Prof. Stephan von Hörsten
Experimental Therapy and Preclinical Centre

Research projects
- Modelling, characterisation (phenotypic) and experimental therapy in preclinical models for neurodegenerative disorders.
- Pharmacovigilance.
- Development, testing and validation of equipment for behavioral testing with focus on rodent automated intra-home-cage testing and motor functional analysis
- Neurodegeneration, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Huntington, Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Neuropeptides
- Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26)
- Glutaminyl-cyclases
No projects found.
2026
- Smid, H., Colotti, J., Nölp, S., Arlt, N.S., Weber, S., Gumann, A.,... Schuh, W. (2026). Immunomodulatory functions of glutaminyl cyclases QPCTL and QPCT. Frontiers in Immunology, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1760809
2025
- Behrens, Y.L., Reinkens, T., Hofmann, W., Gumann, A., Förster, A., Gaschler, L.,... Karow, A. (2025). Genomic variant profiling in blast-phase paediatric chronic myeloid leukaemia: Predisposing and driving alterations. British Journal of Haematology, 207(1), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.20133
- Breivik, T.J., Gjermo, P., Opstad, P.K., Murison, R., von Hörsten, S., & Fristad, I. (2025). Brain Structures, Circuits, and Networks Involved in Immune Regulation, Periodontal Health, and Disease. Life, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/life15101572
- Chestnykh, D., Kalinichenko, L., von Hörsten, S., Kornhuber, J., & Müller, C.P. (2025). The mirror preference test: A reverse translational approach to study anomalous subjective experience in rats. Brain Research Bulletin, 222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111247
- Chestnykh, D., Mühle, C., Schumacher, F., Kalinichenko, L., Löber, S., Gmeiner, P.,... Müller, C.P. (2025). Acid sphingomyelinase activity suggests a new antipsychotic pharmaco-treatment strategy for schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry, 30, 2891-2906. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-02893-6
- Wormser, L., Fritz, V., Kappelmann-Fenzl, M., Rachinger, N., Escudé, P., Enderle, K.,... Dietrich, P. (2025). The liver talks back: NPY orchestrates attraction of cancer cells and CHK2-dependent clonogenicity in the metastatic niche. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 122(47), e2518418122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2518418122
- Zoicas, I., Mühle, C., von Hörsten, S., Plank, A.-C., & Kornhuber, J. (2025). Sitagliptin as a therapeutic approach for social anxiety disorder: the role of DPP4 and NPY in modulating social fear and comorbid depressive-like behavior in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-025-02146-8
- Zoicas, I., von Hörsten, S., Plank, A.-C., & Kornhuber, J. (2025). Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors enhance memory retention via neuropeptide Y. European Journal of Pharmacology, 996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177556
2024
- Breivik, T.J., Gjermo, P., Gundersen, Y., Opstad, P.K., Murison, R., Hugoson, A.,... Fristad, I. (2024). Microbiota-immune-brain interactions: A new vision in the understanding of periodontal health and disease. Periodontology 2000. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12610
- Malik, M.Y., Guo, F., Asif-Malik, A., Eftychidis, V., Barkas, N., Eliseeva, E.,... Minichiello, L. (2024). Impaired striatal glutathione–ascorbate metabolism induces transient dopamine increase and motor dysfunction. Nature Metabolism, 6(11), 2100-2117. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-024-01155-z
- Moceri, S., Bäuerle, N., Habermeyer, J., Ratz-Wirsching, V., Harrer, J., Distler, J.,... von Hörsten, S. (2024). Young human alpha synuclein transgenic (BAC-SNCA) mice display sex- and gene-dose-dependent phenotypic disturbances. Behavioural Brain Research, 460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114781
- Ratz-Wirsching, V., Habermeyer, J., Moceri, S., Harrer, J., Schmitz, C., & von Hörsten, S. (2024). Gene-dosage- and sex-dependent differences in the prodromal-Like phase of the F344tgHD rat model for Huntington disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1354977
- Sankina, P., Lal, R., Khare, P., von Hörsten, S., Fester, L., Aggarwal, V.,... Bishnoi, M. (2024). Topical menthol, a pharmacological cold mimic, induces cold sensitivity, adaptive thermogenesis and brown adipose tissue activation in mice. Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism, 26(10), 4329-4345. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.15781
2023
- Chestnykh, D., Graßl, F., Pfeifer, C., Dülk, J., Ebner, C., Walters, M.,... Müller, C.P. (2023). Behavioural effects of APH199, a selective dopamine D4 receptor agonist, in animal models. Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06347-1
- Schmitt, V., Masanetz, R., Weidenfeller, M., Ebbinghaus, L.S., Süß, P., Rosshart, S.P.,... Xiang, W. (2023). Gut-to-brain spreading of pathology in synucleinopathies: A focus on molecular signalling mediators. Behavioural Brain Research, 452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114574
- Sommer, J., Ehnis, H., Seitz, T., Schneider, J., Wild, A., Moceri, S.,... Hellerbrand, C. (2023). Four-and-a-Half LIM-Domain Protein 2 (FHL2) Induces Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in Macrophages in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Promotes Diet-Induced Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914943
- Timotius, I.K., Roelofs, R.F., Richmond-Hacham, B., Noldus, L.P., von Hörsten, S., & Bikovski, L. (2023). CatWalk XT gait parameters: a review of reported parameters in pre-clinical studies of multiple central nervous system and peripheral nervous system disease models. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1147784
- Vaghela, R., Arkudas, A., Gage, D., Körner, C., von Hörsten, S., Salehi, S.,... Hessenauer, M. (2023). A Novel Window into Angiogenesis — Intravital Microscopy in the AV-Loop-Model. Cells, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12020261
2022
- Bluhm, A., Schrempel, S., Moceri, S., Stieler, J., Feja, M., Schilling, S.,... Roßner, S. (2022). Alpha synuclein processing by MMP-3 – implications for synucleinopathies. Behavioural Brain Research, 434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114020
- Bluhm, A., Schrempel, S., Schilling, S., von Hörsten, S., Schulze, A., Rossner, S., & Hartlage-Ruebsamen, M. (2022). Immunohistochemical Demonstration of the pGlu79 alpha-Synuclein Fragment in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Tg2576 Mouse Model. Biomolecules, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12071006
2021
- Bluhm, A., Schrempel, S., von Hörsten, S., Schulze, A., & Roßner, S. (2021). Proteolytic α‐synuclein cleavage in health and disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115450
- Clemen, C.S., Schmidt, A., Winter, L., Canneva, F., Wittig, I., Becker, L.,... Schröder, R. (2021). N471D WASH complex subunit strumpellin knock-in mice display mild motor and cardiac abnormalities and BPTF and KLHL11 dysregulation in brain tissue. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/nan.12750
- Golub, Y., Stonawski, V., Plank, A.-C., Eichler, A., Kratz, O., Waltes, R.,... Freitag, C.M. (2021). Anxiety Is Associated With DPPIV Alterations in Children With Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.644553
- Hartlage-Rübsamen, M., Bluhm, A., Moceri, S., Machner, L., Köppen, J., Schenk, M.,... Roßner, S. (2021). A glutaminyl cyclase-catalyzed α-synuclein modification identified in human synucleinopathies. Acta Neuropathologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-021-02349-5
- Mészáros, L., Riemenschneider, M.J., Gaßner, H., Marxreiter, F., von Hörsten, S., Hoffmann, A., & Winkler, J. (2021). Human alpha-synuclein overexpressing MBP29 mice mimic functional and structural hallmarks of the cerebellar subtype of multiple system atrophy. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-021-01166-x
- Plank, A.-C., Frey, S., Basedow, L.A., Solati, J., Canneva, F., von Hörsten, S.,... Golub, Y. (2021). Prenatally traumatized mice reveal hippocampal methylation and expression changes of the stress-related genes Crhr1 and Fkbp5. Translational Psychiatry, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01293-y
- Schmid, F., Mayer, C., Büttner-Herold, M., von Hörsten, S., Amann, K.U., & Daniel, C. (2021). CD161a-positive natural killer (NK) cells and α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts were upregulated by extrarenal DPP4 in a rat model of acute renal rejection. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2021.108691
- Schmiedl, A., Wagener, I., Jungen, M., von Hörsten, S., & Stephan, M. (2021). Lung development and immune status under chronic LPS exposure in rat pups with and without CD26/DPP4 deficiency. Cell and Tissue Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-021-03522-8
- Schulze-Krebs, A., Canneva, F., Stemick, J., Plank, A.-C., Harrer, J., Bates, G.P.,... von Hörsten, S. (2021). Transglutaminase 6 is colocalized and interacts with mutant huntingtin in huntington disease rodent animal models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168914
2020
- Bobinger, T., Bäuerle, T., Seyler, L., von Hörsten, S., Schwab, S., Huttner, H., & Manaenko, A. (2020). A Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator Attenuated Secondary Brain Injury and Improved Neurological Functions of Mice after ICH. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3214350
- Cheong, R.Y., Tonetto, S., von Hörsten, S., & Petersén, Å. (2020). Imbalance of the oxytocin-vasopressin system contributes to the neuropsychiatric phenotype in the BACHD mouse model of Huntington disease. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104773
- Dietrich, P., Wormser, L., Fritz, V., Seitz, T., de Maria, M., Schambony, A.,... Hellerbrand, C. (2020). Molecular cross-talk between Y5-receptor and neuropeptide Y drives liver cancer. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 130(5), 2509-2526. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI131919
- Habermeyer, J., Boyken, J., Harrer, J., Canneva, F., Ratz, V., Moceri, S.,... von Hörsten, S. (2020). Comprehensive phenotyping revealed transient startle response reduction and histopathological gadolinium localization to perineuronal nets after gadodiamide administration in rats. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79374-z
- Haskamp, S., Bruns, H., Hahn, M., Hoffmann, M., Gregor, A., Löhr, S.,... Schauer, C. (2020). Myeloperoxidase Modulates Inflammation in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis and Additional Rare Pustular Skin Diseases. American Journal of Human Genetics, 107(3), 527-538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.07.001
- König, C., Plank, A.-C., Kapp, A., Timotius, I., von Hörsten, S., & Zimmermann, K. (2020). Thirty Mouse Strain Survey of Voluntary Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure: Influence of Strain, Sex and Day–Night Variation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00531
- Köppen, J., Schulze, A., Machner, L., Wermann, M., Eichentopf, R., Guthardt, M.,... Schilling, S. (2020). Amyloid-beta peptides trigger aggregation of alpha-synuclein in vitro. Molecules, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030580
- Soare, A., Györfi, A.-H., Matei, A.-E., Dees, C., Rauber, S., Wohlfahrt, T.,... Ramming, A. (2020). Dipeptidylpeptidase 4 as a Marker of Activated Fibroblasts and a Potential Target for the Treatment of Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis and Rheumatology, 72(1), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41058
- Stemick, J., Gauer, L.C., Wihan, J., Moceri, S., Xiang, W., von Hörsten, S.,... Winkler, J. (2020). Compensatory neuritogenesis of serotonergic afferents within the striatum of a transgenic rat model of Parkinson's disease. Brain Research, 1748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147119