Nieuwe inzichten in de rol van myeloïde cellen tijdens darmontsteking

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to debilitating symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss. To date, no efficient therapies are available for IBD, resulting into an invaluable impact on the emotional, financial and social state of the patients and their families. Although over the last few decades most of the studies on IBD have looked into abnormal adaptive immunity, the focus has recently shifted towards alterations in the mucosal innate immune response. Recent developments suggest a causal link between defects in the resolution of the intestinal inflammation associated with impaired bacterial clearance, excessive cytokine secretion and altered monocyte-macrophage transition in patients with IBD. Our preliminary data suggest that resolution of inflammation during colitis is dependent upon a specific subpopulation of monocyte-derived macrophages with a pro-resolving phenotype. Thus, the main goal of my project is to clarify the functions of these pro-resolving macrophages during colitis, and to investigate the differentiation pathways favoring their pro-resolving phenotype. Unraveling macrophage polarization mechanisms during colitis will elucidate the pathways of inflammation resolution representing a major breakthrough in the pathogenesis of IBD and will be of crucial importance to develop novel therapeutic strategies in our fight against IBD.

Jaar van publicatie:2021

Toegankelijkheid:Open