Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Christian Behl - IFZN

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Christian Behl
Curriculum vitae
Education and academic positions
1982 – 1988, Study of Biology at the Julius Maximilians University Würzburg; July 1988, Diploma (cum
laude); 1988 – 1991, PhD thesis in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. E. Buchner (Institute for Genetic) and
Prof. Dr. U. Bogdahn (Department for Tumour Biology) at the Neurological Hospital Würzburg;
December 1991, PhD degree (magna cum laude); 1991 – 1992, Postdoctoral Fellow at the
Neurological Hospital Würzburg; 1992 – 1994 Postdoctoral Researcher at the Salk Institute for
Biological Studies in San Diego (Prof. Dr. D. Schubert), USA; 1994 – 1996, Research Scientist, Head
of the Steroidpharmacology Group at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry Munich (Director: Prof. Dr.
Dr. F. Holsboer); 1997 – 2002 Head (C3) of an Independent Max Planck Society Research Group at
the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry Munich; since June 2002 Full Professor (C4) for
Pathobiochemistry, University Mainz, and Chair of the Department of Pathobiochemistry; since
January 2003 Executive Director of the Institute for Physiological Chemistry & Pathobiochemistry,
University Mainz; since August 2005 Chair of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Neurosciences
(IFZN) of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Current position
Full Professor for Pathobiochemistry (C4), Institute for Physiological Chemistry & Pathobiochemistry,
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; Executive Director of the Institute for Physiological Chemistry &
Pathobiochemistry; Chair of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Neurosciences (IFZN) of the
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Research interests
Neurodegenerative disorders, biochemistry of ageing
Memberships and professional functions
Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Journal of Neural Transmission (since 1997) and of the
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, ECNP (since 2003); Member of the Executive
Committee of the Society for Applied Vitamin Research, GVF (since 2002), Advisory Board of the
“Hirnliga e.V.” (since 2005); Member of the American Society for Neuroscience; the New York
Academy of Sciences; the German Society of Neurosciences; the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft
Neuropsychopharmakologie und Pharmakopsychiatrie” (AGNP); the German Society for Biological
Psychiatry
Honors and awards
1995, Award of the German Hirnliga e.V.; 1998, Organon Research Award for Biological Psychiatry;
1999 HERMES Vitamin Award; 2003 AGNP Award for Psychopharmacology Research by the Lilly Co.
Publications (as at Spring 2007)
Total number of publications: 123
Publications in: J Biol Chem (6), Mol Pharmacol (3), Science (1), Endocrinology (3) and others
Original articles since 2002
1. Behl C (2002) Estrogen can protect neurons: modes of action. J Steroid Biochem 83: 195-197.
2. Zschocke J, Manthey D, Bayatti N, van der Burg B, Goodenough S, Behl C (2002) Estrogen
receptor alpha-mediated silencing of caveolin gene expression in neuronal cells. J Biol Chem
277:38772-38780.
3. Behl C, Moosmann B (2002) Oxidative nerve cell death in Alzheimer’s disease and stroke:
antioxidants as neuroprotective compounds. Biol Chem 383: 521-536.

4. Behl C, Moosmann B (2002) Antioxidant neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease as preventive and
therapeutic approach. Free Radical Bio Med 33: 182-191.
5. Moosmann B, Behl C (2002) Secretory peptide hormones are biochemical antioxidants: structureactivity
relationship. Mol Pharmacol 61: 260-268.
6. Marsicano G, Moosmann B, Hermann H, Lutz B, Behl C (2002) Neuroprotective properties of
cannabinoids against oxidative stress: role of the cannabinoid receptor CB1. J Neurochem 80:
448-456.
7. Marsicano G*, Goodenough S*, Monory K, Hermann H, Eder M, Cannich A, Azad SC, Cascio MG,
Gutierrez SO, van der Stelt M, López-Rodriguez ML, Casanova E, Schütz G, Zieglgänsberger W,
Di Marzo V, Behl C*, Lutz B* (2003) [ * equal contributions] CB1 cannabinoid receptors and ondemand
defense against excitotoxicity. Science, 302: 84-88.
8. Bayatti N, Zschocke J, Behl C (2003) Brain region-specific neuroprotective action and signaling of
corticotropin-releasing hormone in primary neurons. Endocrinology 144: 4051-4060.
9. Goodenough S, Schäfer M, Behl C (2003) Estrogen-induced cell signalling in a cellular model of
Alzheimer's disease. J Steroid Biochem 84: 301-305.
10. Zschocke J, Manthey D, Bayatti N, Behl C (2003) Functional interaction of estrogen receptor alpha
and caveolin isoforms in neuronal SK-N-MC cells. J Steroid Biochem 84: 167-170.
11. Zitzler J, Link D, Schäfer R, Liebetrau W, Kazinski M, Bonin-Debs A, Behl C, Buckel P, Brinkmann
U (2004) High-throughput functional genomics identifies genes that ameliorate toxicity due to
oxidative stress in neuronal HT-22 cells: GFPT2 protects cells against peroxide. Mol Cell
Proteomics 3, 834-840.
12. Schäfer M, Goodenough S, Moosmann B, Behl C (2004) Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase
3ß is involved in the resistance to oxidative stress in neuronal HT22 cells. Brain Res 1005, 84-89.
13. van de Stolpe A, Slycke AJ, Reinders MO, Zomer AW, Goodenough S, Behl C, Seasholtz AF, van
der Saag PT (2004) Estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated transcriptional regulation of the human
corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein promoter: differential effects of ERα and ERβ. Mol
Endocrinol 18, 2908-2923.
14. Goodenough S, Conrad S, Skutella T, Behl C (2004) Inactivation of glycogen synthase protects
against kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in vivo.�kinase-3ß Brain Res 1026, 116-125.
15. Zschocke J, Bayatti N, Clement AM, Witan H, Figiel M, Engele J, Behl C (2005) Differential
promotion of glutamate transporter expression and function by glucocorticoids in astrocytes from
various brain regions. J Biol Chem 280, 34924-34932.
16. Ludemann N, Clement A, Hans VH, Leschik J, Behl C, Brandt R (2005) O-glycosylation of the tail
domain of neurofilament protein M in human neurons and in spinal cord tissue of a rat model of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). J Biol Chem 280, 31648-31658.
17. Goodenough S, Schleusner D, Pietrzik C, Skutella T, Behl C (2005) Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß
links neuroprotection by 17ß-estradiol to key Alzheimer processes. Neuroscience 132, 581-589.
18. Zschocke J, Bayatti N, Behl C (2005) Caveolin and GLT-1 gene expression is reciprocally
regulated in primary astrocytes: association of GLT-1 with non-caveolar lipid rafts. Glia 49, 275-
287.
19. Bayatti N, Hermann H, Lutz B, Behl C (2005) Corticotropin-releasing hormone-mediated induction
of intracellular signaling pathways and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression is inhibited by
the activation of the endocannabinoid system. Endocrinology 146, 1205-1213.
20. Gamerdinger M, Manthey D, Behl C (2006) Estrogen receptor subtype-specific repression of
calpain expression and calpain enzymatic activity-implications for neuroprotection against Ca 2+ -
mediated excitotoxicity. J Neurochem 97(1), 57-68.
21. Manthey D, Behl C (2006) From structural biochemistry to expression profiling: Neuroprotective
activities of estrogen. Neuroscience 138(3), 845-850.
22. Kern A, Roempp B, Prager K, Walter J, Behl C (2006) Down-regulation of endogenous amyloid
precursor protein processing due to cellular aging. J Biol Chem 281(5), 2405-2413.
23. Moosmann B, Behl C (2007) Mitochondrial encoded cystein predicts animal lifespan. Aging Cell, in
re-review

24. Ebinger M, Behl C, Rosenhagen M, Uhr M (2007) P-glycoprotein has Negligible Effects on
Estradiol and Testosterone in Mice. Neurosci Lett, in press
25. Clement AB, Hanstein R, Schröder A, Nagel H, Fahrenholz F, Behl C (2007) Effects of neuron
specific ADAM10 modulation in an in vivo model of acute excitotoxic stress. Neuroscience, in rereview
26. Gamerdinger M, Clement AB, Behl C (2007) Cholesterol-like effects of selective cyclooxygenase
inhibitors and fibrates on cellular membranes and amyloid-beta production. Mol Pharmacol 72(1):
141-151
27. Kuhlmann CRW, Tamaki R, Gamerdinger M, Lessmann V, Behl C, Kempski OS, Luhmann HJ
(2007) Inhibition of the myosin light chain kinase prevents hypoxia-induced blood brain barrier
disruption. J Neurochem (April 10), in press
Reviews and book chapters
28. Behl C (2002) Neuroprotective strategies in Alzheimer’s disease. Adv Exp Med Biol 513: 475-496.
29. Behl C (2002) Sex hormones, neuroprotection and cognition. Prog Brain Res 138:135-142.
30. Moosmann B, Behl C (2002) Antioxidants as treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Expert
Opin Inv Drug 11:1407-1435.
31. Behl C (2002) Estrogen as a neuroprotective hormone. Nat Rev Neurosci 3: 433-442.
32. Behl C (2002) Neuroprotective effects of estrogens in the central nervous system: mechanisms of
action. In: Risk and protective Factors in Schizophrenia: Towards a Conceptual Model of the
Disease Process, H. Häfner (Ed.), Springer, Steinkopff, Darmstadt: 263-270.
33. Behl C (2002) Oxidativer Streß im Gehirn und antioxidativer Nervenzellschutz durch Phenole In:
Vitamine, Spurenelemente und Mineralstoffe. Biesalski, Köhrle, Schümann (eds.), Thieme Verlag,
Stuttgart: 532-537.
34. Behl C (2003) Molecular Aging Research. unter: www.springer.de
35. Behl C (2003) Neuroprotective strategies in Alzheimer’s disease. In: Molecular and Cellular
Biology of Neuroprotection in the CNS. Alzheimer C. (ed.). Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers /
Landes Bioscience / Eurekah.com, 475-496.
36. Moosmann B, Behl C (2004) Selenoproteins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and the consequences:
Revisiting of the mevalonate pathway. Trends Cardiovas Med 14, 273-281.
37. Moosmann B, Behl C (2004) Selenoprotein synthesis and side-effects of statins. Lancet 363, 892-
894.
38. Behl C (2004) Freie Radikale. In: Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen des Alters. Winkler/Ludoph
(ed.). Thieme, 3-14.
39. Behl C (2004) Proteinaggregation und Neurodegeneration. In: Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen
des Alters. Winkler/Ludoph (ed.). Thieme, 31-34.
40. Behl C (2004) Molekulare Grundlagen des Alterns - eine Einführung. In: Molekulare Medizin, Band
13 - Molekularmedizinische Grundlagen von altersspezifischen Erkrankungen. Ganten/Ruckpaul
(ed.). Springer Verlag, 67-86.
41. Bayatti N, Behl C (2005) The neuroprotective actions of corticotropin releasing hormone. Aging
Res Rev 4, 258-270.
42. Pietrzik C, Behl C (2005) Concepts for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: molecular
mechanisms and clinical application. Int J Exp Pathol 86, 173-185.
43. Behl C (2005) Oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease: implications for prevention and therapy.
Subcellular Biochemistry 38, 65-78.
44. Behl C (2005) Oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s Disease: Implications for prevention and therapy. In:
Subcellular Biochemistry 38: Alzheimer’s Disease. Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Amyloid ß.
Harris/Fahrenholz (ed.). Springer Verlag, 65-78.

45. Behl C (2005) Modulators of endogenous neuroprotection: estrogen, corticotropin-releasing
hormone and endocannabinoids. In: Hormones and the Brain. Kordon et al. (ed.). Springer Verlag,
201-212.
46. Behl C (2006) The search for novel avenues for the therapy and prevention of Alzheimer’s
disease. Drug News Perspect 19(1), 5-12.
47. Hajieva P, Behl C (2006) Antioxidants as a potential therapy against age-related
neurodegenerative diseases: amyloid beta toxicity and Alzheimer’s disease. Curr Pharm Design
12(6), 699-704.