Investigation of the function of zinc in the cellular signal transduction of monocytes

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Hajo Haase
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Immunologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2005 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5448401

Zinc is an essential trace element for the immune system. Our results indicate that, among other functions, zinc ions are a component of monocytic signal transduction. During the previous funding period we analyzed the role of zinc signals in pathogeninduced signaling. In the present application we intend to investigate the function of zinc signals for the differentiation of monocytic precursors. Preliminary data show that differentiation is accompanied by a decrease in free zinc and that a further reduction of free intracellular zinc by chelators strongly augments monocytic differentiation. We will investigate how changes in the zinc homeostasis of these cells contribute to the differentiation process and characterize the molecular events in the cell that are regulated by zinc. Furthermore, we will examine if zinc is a specific trigger for monocyte formation, or promotes differentiation of the common precursor cells into other cell types, especially granulocytes, as well. Finally, by investigating additional parameters of monocyte function we will analyze the effects of zinc on the functionality of the monocytes and the biological relevance of the zinc status for monocytic differentiation from primary human haematopoietic stem cells.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen