Regulated Cell Death

In multicellular Organisms, the strict regulation of cell division, cell differentiation, and cell death is essential for their survival and homeostatic well-being. A disturbed balance between cellular proliferation and death my cause cancer (excessive proliferation or impaired death of cells), degenerative diseases (enhanced cell death, e.g., in neurodegenerative processes), deregulated immune responses (e.g., autoimmunity caused by insufficient elimination of autoreactive cells) or severe developmental defects.

Therefore, all cells have developed mechanisms to commit suicide when they might become dangerous for the whole organism, e.g. after virus infection or after having suffered enough damage to cause transformation into a cancer cell. It has become clear in the last years that cells can kill themselves via multiple distinct programs which are summarized under the term “regulated cell death.” A precise understanding of the different forms of regulated cell death is the prerequisite for future therapeutic interventions, e.g., to prevent excessive cell death in degenerative diseases, or to permit a more efficient elimination of tumor cells in cancer patients. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of regulated cell death is the main goal of our research.

• Caspase-independent non-apoptotic programmed cell death for the elimination of apoptosis-resistant tumor cells via combination therapies with TRAIL
• Proteolysis in the regulation of non-apoptotic cell death

1. Immunogenic cell death in cancer: targeting necroptosis to induce antitumour immunity

Meier P, Legrand, A, Adam D, Silke J. Nat Rev Cancer, online ahead of print (2024)

2. Protease-independent control of parthanatos by HtrA2/Omi

Weiss J, Heib M, Korn T, Hoyer J, Fuchslocher Chico J, Voigt S, Koudelka T, Tholey A, Adam D. Cell Mol Life Sci 80, 258 (2023)

3. TNF-induced necroptosis and PARP-1-mediated necrosis represent distinct routes to programmed necrotic cell death

Sosna J, Voigt S, Mathieu S, Lange A, Thon L, Davarnia P, Herdegen T, Linkermann A, Rittger A, Chan FK, Kabelitz D, Schütze S, Adam D. Cell Mol Life Sci. (2014) 71:331-348

4. Ceramide mediates caspase-independent programmed cell death

Thon L, Möhlig H, Mathieu S, Lange A, Bulanova E, Winoto-Morbach S, Schütze S, Bulfone-Paus S, Adam D. FASEB J. (2005) 19:1945-1956

5. Overexpression of acid ceramidase protects from tumor necrosis factor-induced cell death

Strelow A, Bernardo K, Adam-Klages S, Linke T, Sandhoff K, Krönke M, Adam D. J Exp Med. (2000) 192:601-611

6. Tumor suppression in Xiphophorus by an accidentally acquired promoter

Adam D, Dimitrijevic N, Schartl M. Science. (1993) 259:816-819

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dieter Adam

• Web of Science
• ORCID

• DFG
• SFB877: Proteolysis as a Regulatory Event in Pathophysiology, Teilprojekt B2: Proteolysis in the regulation of non-apoptotic cell death.

Prof. Petra Bacher, Institut für Immunologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Thomas Bosch, Zoologisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Ottmar Janßen, Institut für Immunologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Dieter Kabelitz, Institut für Experimentelle Tumorforschung, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

PD Dr. Norbert Reiling, Forschungszentrum Borstel, Borstel, Deutschland

Prof. Thomas Renné, Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland

Prof. Stefan Rose-John, Biochemisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Ulrich Schaible, Forschungszentrum Borstel, Borstel, Deutschland

Prof. Susanne Sebens, Institut für Experimentelle Tumorforschung, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Anja Trauzold, Institut für Immunologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland

Prof. Daniela Wesch, Institut für Immunologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Deutschland