Project Details
Projekt
The role of metalloproteases in leukocyte homing processes
Applicant
Dr. Silvia Naus
Subject Area
Cell Biology
Term
Funded in 2006
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29774814
Cells in the body travel continuously through blood vessels ready to repair injury or defend against infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. If an infection occurs some of these cells (dendritic cells) will ingest bacteria or viruses at the site of infection and then travel to centres in the body (lymph nodes) that are designed to instruct other immune cells to fight the invading infectious agents. In order to fight these agents, the activated cells are programmed to express certain antennae molecules on the surface that will then direct them to enter inflamed tissues that bind these antennae via specific receptors. The expression of these antennae and their receptors is tightly controlled. One way for cells to switch off these directional signals is to cleave the antennae from their surface with enzymes, so called proteases. I am interested in analysing the role of a specific family of metalloproteases in programming directions into immune cells by regulating cell surface expression of the antennae and their receptors. The knowledge of the signals and mechanisms that control inflammation will allow to develop comprehensive models of diseases such as allergy, arthritis, autoimmune or infectious disease.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
Canada
