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PI3K delta role in dendritic cell antigen processing and presentation to control gut tolerance

Project description

Good and bad bacteria in the gut may help us understand immunity mechanisms better

Dendritic cells and their pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) are the first in a long line of immune warriors. Innate PRRs sense an infection or pathogen, inducing an intracellular signalling cascade involving a family of kinases (enzymes that catalyse addition of phosphate groups to other molecules). It also lets the dendritic cells know to present the antigens to T cells, activating the adaptive immunity pathway. However, the actual role of the kinases in dendritic cell biology remains unclear. The EU-funded PI3K-in-tolerance project is looking for the connection in a mouse model of colitis. Insight could help us understand how our gut ignores healthy bacteria while going after pathogens, and what happens when these systems falter.

Objective

PI3Ks controls important biological processes immunity controlling vesicular trafficking and cell signaling events triggered by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). The engagement of PRRs leading to DC antigen processing and presentation (APP) is essential for the bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Thus, DCs are crucial for resistance against pathogens, while concurrently maintaining tolerance to the commensal microbiota and environmental antigens. Crohn’s disease (CD)-like pathology has been documented in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), originating from mutations in genes encoding NADPH oxidase (NOX2) subunits or RAC2 GTPase. Both PRR-activated NOX2 and RAC2 are critical for inducing phagosomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) linked to APP processes in the DC. Thus, that dysregulated PRR signalling and NOX2 activity in the DC phagosome, may be key steps involved in some of the pathology observed in CD. The PRR family member NOD2 senses muramyl dipeptide in bacteria. NOD2 was the first susceptibility gene identified for CD and associated with tolerance mechanisms mediating intestinal homeostasis to gut microbiota. Recently, interactions between NOD2 and microbiome were shown to stimulate Treg activity at the mucosal sites. Bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from gut commensal Bacteriodes fragilis induce mucosal tolerance by DC-intrinsic activation of NOD2 and enabling DCs to induce IL10 production from Tregs. It is known that OMVs require NOX2-induced ROS to be released for APP and presented by MHCII to activate CD4 Tregs. Our preliminary data shows that mice inactivated in the kinase domain of PI3K delta spontaneously develop colitis in the presence of an intestinal opportunistic pathogens and show defects in antigen presentation in DCs in vitro. Based on these results, I propose to investigate the DC-intrinsic PI3K role in APP functions that control gut tolerance in this animal model of colitis.

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

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Coordinator

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 212 933,76
Address
327 MILE END ROAD
E1 4NS LONDON
United Kingdom

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 212 933,76
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