Objective
NOD2 is an intracellular pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) expressed in monocyte lineage and intestinal epithelial cells. NOD2 recognizes muramyldipeptide (MDP), a component of bacterial cell walls and MDP stimulation induces a signalling cascade that synergises with that of other PRRs to mature dendritic cells (DCs) and renders them competent for antigen presentation. NOD2 is notable in that variants of the receptor are associated with 40% of western Crohn’s (CD) disease. Previously Dr Simmons group has shown that NOD2 induces autophagy in dendritic cells and that this is required for correct antigen presentation and bacterial handling. CD patient DCs expressing variant NOD2 show defective autophagy induction, impaired bacterial handling and antigen presentation. This combination of effects could predispose to inflammation by allowing abnormal persistence of bacterial components in the mucosa. Here, the aim is to investigate the mechanism of NOD2-mediated autophagy and to examine NOD2 interacting proteins pre- and post- stimulation with MDP. Furthermore, siRNA library screening will be used to identify genes that participate in the NOD2 autophagy pathway. Elucidating the special features of NOD2-mediated autophagy is essential to develop targeted immunomodulators of this pathway.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
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Funding Scheme
MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)Coordinator
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom