Consequences of formyl-peptide receptor activation to the skin (A08)

• Subject Area: Immunology ; Dermatology
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 246807620

Leukocytes sense formylated peptides via formyl-peptide receptors (FPRs). Staphylococcal skin commensals and pathogens secrete phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) peptides, strong agonists of FPR2. FPR2 is important for the recruitment of leukocytes in early infections with S. aureus in mice. Although FPR2 is expressed also on human keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts, nearly nothing is known about the consequence of FPR activation in these cells. Our aim is to elucidate the role of FPRs and FPR-activating ligands in the inflammatory responses and in signal transduction in primary keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts. We will use cell culture and mouse models of skin wound healing, infection and systemic sclerosis to assess the potential of FPRs as targets for the prevention or therapy of skin diseases.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 156: The skin as sensor and effector orchestrating local and systemic immunity
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Dr. Dorothee Kretschmer