Dr. Indulekha Karunakaran
Junior group leader
Tel: 0228 287 11370
indulekha.karunakaran (at) ukbonn.de

©UKB /J. F. Saba

Research Interests and Projects

Our current research focuses on the interplay between helminth infections, immune modulation, and metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. We explore eosinophil and macrophage immunometabolism in the context of infection, aging, and metabolic health. The aim is to bridge basic immunology, metabolic disease research, and translational applications in human health.
Currently we are involved in interdisciplinary projects investigating helminth-mediated immune modulation, metabolic inflammation, and infectious diseases. Our work connects basic science and clinical research, advancing understanding of immune-metabolic interactions and their implications for global health.

Team Members

Lilly Menck (B.Sc)

Nisha Pauly (M.Sc)

Aleksandra Dubiel (M.Sc)

Nina Engel (M.Sc)

Wiebke Strutz (BTA)

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Hübner MP, de Coninck D, Lenz B, Surendar J, Koschel M, Gandjui NVT, Andrew BA, Nchang LC, Ebob AOB, Fombad FF, Springer LM, Eppe L, Schildberg FA, Wanji S, Hoerauf A, Pfeifer A, Karunakaran I. The role of the IL-9‒NLRP3 axis in insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation during diet-induced obesity. Cell Mol Immunol. 2025 Nov;22(11):1478-1490. doi: 10.1038/s41423-025-01340-4.
  2. *#Karunakaran I*, Alam S, Jayagopi S, Frohberger SJ, Hansen JN, Kuehlwein J, Hölbling BV, Schumak B, Hübner MP, Gräler MH, Halle A, van Echten-Deckert G. Neural sphingosine 1-phosphate accumulation activates microglia and links impaired autophagy and inflammation. Glia. 2019 Oct;67(10):1859-1872. doi: 10.1002/glia.23663. Epub 2019 Jun 24. PMID: 31231866. *# As shared first and corresponding author
  3. Karunakaran I*, Surendar J*, Ransmann P, Brühl M, Kowalski S, Frische V, Hmida J, Nachtsheim S, Hoerauf A, Wirtz DC, Hübner MP, Strauss AC, Schildberg FA. Seroprevalence and Association of Toxoplasma gondii with Bone Health in a Cohort of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis Patients. Biomedicines. 2024 Jun 24;12(7):1400. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12071400. PMID: 39061974; PMCID: PMC11274202. *shared first author
  4. Indulekha K, Surendar J, Anjana RM, Geetha L, Gokulakrishnan K, Pradeepa R, Mohan V.Metabolic obesity, adipocytokines, and inflammatory markers in Asian Indians--CURES-124. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2015;17(2):134-41. doi: 1089/dia.2014.0202. Epub 2014 Dec 5. PMID: 25478993
  5. Indulekha K, Surendar J, Anjana RM, Gokulakrishnan K, Balasubramanyam M, Aravindhan V,Mohan V. Circulating levels of high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and total adiponectin in relation to fat distribution, oxidative stress and inflammation in Asian Indians. Dis Markers. 2012;33(4):185-92. doi: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0924.
  6. Indulekha K, Anjana RM, Surendar J, Mohan V. Association of visceral and subcutaneous fatwith glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers in Asian Indians (CURES-113). Clin Biochem. 2011;44(4):281-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2010.12.015.
  7. Indulekha K, Surendar J, Mohan V. High sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in Asian Indians with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance (CURES-105). J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2011;5(4):982-8. doi: 10.1177/193229681100500421. PMID: 21880241 Free PMC article.
  8. Lenz B, Andrew BA, Ritter M, Karunakaran I, Gandjui NVT, Nchang LC, Surendar J, Ebob AOB, Ehrens A, Klarmann-Schulz U, Ricchiuto A, Kuehlwein JM, Fombad FF, Ngwa AM, Katcho TD, Hoerauf A, Wanji S, Hübner MP. The design and development of a study protocol to investigate Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa and Mansonella perstans-mediated modulation of the metabolic and immunological profile in lean and obese individuals in Cameroon. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0285689. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285689.
  9. Surendar J, Karunakaran I, Frohberger SJ, Koschel M, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Macrophages Mediate Increased CD8 T Cell Inflammation During Weight Loss in Formerly Obese Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Apr 28;11:257. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00257. PMID: 32411095; PMCID: PMC7198814.
  10. Frohberger SJ, Fercoq F, Neumann AL, Surendar J, Stamminger W, Ehrens A, Karunakaran I, Remion E, Vogl T, Hoerauf A, Martin C, Hübner MP.  S100A8/S100A9 deficiency increases neutrophil activation and protective immune responses against invading infective L3 larvae of the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Feb 27;14(2):e0008119. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008119. eCollection 2020 Feb. PMID: 32107497 Free PMC article
  11. Surendar J, Frohberger SJ, Karunakaran I, Schmitt V, Stamminger W, Neumann AL, Wilhelm C, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Adiponectin Limits IFN-γ and IL-17 Producing CD4 T Cells in Obesity by Restraining Cell Intrinsic Glycolysis. Front Immunol. 2019 29;10:2555. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02555. eCollection 2019.
  12. Mitroi DN, Karunakaran I, Gräler M, Saba JD, Ehninger D, Ledesma MD, van Echten-Deckert G. SGPL1 (sphingosine phosphate lyase 1) modulates neuronal autophagy via phosphatidylethanolamine production. Autophagy. 2017;13(5):885-899. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2017.1291471. PMID: 28521611; PMCID: PMC5446076.
  13. Mitroi DN*, Deutschmann AU*, Raucamp M, Karunakaran I, Glebov K, Hans M, Walter J, Saba J, Gräler M, Ehninger D, Sopova E, Shupliakov O, Swandulla D, van Echten-Deckert G. Sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase ablation disrupts presynaptic architecture and function via an ubiquitin- proteasome mediated mechanism. SciRep. 2016;6:37064. *equal contribution doi: 10.1038/srep37064. PMID: 27883090
  14. Pradeepa R, Surendar J, Indulekha K, Chella S, Anjana RM, Mohan V. Association of serum adiponectin with diabetic microvascular complications among south Indian type 2 diabetic subjects - (CURES-133). Clin Biochem. 2015 Jan;48(1-2):33-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2014.10.009. Epub 2014 Oct 30. PMID: 25445230
  15. Pradeepa R, Surendar J, Indulekha K, Chella S, Anjana RM, Mohan V. Relationship of diabetic retinopathy with coronary artery disease in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes: the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES) Eye Study--3. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2015 Feb;17(2):112-8. doi: 10.1089/dia.2014.0141. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25375662
  16. Pradeepa R, Chella S, Surendar J, Indulekha K, Anjana RM, Mohan V. Prevalence of peripheral vascular disease and its association with carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes: the Chennai urban rural epidemiology study (CURES 111). Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2014 May;11(3):190-200. doi: 10.1177/1479164114524584. Epub 2014 Mar 13. PMID: 24627461 Free article.
  17. Roopa M, Deepa M, Indulekha K, Mohan V. Prevalence of sleep abnormalities and their association with metabolic syndrome among Asian Indians: Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES-67). J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Nov 1;4(6):1524-31. doi: 10.1177/193229681000400630. PMID: 21129351 Free PMC article
  18. Surendar J, Indulekha K, Aravindhan V, Ganesan A, Mohan V. Association of cystatin-C with metabolic syndrome in normal glucose-tolerant subjects (CURES-97). Diabetes Technol Ther. 2010 Nov;12(11):907-12. doi: 10.1089/dia.2010.0077. Epub 2010 Sep 30. PMID: 20879967
  19. Gokulakrishnan K, Anjana RM, Indulekha K, Anuradha S, Mohan V. Association of hypoadiponectinemia with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in urban south Indians--(CURES - 81). Indian J Med Res. 2010 Sep;132:271-7.
  20. Gokulakrishnan K, Indulekha K, Ganesan S, Anuradha S, Mohan V. Adiponectin and carotid intimal medial thickness in subjects with and without glucose intolerance (CURES-82). Diabetes Technol Ther. 2010 Feb;12(2)doi:109-15. 10.1089/dia.2009.0100.
  21. Pradeepa R, Surendar J, Indulekha K, Chella S, Anjana RM, Mohan V. Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its Association with Coronary Artery Disease Among an Urban Elderly South Indian Population (CURES- 145). J Assoc Physicians India. 2016 May;64(5):20-25. PMID: 27735144.
  22. Surendar J, Indulekha K, Mohan V, Pradeepa R. Association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with metabolic syndrome and its components in Asian Indians (CURES-143). J Diabetes Complications. 2016 Nov - Dec;30(8):1525-1529. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.08.006. Epub 2016 Aug 12. PMID: 27615666
  23. Surendar J, Indulekha K, Deepa M, Mohan V, Pradeepa R. Association of adiposity, measured by skinfold thickness, with parental history of diabetes in a South Indian population: data from CURES-114. Postgrad Med J. 2016 Jul;92(1089):379-85. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2015-133363. Epub 2016 Feb 25. PMID: 26917700
  24. Poongothai S, Pradeepa R, Indulekha K, Surendar J, Mohan V. Association of depression with common carotid artery intima media thickness and augmentation index in a large Urban South Indian population- The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES - 138). Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jan-Feb;19(1):136-42. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.146869. PMID: 25593841 Free PMC article
  25. Karunakaran I, Ritter M, Pfarr K, Klarmann-Schulz U, Debrah AY, Debrah LB, Katawa G, Wanji S, Specht S, Adjobimey T, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A. Filariasis research - from basic research to drug development and novel diagnostics, over a decade of research at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Bonn, Germany. Front Trop Dis. 2023 Mar 2;4:1126173. doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1126173
  26. Surendar J, Indulekha K, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Immunomodulation by helminths: Similar impact on type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Parasite Immunol. 2017 May;39(5). doi: 10.1111/pim.12401. Epub 2016 Dec 15. Review. doi: 10.1111/pim.12401. Epub 2016 Dec 15.
  27. Karunakaran I, van Echten-Deckert G. Sphingosine 1-phosphate - A double edged sword inthe brain. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2017. pii:S0005-2736(17)30090-1.Review. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.03.008. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

 

Book Chapters

  1. Indulekha, K, Anjana, R.M.  Unnikrishnan, R. Mohan, V.(2018) Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Diabetes In Agarwal, S. and Rollo, A.R. (Eds.), Clinical Atlas in Diabetes. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd
  2. Indulekha, K, Pradeepa, R. and Mohan, V. (2016) Diabetes in India- existing trends, riskfactors and emerging concerns In Dutta, A. and Sharma, V.P. (Eds.), CommunicableDiseases in India- In Communicable and non-communicable diseases.(pp.382-405) Capital bookpublishers.
  3. Indulekha, K., Unnikrishnan, R. and Mohan, V.(2016) Extending the current definitions ofmetabolic syndrome In Kurian, M., Ikramuddin,S. and Wolfe, B.(Eds.), Metabolic Surgery andthe Surgical Treatment of Diabetes. New York, USA: Springer Science and Business Media
  4. K. Indulekha, C.S. Pitchumoni and V. Mohan. (2015). Moving Beyond Metabolic Syndrome:Assessing Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk, In Wylie-Rosett, J., Jhangiani, S.S.(Eds.), Obesity and Disease in an Interconnected World: A Systems Approach to Turn Huge Challenges into Amazing Opportunities. (pp.85-101). Sharjah, UAE: Bentham SciencePublishers Ltd

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