Project description
Characterisation of macrophages in the liver
Immune surveillance against microbial insults involves macrophages. Liver-resident macrophages, known as Kupffer cells, are positioned to recognise foreign microbes and, with the help of recruited macrophages, to generate an immune response against infection. The EU-funded MACtivate project is interested to identify the differences between liver resident and recruited macrophages. Using mouse models and human organoids, researchers will investigate the impact of infection on the expression profile and activation of the different macrophage pools. Project results may pave the way for novel therapies that involve the manipulation of these cells.
Objective
Despite playing essential roles in immunity against microbes, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning macrophage (mac) responses to microbial insults remain incompletely understood. In the liver, Kupffer cells (KCs) the tissue-resident macs, reside in the bloodstream of the liver sinusoids and are thus ideally positioned to recognize and phagocytize microbes and microbe-derived components critically contributing to systemic immune surveillance. In addition, KCs are thought to play central roles in maintaining tolerance for example to gut microbiota and/or their products which reach the liver through the portal vein. Upon inflammation/infection, monocytes are also often recruited to liver which, in addition to KCs, participate in immune defence and tissue repair and can differentiate into recruited macs (rMacs). Due to similar expression profiles and functions it has not been possible to unambiguously discriminate between resident KCs and rMacs in the past hampering our understanding of the processes underlying hepatic mac activation by microbes and microbial components. By combining my expertise in host-microbe interactions with the expertise of the host lab in myeloid cell biology, here, I aim to dissect the mac responses to microbial insult in the liver. To achieve this, I will use KC-specific mouse models and human liver organoids combined with novel single cell technologies, with a focus on mac fate, activation profile and tissue context. My preliminary data demonstrate that systemic microbial insult leads to significant heterogeneity within the hepatic mac pool and hence I hypothesize that individual populations may become differentially activated in order to effectively clear microbes and microbial components from the liver. Understanding the processes underpinning mac activation by microbes/microbial products may allow us to manipulate these responses with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.