Dermatology

Allergology and Cutaneous Immunology

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Kerstan group

Our research group focuses on early immunological mechanisms in wasp and bee venom immunotherapy, as well as the role of adaptive immune cells in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory dermatoses. 

Given the high comorbidity of psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, we are particularly interested in cytokine-driven pro-inflammatory processes that connect cutaneous and systemic inflammation. In our projects, we combine high-resolution analytical approaches to characterize preclinical disease models and prospectively recruited patient cohorts, with a strong translational focus.

Group leader

Portraitfoto von PD Dr. med. Andreas Kerstan

PD Dr. Andreas Kerstan

Team

  • Dr. Janik Fleißner (MD, M.Sc., Clinical Scientist, Else Kröner Fellow)
  • Margit Ott (Medical Technical Assistant)
  • Claudia Rüth (Medical Technical Assistant)
  • Elena Werle (Diploma in Biology)
  • Luisa Ackermann (Medical Student)

Publications

  1. Dege, T., Kerstan, A., Goebeler, M., & Schmieder, A. (2026). Clinical pearl: Topical Lactobacillus application to disrupt Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and promote healing in chronic wounds. J Am Acad Dermatol, 94(5), e353–e355. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2025.12.071
  2. Fleissner, J., Dege, T., Benoit, S., Goebeler, M., & Kerstan, A. (2026). Eosinophilia Reflects Type 2 Immune Activation in Newly Diagnosed Bullous Pemphigoid, With No Evidence of Charcot-Leyden Crystals. Allergy. doi.org/10.1111/all.70443
  3. Frings, V. G., Glasel, M., Rau, M., Geier, A., Fleissner, J., Presser, D., Goebeler, M., & Kerstan, A. (2026). High Prevalence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Guide to Easily Assess the Clinical Risk of Comorbid Liver Disease. JID Innov, 6(1), 100419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjidi.2025.100419
  4. Aintablian, A., Cyran, L., Helal, M., Lehmann, C.H.K., Imdahl, F., Gräfenhan, T., Riedel, A., Dudziak, D., Kerstan, A. & Lutz, M.B. (2026). Low-dose allergen targeting to cDC2 induces long-term protection associated with induction of regulatory-like IL 10+ Foxp3- CD8+ T cells in mice. Front Immunol, 17:1846923. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1846923
  5. Azeem, M., Helal, M., Klein-Hessling, S., Serfling, E., Goebeler, M., Muhammad, K., & Kerstan, A. (2025). NFATc1 Fosters Allergic Contact Dermatitis Responses by Enhancing the Induction of IL-17-Producing CD8 Cells. J Invest Dermatol, 145(8), 1995–2006 e1995. doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.11.014
  6. Gran, F., Azeem, M., Serfling, E., Goebeler, M., Kerstan, A., & Muhammad, K. (2025). NFATc1 Abrogation in B Cells Ameliorates Contact Hypersensitivity Responses. Int J Mol Sci, 26(17). doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178125
  7. Kerstan, A., Dieter, K., Niebergall-Roth, E., Klingele, S., Junger, M., Hasslacher, C., Daeschlein, G., Stemler, L., Meyer-Pannwitt, U., Schubert, K., Klausmann, G., Raab, T., Goebeler, M., Kraft, K., Esterlechner, J., Schroder, H. M., Sadeghi, S., Ballikaya, S., Gasser, M.,…Kluth, M. A. (2022). Translational development of ABCB5(+) dermal mesenchymal stem cells for therapeutic induction of angiogenesis in non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. Stem Cell Res Ther, 13(1), 455. doi.org/10.1186/s13287-022-03156-9
  8. Cyran, L., Serfling, J., Kirschner, L., Raifer, H., Lohoff, M., Hermanns, H. M., Kerstan, A., Bodem, J., & Lutz, M. B. (2022). Flt3L, LIF, and IL-10 combination promotes the selective in vitro development of ESAM(low) cDC2B from murine bone marrow. Eur J Immunol, 52(12), 1946–1960. doi.org/10.1002/eji.202149663
  9. Frings, V. G., Roth, N., Glasel, M., Bauer, B., Goebeler, M., Presser, D., & Kerstan, A. (2022). Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Absence of Hyperhidrosis but Presence of a Proinflammatory Signature in Patients' Sweat. Acta Derm Venereol, 102, adv00793. doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v102.2731
  10. Kerstan, A., Dieter, K., Niebergall-Roth, E., Dachtler, A. K., Kraft, K., Stucker, M., Daeschlein, G., Junger, M., Gorge, T., Meyer-Pannwitt, U., Erfurt-Berge, C., von Engelhardt, C., Klare, A., Pfeiffer, C., Esterlechner, J., Schroder, H. M., Gasser, M., Waaga-Gasser, A. M., Goebeler, M.,…Kluth, M. A. (2022). Allogeneic ABCB5(+) mesenchymal stem cells for treatment-refractory chronic venous ulcers: a phase I/IIa clinical trial. JID Innov, 2(1). doi.org/10.1016/j.xjidi.2021.100067
  11. Frings, V. G., Bauer, B., Schuster, R., Goebeler, M., Presser, D., & Kerstan, A. (2021). Differences in anatomical area-specific wound healing in hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa after surgery. Eur J Dermatol, 31(5), 623–629. doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2021.4148 (Original work published Differences in anatomical area-specific wound healing in hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa after surgery.)
  12. Heitmann, J., Frings, V. G., Geier, A., Goebeler, M., & Kerstan, A. (2021). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and psoriasis - is there a shared proinflammatory network? J Dtsch Dermatol Ges, 19(4), 517–528. doi.org/10.1111/ddg.14425
  13. Kerstan, A., Niebergall-Roth, E., Esterlechner, J., Schroder, H. M., Gasser, M., Waaga-Gasser, A. M., Goebeler, M., Rak, K., Schrufer, P., Endres, S., Hagenbusch, P., Kraft, K., Dieter, K., Ballikaya, S., Stemler, N., Sadeghi, S., Tappenbeck, N., Murphy, G. F., Orgill, D. P.,…Kluth, M. A. (2021). Ex vivo-expanded highly pure ABCB5(+) mesenchymal stromal cells as Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant autologous advanced therapy medicinal product for clinical use: process validation and first in-human data. Cytotherapy, 23(2), 165–175. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.08.012
  14. Muhammad, K., Xavier, D., Klein-Hessling, S., Azeem, M., Rauschenberger, T., Murti, K., Avots, A., Goebeler, M., Klein, M., Bopp, T., Sielaff, M., Tenzer, S., Mockel, S., Aramburu, J., Lopez-Rodriguez, C., Kerstan, A., & Serfling, E. (2021). NFAT5 Controls the Integrity of Epidermis. Front Immunol, 12, 780727. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.780727
  15. Kahlert, K., Gran, F., Muhammad, K., Benoit, S., Serfling, E., Goebeler, M., & Kerstan, A. (2019). Aberrant B-cell Subsets and Immunoglobulin Levels in Patients with Moderate-to-severe Psoriasis. Acta Derm Venereol, 99(2), 226–227. doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3069
  16. Rauschenberger, T., Schmitt, V., Azeem, M., Klein-Hessling, S., Murti, K., Gran, F., Goebeler, M., Kerstan, A., Klein, M., Bopp, T., Serfling, E., & Muhammad, K. (2019). T Cells Control Chemokine Secretion by Keratinocytes. Front Immunol, 10, 1917. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01917
  17. Stoevesandt, J., Hosp, C., Kerstan, A., & Trautmann, A. (2018). Sensitization to Hymenoptera venom marker allergens: Prevalence, predisposing factors, and clinical implications. Clin Exp Allergy, 48(12), 1735–1743. doi.org/10.1111/cea.13237
  18. Stoevesandt, J., Hosp, C., Kerstan, A., & Trautmann, A. (2017). Safety of 100 microg venom immunotherapy rush protocols in children compared to adults. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol, 13, 32. doi.org/10.1186/s13223-017-0204-y
  19. Alrefai, H., Muhammad, K., Rudolf, R., Pham, D. A., Klein-Hessling, S., Patra, A. K., Avots, A., Bukur, V., Sahin, U., Tenzer, S., Goebeler, M., Kerstan, A., & Serfling, E. (2016). NFATc1 supports imiquimod-induced skin inflammation by suppressing IL-10 synthesis in B cells. Nat Commun, 7, 11724. doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11724
  20. Stoevesandt, J., Hosp, C., Kerstan, A., & Trautmann, A. (2015). Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy while maintaining cardiovascular medication: safe and effective. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 114(5), 411–416. doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2015.03.001
  21. Stoevesandt, J., Hain, J., Stolze, I., Kerstan, A., & Trautmann, A. (2014). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors do not impair the safety of Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy build-up phase. Clin Exp Allergy, 44(5), 747–755. doi.org/10.1111/cea.12276
  22. Stoevesandt, J., Hosp, C., Kerstan, A., & Trautmann, A. (2014). Risk stratification of systemic allergic reactions during Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy buildup phase. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges, 12(3), 244–255, 244–256. doi.org/10.1111/ddg.12261
  23. Kerstan, A., Beyersdorf, N., Stoevesandt, J., & Trautmann, A. (2012). Wasp venom immunotherapy expands a subpopulation of CD4(+)CD25+ forkhead box protein 3-positive regulatory T cells expressing the T-cell receptor Vbeta2 and Vbeta5.1 chains. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 130(4), 994–996 e993. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2012.05.010
  24. Kerstan, A., Albert, C., Klein, D., Brocker, E. B., & Trautmann, A. (2011). Wasp venom immunotherapy induces activation and homing of CD4(+)CD25(+) forkhead box protein 3-positive regulatory T cells controlling T(H)1 responses. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 127(2), 495–501 e491–496. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.11.025 
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