ZMB Member Erich Gulbins

ZMB Member
Erich Gulbins

Next ZMB-Member
Erich Gulbins portrait
© E. Gulbins

Prof. Dr. Erich Gulbins

Director of:

Department of Molecular Biology

University Hospital Essen
Hufelandstraße 55
45122 Essen

Research Overview

  1. Regulation and function of sphingolipids in bacterial infections, in particular pneumonia
    1.1. Role of ceramide and sphingosine in cystic fibrosis
    1.2. Molecular mechanisms of anti-bacterial effects of sphingosine
    1.3. Development of novel treatments of pneumonia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
    1.4. Regulation and function of sphingolipids in systemic infections with S. aureus and mycobacteria.
  2. Sphingolipids in tumor therapy, with a focus on the regulation and function of sphingolipids in the immune system of the tumor host.
  3. Regulation and function of acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide in auto-immune disorders, in particular multiple sclerosis.
  4. The acid sphingomyelinase-ceramide-acid ceramidase axis as target of antidepressants. Role of this system in the pathogenesis and treatment of major depressive disorder.
  5. Targeting the mitochondrial Kv1.3 channel with novel specific inhibitors to treat cancer.

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Selected Publications

    Journal articles

  • Lang, Judith; Bohn, Patrick; Bhat, Hilal; Jastrow, Holger; Walkenfort, Bernd; Cansiz, Feyza; Fink, Julian; Bauer, Michael; Olszewski, Dominik; Ramos-Nascimento, Ana; Duhan, Vikas; Friedrich, Sarah-Kim; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Krawczyk, Adalbert; Edwards, Michael J.; Burchert, Andreas; Huber, Magdalena; Friebus-Kardash, Justa; Göthert, Joachim Rudolf; Hardt, Cornelia; Probst, Hans Christian; Schumacher, Fabian; Köhrer, Karl; Kleuser, Burkhard; Babiychuk, Eduard B.; Sodeik, Beate; Seibel, Jürgen; Greber, Urs F.; Lang, Philipp A.; Gulbins, Erich; Lang, Karl S.
    Acid ceramidase of macrophages traps herpes simplex virus in multivesicular bodies and protects from severe disease
    In: Nature Communications Vol. 11 (2020) Nr. 1, pp. 1338
    ISSN: 2041-1723
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Carpinteiro, Alexander; Edwards, Michael J.; Hoffmann, Markus; Kochs, Georg; Gripp, Barbara; Weigang, Sebastian; Adams, Constantin; Carpinteiro, Elisa; Gulbins, Anne; Keitsch, Simone; Sehl, Carolin; Soddemann, Matthias; Wilker, Barbara; Kamler, Markus; Bertsch, Thomas; Lang, Karl S.; Patel, Sameer; Wilson, Gregory C.; Walter, Silke; Hengel, Hartmut; Pöhlmann, Stefan; Lang, Philipp A.; Kornhuber, Johannes; Becker, Katrin; Ahmad, Syed A.; Fassbender, Klaus; Gulbins, Erich
    Pharmacological Inhibition of Acid Sphingomyelinase Prevents Uptake of SARS-CoV-2 by Epithelial Cells
    In: Cell Reports Medicine Vol. 1 (2020) Nr. 8, pp. 100142
    ISSN: 2666-3791
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Gardner, Aaron I.; Haq, Iram J.; Simpson, A. John; Becker, Katrin; Gallagher, John; Saint-Criq, Vinciane; Verdon, Bernard; Mavin, Emily; Trigg, Alexandra; Gray, Michael A.; Koulman, Albert; McDonnell, Melissa J.; Fisher, Andrew J.; Kramer, Elizabeth L.; Clancy, John P.; Ward, Christopher; Schuchman, Edward H.; Gulbins, Erich; Brodlie, Malcolm
    Recombinant Acid Ceramidase Reduces Inflammation and Infection in Cystic Fibrosis
    In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol. 202 (2020) Nr. 8, pp. 1133 - 1145
    ISSN: 1535-4970; 0003-0805; 1073-449X
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Verhaegh, Rabea; Becker, Katrin Anne; Edwards, Michael J.; Gulbins, Erich
    Sphingosine kills bacteria by binding to cardiolipin
    In: Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 295 (2020) Nr. 22, pp. 7686 - 7696
    ISSN: 1083-351X; 0021-9258
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • McElvaney, Oliver J.; Zaslona, Zbigniew; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Palsson-McDermott, Eva M.; Boland, Fiona; Gunaratnam, Cedric; Gulbins, Erich; O'Neill, Luke A.; Reeves, Emer P.; McElvaney, Noel G.
    Specific inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome as an antiinflammatory strategy in cystic fibrosis
    In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol. 200 (2019) Nr. 11, pp. 1381 - 1391
    ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970; 0003-0805
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Gulbins, Anne; Schumacher, Fabian; Becker, Katrin Anne; Wilker, Barbara; Soddemann, Matthias; Boldrin, Francesco; Müller, Christian P.; Edwards, Michael J.; Goodman, Michael; Caldwell, Charles C.; Kleuser, Burkhard; Kornhuber, Johannes; Szabo, Ildiko; Gulbins, Erich
    Antidepressants act by inducing autophagy controlled by sphingomyelin–ceramide
    In: Molecular Psychiatry Vol. 23 (2018) pp. 2324 - 2346
    ISSN: 1476-5578; 1359-4184
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Gulbins, Anne; Schumacher, Fabian; Becker, Katrin Anne; Wilker, Barbara; Soddemann, Matthias; Boldrin, Francesco; Müller, Christian P.; Edwards, Michael J.; Goodman, Michael; Caldwell, Charles C.; Kleuser, Burkhard; Kornhuber, Johannes; Szabo, Ildiko; Gulbins, Erich
    Antidepressants regulate autophagy by targeting acid sphingomyelinase
    In: Molecular Psychiatry Vol. 23 (2018) Nr. 12, pp. 2251
    ISSN: 1359-4184; 1476-5578
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Riethmüller, Joachim; Seitz, Aaron P.; Gardner, Aaron; Boudreau, Ryan; Kamler, Markus; Kleuser, Burkhard; Schuchman, Edward; Caldwell, Charles C.; Edwards, Michael J.; Grassmé, Heike; Brodlie, Malcolm; Gulbins, Erich
    Sphingolipids as targets for inhalation treatment of cystic fibrosis
    In: Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Vol. 133 (2018) pp. 66 - 75
    ISSN: 1872-8294; 0169-409X
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Hoehn, Richard S; Jernigan, Peter L; Japtok, Lukasz; Chang, Alex L; Midura, Emily F; Caldwell, Charles C; Kleuser, Burkhard; Lentsch, Alex B; Edwards, Michael J; Gulbins, Erich; Pritts, Timothy A
    Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibition in Stored Erythrocytes Reduces Transfusion-Associated Lung Inflammation
    In: Annals of Surgery Vol. 265 (2017) Nr. 1, pp. 218 - 226
    ISSN: 0003-4932; 1528-1140
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Leanza, Luigi; Romio, Matteo; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Azzolini, Michele; Trentin, Livio; Managò, Antonella; Venturini, Elisa; Zaccagnino, Angela; Mattarei, Andrea; Carraretto, Luca; Urbani, Andrea; Kadow, Stephanie; Biasutto, Lucia; Martini, Veronica; Severin, Filippo; Peruzzo, Roberta; Trimarco, Valentina; Egberts, Jan-Hendrik; Hauser, Charlotte; Visentin, Andrea; Semenzato, Gianpietro; Kalthoff, Holger; Zoratti, Mario; Gulbins, Erich; Paradisi, Cristina; Szabo, Ildiko
    Direct pharmacological targeting of a mitochondrial ion channel selectively kills tumor cells in vivo
    In: Cancer Cell Vol. 31 (2017) Nr. 4, pp. 516 - 531.e10
    ISSN: 1535-6108; 1878-3686
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Item, Flurin; Wueest, Stephan; Lemos, Vera; Stein, Sokrates; Lucchini, Fabrizio C.; Denzler, Rémy; Fisser, Muriel C.; Challa, Tenagne D.; Pirinen, Eija; Kim, Youngsoo; Hemmi, Silvio; Gulbins, Erich; Gross, Atan; O'Reilly, Lorraine A.; Stoffel, Markus; Auwerx, Johan; Konrad, Daniel
    Fas cell surface death receptor controls hepatic lipid metabolism by regulating mitochondrial function
    In: Nature Communications Vol. 8 (2017) pp. 480
    ISSN: 2041-1723
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Müller, Christian P.; Kalinichenko, Liubov S.; Tiesel, Jens; Witt, Matthias; Stöckl, Thomas; Sprenger, Eva; Fuchser, Jens; Beckmann, Janine; Praetner, Marc; Huber, Sabine E.; Amato, Davide; Mühle, Christiane; Büttner, Christian; Ekici, Arif B.; Smaga, Irena; Pomierny-Chamiolo, Lucyna; Pomierny, Bartosz; Filip, Malgorzata; Eulenburg, Volker; Gulbins, Erich; Lourdusamy, Anbarasu; Reichel, Martin; Kornhuber, Johannes
    Paradoxical antidepressant effects of alcohol are related to acid sphingomyelinase and its control of sphingolipid homeostasis
    In: Acta Neuropathologica Vol. 133 (2017) Nr. 3, pp. 463 - 483
    ISSN: 1432-0533; 0001-6322
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Grassmé, Heike; Henry, Brian; Ziobro, Regan; Becker, Katrin Anne; Riethmüller, Joachim; Gardner, Aaron; Seitz, Aaron P.; Steinmann, Jörg; Lang, Stephan; Ward, Christopher; Schuchman, Edward H.; Caldwell, Charles C.; Kamler, Markus; Edwards, Michael J.; Brodlie, Malcolm; Gulbins, Erich
    β1-Integrin Accumulates in Cystic Fibrosis Luminal Airway Epithelial Membranes and Decreases Sphingosine, Promoting Bacterial Infections
    In: Cell Host & Microbe Vol. 21 (2017) Nr. 6, pp. 707 - 718.e8
    ISSN: 1931-3128; 1934-6069
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Nojima, Hiroyuki; Gulbins, Erich; Kleuser, Burkhard; Kleuser, Burkhard; Japtok, Lukasz; Freeman, Christopher M.; Schuster, Marc
    Hepatocyte exosomes mediate liver repair and regeneration via sphingosine-1-phosphate
    In: Journal of Hepatology Vol. 64 (2016) Nr. 1, pp. 60 - 68
    ISSN: 1600-0641
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Henry, Brian D; Babiychuk, Eduard B; Draeger, Annette; Kadioglu, Aras; Gulbins, Erich; Scherag, Andre; Wolfmeier, Heidi; Luginbühl, Miriam; Japtok, Lukasz; Kleuser, Burkhard; Steinmann, Jörg; Mühlemann, Kathrin; Edwards, Michael J; Ziobro, Regan; Bricio-Moreno, Laura; Gore, Suzanna; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Neill, Daniel R
    Engineered liposomes sequester bacterial exotoxins and protect from severe invasive infections in mice
    In: Nature Biotechnology Vol. 33 (2015) Nr. 1, pp. 81 - 88
    ISSN: 1546-1696
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Carpinteiro, Alexander; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Japtok, Lukasz; Hessler, Gabriele; Keitsch, Simone; Požgajovà, Miroslava; Schmid, Kurt Werner; Adams, Constantin; Müller, Stefan; Kleuser, Burkhard; Edwards, Michael J.; Grassmé, Heike; Helfrich, Iris; Gulbins, Erich
    Regulation of hematogenous tumor metastasis by acid sphingomyelinase
    In: EMBO Molecular Medicine Vol. 7 (2015) Nr. 6, pp. 714 - 734
    ISSN: 1757-4684
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Pewzner-Jung, Yael; Tavakoli Tabazavareh, Shaghayegh; Grassmé, Heike; Becker, Katrin A.; Japtok, Lukasz; Steinmann, Jörg; Joseph, Tammar; Lang, Stephan; Tuemmler, Burkhard; Schuchman, Edward H.; Lentsch, Alex B.; Kleuser, Burkhard P.; Edwards, Michael J. R.; Futerman, Anthony H.; Gulbins, Erich
    Sphingoid long chain bases prevent lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    In: EMBO Molecular Medicine Vol. 6 (2014) Nr. 9, pp. 1205 - 1214
    ISSN: 1757-4676; 1757-4684
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Gulbins, Erich; Palmada, Monica; Reichel, Martin; Lüth, Anja; Böhmer, Christoph; Amato, Davide; Müller, Christian P.; Tischbirek, Carsten H.; Groemer, Teja W.; Tabatabai, Ghazaleh; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Tripal, Philipp; Staedtler, Sven; Ackermann, Teresa F.; Van Brederode, Johannes; Alzheimer, Christian; Weller, Michael; Lang, Undine E.; Kleuser, Burkhard; Grassmé, Heike; Kornhuber, Johannes
    Acid sphingomyelinase-ceramide system mediates effects of antidepressant drugs
    In: Nature Medicine Vol. 19 (2013) Nr. 7, pp. 934 - 938
    ISSN: 1546-170X; 1078-8956
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Leanza, L; Trentin, L; Becker-Flegler, Katrin; Frezzato, F; Zoratti, M; Semenzato, G; Gulbins, Erich; Szabo, I
    Clofazimine, Psora-4 and PAP-1, inhibitors of the potassium channel Kv1.3, as a new and selective therapeutic strategy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
    In: Leukemia Vol. 27 (2013) Nr. 8, pp. 1782 - 1785
    ISSN: 0887-6924; 1476-5551
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Gulbins, Erich; Kolesnick, Richard N
    It takes a CAD to kill a tumor cell with a LMP
    In: Cancer Cell Vol. 24 (2013) Nr. 3, pp. 279 - 281
    ISSN: 1535-6108; 1878-3686
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Leanza, Luigi; Henry, Brian; Sassi, Nicola; Zoratti, Mario; Chandy, K. George; Gulbins, Erich; Szabò, Ildikò
    Inhibitors of mitochondrial Kv1.3 channels induce Bax/Bak-independent death of cancer cells
    In: EMBO Molecular Medicine Vol. 4 (2012) Nr. 7, pp. 577 - 593
    ISSN: 1757-4676; 1757-4684
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Zhang, Yang; Li, Xiang; Carpinteiro, Alexander; Goettel, Jeremy A.; Soddemann, Matthias; Gulbins, Erich
    Kinase suppressor of Ras-1 protects against pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
    In: Nature Medicine Vol. 17 (2011) Nr. 3, pp. 341 - 346
    ISSN: 1546-170X; 1078-8956
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Gulbins, Erich
    Lipids control mucus production in cystic fibrosis
    In: Nature Medicine Vol. 16 (2010) Nr. 3, pp. 267 - 268
    ISSN: 1546-170X; 1078-8956
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Perrotta, Cristiana; Bizzozero, Laura; Cazzato, Denise; Morlacchi, Sara; Assi, Emma; Simbari, Fabio; Zhang, Yang; Gulbins, Erich; Bassi, Maria Teresa; Rosa, Patrizia; Clementi, Emilio
    Syntaxin 4 is required for acid sphingomyelinase activity and apoptotic function
    In: Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 285 (2010) Nr. 51, pp. 40240 - 40251
    ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Teichgräber, Volker; Ulrich, Martina; Endlich, Nicole; Riethmüller, Joachim; Wilker, Barbara; De Oliveira-Munding, Cheyla Conceição; Van Heeckeren, Anna M.; Barr, Mark L.; Von Kürthy, Gabriele; Schmid, Kurt Werner; Weller, Michael; Tümmler, Burkhard; Lang, Florian; Grassme, Heike; Döring, Gerd; Gulbins, Erich
    Ceramide accumulation mediates inflammation, cell death and infection susceptibility in cystic fibrosis
    In: Nature Medicine Vol. 14 (2008) Nr. 4, pp. 382 - 391
    ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Teichgräber, Volker; Ulrich, Martina; Endlich, NIcole; Döring, Gerd; Grassme, Heike; Riethmüller, Joachim; Gulbins, Erich; Weller, Michael; Lang, Florian; Tümmler, Burkhard; Wilker, Barbara; Schmid, Kurt Werner; De Oliveira-Munding, Cheyla Conceição; van Heeckeren, Anna M.; Barr, Mark L.; von Kürthy, Gabriele
    Ceramide accumulation mediates inflammation, cell death and infection susceptibility in cystic fibrosis.
    In: Nature Medicine Vol. 4 (2008) Nr. 14, pp. 382 - 391
    ISSN: 1546-170X; 1078-8956
    Online Full Text
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