Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is an autoimmune disease. From a histological point of view it is characterized by a triad of vasculitis, granulomas and necrosis. We aim to find and characterise the predominant regulated kind of cell death. This can lead to a better understanding of the disease and to new therapy approaches.

My study focuses on necroptosis, which is the today best described form of regulated necrosis. On the one hand we focus on immunostainings on nasal biopsies of GPA patients to describe the cell death. On the other hand we compare mRNA and protein expression levels of necroptosis key-molecules in GPA patients and healthy controls to get a first idea of the reasons why there is necroptosis taking place in this disease.