Dr. Miriam Wöhner

Focus of research: Dr. Miriam Wöhner

Dr. Miriam Wöhner is interested in B cells, macrophages and metastasis: How they are regulated, how they influence each other and how their glycosylation pattern impacts their development.

Dr. Miriam Wöhner

Lehrstuhl für Genetik (Prof. Nimmerjahn)

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Dr. Wöhner and lab members

Our research focuses on two cell types within the immune system: B cells and macrophages. Upon activation by antigens, B cells differentiate into plasma cells that secrete large amounts of specifically glycosylated antibodies. These antibodies can be recognized by other immune cells, particularly macrophages, through specific receptors known as Fcγ receptors. We are interested in understanding how glycosylation impacts B cell development, as well as how different glycosylation patterns of antibodies influence the development and activation of macrophages. Additionally, we are investigating how these differences in activation affect the growth of metastases. Furthermore, we have identified a subset of B cells that exerts an inhibitory effect on other immune cells, thereby promoting metastatic growth. We are currently studying the underlying mechanisms of these cells.

Macrophages reside in the tissue of various organs like the lung. While Monocytes from the blood can differentiate into tissue macrophages, they can also replenish themselves. When a metastasis starts to grow in the lung, specific macrophage subsets either help the tumor grow or prevent the growth. We want to understand how to activate the macrophages which are fighting the tumor and how to silence the tumor-helping ones.

 

 

 

Miriam Wöhner on Google Scholar

5 Key Publications

  1. Wöhner M, Nimmerjahn F. Cytotoxic IgG: Mechanisms, functions and applications. Immunity. 2025. doi:10.1016
  2. Wöhner M, Brechtelsbauer S, Friedrich N, Vorsatz C, Bulang J, Liang C, Schorr L, Beschin A, Guilliams M, Ravetch J, Nimmerjahn F, Biburger M. (2024).Tissue niche occupancy determines the contribution of fetal versus bone marrow-derived macrophages to IgG effector functions.  Cell Reports. 2024. doi:10.1016. 
  3. Wöhner M, Pinter T, Bönelt P, Hagelkruys A, Kostanova-Poliakova D, Stadlmann J, Konieczny SF, Fischer M, Jaritz M, Busslinger M. The Xbp1-regulated transcription factor Mist1 restricts antibody secretion by restraining Blimp1 expression in plasma cells. Front. Immonol. 2022 doi:10.3389
  4. Pinter T, Fischer M, Schäfer M, Fellner M, Jude J, Zuber J, Busslinger M, Wöhner M. Comprehensive CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies factors which are important for plasmablast development. Front. Immunol. 2022. doi: 10.3389
  5. Wöhner M, Tagoh H, Bilic I, Jaritz M, Poliakova DK, Fischer M, Busslinger M. Essential role of the transcription factors E2A and E2-2 in germinal center B cell and plasma cell development. J Exp Med. 2016. doi:10.1084

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Research of Dr. Wöhner is funded in the context of the following projects:

  • Staedtler Stiftung (2025-26): Modulation von intra-tumoralen B-Zellen zur Tumortherapie
  • Herta und Helmut-Schmauser Stiftung (2024-25): Etablierung einer Lungenschnittkultur zum Test von Antikörpern für die Tumortherapie
  • Emerging talents initiative (2023-24): Modulation des Tumormetastasen-fördernden und –inhibierenden Effekts von Tumor-assoziierten Makrophagen über Fc-Rezeptoren