Prof. Dr. Carsten Watzl

Leitung Forschungsbereich

2025-2027
Mitglied des Vorstands (Schatzmeister) der European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS)
Seit 2022
Vorsitzender des wissenschaftlichen Beirats des Deutschen Rheumaforschungszentrums (DRFZ)
2022
BdKom Preis 2022 für das Projekt "Watzl-Weekly" zur Information über die Corona Impfung
2021-2024
Sprecher des Leibniz Forschungsverbunds "Immunvermittelte Erkrankungen"
2016-2020
Mitglied des DFG Fachkollegiums Immunologie
2016-2019
Co-Initiator und Mitglied des Steering Committees des DFG Schwerpunktprogramms "Innate Lymphoid Cells" SPP1937
2013-2024
Generalsekretär der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Immunologie (DGfI)
seit 2011
Professor für Immunologie (TU Dortmund)
2006
Klaus-Georg und Sigrid Hengstberger-Preis der Universität Hedelberg
2006
apl. Professor (Universität Heidelberg)
2004
Habilitation (Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Heidelberg)
2003
Robert Koch Postdoktoranden Preis
2002-2011
Nachwuchsgruppenleiter am Institut für Immunologie der Universität Heidelberg
1999-2002
PostDoc (National Institutes of Health, USA)
2001-2002
Postdoktorandenstipendium National Institutes of Health, USA
2000
Roche Molecular Biochemicals Award 2000 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Zellbiologie
1999-2000
Postdoktorandenstipendium der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
1999
Walther and Christine Ritzenhain Preis für die beste Promotion auf dem Gebiet der Krebsforschung
1995-1998
Promotion (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg)
1991-1995
Studium der Biologie (Universität Heidelberg)

Hier finden Sie die Schlüsselpublikationen ab 2010, die am IfADo entstanden sind. Für alle anderen Veröffentlichungen unserer wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter beachten Sie bitte die Links zu anderen Datenbanken wie Pubmed.

Walzik D, Joisten N, Schenk A, Trebing S, Schaaf K, Metcalfe AJ, Spiliopoulou P, Hiefner J, McCann A, Watzl C, Ueland PM, Gehlert S, Worthmann A, Brenner C, Zimmer P:

Acute exercise boosts NAD+ metabolism of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Brain Behav Immun. 2025; 123:1011-1023. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.004

Merkt W, Freitag M, Claus M, Kolb P, Falcone V, Röhrich M, Rodon L, Deicher F, Andreeva I, Tretter T, Tykocinski LO, Blank N, Watzl C, Schmitt A, Sauer T, Müller-Tidow C, Polke M, Heußel CP, Dreger P, Lorenz HM, Schmitt M:

Third-generation CD19.CAR-T cell-containing combination therapy in Scl70+ systemic sclerosis. (Letter) Ann Rheum Dis 83: 543-546 (2024)

Picard LK, Niemann JA, Littwitz-Salomon E, Waldmann H, Watzl C:

Restriction of glycolysis increases serial killing capacity of natural killer cells. Int J Mol Sci 25 (5): 2917 (2024) (16 pp)

Hasan MZ, Claus M, Krüger N, Reusing S, Gall E, Bade-Döding C, Braun A, Watzl C, Uhrberg M, Walter L:

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces adaptive NK cell responses by spike protein-mediated induction of HLA-E expression. Emerg Microbes Infect 13: 2361019 (2024) (9 pp)

Jürgens M, Claus M, Wingert S, Niemann JA, Picard LK, Hennes E, Haasler I, Hellwig B, Overbeck N, Reinders J, Rahnenführer J, Schedel M, Capellino S, Watzl C:

Chronic stimulation desensitizes β2-adrenergic receptor responses in natural killer cells. Eur J Immunol 54 (12): e2451299 (2024)

Bröde P, Claus M, Gajewski PD, Getzmann S, Wascher E, Watzl C:

From immunosenescence to aging types – establishing reference intervals for immune age biomarkers by centile estimation. Int J Mol Sci 24 (17): 13186 (2023) (17 pp)

Claus M, Pieris N, Urlaub D, Bröde P, Schaaf B, Durak D, Renken F, Watzl C:

Early expansion of activated adaptive but also exhausted NK cells during acute severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 13: 1266790 (2023) (8 pp)

Sandoz PA, Kuhnigk K, Szabo EK, Thunberg S, Erikson E, Sandström N, Verron Q, Brech A, Watzl C, Wagner AK, Alici E, Malmberg K-J, Uhlin M, Önfelt B:

Modulation of lytic molecules restrain serial killing in γδ T lymphocytes. Nat Commun 14: 6035 (2023) (16 pp)

Urlaub D, Wolfsdorff N, Hoffmann J-E, Dorok S, Hoffmann M, Anft M, Pieris N, Günther P, Schaaf B, Cassens U, Bröde P, Claus M, Picard LK, Wingert S, Backes S, Durak D, Babel N, Pöhlmann S, Renken F, Raunser S, Watzl C:

Neutralizing antibody responses 300 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection and induction of high antibody titers after vaccination. Eur J Immunol 52: 810-815 (2022)

Picard LK, Claus M, Fasbender F, Watzl C:

Human NK cells responses are enhanced by CD56 engagement. Eur J Immunol 52: 1441-1451 (2022)

Neutralizing antibody responses 300 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection and induction of high antibody titers after vaccination. Eur J Immunol 52: 810-815 (2022)

Bröde P, Claus M, Gajewski PD, Getzmann S, Golka K, Hengstler JG, Wascher E, Watzl C:

Calibrating a comprehensive immune age metric to analyze the cross sectional age-related decline in cardiorespiratory fitness. Biology 11: 1576 (2022) (14 pp)

Picard LK, Littwitz-Salomon E, Waldmann H, Watzl C:

Inhibition of glucose uptake blocks proliferation but not cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Cells 11: 3489 (2022) (18 pp)

Holtdirk F, Mehnert A, Weiss M, Mayer J, Meyer B, Bröde P, Claus M, Watzl C:

Results of the Optimune trial: A randomized controlled trial evaluating a novel Internet intervention for breast cancer survivors. PLoS One 16 (5): e0251276 (2021) (21 pp)

Thieme CJ, Anft M, Paniskaki K, Blazquez-Navarro A, Doevelaar A, Seibert FS, Hoelzer B, Konik MJ, Berger MM, Brenner T, Tempfer C, Watzl C, Meister TL, Pfaender S, Steinmann E, Dolff S, Dittmer U, Westhoff TH, Witzke O, Stervbo U, Roch T, Babel N:

Robust T cell response toward spike, membrane, and nucleocapsid SARS-CoV-2 proteins is not associated with recovery in critical COVID-19 patients. Cell Rep Med 1(6): 100092 (2020) (20 pp)

Capellino S, Claus M, Watzl C:

Regulation of natural killer cell activity by glucocorticoids, serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine. Cell Mol Immunol 17: 705-711 (2020)

Dorsch M, Urlaub D, Bönnemann V, Bröde P, Sandusky M, Watzl C:

Quantitative analysis of human NK cell reactivity using latex beads coated with defined amounts of antibodies. Eur J Immunol 50: 656-665 (2020)

Anft M, Netter P, Urlaub D, Prager I, Schaffner S, Watzl C:

NK cell detachment from target cells is regulated by successful cytotoxicity and influences cytokine production. Cell Mol Immunol 17: 347–355 (2020)

Prager I, Liesche C, van Ooijen H, Urlaub D, Verron Q, Sandström N, Fasbender F, Claus M, Eils R, Beaudouin J, Önfelt B, Watzl C:

NK cells switch from granzyme B to death receptor-mediated cytotoxicity during serial killing. J Exp Med 216: 2113-2127 (2019)

Prager I, Watzl C:

Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity. J Leukoc Biol 105: 1319-1329 (2019)

Liesche C, Sauer P, Prager I, Urlaub D, Claus M, Eils R, Beaudouin J, Watzl C:

Single-fluorescent protein reporters allow parallel quantification of natural killer cell-mediated granzyme and caspase activities in single target cells. Front Immunol 9: 1840 (2018) (12 pp)

Maydych V, Claus M, Dychus N, Ebel M, Damaschke J, Diestel S, Wolf OT, Kleinsorge T, Watzl C:

Impact of chronic and acute academic stress on lymphocyte subsets and monocyte function. PLoS One 12(11): e0188108 (2017)

Netter P, Anft M, Watzl C:

Termination of the activating NK cell immunological synapse is an active and regulated process. J Immunol 199: 2528–2535 (2017)

Urlaub D, Höfer K, Müller M-L, Watzl C:

LFA-1 activation in NK cells and their subsets: influence of receptors, maturation, and cytokine stimulation. J Immunol 198: 1944-1951 (2017)

Claus M, Wingert S, Watzl C:

Modulation of natural killer cell functions by interactions between 2B4 and CD48 in cis and in trans. Open Biol 6: article 160010 (2016)

Gütgemann SA, Sandusky MM, Wingert S, Claus M, Watzl C:

Recruitment of activating NK-cell receptors 2B4 and NKG2D to membrane microdomains in mammalian cells is dependent on their transmembrane regions. Eur J Immunol 45: 1258-1269 (2015)

Windheim M, Southcombe JH, Kremmer E, Chaplin L, Urlaub D, Falk CS, Claus M, Mihm J, Braithwaite M, Dennehy K, Renz H, Sester M, Watzl C, Burgert HG:

A unique secreted adenovirus E3 protein binds to the leukocyte common antigen CD45 and modulates leukocyte functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110: E4884-E4893 (2013)

Cohnen A, Chiang SC, Stojanovic A, Schmidt H, Claus M, Saftig P, Janßen O, Cerwenka A, Bryceson YT, Watzl C:

Surface CD107a/LAMP-1 protects natural killer cells from degranulation-associated damage. Blood 122: 1411-1418 (2013)

Mesecke S, Urlaub D, Busch H, Eils R, Watzl C:

Integration of activating and inhibitory receptor signaling by regulated phosphorylation of Vav1 in immune cells. Sci Signal 4(175): ra36 (2011) (9 pp)

Hoffmann SC, Cohnen A, Ludwig T, Watzl C:

2B4 engagement mediates rapid LFA-1 and actin-dependent NK cell adhesion to tumor cells as measured by single cell force spectroscopy. J Immunol 186: 2757-2764 (2011)

Watzl C, Long EO:

Signal transduction during activation and inhibition of natural killer cells. Curr Protoc Immunol Chapter 11: Unit 11.9B (2010)

Jacobi C, Claus M, Wildemann B, Wingert S, Korporal M, Römisch J, Meuer S, Watzl C, Giese T:

Exposure of NK cells to intravenous immunoglobulin induces IFN gamma release and degranulation but inhibits their cytotoxic activity. Clin Immuno 133: 393-401 (2009)

Endt J, McCann FE, Almeida CR, Urlaub D, Leung R, Pende D, Davis DM, Watzl C:

Inhibitory receptor signals suppress ligation-induced recruitment of NKG2D to GM1-rich membrane domains at the human NK cell immune synapse. J Immunol 178: 5606-5611 (2007)

Bhat R, Watzl C:

Serial killing of tumor cells by human natural killer cells--enhancement by therapeutic antibodies. PLoS One 28: 2(3): e326 (2007)

Eissmann P, Watzl C:

Molecular analysis of NTB-A signaling: a role for EAT-2 in NTB-A-mediated activation of human NK cells. J Immunol 177: 3170-3177 (2006)

Eissmann P, Beauchamp L, Wooters J, Tilton JC, Long EO, Watzl C:

Molecular basis for positive and negative signaling by the natural killer cell receptor 2B4 (CD244). Blood 105: 4722-4729 (2005)

Flaig RM, Stark S, Watzl C:

Cutting edge: NTB-A activates NK cells via homophilic interaction. J Immunol 172: 6524-6527 (2004)

Stebbins CC, Watzl C, Billadeau DD, Leibson PJ, Burshtyn DN, Long EO:

Vav1 dephosphorylation by the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 as a mechanism for inhibition of cellular cytotoxicity. Mol Cell Biol 23: 6291-6299 (2003)

Watzl C, Long EO:

Natural killer cell inhibitory receptors block actin cytoskeleton-dependent recruitment of 2B4 (CD244) to lipid rafts. J Exp Med 197: 77-85 (2003)

Watzl C, Stebbins CC, Long EO:

NK cell inhibitory receptors prevent tyrosine phosphorylation of the activation receptor 2B4 (CD244). J Immunol 165: 3545-3548 (2000)

Scaffidi C, Schmitz I, Zha J, Korsmeyer SJ, Krammer PH, Peter ME:

Differential modulation of apoptosis sensitivity in CD95 type I and type II cells. J Biol Chem 274: 22532-22538 (1999)

Scaffidi C, Schmitz I, Krammer PH, Peter ME:

The role of c-FLIP in modulation of CD95-induced apoptosis. J Biol Chem 274: 1541-1548 (1999)

Scaffidi C, Fulda S, Srinivasan A, Friesen C, Li F, Tomaselli KJ, Debatin KM, Krammer PH, Peter ME:

. Two CD95 (APO-1/Fas) signaling pathways. EMBO J 17: 1675-1687 (1998)

Scaffidi C, Medema JP, Krammer PH, Peter ME:

FLICE is predominantly expressed as two functionally active isoforms, caspase-8/a and caspase-8/b. J Biol Chem 272: 26953-26958 (1997)

Medema JP, Scaffidi C, Kischkel FC, Shevchenko A, Mann M, Krammer PH, Peter ME:

FLICE is activated by association with the CD95 death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). EMBO J 16: 2794-2804 (1997)

Thome M, Schneider P, Hofmann K, Fickenscher H, Meinl E, Neipel F, Mattmann C, Burns K, Bodmer JL, Schröter M, Scaffidi C, Krammer PH, Peter ME, Tschopp J:

Viral FLICE-inhibitory proteins (FLIPs) prevent apoptosis induced by death receptors. Nature 386 (6624) :517-521 (1997)

Muzio M, Chinnaiyan AM, Kischkel FC, O'Rourke K, Shevchenko A, Ni J, Scaffidi C, Bretz JD, Zhang M, Gentz R, Mann M, Krammer PH, Peter ME, Dixit VM:

FLICE, a novel FADD-homologous ICE/CED-3-like protease, is recruited to the CD95 (Fas/APO-1) death--inducing signaling complex. Cell 85: 817-827 (1996)

Hier finden Sie die Publikationen ab 2010, die am IfADo entstanden sind. Für alle anderen Veröffentlichungen unserer wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter beachten Sie bitte die Links zu anderen Datenbanken wie Pubmed.

Urlaub D, Watzl C:

Coated latex beads as artificial cells for quantitative investigations of receptor/ligand interactions. Curr Protoc Immunol 131: e111 (2020) (12 pp)

Anft M, Paniskaki K, Blazquez-Navarro A, Doevelaar A, Seibert FS, Hölzer B, Skrzypczyk S, Kohut E, Kurek J, Zapka J, Wehler P, Kaliszczyk S, Bajda S, Thieme CJ, Roch R, Konik MJ, Berger MM, Brenner T, Kölsch U, Meister TL, Pfaender S, Steinmann E, Tempfer C, Watzl C, Dolff S, Dittmer U, Abou-El-Enein M, Westhoff TH, Witzke O, Stervbo U, Babel N:

COVID-19-induced ARDS is associated with decreased frequency of activated memory/effector T cells expressing CD11a++. Mol Ther 28: 2691-2702 (2020)

Holtdirk F, Mehnert A, Weiss M, Meyer B, Watzl C:

Protocol for the Optimune trial: a randomized controlled trial evaluating a novel Internet intervention for breast cancer survivors. Trials 21(1): 117 (2020)

Fasbender F, Obholzer M, Metzler S, Stöber R, Hengstler JG, Watzl C:

Enhanced activation of human NK cells by drug-exposed hepatocytes. Arch Toxicol 94: 439–448 (2020)

Anft M, Netter P, Urlaub D, Prager I, Schaffner S, Watzl C:

NK cell detachment from target cells is regulated by successful cytotoxicity and influences cytokine production. Cell Mol Immunol 17: 347–355 (2020)

Bönnemann V, Claus M, Butzeck B, Collette D, Bröde P, Golka K, Watzl C:

Analysis of Natural Killer cell functions in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. EXCLI J 19: 430-441 (2020)

Dorsch M, Urlaub D, Bönnemann V, Bröde P, Sandusky M, Watzl C:

Quantitative analysis of human NK cell reactivity using latex beads coated with defined amounts of antibodies. Eur J Immunol 50: 656-665 (2020)

Guth S, Hüser S, Roth A, Degen G, Diel P, Edlund K, Eisenbrand G, Engel K-H, Epe B, Grune T, Heinz V, Henle T, Humpf H-U, Jäger H, Joost H-G, Kulling SE, Lampen A, Mally A, Marchan R, Marko D, Mühle E, Nitsche MA, Röhrdanz E, Stadler R, van Thriel C, Vieths S, Vogel RF, Wascher E, Watzl C, Nöthlings U, Hengstler JG:

Toxicity of fluoride: critical evaluation of evidence for human developmental neurotoxicity in epidemiological studies, animal experiments and in vitro analyses. Arch Toxicol 94: 1375-1415 (2020)

Kleinertz H, Hepner-Schefczyk M, Ehnert S, Claus M, Halbgebauer R, Boller L, Huber-Lang M, Cinelli P, Kirschning C, Flohé S, Sander A, Waydhas C, Vonderhagen S, Jäger M, Dudda M, Watzl C, Flohé SB:

Circulating growth/differentiation factor 15 is associated with human CD56bright natural killer cell dysfunction and nosocomial infection in severe systemic inflammation. EBioMedicine 43: 380-391 (2019)

Prager I, Watzl C:

Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity. J Leukoc Biol 105: 1319-1329 (2019)

Cadenas C, Vosbeck S, Edlund K, Grgas K, Madjar K, Hellwig B, Adawy A, Glotzbach A, Stewart JD, Lesjak MS, Franckenstein D, Claus M, Hayen H, Schriewer A, Gianmoena K, Thaler S, Schmidt M, Micke P, Ponten F, Mardinoglu A, Zhang C, Käfferlein H, Watzl C, Frank S, Rahnenführer J, Marchan R, Hengstler JG:

LIPG-promoted lipid storage mediates adaptation to oxidative stress in breast cancer. Int J Cancer 145: 901-915 (2019)

Claus M, Urlaub D, Fasbender F, Watzl C:

SLAM family receptors in natural killer cells – Mediators of adhesion, activation and inhibition via cis and trans interactions. Clin Immunol 204: 37-42 (2019)

Prager I, Liesche C, van Ooijen H, Urlaub D, Verron Q, Sandström N, Fasbender F, Claus M, Eils R, Beaudouin J, Önfelt B, Watzl C:

NK cells switch from granzyme B to death receptor-mediated cytotoxicity during serial killing. J Exp Med 216: 2113-2127 (2019)

Urlaub D, Zhao S, Blank N, Bergner R, Claus M, Tretter T, Lorenz HM, Watzl C, Merkt W:

Activation of natural killer cells by rituximab in granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Arthritis Res Ther 21(1): 277 (2019) (11 pp)

Watzl C:

Adaptive responses of innate lymphocytes. Nat Immunol 19: 426-427 (2018)