Mesenteric fat - an immunological barrier in Crohn's disease? (B01)

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

In Crohn’s disease (CD), mesenteric fat presents with unique morphological changes, called creeping fat. The role of creeping fat in the pathogenesis of CD is still incompletely understood. Data from the first funding period analyzing a lipodystrophic patient with CD, corresponding lipotrophic mouse models as well as CD patients, point to a specific role of T cells within creeping fat. Thus, the aim of the second funding period is to elucidate how the intestinal and extraluminal barrier breach modulate the T cell compartment of the mesenteric fat and hence contribute to the chronicity of CD.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 241: Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Britta Siegmund; Dr. Carl Weidinger