Unraveling the Role of Stromal IL-36R Signaling in Colorectal Tumorigenesis (P09)

• Subject Area: Immunology ; Gastroenterology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 540805631

The IL-36 cytokine family is a pro-inflammatory member of the IL-1 family that plays a significant role e.g. in IBD and which is predominantly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and stromal cells. P09 aims to decipher the molecular effects of IL-36 receptor engagement in CAFs and TILs and will determine the functional relevance of IL-36R signaling in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the project will take advantage of genetic mouse models and human tissue as well as a human tumor organoid co-culture model to determine whether IL-36 confers tumor-suppressive function and whether IL-36R signaling can be targeted in CRC.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 417: Cellular Communication in the Stroma of Colorectal Cancer: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Translation
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Heads: Dr. Kristina Koop; Professor Dr. Markus F. Neurath