Education

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Mainz, 2001

Current position

Group leader, Medical Department 1, University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Publications (since 2005)

1. Zenker, S., Panteleev-Ivlev, J., Wirtz, S., Kishimoto, T., Waldner, M. J., Ksionda, O., Tybulewicz, V. L., Neurath, M. F. and Atreya, I. (2014). A key regulatory role for Vav1 in controlling lipopolysaccharide endotoxemia via macrophage-derived IL-6. J Immunol 192(6): 2830-2836.
   
2. Shen, P., Roch, T., Lampropoulou, V., O'Connor, R. A., Stervbo, U., Hilgenberg, E., Ries, S., Dang, V. D., Jaimes, Y., Daridon, C., Li, R., Jouneau, L., Boudinot, P., Wilantri, S., Sakwa, I., Miyazaki, Y., Leech, M. D., McPherson, R. C., Wirtz, S., Neurath, M., Hoehlig, K., Meinl, E., Grutzkau, A., Grun, J. R., Horn, K., Kuhl, A. A., Dorner, T., Bar-Or, A., Kaufmann, S. H., Anderton, S. M. and Fillatreau, S. (2014). IL-35-producing B cells are critical regulators of immunity during autoimmune and infectious diseases. Nature 507(7492): 366-370.
   
3. Gerlach, K., Hwang, Y., Nikolaev, A., Atreya, R., Dornhoff, H., Steiner, S., Lehr, H. A., Wirtz, S., Vieth, M., Waisman, A., Rosenbauer, F., McKenzie, A. N., Weigmann, B. and Neurath, M. F. (2014). TH9 cells that express the transcription factor PU.1 drive T cell-mediated colitis via IL-9 receptor signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. Nat Immunol 15(7): 676-686.
   
4. Stock, M., Bohm, C., Scholtysek, C., Englbrecht, M., Furnrohr, B. G., Klinger, P., Gelse, K., Gayetskyy, S., Engelke, K., Billmeier, U., Wirtz, S., van den Berg, W. and Schett, G. (2013). Wnt inhibitory factor 1 deficiency uncouples cartilage and bone destruction in tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated experimental arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 65(9): 2310-2322.
   
5. McHedlidze, T., Waldner, M., Zopf, S., Walker, J., Rankin, A. L., Schuchmann, M., Voehringer, D., McKenzie, A. N., Neurath, M. F., Pflanz, S. and Wirtz, S. (2013). Interleukin-33-dependent innate lymphoid cells mediate hepatic fibrosis. Immunity 39(2): 357-371.
   
6. Lin, N. Y., Beyer, C., Giessl, A., Kireva, T., Scholtysek, C., Uderhardt, S., Munoz, L. E., Dees, C., Distler, A., Wirtz, S., Kronke, G., Spencer, B., Distler, O., Schett, G. and Distler, J. H. (2013). Autophagy regulates TNFalpha-mediated joint destruction in experimental arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 72(5): 761-768.
   
7. Kiechl, S., Wittmann, J., Giaccari, A., Knoflach, M., Willeit, P., Bozec, A., Moschen, A. R., Muscogiuri, G., Sorice, G. P., Kireva, T., Summerer, M., Wirtz, S., Luther, J., Mielenz, D., Billmeier, U., Egger, G., Mayr, A., Oberhollenzer, F., Kronenberg, F., Orthofer, M., Penninger, J. M., Meigs, J. B., Bonora, E., Tilg, H., Willeit, J. and Schett, G. (2013). Blockade of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB (RANKL) signaling improves hepatic insulin resistance and prevents development of diabetes mellitus. Nat Med 19(3): 358-363.
   
8. Desel, C., Werninghaus, K., Ritter, M., Jozefowski, K., Wenzel, J., Russkamp, N., Schleicher, U., Christensen, D., Wirtz, S., Kirschning, C., Agger, E. M., Prazeres da Costa, C. and Lang, R. (2013). The Mincle-activating adjuvant TDB induces MyD88-dependent Th1 and Th17 responses through IL-1R signaling. PLoS One 8(1): e53531.
   
9. Dornhoff, H., Becker, C., Wirtz, S., Strand, D., Tenzer, S., Rosfa, S., Neufert, C., Mudter, J., Markl, J., Siebler, J. and Neurath, M. F. (2012). A variant of Smurf2 protects mice against colitis-associated colon cancer by inducing transforming growth factor beta signaling. Gastroenterology 142(5): 1183-1194 e1184.
   
10. Wirtz, S., Billmeier, U., McHedlidze, T., Blumberg, R. S. and Neurath, M. F. (2011). Interleukin-35 mediates mucosal immune responses that protect against T-cell-dependent colitis. Gastroenterology 141(5): 1875-1886.
    
11. Waldner, M. J., Wirtz, S., Neufert, C., Becker, C. and Neurath, M. F. (2011). Confocal laser endomicroscopy and narrow-band imaging-aided endoscopy for in vivo imaging of colitis and colon cancer in mice. Nat Protoc 6(9): 1471-1481.
    
12. Mudter, J., Yu, J., Zufferey, C., Brustle, A., Wirtz, S., Weigmann, B., Hoffman, A., Schenk, M., Galle, P. R., Lehr, H. A., Mueller, C., Lohoff, M. and Neurath, M. F. (2011). IRF4 regulates IL-17A promoter activity and controls RORgammat-dependent Th17 colitis in vivo. Inflamm Bowel Dis 17(6): 1343-1358.
    
13. Hamalukic, M., Huelsenbeck, J., Schad, A., Wirtz, S., Kaina, B. and Fritz, G. (2011). Rac1-regulated endothelial radiation response stimulates extravasation and metastasis that can be blocked by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. PLoS One 6(10): e26413.
    
14. Wirtz, S., Nagel, G., Eshkind, L., Neurath, M. F., Samson, L. D. and Kaina, B. (2010). Both base excision repair and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase protect against methylation-induced colon carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 31(12): 2111-2117.
    
15. Waldner, M. J., Wirtz, S., Jefremow, A., Warntjen, M., Neufert, C., Atreya, R., Becker, C., Weigmann, B., Vieth, M., Rose-John, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2010). VEGF receptor signaling links inflammation and tumorigenesis in colitis-associated cancer. J Exp Med 207(13): 2855-2868.
    
16. Waldner, M. J., Wirtz, S., Becker, C., Seidel, D., Tubbe, I., Cappel, K., Hahnel, P. S., Galle, P. R., Schuler, M. and Neurath, M. F. (2010). Perforin deficiency attenuates inflammation and tumor growth in colitis-associated cancer. Inflamm Bowel Dis 16(4): 559-567.
    
17. Neurath, M. F., Wittkopf, N., Wlodarski, A., Waldner, M., Neufert, C., Wirtz, S., Gunther, C. and Becker, C. (2010). Assessment of tumor development and wound healing using endoscopic techniques in mice. Gastroenterology 139(6): 1837-1843 e1831.
    
18. Pickert, G., Neufert, C., Leppkes, M., Zheng, Y., Wittkopf, N., Warntjen, M., Lehr, H. A., Hirth, S., Weigmann, B., Wirtz, S., Ouyang, W., Neurath, M. F. and Becker, C. (2009). STAT3 links IL-22 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells to mucosal wound healing. J Exp Med 206(7): 1465-1472.
    
19. Leppkes, M., Becker, C., Ivanov, II, Hirth, S., Wirtz, S., Neufert, C., Pouly, S., Murphy, A. J., Valenzuela, D. M., Yancopoulos, G. D., Becher, B., Littman, D. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2009). RORgamma-expressing Th17 cells induce murine chronic intestinal inflammation via redundant effects of IL-17A and IL-17F. Gastroenterology 136(1): 257-267.
    
20. Siebler, J., Wirtz, S., Frenzel, C., Schuchmann, M., Lohse, A. W., Galle, P. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2008). Cutting edge: a key pathogenic role of IL-27 in T cell- mediated hepatitis. J Immunol 180(1): 30-33.
    
21. Mudter, J., Amoussina, L., Schenk, M., Yu, J., Brustle, A., Weigmann, B., Atreya, R., Wirtz, S., Becker, C., Hoffman, A., Atreya, I., Biesterfeld, S., Galle, P. R., Lehr, H. A., Rose-John, S., Mueller, C., Lohoff, M. and Neurath, M. F. (2008). The transcription factor IFN regulatory factor-4 controls experimental colitis in mice via T cell-derived IL-6. J Clin Invest 118(7): 2415-2426.
    
22. Wirtz, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). Mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 59(11): 1073-1083.
    
23. Wirtz, S., Neufert, C., Weigmann, B. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). Chemically induced mouse models of intestinal inflammation. Nat Protoc 2(3): 541-546.
    
24. Siebler, J., Wirtz, S., Weigmann, B., Atreya, I., Schmitt, E., Kreft, A., Galle, P. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). IL-28A is a key regulator of T-cell-mediated liver injury via the T-box transcription factor T-bet. Gastroenterology 132(1): 358-371.
    
25. Neufert, C., Becker, C., Wirtz, S., Fantini, M. C., Weigmann, B., Galle, P. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). IL-27 controls the development of inducible regulatory T cells and Th17 cells via differential effects on STAT1. Eur J Immunol 37(7): 1809-1816.
    
26. Koch, M., May, U., Kuhns, S., Drechsler, H., Adam, N., Hattermann, K., Wirtz, S., Rose-John, S. and Scheller, J. (2007). Interleukin 27 induces differentiation of neural C6-precursor cells into astrocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 364(3): 483-487.
    
27. Hildner, K. M., Schirmacher, P., Atreya, I., Dittmayer, M., Bartsch, B., Galle, P. R., Wirtz, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). Targeting of the transcription factor STAT4 by antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides suppresses collagen-induced arthritis. J Immunol 178(6): 3427-3436.
    
28. Atreya, I., Schimanski, C. C., Becker, C., Wirtz, S., Dornhoff, H., Schnurer, E., Berger, M. R., Galle, P. R., Herr, W. and Neurath, M. F. (2007). The T-box transcription factor eomesodermin controls CD8 T cell activity and lymph node metastasis in human colorectal cancer. Gut 56(11): 1572-1578.
    
29. Wirtz, S., Tubbe, I., Galle, P. R., Schild, H. J., Birkenbach, M., Blumberg, R. S. and Neurath, M. F. (2006). Protection from lethal septic peritonitis by neutralizing the biological function of interleukin 27. J Exp Med 203(8): 1875-1881.
    
30. Siebler, J., Protzer, U., Wirtz, S., Schuchmann, M., Hohler, T., Galle, P. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2006). Overexpression of STAT-1 by adenoviral gene transfer does not inhibit hepatitis B virus replication. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 18(2): 167-174.
    
31. Poppe, D., Tiede, I., Fritz, G., Becker, C., Bartsch, B., Wirtz, S., Strand, D., Tanaka, S., Galle, P. R., Bustelo, X. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2006). Azathioprine suppresses ezrin-radixin-moesin-dependent T cell-APC conjugation through inhibition of Vav guanosine exchange activity on Rac proteins. J Immunol 176(1): 640-651.
    
32. Mudter, J., Wirtz, S., Weigmann, B., Tiede, I., Tubbe, I., Kiesslich, R., Galle, P. R., Lehr, H. A. and Neurath, M. F. (2006). Crohn's-like colitis in a patient with immunodeficiency associated with a defect in expression of inducible costimulator. Dig Dis Sci 51(4): 711-717.
    
33. Becker, C., Dornhoff, H., Neufert, C., Fantini, M. C., Wirtz, S., Huebner, S., Nikolaev, A., Lehr, H. A., Murphy, A. J., Valenzuela, D. M., Yancopoulos, G. D., Galle, P. R., Karow, M. and Neurath, M. F. (2006). Cutting edge: IL-23 cross-regulates IL-12 production in T cell-dependent experimental colitis. J Immunol 177(5): 2760-2764.
    
34. Zahn, S., Wirtz, S., Birkenbach, M., Blumberg, R. S., Neurath, M. F. and von Stebut, E. (2005). Impaired Th1 responses in mice deficient in Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 and challenged with physiological doses of Leishmania major. Eur J Immunol 35(4): 1106-1112.
    
35. Wirtz, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2005). Illuminating the role of type I IFNs in colitis. J Clin Invest 115(3): 586-588.
    
36. Wirtz, S., Becker, C., Fantini, M. C., Nieuwenhuis, E. E., Tubbe, I., Galle, P. R., Schild, H. J., Birkenbach, M., Blumberg, R. S. and Neurath, M. F. (2005). EBV-induced gene 3 transcription is induced by TLR signaling in primary dendritic cells via NF-kappa B activation. J Immunol 174(5): 2814-2824.
    
37. Becker, C., Wirtz, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2005). Stepwise regulation of TH1 responses in autoimmunity: IL-12-related cytokines and their receptors. Inflamm Bowel Dis 11(8): 755-764.
    
38. Becker, C., Fantini, M. C., Wirtz, S., Nikolaev, A., Lehr, H. A., Galle, P. R., Rose-John, S. and Neurath, M. F. (2005). IL-6 signaling promotes tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Cell Cycle 4(2): 217-220.
    
39. Becker, C., Fantini, M. C., Wirtz, S., Nikolaev, A., Kiesslich, R., Lehr, H. A., Galle, P. R. and Neurath, M. F. (2005). In vivo imaging of colitis and colon cancer development in mice using high resolution chromoendoscopy. Gut 54(7): 950-954.