Project Details
Projekt
The role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the induction of dominant immune tolerance
Applicant
Dr. Katharina Lahl, Ph.D.
Subject Area
Immunology
Term
from 2009 to 2011
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 131646029
The vertebrate immune system consists of a complex network of different systems. It evolved in order to protect the body from pathogenic self or foreign agents. Deregulation of this highy sophisticated system and a resulting overshooting immune response however, can lead to life threatening circumstances, for example through the induction of autoimmunity or allergy. The interest in the development of methods to induce immune suppression specific to the antigen without the need of general immunosuppressive agents is exeedingly high. Dendritic cells are known to be the main antigen presenting cells in the body, being capable of providing both immune-stimulating as well as immune-regulating signals. One general concept is that different subtypes of dendritic cells induce different immunologic outcomes. The objective of my work in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Butcher is to define the tolerogenic potential of CCR9+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells. This celltype has been published recently by his group, but underlying mechanisms of immune regulation are still unknown. The main goal will be to show the importance of CCR9 as a thymic homing molecule for tolerogenic potential of these cells. I aim to show dependence on active thymic homing resulting in the establishment of central tolerance by CCR9+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
USA
