Christian Weber

Professor

Prof. Christian Weber is the Chair in Vascular Medicine and the Director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Germany, and Professor at the CARIM. After graduating and completing his training in internal medicine at LMU and Harvard Medical School, Boston, he was board-certified in clinical cardiology and appointed as a Chair in Molecular Cardiology at RWTH Aachen University. His group has a strong interest in the molecular interactions and patho-physiological functions of chemokines and immune cell subsets, as well as the role of microRNAs and their targets in vascular disease and atherosclerosis, while his clinical interests focus on developing novel biomarkers and biopharmaceuticals. He is the Spokesman of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre SFB1123 and coordinates the partner site Munich Heart Alliance in the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK). Among numerous awards, he is a double ERC Advanced Investigator Grant recipient and Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher with more than 560 publications and an h-index of 97. He serves as the Editor-in-Chiefof Thrombosis&Haemostasis, Senior Associate Editor of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology andco-founderofCarolusTherapeutics Inc. and Cartesio Therapeutics Inc.

  • Vascular Immunotherapy, German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (BMBF DZHK
  • MHA VD1.2), 2019-2020
  • Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), DFG Excellence Initiative, 2019-2026
  • ERC Advanced Grant °692511, PROVASC: Cell-specific vascular protection by CXCL12/CXCR4, 2016- 2022 ERC AdG
  • NIH 1R01HL122843, Molecular mechanisms linking CXCL12 to atherosclerosis, 2017-2020
  • DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1123 Atherosclerosis: new therapeutic targets, 2014-2022

Department of Biochemistry
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2012
    • Postea, O., Vasina, E. M., Cauwenberghs, S., Projahn, D., Liehn, E. A., Lievens, D., Theelen, W., Kramp, B. K., Butoi, E. D., Soehnlein, O., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Ludwig, A., Weber, C., & Koenen, R. R. (2012). Contribution of Platelet CX(3)CR1 to Platelet-Monocyte Complex Formation and Vascular Recruitment During Hyperlipidemia. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 32(5), 1186-1193. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.243485
    • Doering, Y., Manthey, H. D., Drechsler, M., Lievens, D., Megens, R. T. A., Soehnlein, O., Busch, M., Manca, M., Koenen, R. R., Pelisek, J., Daemen, M. J., Lutgens, E., Zenke, M., Binder, C. J., Weber, C., & Zernecke, A. (2012). Auto-Antigenic Protein-DNA Complexes Stimulate Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells to Promote Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 125(13), 1673-U190. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.046755
    • Bidzhekov, K., Gan, L., Denecke, B., Rostalsky, A., Hristov, M., Koeppel, T. A., Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2012). microRNA expression signatures and parallels between monocyte subsets and atherosclerotic plaque in humans. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 107(4), 619-625. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH11-09-0607
    • Grommes, J., Alard, J.-E., Drechsler, M., Wantha, S., Morgelin, M., Kuebler, W. M., Jacobs, M., von Hundelshausen, P., Markart, P., Wygrecka, M., Preissner, K. T., Hackeng, T. M., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2012). Disruption of Platelet-derived Chemokine Heteromers Prevents Neutrophil Extravasation in Acute Lung Injury. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 185(6), 628-636. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201108-1533OC
    • Megens, R. T. A., Vijayan, S., Lievens, D., Doering, Y., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Grommes, J., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2012). Presence of luminal neutrophil extracellular traps in atherosclerosis. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 107(3), 597-598. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH11-09-0650
    • Rowinska, Z., Zander, S., Zernecke, A., Jacobs, M., Langer, S., Weber, C., Merx, M. W., & Koeppel, T. A. (2012). Non- invasive in vivo analysis of a murine aortic graft using high resolution ultrasound microimaging. European Journal of Radiology, 81(2), 244-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.12.083
    • Doering, Y., Noels, H., & Weber, C. (2012). The Use of High-Throughput Technologies to Investigate Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 32(2), 182-195. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.232686
    • Kanzler, I., Liehn, E. A., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2012). Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Approaches to Reduce Acute Atherosclerotic Complications. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 13(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920112798868557
  • 2011
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2011). Chemokines: established and novel targets in atherosclerosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 3(12), 713-725. https://doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201100183
    • Butoi, E. D., Gan, A. M., Manduteanu, I., Stan, D., Calin, M., Pirvulescu, M., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., & Simionescu, M. (2011). Cross talk between smooth muscle cells and monocytes/activated monocytes via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis augments expression of pro-atherogenic molecules. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research, 1813(12), 2026-2035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2011.08.009
    • Liehn, E. A., Tuchscheerer, N., Kanzler, I., Drechsler, M., Fraemohs, L., Schuh, A., Koenen, R. R., Zander, S., Soehnlein, O., Hristov, M., Grigorescu, G., Urs, A. O., Leabu, M., Bucur, I., Merx, M. W., Zernecke, A., Ehling, J., Gremse, F., Lammers, T., ... Weber, C. (2011). Double-Edged Role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 Axis in Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 58(23), 2415-2423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.033
    • Weber, C., & Noels, H. (2011). Atherosclerosis: current pathogenesis and therapeutic options. Nature Medicine, 17(11), 1410-1422. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2538
    • Soehnlein, O., Wantha, S., Simsekyilmaz, S., Doering, Y., Megens, R. T. A., Mause, S. F., Drechsler, M., Smeets, R., Weinandy, S., Schreiber, F., Gries, T., Jockenhoevel, S., Moeller, M., Vijayan, S., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Agerberth, B., Pham, C. C. T. N., Gallo, R. L., Hackeng, T. M., ... Weber, C. (2011). Neutrophil-Derived Cathelicidin Protects from Neointimal Hyperplasia. Science Translational Medicine, 3(103), 10. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3002531
    • Poggi, M., Engel, D., Christ, A., Beckers, L., Wijnands, E., Boon, L., Driessen, A., Cleutjens, J., Weber, C., Gerdes, N., & Lutgens, E. (2011). CD40L Deficiency Ameliorates Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Metabolic Manifestations of Obesity in Mice. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 31(10), 2251-U248. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.231357
    • Vasina, E. M., Cauwenberghs, S., Feijge, M. A. H., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Weber, C., & Koenen, R. R. (2011). Microparticles from apoptotic platelets promote resident macrophage differentiation. Cell Death & Disease, 2(9), 10. Article e211. https://doi.org/10.1038/cddis.2011.94
    • Weber, C., Meiler, S., Doering, Y., Koch, M., Drechsler, M., Megens, R. T. A., Rowinska, Z., Bidzhekov, K., Fecher, C., Ribechini, E., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Binder, C. J., Jelinek, I., Hristov, M., Boon, L., Jung, S., Korn, T., Lutz, M. B., Foerster, I., ... Zernecke, A. (2011). CCL17-expressing dendritic cells drive atherosclerosis by restraining regulatory T cell homeostasis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 121(7), 2898-2910. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI44925
    • Zhou, Z., Subramanian, P., Sevilmis, G., Globke, B., Soehnlein, O., Karshovska, E., Megens, R., Heyll, K., Chun, J., Saulnier-Blache, J. S., Reinholz, M., van Zandvoort, M., Weber, C., & Schobert, A. (2011). Lipoprotein-Derived Lysophosphatidic Acid Promotes Atherosclerosis by Releasing CXCL1 from the Endothelium. Cell Metabolism, 13(5), 592-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2011.02.016
    • Megens, R. T. A., Kemmerich, K., Pyta, J., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2011). Intravital imaging of phagocyte recruitment. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 105(5), 802-810. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH10-11-0735
    • Kramp, B. K., Sarabi, A., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2011). Heterophilic chemokine receptor interactions in chemokine signaling and biology. Experimental Cell Research, 317(5), 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.11.014
    • de Jager, S. C. A., Bermudez, B., Bot, I., Koenen, R. R., Bot, M., Kavelaars, A., de Waard, V., Heijnen, C. J., Muriana, F. J. G., Weber, C., van Berkel, T. J. C., Kuiper, J., Lee, S.-J., Abia, R., & Biessen, E. A. L. (2011). Growth differentiation factor 15 deficiency protects against atherosclerosis by attenuating CCR2-mediated macrophage chemotaxis. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 208(2), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20100370
    • Sarabi, A., Kramp, B. K., Drechsler, M., Hackeng, T. M., Soehnlein, O., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & von Hundelshausen, P. (2011). CXCL4L1 inhibits angiogenesis and induces undirected endothelial cell migration without affecting endothelial cell proliferation and monocyte recruitment. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 9(1), 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.04119.x
    • Saygili, E., Schauerte, P., Pekassa, M., Saygili, E., Rackauskas, G., Schwinger, R. H. G., Weis, J., Weber, C., Marx, N., & Rana, O. R. (2011). Sympathetic Neurons Express and Secrete MMP-2 and MT1-MMP to Control Nerve Sprouting via Pro-NGF Conversion. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 31(1), 17-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-010-9548-2
  • 2010
    • Ren, M., Guo, Q., Guo, L., Lenz, M., Qian, F., Koenen, R. R., Xu, H., Schilling, A. B., Weber, C., Ye, R. D., Dinner, A. R., & Tang, W.-J. (2010). Polymerization of MIP-1 chemokine (CCL3 and CCL4) and clearance of MIP-1 by insulin-degrading enzyme. The Embo Journal, 29(23), 3952-3966. https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2010.256
    • Liehn, E. A., Piccinini, A.-M., Koenen, R. R., Soehnlein, O., Adage, T., Fatu, R., Curaj, A., Popescu, A., Zernecke, A., Kungl, A. J., & Weber, C. (2010). A New Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1/Chemokine CC Motif Ligand-2 Competitor Limiting Neointima Formation and Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 56(22), 1847-1857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2010.04.066
    • Lievens, D., Zernecke, A., Seijkens, T., Soehnlein, O., Beckers, L., Munnix, I. C. A., Wijnands, E., Goossens, P., van Kruchten, R., Thevissen, L., Boon, L., Flavell, R. A., Noelle, R. J., Gerdes, N., Biessen, E. A., Daemen, M. J. A. P., Heemskerk, J. M., Weber, C., & Lutgens, E. (2010). Platelet CD40L mediates thrombotic and inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis. Blood, 116(20), 4317-4327. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-01-261206
    • Drechsler, M., Megens, R. T. A., van Zandvoort, M., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2010). Hyperlipidemia-Triggered Neutrophilia Promotes Early Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 122(18), 1837–1845. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.961714
    • Berres, M.-L., Koenen, R. R., Rueland, A., Zaldivar, M. M., Heinrichs, D., Sahin, H., Schmitz, P., Streetz, K. L., Berg, T., Gassler, N., Weiskirchen, R., Proudfoot, A., Weber, C., Trautwein, C., & Wasmuth, H. E. (2010). Antagonism of the chemokine Ccl5 ameliorates experimental liver fibrosis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 120(11), 4129-4140. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI41732
    • Shagdarsuren, E., Bidzhekov, K., Mause, S. F., Simsekyilmaz, S., Polakowski, T., Hawlisch, H., Gessner, J. E., Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2010). C5a Receptor Targeting in Neointima Formation After Arterial Injury in Atherosclerosis-Prone Mice. Circulation, 122(10), 1026-U139. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.954370
    • Rana, O. R., Schauerte, P., Kluttig, R., Schroeder, J. W., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., Nolte, K. W., Weis, J., Hoffmann, R., Marx, N., & Saygili, E. (2010). Acetylcholine as an age-dependent non-neuronal source in the heart. Autonomic Neuroscience-basic & Clinical, 156(1-2), 82-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.04.011
    • Goossens, P., Gijbels, M. J. J., Zernecke, A., Eijgelaar, W., Vergouwe, M. N., van der Made, I., Vanderlocht, J., Beckers, L., Buurman, W. A., Daemen, M. J. A. P., Kalinke, U., Weber, C., Lutgens, E., & de Winther, M. P. J. (2010). Myeloid Type I Interferon Signaling Promotes Atherosclerosis by Stimulating Macrophage Recruitment to Lesions. Cell Metabolism, 12(2), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2010.06.008
    • Weber, C., Schober, A., & Zernecke, A. (2010). MicroRNAs in Arterial Remodelling, Inflammation and Atherosclerosis. Current Drug Targets, 11(8), 950-956. https://doi.org/10.2174/138945010791591377
    • Subramanian, P., Karshovska, E., Reinhard, P., Megens, R. T. A., Zhou, Z., Akhtar, S., Schumann, U., Li, X., van Zandvoort, M., Ludin, C., Weber, C., & Schober, A. (2010). Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptors LPA1 and LPA3 Promote CXCL12-Mediated Smooth Muscle Progenitor Cell Recruitment in Neointima Formation. Circulation Research, 107(1), 96-U197. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.212647
    • Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2010). Chemokines in the vascular inflammatory response of atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular Research, 86(2), 192-201. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvp391
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Manipulating the chemokine system: Therapeutic perspectives for atherosclerosis. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 11(3), 265-272.
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Platelet-Derived Chemokines in Vascular Remodeling and Atherosclerosis. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 36(2), 163-169. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1251500
    • Lutgens, E., Lievens, D., Beckers, L., Wijnands, E., Soehnlein, O., Zernecke, A., Seijkens, T., Engel, D., Cleutjens, J., Keller, A. M., Naik, S. H., Boon, L., Oufella, H. A., Mallat, Z., Ahonen, C. L., Noelle, R. J., de Winther, M. P., Daemen, M. J. A. P., Biessen, E. A., & Weber, C. (2010). Deficient CD40-TRAF6 signaling in leukocytes prevents atherosclerosis by skewing the immune response toward an antiinflammatory profile. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(2), 391-404. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20091293
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Therapeutic targeting of chemokine interactions in atherosclerosis. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 9(2), 141-153. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3048
    • Hristov, M., Guembel, D., Lutgens, E., Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2010). Soluble CD40 Ligand Impairs the Function of Peripheral Blood Angiogenic Outgrowth Cells and Increases Neointimal Formation After Arterial Injury. Circulation, 121(2), 315-324. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.862771
  • 2009
    • Matthijsen, R. A., de Winther, M. P., Kuipers, D., van der Made, I., Weber, C., Herias, M. V., Gijbels, M. J., & Buurman, W. A. (2009). Macrophage-specific expression of mannose-binding lectin controls atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice. Circulation, 119(16), 2188-95. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.830661
  • 2008
    • Shagdarsuren, E., Bidzhekov, K., Djalali Talab, Y., Liehn, E. A., Hristov, M., Matthijsen, R. A., Buurman, W. A., Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2008). C1-esterase inhibitor protects against neointima formation after arterial injury in atherosclerosis-prone mice. Circulation, 117(1), 70-8. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.715649