Sigal Lab

Our lab studies the gastrointestinal (GI) tract’s epithelium, cells lining the stomach and intestine that provide a critical barrier between our bodies and the outside world.

We are particularly interested in how the regeneration process works, and how interactions with regular microbiota and infectious bacteria contribute or throw off the process, ultimately leading to inflammation, gut dysfunction or cancer.

September, 2024 / Hepatol Commun

Long-term impact of scheduled regular endoscopic interventions for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

B. Özdirik
W. Veltzke-Schlieker
J.M. Nicklaus
H. Berger
D. Schmidt
S. Leonhardt
V. Penndorf
A. Adler
T. Müller
A. Wree
F. Tacke
M. Sigal

August, 2024 / Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab

Intestinal retinol saturase is implicated in the development of obesity and epithelial homeostasis upon injury

M.F. Kiefer
Y. Meng
N. Yang
M. Vahrenbrink
S. Wulff
C. Li
S.J. Wowro
K.M. Petricek
M. Sommerfeld
R.E. Flores
B. Obermayer
K. Piepelow
S. Klaus
K. Hartl
A. Guillot
F. Tacke
M. Sigal
M. Schupp

April 17, 2024 / Front Endocrinol

Elevated sortilin expression discriminates functional from non-functional neuroendocrine tumors and enables therapeutic targeting

F. Bolduan
A. Wetzel
Y. Giesecke
I. Eichhorn
N. Alenina
M. Bader
T.E. Willnow
B. Wiedenmann
M. Sigal

January 18, 2024 / Curr Top Microbiol Immunol

Gastric stem cell biology and helicobacter pylori infection

J. Wizenty
M. Sigal

December, 2023 / Hepatol Int

Hepatobiliary long-term consequences of COVID-19: dramatically increased rate of secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill COVID-19 patients

S. Leonhardt
C. Jürgensen
J. Frohme
D. Grajecki
A. Adler
M. Sigal
J. Leonhardt
J.M. Voll
J.M. Kruse
R. Körner
K.U. Eckardt
H.J. Janssen
V. Gebhardt
M.D. Schmittner
C. Frey
H. Müller-Ide
M. Bauer
C. Thibeault
F. Kurth
L.E. Sander
T. Müller
F. Tacke

November 06, 2023 / Signal Transduct Target Ther

Human embryo models: unveiling sophisticated self-organization of stem cells during post-implantation stages

M. Lin
M. Sigal

October 30, 2023 / Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol

A fucoidan plant drink reduces Helicobacter pylori load in the stomach: a real-world study

Q.L. Teng
S.J. Sui
Z. Zhu
Q. Gao
H. Ge
K.Q. Wang
L.S. Lino-Silva
M. Sigal
J.R. White
Q.H. Peng
Y.Z. Wei

October 01, 2023 / Hepatobil Surg Nutr

Mucosa-associated microbiota alterations in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) before and after liver transplantation—who is calling the shots?

M. Demir
M. Sigal

September, 2023 / Clin Transl Gastroenterol

Association of helicobacter pylori positivity with risk of disease and mortality

J. Wizenty
P.H. Koop
J. Clusmann
F. Tacke
C. Trautwein
K.M. Schneider
M. Sigal
C.V. Schneider

September, 2023 / J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

Osteopontin is a prognostic circulating biomarker in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms

E. Kidess
Y. Giesecke
I. Eichhorn
R. Mohr
H. Jann
C. Fischer
B. Wiedenmann
C. Roderburg
F. Tacke
M. Sigal

Science June 29, 2023

Colon tissue made in the lab

The intestine has a complex anatomical structure that includes “crypts.” Researchers led by Michael Sigal have now reconstructed these glands. In “Nature Communications”, they describe how the cells communicate with each other and how people with gut disorders could benefit from their findings.

Michael Sigal, Simon Haas und Gabriele G. Schiattarella

Press Release No. 51 November 22, 2022 Berlin

ERC Starting Grants for Berlin scientists

They have their sights set on serious diseases: Gabriele G. Schiattarella analyzes mechanisms of heart failure, Simon Haas wants to improve immunotherapies for leukemia and Michael Sigal would like to prevent gastrointestinal diseases. Now, the ERC is awarding the researchers with a Starting Grant.

Press Release No. 17 April 11, 2022 Berlin

How bacteria cause tissue changes in the stomach

When the bacterium Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach, it causes inflammation and increases the risk of stomach cancer. In “Nature Communications” researchers from Charité and MDC elucidate changes which occur inside the gastric glands during an infection. The findings may herald a new treatment target in stomach cancer.

Press Release No. 9 February 15, 2021 Berlin

How the immune system paves the way for SARS-CoV-2

The immune system actually wants to fight SARS-CoV-2 with antiviral signaling molecules. But a research team from Charité and MDC has now shown how such a signaling molecule can promote the replication of the virus. The results have been published in the journal "EMBO Molecular Medicine".

Science August 24, 2020

New PI strengthens exchange between MDC and Charité

MDC welcomes a new guest PI: Dr. Michael Sigal, a clinician scientist at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin who studies how stem cells contribute to gastrointestinal disorders and cancer. He is excited to partner with MDC to explore the gut’s interior lining on the single cell level.