Objective This project stems from an ERC STG grant that I received in 2007 (DENDROworld) in which we analyzed several aspects of the homeostasis of the gut and how defects in controlling this process could result in different pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cancer. In the present project, we will continue working on the immune homeostasis of the gut and we will focus on fundamental questions in mucosal immunity.Three important and novel questions will be addressed in this project. The first aims at understanding how the gut microbiota is restrained from reaching systemic sites and hence it is tolerated only locally. We think that we have identified a new barrier at mucosal sites that avoids systemic spreading of bacteria via the blood stream. This is a very selective barrier that resembles the blood brain barrier and occurs at the level of enteric endothelial cells. The second question is closely related and tries to identify the role of the microbiota in the establishment/maintenance of this barrier and to understand its role during infection with enteric pathogens or in other circumstances (like pregnancy, liver disease). Finally, we want to characterize the activity of an anti-inflammatory mediator that we have identified. This is a short isoform of the well-known cytokine called TSLP. We think that this isoform is the one involved in the homeostasis of the intestine as it is the only one produced by epithelial cells in health and is downregulated during chronic inflammation.This project is divided into three major aims.1. Analysis of a putative gut vascular barrier that resembles the blood brain barrier and of the mechanisms leading to its disruption2. Analysis of the role of the microbiota in the formation and maintenance of the Gut vascular barrier (GVB).3. Elucidation of the activity of TSLP short isoform.This is a multidisciplinary project requiring expertise in mucosal immunology, microbiology, bioinformatics and endothelium. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinegastroenterologyinflammatory bowel diseasemedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinehepatologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-CG-2013-LS6 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Immunity and Infection Call for proposal ERC-2013-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants Host institution HUMANITAS UNIVERSITY EU contribution € 879 557,65 Address VIA RITA LEVI MONTALCINI SNC 20090 Pieve Emanuele Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Monica Di Meglio (Ms.) Principal investigator Maria Rescigno (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all HUMANITAS UNIVERSITY Italy EU contribution € 879 557,65 Address VIA RITA LEVI MONTALCINI SNC 20090 Pieve Emanuele See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Monica Di Meglio (Ms.) Principal investigator Maria Rescigno (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy EU contribution € 108 000,00 Address PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Marisa Mirizzi (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTITUTO EUROPEO DI ONCOLOGIA SRL Participation ended Italy EU contribution € 645 918,17 Address VIA FILODRAMMATICI 10 20121 Milano See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Ilaria Foti (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO Participation ended Italy EU contribution € 366 524,18 Address Via Festa Del Perdono 7 20122 Milano See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Gerardo D'errico (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
