Prof. Dr. Carsten Watzl

Head of Department

Immunmodulation, Immunphysiology

+49 231 1084-233

watzl@ifado.de

Publications in Pubmed

Head of department

Prof. Dr. Carsten Watzl

watzl@ifado.de

+49 231 1084-233

Secretariat

Doris Teutsch

teutsch@ifado.de

+49 231 1084-222

Address

Ardeystr. 67
44139 Dortmund

2025-2027
Treasurer of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS)
Since2022
Chair of the scientific advisory board for the German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ)
2022
BdKom Award 2022 for the COVID-19 vaccine communication project “Watzl Weekly”
2021-2024
Speaker of the Leibniz Research Network “Immune-mediated Diseases”
2016-2020
Elected to the DFG Review Board in Immunology
2016-2019
Co-Initiator and Member of the Steering Committee for the DFG Priority Program “Innate Lymphoid Cells” (SPP 1937)
2013-2024
Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology
since 2011
Full Professor for Immunology at Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University Dortmund
2006
Klaus-Georg und Sigrid Hengstberger-Award of the University Heidelberg
2006
Extraordinary Professorship (apl. Prof.), University of Heidelberg
2004
Habilitation in Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg
2003
Robert Koch Postdoctoral Award
2002-2011
Group Leader at the Institute for Immunology, University of Heidelberg
1999-2002
PostDoc (NIAID-National Institutes of Health, USA)
2001-2002
NIH postdoctoral fellowship
2000
Roche Molecular Biochemicals Award 2000 from the German society for Cell Biology
1999-2000
Postdoctoral stipend by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
1999
Walther and Christine Ritzenhain Award for the best PhD thesis on cancer research
1998
PhD in Biology at the University of Heidelberg

Here you will find the Key publications from 2010 onwards that were produced at IfADo. For all other publications of our scientific staff, please look at the links to other databases such as 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)