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Changes in diet and the environment constantly pose new challenges to the human metabolism. Different organs and tissues work together in complex interactions to keep the metabolism in balance. The human body has a sophisticated system of inter-organ communication that allows cells to influence metabolic pathways in distant tissues. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to a wide range of human diseases.
Two interdisciplinary projects of the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) are investigating the complex networks and mechanisms that control the metabolism with the aim of developing new therapeutic approaches.
The human body is a highly complex network of organs and tissues that communicate, exchange signals and metabolites, and influence each other. This inter-organ communication plays a crucial role in the development and treatment of disease, but is not yet fully understood. In particular, our metabolism is closely linked to inflammation, aging and chronic disease. Metabolites can circulate as signaling molecules between tissues, either promoting healing or exacerbating disease.
Inter-organ metabolomics: new insights for medicine
A new field of research is coming into focus: inter-organ metabolomics investigates which metabolic products are exchanged between organs, how they influence biological processes and what role they play in disease mechanisms. In order to better understand these interrelationships, the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) have launched the innovation fund "Inter-Organ Metabolomics". The goal is to bring together researchers from different disciplines to gain new insights across disciplinary boundaries.
Two outstanding projects have been selected for funding and will receive a total budget of up to 766.000 euros (Project 1) and 796.000 euros (Project 2) over 2025 and 2026.
When the immune system increases muscle breakdown (project 1)
Muscle loss is not only the result of immobility or malnutrition—the immune system often plays a crucial role. Certain metabolites released in serious diseases such as cancer or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can permanently reprogram immune cells. Instead of regulating inflammation, they promote muscle atrophy. This may play a critical role in cachexia, a syndrome that leads to muscle wasting that cannot be fully reversed even with improved nutrition.
"Our goal is to find out which metabolites alter the immune system in a way that increases muscle loss. If we understand this, we can intervene therapeutically in a targeted way," explains Dr. Maria Rohm from Helmholtz Munich, scientist at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and head of the funded project "Metabolite-mediated epigenetic changes in immune cells induce a coordinated response across tissues in cachexia".
In addition to the immune system, fat metabolism may also play a key role in cachexia. "There are indications that adipose tissue acts as an early signal transmitter in cachexia and communicates with the muscles. If we can decipher these mechanisms, we may be able to slow down or even stop the process," says Prof. Alexander Bartelt of the Technical University of Munich and scientist at the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from five of the eight German Centers for Health Research—DZD, DZHK, DZL (lung research), DZIF (infection research) and DKTK (translational cancer research)—is investigating these mechanisms. Using cell models, disease models and patient data, the researchers are analyzing which biochemical pathways control this fatal process—in the hope of developing new therapeutic approaches to combat cachexia.
"By combining metabolomics, epigenetics and immunology, we are trying to identify the mechanism of tissue communication mediated by immune cells that leads to muscle wasting in cachexia and sarcopenia," adds DZIF scientist Prof. Karsten Hiller from the Technische Universität Braunschweig.
The genetic trail of inflammation in old age (project 2)
Cardiovascular disease, cancer, COPD and diabetes are among the most common age-related diseases. A genetic change in the blood system called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) may play a key role. It occurs in more than 20 percent of people over the age of 65 and is associated with chronic inflammation and impaired healing processes in the heart, lung and blood vessels.
But how exactly do these genetic changes affect the immune system and communication between organs? The second funded project, "Targeting metabolic interorgan communication in inflammation-induced aging—how somatic mutations drive age-related diseases," will investigate this question.
"We have learned that genetic mutations in blood cells not only increase the risk of leukemia, but also influence inflammatory and metabolic processes in other organs," says Prof. Michael Rieger from the Frankfurt University Hospital, scientist in the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK).
"This finding opens up completely new possibilities for fighting age-related diseases at their roots," adds DZL scientist Prof. Soni Pullamsetti from the Justus Liebig University Giessen.
The interdisciplinary team of researchers from five German Centers (DKTK, DZD, DZHK, DZIF and DZL) is investigating these questions. The goal is to decipher the effects of CHIP mutations in blood cells on inflammatory processes and metabolic changes in the affected organs. These findings could make a decisive contribution to the development of new prevention and treatment strategies against age-related diseases.
DZG: Joint research fosters new approaches
The two funded projects illustrate the following: Complex disease mechanisms can only be elucidated through interdisciplinary cooperation. Researchers from cardiovascular research, pulmonary medicine, oncology, metabolic medicine and infection research are combining their expertise to answer common questions.
The DZG Innovation Fund specifically supports cooperation across specialist and institutional boundaries—with the aim of developing new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of widespread diseases.
DZG Innovation Fund: Funded projects 2025/26 on the topic of "Interorgan Metabolomics”
Project 1: “Metabolite-mediated epigenetic changes in immune cells induce a coordinated response across tissues in cachexia.”
Scientists involved:
Maria Rohm (DZD, Helmholtz Munich), Stephan Herzig (DZD, Helmholtz Munich), Ali Önder Yildirim (DZL, Helmholtz Munich), Soni Pullamsetti (DZL, Justus Liebig University Giessen), Karsten Hiller (DZIF, Technische Universität Braunschweig), Maximilian Reichert (DKTK, TUM University Hospital), Alexander Bartelt (DZHK, Technical University of Munich)
Project 2: “Targeting the metabolic interorgan communication of ‘inflamm-aging’ – how somatic mutations drive common age-associated diseases.”
Scientists involved:
Michael Rieger (DKTK, Frankfurt University Hospital), Stefanie Dimmeler (DZHK, Goethe University Frankfurt), Soni Pullamsetti (DZL, Justus Liebig University Giessen), Triantafyllos Chavakis (DZD, Technische Universität Dresden), Christoph Spinner (DZIF, Technical University of Munich)
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On the German Centres for Health Research:
The main goal of the Federal Government's health research programme is to combat widespread diseases more effectively. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal States have created the conditions for this by establishing the German Centres for Health Research (DZG) as long-term, equal partnerships between non-university research institutions and universities and university hospitals.
Several thousand basic researchers, clinical researchers and doctors collaborate in one of Germany's largest health research networks to bring medical progress to patients more quickly - across research disciplines and organisations.
https://deutschezentren.de/en/news/the-language-of-organs-how-faulty-communicati...# DZG website
Dysregulation of the complex communication processes between organs such as the liver, heart, intest ...
Maria Rohm/Helmholtz Munich/DZD
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Dysregulation of the complex communication processes between organs such as the liver, heart, intest ...
Maria Rohm/Helmholtz Munich/DZD
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