Abstract

T helper cells provide protection against pathogens but also drive inflammation in non-communicable skin diseases. In the past years, it has become increasingly clear that metabolic and immune signalling pathways are fundamentally linked.

However, the molecular mechanisms, which link metabolism to immune function in human T helper cells, are not well understood. In this project, we are studying the cross talk of metabolism and immune pathways in human T helper cells in the context of inflammatory skin disease.

One of our key interests is to investigate how steroid hormones, such as vitamin D and glucocorticoids, shape metabolism and immunity in human T helper cells.

Clinical and Medical Relevance

There is broad consensus in the field that targeting immunometabolism carries great potential for clinical application.

Nevertheless, such translational attempts remain challenging. One key reason is a gap of knowledge regarding immunometabolism in humans.

Our project should increase our knowledge regarding immunometabolic pathways in human skin diseases towards clinical translation.

  1. Kröll P., Knoke K., Steiger J., Fabri M. (2019) IFN-gamma promotes but dexamethasone dissociates TLR2/1-induced host responses in human macrophages. J Invest Dermatol. 139(2), 488-491.
  2. de Castro Kroner, J., Knoke, K., Kofler, D.M., Steiger, J., Fabri, M. (2018) Glucocorticoids promote intrinsic human Th17 differentiation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 142(5), 1669-1673.e11.
  3. Sommer, A., Fabri M. (2015) Vitamin D regulates cytokine patterns secreted by dendritic cells to promote differentiation of IL-22-producing T cells. PLoS One. 10(6), e0130395.
  4. Klug-Micu, G.M., Stenger, S., Sommer, A., Liu, P.T., Krutzik, S.R., Modlin, R.L., Fabri, M. (2013) CD40 ligand and interferon-γ induce an antimicrobial response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human monocytes. Immunology. 139(1), 121-8.
  5. Fabri, M., Stenger, S., Shin, D.M., Yuk, J.M., Liu, P.T., Realegeno, S., Lee, H.M., Krutzik, S.R., Schenk, M., Sieling, P.A., Teles, R., Montoya, D., Iyer, S.S., Bruns, H., Lewinsohn, D.M., Hollis, B.W., Hewison, M., Adams, J.S., Steinmeyer, A., Zügel, U., Cheng, G., Jo, E.K., Bloom, B.R., Modlin, R.L. (2011) Vitamin D is required for IFN-gamma-mediated antimicrobial activity of human macrophages. Sci Transl Med. 3(104), 104ra102.
  • Grzes KM, Sanin DE, Kabat AM, Stanczak MA, Edwards-Hicks J, Matsushita M, Hackl A, Hassler F, Knoke K, Zahalka S, Villa M, Kofler DM, Voll RE, Zigrino P, Fabri M, Pearce EL, and Pearce EJ (2021). Plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation is dependent on coordinated expression of distinct amino acid transporters. Immunity54, 2514-2530 e2517. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2021.10.009.
Prof. Dr. Mario Fabri
Prof. Dr. Mario Fabri

Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology

CMMC - Co-PI - C 04

CMMC Profile Page

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology

Kerpener Str. 62

50931 Cologne

Curriculum Vitae - Mario Fabri
Publications - Mario Fabri

Link to PubMed

Group Members

Kristin Knoke
Robert Rongisch
Luisa Hellmich

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