Project Details
Projekt
Erythropoietin and Trained Immunity in Kidney Transplantation
Applicant
Dr. Nina Görlich
Subject Area
Nephrology
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544636199
The project "Erythropoietin and Trained Immunity in Kidney Transplantation" aims to investigate mechanisms of trained immunity in macrophages and the influence of Erythropoietin (EPO) on kidney transplant tolerance. Preliminary data have shown that monocytes are trained by specific stimuli and exhibit an enhanced proinflammatory signal upon re-stimulation. EPO can influence this training and re-stimulation, leading to a dampening of the immune response. In a mouse model, previously trained macrophages were shown to accelerate organ transplant rejection. However, EPO can influence the immune response towards immune tolerance, thereby extending graft survival. The following hypotheses will be tested in the proposed project: H1: EPO/EPOR signaling prevents macrophage training in human macrophages in vitro. H2: EPO therapy attenuates the proinflammatory immune response of previously stimulated macrophages in kidney-transplanted patients. The results of these investigations will contribute to understanding the effects of EPO on human monocytes and macrophages. This knowledge can potentially be utilized to promote transplant tolerance in kidney-transplanted patients. Thus, the project may contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for extending graft survival in kidney transplantation.
DFG Programme
WBP Fellowship
International Connection
USA
