Summary
Dysregulated macrophage function underlies many inflammatory diseases. Cytokines, small secreted signaling molecules with immune-modulatory functions, shape the macrophage’s phenotype, thereby affecting disease states. Puzzlingly, many cytokines with opposing functions, utilize highly similar JAK-STAT signaling cascades, leaving it unclear how cytokine-specific responses can occur.
In my previous work, I studied enhancer activation in mouse macrophages from genetically different strains. By studying genetic variation, I found that transcription factor (TF) motifs crucial for enhancer activation can be identified. I further developed the bio-informatic tool MAGGIE to study TF motif mutations in different strains of mice, which subsequently enabled me to discover a novel TF important for enhancer activation by the cytokine interleukin-4.
Based on my findings, I hypothesize that cytokines require specific, yet unidentified TFs that cooperate with JAK-STAT signaling to mount cytokine-specific effects.
CYTOMAC aims to identify these cytokine-specific TFs downstream of JAK-STAT that direct appropriate cell responses. I will exploit the genetic variation across mouse strains and study enhancer activation in macrophages from these strains in response to different disease-related cytokines. Specifically, I will: (1) use genetic diversity between mouse strains to identify specific TFs regulating cytokine-specific responses; to then target these novel TFs in (2) mouse and (3) human macrophages and (4) translate my findings to human disease and inflammatory disease models.
Inhibitors targeting JAK-STAT show high potential in clinically treating inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. However, as they affect generic pathways of many cytokines they come with considerable side-effects, limiting applicability. CYTOMAC will reveal novel, cytokine-specific TFs, which will aid in developing better tailored intervention strategies.
In my previous work, I studied enhancer activation in mouse macrophages from genetically different strains. By studying genetic variation, I found that transcription factor (TF) motifs crucial for enhancer activation can be identified. I further developed the bio-informatic tool MAGGIE to study TF motif mutations in different strains of mice, which subsequently enabled me to discover a novel TF important for enhancer activation by the cytokine interleukin-4.
Based on my findings, I hypothesize that cytokines require specific, yet unidentified TFs that cooperate with JAK-STAT signaling to mount cytokine-specific effects.
CYTOMAC aims to identify these cytokine-specific TFs downstream of JAK-STAT that direct appropriate cell responses. I will exploit the genetic variation across mouse strains and study enhancer activation in macrophages from these strains in response to different disease-related cytokines. Specifically, I will: (1) use genetic diversity between mouse strains to identify specific TFs regulating cytokine-specific responses; to then target these novel TFs in (2) mouse and (3) human macrophages and (4) translate my findings to human disease and inflammatory disease models.
Inhibitors targeting JAK-STAT show high potential in clinically treating inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. However, as they affect generic pathways of many cytokines they come with considerable side-effects, limiting applicability. CYTOMAC will reveal novel, cytokine-specific TFs, which will aid in developing better tailored intervention strategies.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101076170 |
| Start date: | 01-09-2023 |
| End date: | 31-08-2028 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 1 500 000,00 Euro - 1 500 000,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Dysregulated macrophage function underlies many inflammatory diseases. Cytokines, small secreted signaling molecules with immune-modulatory functions, shape the macrophage’s phenotype, thereby affecting disease states. Puzzlingly, many cytokines with opposing functions, utilize highly similar JAK-STAT signaling cascades, leaving it unclear how cytokine-specific responses can occur.In my previous work, I studied enhancer activation in mouse macrophages from genetically different strains. By studying genetic variation, I found that transcription factor (TF) motifs crucial for enhancer activation can be identified. I further developed the bio-informatic tool MAGGIE to study TF motif mutations in different strains of mice, which subsequently enabled me to discover a novel TF important for enhancer activation by the cytokine interleukin-4.
Based on my findings, I hypothesize that cytokines require specific, yet unidentified TFs that cooperate with JAK-STAT signaling to mount cytokine-specific effects.
CYTOMAC aims to identify these cytokine-specific TFs downstream of JAK-STAT that direct appropriate cell responses. I will exploit the genetic variation across mouse strains and study enhancer activation in macrophages from these strains in response to different disease-related cytokines. Specifically, I will: (1) use genetic diversity between mouse strains to identify specific TFs regulating cytokine-specific responses; to then target these novel TFs in (2) mouse and (3) human macrophages and (4) translate my findings to human disease and inflammatory disease models.
Inhibitors targeting JAK-STAT show high potential in clinically treating inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. However, as they affect generic pathways of many cytokines they come with considerable side-effects, limiting applicability. CYTOMAC will reveal novel, cytokine-specific TFs, which will aid in developing better tailored intervention strategies.
Status
SIGNEDCall topic
ERC-2022-STGUpdate Date
31-07-2023
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