Mucosal immunity as regulator of epithelial cell functions in inflammatory bowel diseases (A03)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology ; Immunology ; Rheumatology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 375876048

Project A03 studies the fine-tuning of the epithelial barrier by polarized immune responses. Our data indicate that the protein TIFA is critically involved in a novel mechanism of immune-epithelial communication endowing epithelial cells with the capacity to respond to microbial ADP-heptose. Given its strong upregulation in IBD and our evidence for its importance in experimental colitis, we aim to decipher the functional role of TIFAsome activation on the gut barrier and intestinal inflammation to comprehensively define the role of TIFA within the pathogenesis of IBD and to elucidate, whether this molecule could represent a future target for therapeutic intervention.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 241: Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christoph Becker; Privatdozent Dr. Stefan Wirtz