Metabolic modification of mesenchymal stromal cells for harnessing their immunoregulatory capacity in graft-versus-host disease (B06)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Gastroenterology ; Immunology
• Term: from 2018 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324392634

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are promising therapeutics for managing treatment-resistant GvHD. Emerging evidence suggests that metabolism determines what a cell does and thereby represents an ideal tool for fine tuning biologic functions. Our hypothesis is that metabolic processes control immune regulatory and regenerative properties of MSCs. We want to explore metabolic modulation of MSCs as a mean for bolstering their tolerance-promoting capacity especially in view of their clinical use in GvHD. Metabolic profiling of MSCs receiving inflammatory signals will help us in interfering with their metabolic framework for further improving beneficial features.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 221: Modulation of graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Head: Privatdozentin Dr. Regina Jitschin, Ph.D.