Fatemeh Zare-Shahneh
Ageing, Monocytes, Interferon & Thrombosis
In our laboratory, we focus on how ageing, interferon signalling and monocyte biology come together to influence the development of thrombosis.
As we age, the body undergoes profound changes in immune regulation and vascular health, creating conditions that increase the risk of thrombosis, or abnormal blood clot formation. Key players in this process are monocytes, versatile immune cells involved in inflammation, pathogen defence and tissue repair. Ageing alters both the number and behaviour of monocytes, contributing to a state known as “inflammaging”, which is characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation.
In younger individuals, interferon pathways guide monocytes toward balanced responses that clear infections while protecting blood vessels from excessive inflammation. However, ageing disrupts these pathways. Some signals become blunted, while others remain chronically active, driving monocytes into a more inflammatory state.
Together, dysregulated interferon signalling and hyper-reactive monocytes amplify the risk of stroke, heart attack and other thrombotic events in older adults.
Our lab is dedicated to uncovering how these pathways interact and identifying new strategies to restore balance within the ageing immune system. By combining advanced immunology, molecular profiling and translational research, we aim to develop insights that lead to better diagnostics and innovative therapies for age-related clotting disorders.
Positions held
- Since 2022: Group leader, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Mainz
- 2019 - 2022: Postdoctoral Fellow, University Medical Center, JGU, Mainz
- 2014 - 2015: Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz
Education
- 2015 - 2019: PhD (Dr. rer nat), Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Mainz (CTH), University Medical Center, JGU, Mainz
- 2009 - 2013: MSc in Medical Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Selected publications by Fatemeh Zare-Shahneh
Shahneh F, Probst HC, Wiesmann S, Gonzales N, Ruf W, Steinbrink K, Raker V and Becker C (2022) Inflammatory monocyte counts determine venous blood clot formation and resolution. Arteriosclero Thromb Vasc Biol, 42:145-155 Link
Shahneh F, Grill A, Klein M, Bopp T, Schäfer K, Raker V and Becker C (2021) Specialized regulatory T cells control venous blood clot resolution through SPARC. Blood, 137:1517-1526 Link
Johann K*, Bohn T*, Shahneh F*, Luther N, Birke A, Jaurich H, Helm M, Klein M, Raker V, Bopp T*, Barz M* and Becker C* (2021) Therapeutic melanoma inhibition by local micelle-mediated cyclic nucleotide repression. Nat Commun, 12:5981 (*indicates joint contribution) Link
Haub J, Roehrig N, Uhrin P, Schabbauer G, Eulberg D, Melchior F, Shahneh F, Probst HC, Becker C, Steinbrink K and Raker V (2019) Intervention of inflammatory monocyte activity limits dermal fibrosis. J Invest Dermatol, 139:2144-2153 Link
Luther N, Shahneh F, Brähler M, Krebs F, Kleis-Fischer B, Probst HC, Wenzel P, Schäfer K and Becker C (2016) Innate effector-memory T-cell activation regulates post-thrombotic vein wall inflammation and thrombus resolution. Circ Res, 119:1286-1295 Link