Scientific Focus

The Köhl lab is interested in the biology of the complement system. A particular focus is on the multiple functions of the small cleavage fragments of C3 and C5, i.e. the anaphylatoxins (AT) C3a and C5a, in the networks of innate and adaptive immune responses. The ATs play important roles as mediators of inflammation. Further, they regulate and control multiple innate and adaptive immune responses through binding and activation of their cognate G protein-coupled receptors, i.e. C3a receptor (C3aR), C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) and C5a receptor 2 (C5aR2), although the latter lacks important sequence motifs for G protein-coupling. Based on their pleiotropic functions, they contribute not only to tissue homeostasis but drive, perpetuate and resolve immune responses in many inflammatory diseases including infections, malignancies, autoimmune as well as allergic diseases. The lab has generated several floxed reporter mice to track and cell-specifically delete C3a receptor, C5a receptor 1 and C5a receptor 2 (C5L2)