Mechanisms of mast cells and T cells interaction during viral infections

• Applicant: Melba Munoz Roldan, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Dermatology ; Immunology
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 322360721

Mast cells (MCs) are widely considered to be crucial for the innate immune response; however, several groups have recently shown that MCs are also important in the development of protective adaptive immune responses against viruses. Most of these recent studies examined the role of MCs in the recruitment of virus-specific T cells. In contrast, the role and relevance of MCs in the priming of CD8 T cells in the context of viral infections is ill characterized and not fully understood. To adress this question, we examined the role of MCs in the priming and activation of CD8 T cells during LCMV infection. We found that the LCMV specific CD8 T cell response is strongly reduced in MC deficient infected mice as compared to wild type controls. In this project, we aim to dissect the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of MCs on CD8 T cells priming and activation during viral infections. To this end, we will employ comprenhensive in vivo and in vitro analyse to identify and characterize signals from MCs that are important for CD8 T cell priming in viral infections. A better understanding of the impact of MCs on CD8 T cell response may help to improve antiviral immunity and to modulate and ameliorate inflammatory responses during viral infections. The results of our project could extend to other diseases that involve CD8 T cells and MC infections in the skin such as contact allergic Dermatitis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants