Hartmann Laboratory
Microenvironment-induced therapy resistance in leukemia and lymphomaScientific focus
Our research group focuses on the interface of tumor immunology and cell biology. We are specifically interested in how the tumor microenvironment promotes therapy resistance in leukemia and lymphoma, with an emphasis on the role of cell adhesion and integrin activation.
We use an assortment of most advanced immunological and cell biological technologies, including time-lapse and shear-flow and high-end confocal and STED microscopy and machine learning, spectral flow cytometry, animal models and adoptive transplant strategies.
Specifically, we focus on VLA-4 integrin (CD29/CD49d) activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other hematopoietic malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma (MM). The interaction between leukemic and stromal cells, mediated by VLA-4, provides critical survival and proliferation signals to tumor cells.
One focus is on the VLA-4 integrin (CD29/CD49d) activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other hematopoietic malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma (MM). The interaction between leukemic and stromal cells, mediated by VLA-4, provides critical survival and proliferation signals to tumor cells.
We are also interested in integrin downstream signals and integrin adaptors such as kindlin-3, which we found to be mandatory for B cell identity.
Join our team
Bachelor’s / Master’s thesis positions:
We are continuously recruiting talented and committed students with an interest in hematology and oncology, adhesion processes, cellular interactions with the microenvironment, and therapy resistance.
Experience with flow cytometry, cell culture and basic biological methods such as PCR and western blotting is preferred and a strong motivation mandatory.
Please send your CV, a motivation letter and if possible references to med1.ag.hartmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Team
Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Tanja Nicole Hartmann
+49 (0) 761 270 71511
tanja.hartmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Dr. rer. nat. Abhishek Pethe
Postdoctoral scientist
+49 (0) 761 270 71920
Danielle-Justine Danner
Technician, MD thesis student
+49 (0) 761 270 71920
Susanne Reinfeld
MD student
Katinka Hartnegg
MD Student
Niloufar Mohammadkhani
PhD Student
+49 (0) 761-270-71920
Julius Plomer
Master’s thesis student, Biology
+49 (0) 761-270-71824
LABORATORY ACTIVITIES
Summer 2023
Hartmann Lab retreat at the Kletterpark in Titisee
Congratulations to Dr. Abhishek Pethe:
For his selection to the “European Hematological Association (EHA) mentorship program, 2025”.
Congratulations to Diana Infante:
For winning the Best Poster Award titled “Artificial intelligence based quantification of leukemic cell death in acute myeloid” for poster presentation at the 31st Scientific workshop of the Clinic for Inner Medicine 1, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
Congratulations to Driti Ashok:
For acceptance of her abstract titled “SPARC Stabilizes Integrin α4-VCAM-1 Interactions and Is Regulated By Intracellular Rac in NPM1-Mutated AML” for poster presentation at the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
Congratulations to Driti Ashok:
For winning the Best Abstract Award titled “SPARC Stabilizes Integrin α4-VCAM-1 Interactions and Is Regulated By Intracellular Rac in NPM1-Mutated AML” at the CRIION Inteliigent Oncology Symposium, 2024.
Congratulations to Laura Polcik:
For acceptance of her abstract titled “CD49d deficiency in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia model induces constitutive B cell receptor kinase activation, resulting in antigen unresponsiveness” for oral presentation at the 29th European Hematological Association (EHA) Congress.
Congratulations to Laura Polcik:
For acceptance of her abstract titled “CD49d Shapes B Cell Receptor Responsiveness and Tissue Distribution in an Aggressive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Murine Model” for oral presentation at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
Congratulations to Dr. Lixia Li:
For acceptance of her abstract titled “The Integrin Adaptor Kindlin-3 Is a Gatekeeper for Germinal Center Responses and the Development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia” for oral presentation at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
Highlights of our new publication in JLB:
Kindlin-3 puts the brakes on B cell activation and differentiation.
Justement LB. J Leukoc Biol. 2022 Apr;111(4):741-743. doi: 10.1002/JLB.1CE1121-597R. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
Highlighting Editorial zu:
Härzschel A, Li L, Krenn PW, Szenes-Nagy E, Andrieux G, Bayer E, Pfeifer D, Polcik L, Denk U, Höpner JP, Karabatak E, Danner DJ, Tangermann S, Kenner L, Jumaa H, Greil R, Börries M, Ruppert R, Maity PC, Hartmann TN. J Leukoc Biol. 2022 Apr;111(4):745-758. doi: 10.1002/JLB.1HI0621-313R. Epub 2021 Dec 10.
New Frontiers Research Topic
Metabolism and Cell Adhesion in Cancer is a new article that will add to our continuing efforts to understand the intricate relationship between cell metabolism, oncogenesis and adhesion.
Full publication list see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Hartmann%20TN&page=6
Selected publications
- The cytoskeletal control of B cell receptor and integrin signaling in normal B cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Pethe, A., & Hartmann, T. N. (2025). The cytoskeletal control of B cell receptor and integrin signaling in normal B cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. FEBS letters, 10.1002/1873-3468.70045. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.70045[AP1] - The VLA-4 integrin is constitutively active in circulating chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells via BCR autonomous signaling: a novel anchor-independent mechanism exploiting soluble blood-borne ligands.
Maity PC, Jumaa H, Hartmann TN, Zucchetto A, Gattei V. The VLA-4 integrin is constitutively active in circulating chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells via BCR autonomous signaling: a novel anchor-independent mechanism exploiting soluble blood-borne ligands. Leukemia. 2024 Aug 14 - Potent high-avidity neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses after COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Keppler-Hafkemeyer A, Greil C, Wratil PR, Shoumariyeh K, Stern M, Hafkemeyer A, Ashok D, Hollaus A, Lupoli G, Priller A, Bischof ML, Ihorst G, Engelhardt M, Marks R, Finke J, Bertrand H, Dächert C, Muenchhoff M, Badell I, Emmerich F, Halder H, Spaeth PM, Knolle PA, Protzer U, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Duyster J, Hartmann TN, Moosmann A, Keppler OT. Potent high-avidity neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses after COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Nat Cancer. 2023 Jan - Integrin Signaling Shaping BTK-Inhibitor Resistance.
Polcik L, Dannewitz Prosseda S, Pozzo F, Zucchetto A, Gattei V, Hartmann TN. Integrin Signaling Shaping BTK-Inhibitor Resistance. Cells. 2022 Jul 18 - Insights Into Bone Marrow Niche Stability: An Adhesion and Metabolism Route.
Ashok D, Polcik L, Dannewitz Prosseda S, Hartmann TN. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 - Kindlin-3 maintains marginal zone B cells but confines follicular B cell activation and differentiation.
Härzschel A, Li L, Krenn PW, Szenes-Nagy E, Andrieux G, Bayer E, Pfeifer D, Polcik L, Denk U, Höpner JP, Karabatak E, Danner DJ, Tangermann S, Kenner L, Jumaa H, Greil R, Börries M, Ruppert R, Maity PC, Hartmann TN. J Leukoc Biol. 2022 - CD44 loss of function sensitizes AML cells to the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax by decreasing CXCL12-driven survival cues.
Yu X, Munoz-Sagredo L, Streule K, Muschong P, Bayer E, Walter RJ, Gutjahr JC, Greil R, Concha ML, Müller-Tidow C, Hartmann TN, Orian-Rousseau V. Blood. 2021 - CD44 engagement enhances acute myeloid leukemia cell adhesion to the bone marrow microenvironment by increasing VLA-4 avidity
Gutjahr JC, Bayer E, Yu X, Laufer JM, Höpner JP, Tesanovic S, Härzschel A, Auer G, Rieß T, Salmhofer A, Szenes E, Haslauer T, Durand-Onayli V, Ramspacher A, Pennisi SP, Artinger M, Zaborsky N, Chigaev A, Aberger F, Neureiter D, Pleyer L, Legler DF, Orian-Rousseau V, Greil R, Hartmann TN.
Haematologica. 2020 - VLA-4 Expression and Activation in B Cell Malignancies: Functional and Clinical Aspects
Härzschel A, Zucchetto A, Gattei V, Hartmann TN.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 - TCL1 transgenic mice as a model for CD49d-high chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Szenes E, Härzschel A, Decker S, Tissino E, Pischeli J, Gutjahr JC, Kissel S, Pennisi S, Höpner JP, Egle A, Zaborsky N, Dierks C, Follo M, Chigaev A, Zucchetto A, Greil R, Gattei V, Hartmann TN.
Leukemia 2020 - CD49d promotes disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: new insights from CD49d bimodal expression
Tissino E, Pozzo F, Benedetti D, Caldana C, Bittolo T, Rossi FM, Bomben R, Nanni P, Chivilò H, Cattarossi I, Zaina E, Norris K, Polesel J, Gentile M, Tripepi G, Moia R, Santinelli E, Innocenti I, Olivieri J, D'Arena G, Laurenti L, Zaja F, Pozzato G, Chiarenza A, Di Raimondo F, Rossi D, Pepper C, Hartmann TN, Gaidano G, Del Poeta G, Gattei V, Zucchetto A.
Blood 2020