Peters Lab | Neuroimmunology Munich

Research Focus

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease driven by self-reactive T helper (Th) cells, particularly Th1 and Th17 effector subsets, which promote tissue inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). Research efforts both in MS patients, as well as in the animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), have largely focused on T cells. However, therapeutic advances highlight the importance of B cells for disease development and progression. We discovered that Th17 cells attract B cells, and induce formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles (eLFs) in the CNS during EAE, suggesting that B cells and Th17 cells cooperate in pathogenic inflammatory processes. Therefore, we are investigating the interplay between autoantigen-specific B and Th17 cells during disease initiation and progression both in the CNS and in the periphery. We are interested in the underlying mechanisms of how T cells shape a pathogenic B cell response, and – vice versa - how B cells can support a pathogenic T cell response.

In addition, we are studying the impact of gut microbiota on activation of autoreactive T and B cells in CNS autoimmunity together with the Gerdes lab.

Overall our research aims to provide insight into the cellular mechanisms and kinetics of disease and may enable development of more tailored therapeutic strategies in the future.

We are utilizing transgenic mouse models, which express an autoantigen-specific T cell receptor and spontaneously develop B cell-dependent disease, either with an acute-chronic or a relapsing-remitting disease course. Spontaneous models are particularly useful for studying the initial T:B cell interactions and the role of the microbiota in activation of autoreactive lymphocytes. We also induce EAE by adoptive transfer in order to be able to differentiate between Th1 and Th17 effects and to study both pathogenic and regulatory effects of B cells.

To analyze T and B cell responses we employ different techniques including multi-parameter flow cytometry, ELISA, quantitative PCR and NGS (in collaboration with the Kerschensteiner/Kendirli single-cell genomics hub). In addition, we visualize and analyze T:B cell interactions in the tissues via confocal and intravital microscopy (in collaboration with the Kawakami Lab). With our cell culture systems we can manipulate T and B cells, in order to gain insight into the molecular basis of pathogenic properties.

Publications

Team

Anna Thomann, PhD student

I studied Biomedicine at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and received my master degree in 2017. I was always interested in autoimmune diseases, which is why I went to the US during my studies, where I did research on myasthenia gravis and the microbiome in multiple sclerosis. I started my PhD at the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology in 2017 and for my thesis, I’m investigating the role of cytokine-producing B cells in the initiation and regulation of EAE. In my free time, I like playing volleyball, singing or meeting friends.

Anna Kolz, PhD student

My project focuses on the interaction of Th17 cells and B cells in ectopic lymphoid follicle-like structures (eLFs), which form under the meninges in our adoptive transfer EAE mouse model. As these structures have also been described in MS patients, the aim of my project is to analyze the cellular processes inside eLFs. As an IMPRS-LS student, I enjoy the scientific and cultural exchange in the international community of fellow PhD students. In my free time, I love swimming, traveling and exploring the lakes and mountains of the Munich area.

Rosa Schmitz, PhD student

I studied medical Biology at the University Duisburg-Essen and figured out quite early that I want to do research in immunology. The complexity of the immune system fascinates me and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) underline the importance of an effective regulation of the immune system. In my PhD project I want to investigate the mechanism of action of different B-cell directed therapies in murine MS models. Do they alter the interaction of different immune cell subsets and influence the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the central nervous system?

Besides trying to answer these questions, I do horse riding and love to cook and bake for friends and family.

Jiancheng Wang, MD student

I finished my master and residency in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. During my master study, I managed and followed up a lot of patients with MS and NMOSD. In my mind, it is important to find the mechanisms of diseases for so many patients suffering from these diseases while few of them could be cured. After my master study, I started my MD thesis in Dr. Peters’ and Dr. Gerdes’ lab and the aim of my project is to figure out how gut microbiota may trigger multiple sclerosis. In my free time, I love playing tennis and cooking Chinese food with friends.

Janine Kövilein, Research fellow

I completed my Master’s in Biomedical Science at the University of Groningen, where I was working on two projects – one in the field of Cell Biology and the other in Medical Microbiology. During this time, I developed a pronounced interest in microbiome research in the context of human health and disease. Thus, I started my PhD in 2018 at the Technical University of Munich focusing on microbe-host interactions in colorectal and colitis-associated cancer. Currently, my project follows up on the previous work investigating the gut microbiome in the MS twin study (together with the Gerdes Lab). We are trying to understand the role of the intestinal microbiome in triggering immune responses in MS patients versus healthy twins. In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, attending concerts, exploring art and photography. Besides, you can always find me on the hunt for good coffee places.

Sarah McGrath, Research fellow

I graduated with a degree in Immunology from the University of Glasgow in 2015, where I developed an interest in immune dysfunction and autoimmunity. I then completed my PhD in Prof. Carl Goodyear's rheumatology lab in Glasgow. In 2020, I began a post-doctoral position at the University of Gothenburg, researching B cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Our work identified atypical B cells linked to bone damage and their role as antigen-presenting cells in inflamed joints. This work and developing interest in autoimmune ectopic follicles led me to Dr. Anneli Peters' lab, where in 2024 I joined to investigate mechanisms of ectopic follicle formation, maintenance, and outputs in MS models.

Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, visiting friends, and learning to cook new food.

Even though I am a biochemist by training I discovered my passion for immunology early during my master thesis, which I conducted at the Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School in Boston. Fascinated by the topic, I stayed for my PhD and investigated the role different T helper cell subsets play in the induction of CNS autoimmunity. We discovered that Th17 cells can induce formation of ectopic lymphoid follicle-like structures in the CNS meninges (Immunity, 2011), and further contributed to characterize properties of Th17 cells, a subset that is implicated not only in MS but also in many other autoimmune diseases (JI, 2015; JCI 2015). Back in Germany I became interested in the role of B cells in spontaneous EAE at the MPI of Neurobiology. Being awarded an Emmy Noether grant, I started my own lab at the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, LMU, to study T:B cell interactions in the initiation and progression of CNS autoimmunity.

I enjoy the positive energy of our young team and am looking forward to exciting discoveries!

Training

2001 – 2004 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

2004 – 2006 Master of Science in Biochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany and Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

2007 – 2010 Ph.D. program at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany and Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (summa cum laude)

2010 – 2014 Research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA

Academic positions & appointments

2014 – 2017 Project leader at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany

since 2017 Emmy Noether group leader at the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, LMU, Munich

since 2017 Associated junior faculty member of the International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences (IMPRS-LS)

Awards & honors

2001 – 2003 Anniversary Scholarship by the German Chemical Industry Fund

2006 DAAD scholarship for conducting a master thesis project abroad

2007 – 2010 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Ph.D. scholarship

2012 – 2013 Postdoctoral fellowship from the German Multiple Sclerosis society (DMSG)

2012 Multiple Sclerosis Young Investigator Award from the Eva and Helmer Lehmann foundation

2017 awarded an Emmy Noether grant by the German Research Foundation (DFG)