiffer C, Röder S, Bauer M, Borte M, Stangl GI, Schöneberg T, Schulz A, Rolle-Kampczyk U, Thürmann L, von Bergen M,  Escher B, Junge K, Reemtsma T, Lehmann I, Polte T. Maternal paraben exposure triggers childhood overweight development. Nature Communication. 2020 Feb 11;11(1):561. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14202-1.

Projects

Epigenetic changes with increased fine dust pollution

There is strong evidence for particulate matter caused adverse health effects including cardiovascular diseases, lung inflammation and metabolic disorders. Some recent studies report epigenetic modifications such as alterations of DNA methylation in association with particle exposure. However, available data in this field are sparse and inconsistent. To close this gap of knowledge, this project will provide comprehensive, genome-wide data on DNA-methylation and microRNA-expression pattern based on sequencing approaches from individuals exposed to particulate matter. The final aim is to identify epigenetic marker signatures predictive for later disease development.

Funded by the Umweltbundesamt (FKZ 3717 62b204 0)
Funding duration: November 2018 – April 2021
Volume: 1, 36 Mio €

Project coordination: Prof. Dr. Irina Lehmann / Dr. Saskia Trump (Molekular Epidemiology Unit, BIH and Charité)

Co-operation partner:

Prof. Dr. Roland Eils and Dr. Naveed Ishaque (BIH and Charité Centre for Digital Health)
Dr. Tomasz Zimojtel (Core Unit Genomics at BIH)
Dr. Dominik Lermen and Dr. Martina Bartel-Steinbach (Fraunhofer-Institute for Biomedical Engeneering IBMT)

Links

Staff members