Dissecting macrophage responses to microbes in liver & lung

Macrophages are specialized immune cells and are present in virtually all organs of the body. There, these cells carry out different organ-specific functions but also play an important role in defending the immune system, e.g. by removing harmful bacteria. In the organs macrophages are embedded into their specific cellular environment, the so- called macrophage niche. This niche provides important signals that are essential for macrophage development, maintenance and function. In recent years we have identified sveral of these signals in the healthy body. However, how macrophages communicate with their neighboring cells in certain diseases remains largely unknown. This project aims to provide a better understanding of how macrophages interact with their environment in two different settings: first, we want to understand how macrophage residing in the liver, called Kupffer cells, communicate with other cells in the liver to clear an infection. Second, we will investigate whether the recognition of protective bacteria by macrophages in the lung, the alveolar macrophages, plays an important role for asthma prevention. By using specific genetically-modified mouse models, advanced imaging, and new RNA-sequencing methods we aim to address these questions. This research project shall provide new insights into the interaction between macrophages and their and environment in the liver and lung. This may allow us to develop new macrophage-based treatments for sepsis patients and individuals suffering from asthma.