Understanding and modulating hepatic macrophage functionality in MASLD (B02)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 535081457

Liver macrophages are central in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We will characterize the phenotypic, spatial and functional heterogeneity of macrophages including cell-cell interactions and identify targetable ligand-receptor pairs by state-of-the-art technologies on human liver, particularly single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, in conjunction with functional studies in MASLD mouse models and co-culture systems (‘liver-on-a-chip’). Our findings will provide a comprehensive picture of how hepatic macrophage subsets contribute to altered metabolism, inflammation and fibrosis in MASLD and opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 412: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Translating mechanisms to tailored therapeutic concepts
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Head: Professor Frank Tacke, Ph.D.