ProjectThe role of macrophages in S. aureus colonization of inflammatory skin diseases

Basic data

Title:
The role of macrophages in S. aureus colonization of inflammatory skin diseases
Duration:
01/05/2025 to 30/04/2028
Abstract / short description:
Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are inflammatory skin diseases that affect up to 10% of the world's population. Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are both triggered by a specific pathological T cell immune response with a predominance of TH1 or TH2 polarized T cells, respectively. It is thought that this T cell imbalance influences the higher predisposition to S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis patients, as they are often pathologically colonized with S. aureus in contrast to psoriasis patients. Tissue-resident macrophages are important for tissue homeostasis and remodeling and are key players in the inflammatory immune response of the skin and in the primary defense against pathogens. We hypothesize that skin-resident macrophages orchestrate the decision toward type 1 or type 2 immune cell responses in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients, respectively, thereby modulating susceptibility to S. aureus skin colonization. Using advanced in vitro and in vivo human and mouse models of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and infection, this project aims to combine our expertise in innate immune response against S. aureus infection and advanced microscopic imaging to decipher (i) how skin-resident macrophages orchestrate the antibacterial and inflammatory TH1 and TH2 immune responses, (ii) how S. aureus evades macrophage clearance, and (iii) whether macrophages can be directed to limit skin inflammation and eliminate S. aureus in AD skin.

Involved staff

Managers

Department of Dermatology
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Cluster of Excellence: Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies (iFIT)
Centers or interfaculty scientific institutions
Research training group: Non-canonical G protein signaling pathways
Research training groups

Contact persons

Faculty of Medicine
University of Tübingen
Research training group: Non-canonical G protein signaling pathways
Research training groups

Local organizational units

Department of Dermatology
Hospitals and clinical institutes
Faculty of Medicine

Funders

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
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