Uta Erdbrügger, MD Lab
PRIMARY APPOINTMENT:
Associate Professor, Nephrology
CONTACT:
UVA Division of Nephrology
PO Box 800133
Charlottesville, VA 22908
Telephone: 434-971-8888
Email: ue2u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
- 1996 MD degree, Medical School at Free University, Berlin, Germany
- 1997 Internship: Franz Volhard Klinik Buch, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- 1998 Residency Internal Medicine: Tulane University, Louisiana, USA
- 2001 Fellowship in Nephrology: University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, USA
- 2005 Senior Residency Hannover Medical School, Germany
- 2009 Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, USA
- 2017 Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, USA
FUNDED PROJECTS
- NIH 1k23HL12610-01A1 (Circulating and Urinary Microparticles as Markers of End-organ Damage in Hypertension)
RESEARCH AREAS:
Extracellular vesicles as novel bio-markers and bio-activators in HTN and Kidney disease.
CURRENT LAB MEMBERS

Luca Musante, PhD
Research Scientist
CONTACT:
Email: lm8qd@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
- 1994 Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Genova, Genova (Italy)
- 1996-2007 Researcher at the Laboratory on Pathophysiology of Uremia, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genova (Italy)
- 2000 M.S. Degree in Biochemical and Analytical Clinical Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia (Italy)
- 2005 PhD in Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy)
- 2008 Researcher, Centre of Bioanalytical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin (Ireland)
- 2016 Researcher, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA (U.S.A.)
- 2018 Assistant Professor of Research, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
Luca joined Dr Erdbrügger’s laboratory in 2016 after working in different European laboratories for many years. He obtained his BS in Biology from University of Genoa (Italy), a Master of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Pavia (Italy) and his PhD in Comparative and Experimental Medicine from the University of Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy).
His research interest focused at first on the application of biochemistry and protein chemistry aimed to study the molecular mechanisms triggering the onset of proteinuria in the recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in transplanted pediatric patients. Besides, he specialized in biofluid analysis and for this reason he has been constantly working on ameliorating and processing urine analysis with the aim to expand the limit of detection of biomarkers and identify new molecular pathways implicated in the development of kidney injury and impairment of the glomerular filtration barrier.
Luca’s current work is focused on the analysis of Extracellular Vescicles (EVs) in animal models of hypertension and human biofluids.
Like his fellow citizen Christopher Columbus a couple of years before him, Luca crossed the Atlantic Ocean when he heard that UVA sport facilities open at 5.30 am, so that he can enjoy his daily training routine at the crack of dawn.
CONTACT:
Email: sl8wm@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
- 2011 Degree in Environmental Biological Science
- 2013 MS Degree in Neuroscience
- 2016 PhD in Biomedical Science
- 2016 Visiting Scholar, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA (U.S.A.)
- 2017 Fellow, Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA (U.S.A.)
- 2018 Winner of a 2 year AHA Scientist Development Grant for the project “Subtypes of Leukocyte derived EVs in hypertension”
Sabrina enjoys exploring biology and its unknowns because it keeps her on her toes. Her main interest is in the study of extracellular vesicles and the way they communicate with one another through different body fluids.
Her exploration of various different scientific fields, from marine biology to neuroscience, is all connected by her curiosity to discover the unpredictable and reveal the unknown.
Like the things that really matter in life (love, integrity, friendship, etc.), the study of vesicles is microscopic and therefore not tangible. The more Sabrina explores this field, the more she realizes how active and unique the potential of each vesicle is.
Sabrina was introduced to the field of hypertension at UVA, a disease which afflicts more than 130 million people in the United States. In Dr. Erdbrügger’s Lab one of her main tasks is performing surgery on the hypertensive animal model. After having had first-hand experience with a disease through the suffering of her mother, Sabrina views research as a tool which connects her with people, giving them hope.
Lab Team Images
RESEARCH SUMMARY:
The Erdbrügger Lab is interested in studying the fascinating role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as novel bio-markers and bio-activators in kidney disease and high blood pressure. EVs are a very heterogeneous group of small vesicles which can derive from all cells in the body either by secretion or blebbing of cell membranes. Inititally thought as “cell trash” EVs are emerging as novel communicators in health and disease. Because of their small size (submicron) and heterogeneous nature our second focus of research is optimization of EV isolation and characterization. See links to our publications for more details.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
- Görgens A, Bremer M, Ferrer-Tur R, Murke F, Tertel T, Horn PA, Thalmann S, Welsh JA, Probst C, Guerin C, Boulanger CM, Jones JC, Hanenberg H, Erdbrügger U, Lannigan J, Ricklefs FL, El-Andaloussi S, Giebel B. Optimisation of imaging flow cytometry for the analysis of single extracellular vesicles by using fluorescence-tagged vesicles as biological reference material. J Extracell Vesicles. 2019;8(1):1587567.
- Eichner NZM, Gilbertson NM, Musante L, La Salvia S, Weltman A, Erdbrügger U, Malin SK. An Oral Glucose Load Decreases Postprandial Extracellular Vesicles in Obese Adults with and without Prediabetes. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 8;11(3).
- C Théry, KW Witwer, et al. “Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines” Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 2018, 7 (1), 1535750
- Erdbrügger U, Le TH. Extracellular vesicles as a novel diagnostic and research tool for patients with HTN and kidney disease. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2019 Sep 1;317(3):F641-F647. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00071.2019. Epub 2019 Jul 17. PubMed PMID: 31313949; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6766633.
- Intagliata NM, Davis JPE, Lafond J, Erdbruegger U, Greenberg CS, Northup PG, Caldwell SH.Acute kidney injury is associated with low factor XIII in decompensated cirrhosis. Dig Liver Dis. 2019 Apr 6; doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2019.03.011.[Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30967339.
- Görgens A, Bremer M, Ferrer-Tur R, Murke F, Tertel T, Horn PA, Thalmann S, Welsh JA, Probst C, Guerin C, Boulanger CM, Jones JC, Hanenberg H, Erdbrügger U, Lannigan J, Ricklefs FL, El-Andaloussi S, Giebel B.Optimisation of imaging flow cytometry for the analysis of single extracellular vesicles by using fluorescence-tagged vesicles as biological reference material. J Extracell Vesicles. 2019;8(1):1587567. doi: 10.1080/20013078.2019.1587567. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 30949308; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6442110.
- Erdbrügger U, Kielstein JT, Westman K, Ma JZ, Xin W, Bode-Böger SM, Segelmark M, Rasmussen N, De Groot K.Higher levels of SDMA and not ADMA are associated with poorer survival of trial patients with systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis. Eur J Rheumatol.2018 Sep;5(3):153-159. doi: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2018.17119. Epub 2018 Apr 2. PubMed PMID: 30071927; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6116852.
- Eichner NZM, Erdbrügger U, Malin SK. Extracellular Vesicles: A Novel Target for Exercise-Mediated Reductions in Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. J Diabetes Res. 2018;2018:7807245. doi: 10.1155/2018/7807245. eCollection 2018. Review. PubMed PMID: 30018986; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6029462.
- Eichner NZM, Gilbertson NM, Gaitan JM, Heiston EM, Musante L, LaSalvia S, Weltman A, Erdbrügger U, Malin SK.Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher extracellular vesicle counts in obese adults. Physiol Rep. 2018 May;6(10):e13701. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13701. PubMed PMID: 29845758; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5974724.
- Lannigan J, Erdbruegger U. Imaging flow cytometry for the characterization of extracellular vesicles. Methods.2017 Jan 1;112:55-67.doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2016.09.018. Epub 2016 Oct 6. PubMed PMID: 27721015.
- Han CZ, Juncadella IJ, Kinchen JM, Buckley MW, Klibanov AL, Dryden K, Onengut-Gumuscu S, Erdbrügger U, Turner SD, Shim YM, Tung KS, Ravichandran KS.Macrophages redirect phagocytosis by non-professional phagocytes and influence inflammation. Nature.2016 Nov 24;539(7630):570-574. doi: 10.1038/nature20141. Epub 2016 Nov 7. PubMed PMID: 27820945; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5799085.
- Erdbrügger U, Lannigan J.Analytical challenges of extracellular vesicle detection: A comparison of different techniques. Cytometry A. 2016 Feb;89(2):123-34. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.22795. Epub 2015 Dec 9. Review. PubMed PMID: 26651033.
- Erdbrügger U, Le TH. Extracellular Vesicles in Renal Diseases: More than Novel Biomarkers?. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2016 Jan;27(1):12-26. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2015010074. Epub 2015 Aug 6. Review. PubMed PMID: 26251351; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4696584.
- Erdbrügger U, Scheffner I, Mengel M, Schwarz A, Haller H, Gwinner W. Long-term impact of CMV infection on allografts and on patient survival in renal transplant patients with protocol biopsies. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2015 Dec 1;309(11):F925-32. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00317.2015. Epub 2015 Sep 9. PubMed PMID: 26354882.
- Burger D, Erdbrügger U, Burns KD. Re: Microparticles: markers and mediators of sepsis-induced microvascular dysfunction, immunosuppression, and AKI. Kidney Int. 2015 Oct;88(4):915. doi: 10.1038/ki.2015.208. PubMed PMID: 26422626.
- Erdbrügger U, Rudy CK, Etter ME, Dryden KA, Yeager M, Klibanov AL, Lannigan J. Imaging flow cytometry elucidates limitations of microparticle analysis by conventional flow cytometry. Cytometry A. 2014 Sep;85(9):756-70. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.22494. Epub 2014 Jun 5. PubMed PMID: 24903900.
- Woywodt A, Gerdes S, Ahl B, Erdbruegger U, Haubitz M, Weissenborn K. Circulating endothelial cells and stroke: influence of stroke subtypes and changes during the course of disease. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2012 Aug;21(6):452-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2010.11.003. PubMed PMID: 21852153.
- Erdbruegger U, Scheffner I, Mengel M, Schwarz A, Verhagen W, Haller H, Gwinner W. Impact of CMV infection on acute rejection and long-term renal allograft function: a systematic analysis in patients with protocol biopsies and indicated biopsies. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012 Jan;27(1):435-43. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfr306. Epub 2011 Jun 28. PubMed PMID: 21712490.
- Erdbrügger U, de Groot K. [Is methotrexate nephrotoxic? Dose-dependency, comorbidities and comedication]. Z Rheumatol. 2011 Sep;70(7):549-52. doi: 10.1007/s00393-011-0830-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 21735288.
- Dey-Hazra E, Hertel B, Kirsch T, Woywodt A, Lovric S, Haller H, Haubitz M, Erdbruegger U. Detection of circulating microparticles by flow cytometry: influence of centrifugation, filtration of buffer, and freezing. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2010 Dec 6;6:1125-33. doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S13236. PubMed PMID: 21191433; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3004516.
- Erdbruegger U, Dhaygude A, Haubitz M, Woywodt A. Circulating endothelial cells: markers and mediators of vascular damage. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2010 Dec;5(4):294-302. Review. PubMed PMID: 20528750.
- Kirsch T, Woywodt A, Klose J, Wyss K, Beese M, Erdbruegger U, Grossheim M, Haller H, Haubitz M. Endothelial-derived thrombospondin-1 promotes macrophage recruitment and apoptotic cell clearance. J Cell Mol Med. 2010 Jul;14(7):1922-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00799.x. Epub 2009 Jun 5. PubMed PMID: 19508384; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3823274.
- Dhaygude A, Erdbruegger U, Haubitz M, Woywodt A. ANCA-associated vasculitis: pathogenesis, novel markers of the disease and emerging therapies. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2009 Dec;61(4):411-37. Review. PubMed PMID: 19816393.
- Lovric S, Erdbruegger U, Kümpers P, Woywodt A, Koenecke C, Wedemeyer H, Haller H, Haubitz M. Rituximab as rescue therapy in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a single-centre experience with 15 patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2009 Jan;24(1):179-85. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfn430. Epub 2008 Aug 6. PubMed PMID: 18685144.
- Erdbruegger U, Grossheim M, Hertel B, Wyss K, Kirsch T, Woywodt A, Haller H, Haubitz M. Diagnostic role of endothelial microparticles in vasculitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Dec;47(12):1820-5. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken373. Epub 2008 Oct 16. PubMed PMID: 18927191.
- Gwinner W, Hinzmann K, Erdbruegger U, Scheffner I, Broecker V, Vaske B, Kreipe H, Haller H, Schwarz A, Mengel M. Acute tubular injury in protocol biopsies of renal grafts: prevalence, associated factors and effect on long-term function. Am J Transplant. 2008 Aug;8(8):1684-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02293.x. Epub 2008 Jun 28. PubMed PMID: 18557733.
- Kümpers P, Erdbrügger U, Grossheim M, Meyer GP, Hiss M, Gwinner W, Haller H, Haubitz M. Endothelial microparticles as a diagnostic aid in Churg-Strauss vasculitis-induced cardiomyopathy. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2008 May-Jun;26(3 Suppl 49):S86-9. PubMed PMID: 18799061.
- Grundmann M, Woywodt A, Kirsch T, Hollwitz B, Oehler K, Erdbruegger U, Haller H, Haubitz M. Circulating endothelial cells: a marker of vascular damage in patients with preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Mar;198(3):317.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.09.049. Epub 2008 Feb 20. PubMed PMID: 18068139.
- Gwinner W, Erdbruegger U, Mengel M, Hafer C, Kittner J, Witte T, Voelker B, Haller H. Scleroderma-like acute renal crisis in a patient with scleromyxedema. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Jul;22(7):2063-7. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfm103. Epub 2007 Mar 26. Review. PubMed PMID: 17389621.
- Kirsch T, Woywodt A, Beese M, Wyss K, Park JK, Erdbruegger U, Hertel B, Haller H, Haubitz M. Engulfment of apoptotic cells by microvascular endothelial cells induces proinflammatory responses. Blood. 2007 Apr 1;109(7):2854-62. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-06-026187. PubMed PMID: 17119109.
- Erdbruegger U, Haubitz M, Woywodt A. Circulating endothelial cells: a novel marker of endothelial damage. Clin Chim Acta. 2006 Nov;373(1-2):17-26. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2006.05.016. Epub 2006 May 16. Review. PubMed PMID: 16836991.
- Erdbruegger U, Woywodt A, Kirsch T, Haller H, Haubitz M. Circulating endothelial cells as a prognostic marker in thrombotic microangiopathy. Am J Kidney Dis. 2006 Oct;48(4):564-70. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.06.013. PubMed PMID: 16997052.
- Erdbrügger U, Hellmark T, Bunch DO, Alcorta DA, Jennette JC, Falk RJ, Nachman PH. Mapping of myeloperoxidase epitopes recognized by MPO-ANCA using human-mouse MPO chimers. Kidney Int. 2006 May;69(10):1799-805. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5000354. PubMed PMID: 16557221.
- Woywodt A, Erdbruegger U, Haubitz M. Circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells after angioplasty: news from the endothelial rescue squad. J Thromb Haemost. 2006 May;4(5):976-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.01920.x. PubMed PMID: 16689746.
- Woywodt A, Blann AD, Kirsch T, Erdbruegger U, Banzet N, Haubitz M, Dignat-George F. Isolation and enumeration of circulating endothelial cells by immunomagnetic isolation: proposal of a definition and a consensus protocol. J Thromb Haemost. 2006 Mar;4(3):671-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.01794.x. PubMed PMID: 16460450.
- Woywodt A, Goldberg C, Kirsch T, de Groot K, Erdbruegger U, Haller H, Haubitz M. Circulating endothelial cells in relapse and limited granulomatous disease due to ANCA associated vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Feb;65(2):164-8. doi: 10.1136/ard.2005.040980. Epub 2005 Sep 8. PubMed PMID: 16150786; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1798015.
- Erdbruegger U, Thomas DB, Hladik JA. Quiz page. Tubular epithelial injury consistent with osmotic nephrosis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2004 Aug;44(2):A45, e1. PubMed PMID: 15264204.
- Erdbruegger U. New insights into mechanism fo immune-mediated glomerular diseases. Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms Review. 2004; 1:73-81.
- Wassmuth R, Lentzsch S, Erdbruegger U, Schulz-Menger J, Doerken B, Dietz R, Friedrich MG. Subclinical cardiotoxic effects of anthracyclines as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging-a pilot study. Am Heart J. 2001 Jun;141(6):1007-13. doi: 10.1067/mhj.2001.115436. PubMed PMID: 11376317.