Deciphering neuro-immune interactions in the skin

• Applicant: Dr. Julia Kolter
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566348216

Tissue resident myeloid cells play an essential role in initiating immune responses to infections and injuries, while also maintaining tissue integrity and function. Peripheral nerves, which densely innervate barrier tissues such as the skin and the intestine, transmit sensory and motoric information and modulate tissue physiology. However, the mechanisms by which the innate immune system and the nervous system cooperate to preserve tissue integrity and coordinate repair processes following injury or infection, particularly in the skin, remain poorly resolved. Our recent findings have identified a specialized population of long-lived macrophages residing on sensory nerves in the skin. These macrophages dynamically patrol nerve axons through migration, adapt to their environment via conserved cellular signaling pathways, and promote nerve regeneration and wound healing after injury. Despite these insights, critical questions remain unanswered regarding how this reciprocal neuro-immune crosstalk is established and how it influences skin physiology under pathological conditions. Additionally, the mechanisms by which resident macrophage subsets regulate nerve signaling and pain sensation in damaged tissue, as well as how sensory nerve activation subsequently shapes immune cell function, require further investigation. Here, I propose to comprehensively investigate the intercellular communication between myeloid cells and peripheral nerves in the skin. Using advanced genetic models and intravital microscopy combined with clinically relevant models of skin wounds and infections, this research will address three major objectives: (i) to identify resident myeloid immune cell subsets regulated by local nerves, (ii) to determine how nerve-associated macrophages influence sensation and pain, and (iii) to investigate the interplay between macrophages and peripheral nerves during skin infection and injury. Altogether, the study aims to contribute to a more complete understanding of neuro-immune interactions in the skin and their impact on tissue function and integrity, which could pave the way for the development of targeted therapeutics in skin-related pathologies such as peripheral neuropathies, or chronic wounds.

• DFG Programme: Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Groups
• International Connection: Canada
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Paul Kubes, Ph.D.