Summary
Macrophages perform unique tissue-specific functions that are essential for the homeostasis of each organ. To perform these tissue-specific functions, each resident macrophage expresses a relatively unique gene expression profile controlled by specific transcription factors. Kupffer cells (KCs) are the biggest macrophage population of the body and represent 10% of all liver cells. The Guilliams lab recently reported that each KC projects an important part of its body across the liver endothelial cell barrier to be in close contact with hepatocytes. We have established that the transcription factor ID3 is highly expressed in murine KCs as compared to other macrophages, is highly preserved in KCs across 5 different species and is essential for controlling KC identity in vivo. We have recently reported that monocytes co-cultured with hepatocytes, but not with liver endothelial cells or liver fibroblasts, acquire strong ID3 expression, indicating that hepatocyte-derived signals induce ID3 expression. The objective of this proposal is to utilise ID3-expression in KCs to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the KC-Hepatocyte crosstalk. Since nothing is known about the hepatocyte-derived signals that induce ID3 expression in myeloid cells, I will utilize a genome-wide in vitro CRISPR screen to identify positive and negative regulators of the ID3 expression induced by hepatocytes. The result of this in vitro ID3-screen will then be combined with potential regulators predicted through epigenetic and ligand-receptor inference algorithms, to obtain our top candidates for genes involved in the liver KC-Hepatocyte crosstalk. Using cutting-edge technology combining direct guide-RNA capture with single-cell RNA sequencing, I will then perform a targeted in vivo CRISPR screen. Finally, I will knock-down the most interesting hits from this in vivo screen using CRE-Lox technology to understand the role of specific KC-Hepatocyte interactions in liver homeostasis and pathology.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101030055 |
| Start date: | 01-05-2021 |
| End date: | 30-06-2023 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 166 320,00 Euro - 166 320,00 Euro |
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Original description
Macrophages perform unique tissue-specific functions that are essential for the homeostasis of each organ. To perform these tissue-specific functions, each resident macrophage expresses a relatively unique gene expression profile controlled by specific transcription factors. Kupffer cells (KCs) are the biggest macrophage population of the body and represent 10% of all liver cells. The Guilliams lab recently reported that each KC projects an important part of its body across the liver endothelial cell barrier to be in close contact with hepatocytes. We have established that the transcription factor ID3 is highly expressed in murine KCs as compared to other macrophages, is highly preserved in KCs across 5 different species and is essential for controlling KC identity in vivo. We have recently reported that monocytes co-cultured with hepatocytes, but not with liver endothelial cells or liver fibroblasts, acquire strong ID3 expression, indicating that hepatocyte-derived signals induce ID3 expression. The objective of this proposal is to utilise ID3-expression in KCs to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the KC-Hepatocyte crosstalk. Since nothing is known about the hepatocyte-derived signals that induce ID3 expression in myeloid cells, I will utilize a genome-wide in vitro CRISPR screen to identify positive and negative regulators of the ID3 expression induced by hepatocytes. The result of this in vitro ID3-screen will then be combined with potential regulators predicted through epigenetic and ligand-receptor inference algorithms, to obtain our top candidates for genes involved in the liver KC-Hepatocyte crosstalk. Using cutting-edge technology combining direct guide-RNA capture with single-cell RNA sequencing, I will then perform a targeted in vivo CRISPR screen. Finally, I will knock-down the most interesting hits from this in vivo screen using CRE-Lox technology to understand the role of specific KC-Hepatocyte interactions in liver homeostasis and pathology.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
MSCA-IF-2020Update Date
28-04-2024
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