Molecular and functional studies on the crosstalk between induced IELs and IECs in intestinal homeostasis and inflammation (A08+)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology ; Immunology ; Rheumatology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 375876048

The precise nature of the crosstalk between intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and its impact on intestinal immune-epithelial-microbial homeostasis are only partially understood. We hypothesize that the IFN/ CXCL10/ CXCR3-axis represents a target to counterbalance dysregulated IEL/IEC homeostasis in the ileum of mice and men. Hence, we seek to explore this axis in the TNF∆are mouse model and in IEL/IEC co-cultures from Crohn´s disease patients. Our goal is to broaden the knowledge on IEL-regulated gut inflammation allowing to identify novel strategies to harness gut inflammation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 241: Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Kai Hildner; Professor Clemens Neufert, Ph.D.