Interplay of the impaired tight junction and the subjacent immune cells in IBD (B06)

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

In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the gut barrier formed by tight junctions (TJ) is impaired. We hypothesize that besides the typically expected functions for the paracellular barrier, TJ proteins like marvelD3 and tricellular TJ (tTJ) proteins like angulins may have influence on the immunological barrier either by changing immune cell proportions or by directly influencing interactions of immune cells and epithelial TJs. In this context we will elucidate the role of tTJ proteins for direct interaction with immune cells as well as the function of tricellulin and the other TJ-associated MARVEL proteins marvelD3 and occludin in the development of IBD.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 241: Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Privatdozentin Dr. Susanne Marlen Krug; Professor Dr. Jörg-Dieter Schulzke