Hans Ulrich Scherer, MD PhD

Uli Scherer

Associate Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center.

I am a physician scientist, internist-rheumatologist by training, with a fundamental interest in understanding basic pathophysiological processes underlying autoimmunity and autoimmune disease (AID), in particular rheumatoid arthritis, and their relevance for clinical disease course and phenotypes. I follow a translational approach using single cell technologies to study various aspects of the biology of human auto-reactive B cells focusing on their origins, development and functional features, with the long-term goal of developing methods to modify, silence or eliminate auto-reactive B and plasma cells as therapeutic intervention in AID. This work includes the glycosylation of autoantibodies as distinctive and particular element.

5 recent publications related to B-cells and antibodies

  1. Antibodies and B cells recognizing citrullinated proteins display a broad cross-reactivity towards other post-translational modifications. Kissel T, Reijm S, Slot LM, Cavallari M, Wortel CM, Vergroesen RD, Stoeken-Rijsbergen G, Kwekkeboom JC, Kampstra A, Levarht E, Drijfhout JW, Bang H, Bonger KM, Janssen G, van Veelen PA, Huizinga T, Scherer HU, Reth M, Toes R. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Apr;79(4):472-480.
  2. N-Glycosylation Site Analysis of Citrullinated Antigen-Specific B-Cell Receptors Indicates Alternative Selection Pathways During Autoreactive B-Cell Development. Vergroesen RD, Slot LM, van Schaik BDC, Koning MT, Rispens T, van Kampen AHC, Toes REM, Scherer HU. Front Immunol. 2019 Sep 4;10:2092. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02092. eCollection 2019.
  3. N-Linked Glycans in the Variable Domain of IgG Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies Predict the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hafkenscheid L, de Moel E, Smolik I, Tanner S, Meng X, Jansen BC, Bondt A, Wuhrer M, Huizinga TWJ, Toes REM, El-Gabalawy H, Scherer HU. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Oct;71(10):1626-1633.
  4. The B cell response to citrullinated antigens in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.  Scherer HU, Huizinga TWJ, Krönke G, Schett G, Toes REM. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2018 Mar;14(3):157-169.
  5. Identification and characterisation of citrullinated antigen-specific B cells in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Kerkman PF, Fabre E, van der Voort EI, Zaldumbide A, Rombouts Y, Rispens T, Wolbink G, Hoeben RC, Spits H, Baeten DL, Huizinga TW, Toes RE, Scherer HU. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jun;75(6):1170-6.

Link to full publication list: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=scherer+hu&sort=date

Currently supervising the  PhD research of the following students as co-promoter

  1. Lise Hafkenscheid
  2. Hendy Kristyanto
  3. Rochelle Vergroesen
  4. Nienke Blomberg
  5. Corrie Wortel
  6. Sanne Reijm
  7. Theresa Kissel

Supervision of PhD awarded candidates (research related to B-cells and antibodies)

  1. Priscilla Kerkman (Co-promoter, Thesis ‘Identification and characterization of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-producing B cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)’, PhD Award 2017)
  2. Ayla Kempers (Co-promoter, Thesis ‘The Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody immune response and its effector functions in Rheumatoid Arthritis’, PhD Award 2020)

Member of work packages 2 and 5.

Back To Top