The microbiota-innate lymphoid cell axis in MASLD progression and regression (B07)

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

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are involved in tissue homeostasis. Their activity is modulated by microbiota and nutrients. ILC3-derived IL-22 acts on hepatocytes and plays an important role in liver regeneration, while the roles of ILC3 and IL-22 in MASLD remain poorly studied. Using state-of-the-art in vivo models and gnotobiology techniques, we will explore how intestinal microbiota impacts on hepatic and intestinal ILC3 and on the role of IL-22 in regulating hepatocyte function, during MASLD and disease regression. Our results will reveal molecular pathways of how ILC3 and IL-22 control tissue recovery from MASLD in a diet-microbiota dependent manner and might become targets for novel therapies.

• 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 Heads: Professor Dr. Andreas Diefenbach; Professorin Dr. Francesca Ronchi