Dendritic cell control of T cell differentiation and immune responses by exosomes (B03)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: from 2013 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210592381

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are thought to modulate immune responses, although there is still little direct evidence in vivo for such a mechanism. Here we present a novel deep-learning-trained image analysis workflow that analyses cells which were stained in vivo with a chimeric eGFP-tagged Milk Fat Globule-EGF Factor 8 protein (MFG-E8-eGFP) to discriminate phosphatidylserine (PS)+ apoptotic cells from PS+ EVs. Using this analysis pipeline, we will analyze EVs in infected mice and human yellow fever vaccinees, with a focus on effector T cells and other cells which strongly bind PS+ EVs. These EVs are mostly exosomes of antigen-presenting cell origin as they carry MHC and costimulatory molecules able to drive T cell-fate decisions. Hence, our new tools allow us for the first time to evaluate in vivo data on the roles for exosomes as mediators of T cell differentiation and we will analyze if and how EVs influence the T cell compartment during infection and vaccination.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1054: Control and Plasticity of Cell-Fate Decisions in the Immune System
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Thomas Brocker