Metabolic control of immune responses

The metabolic and immune pathways are strongly interconnected and cross-regulated in immune cells. While lipids have been traditionally regarded as quiescent components of cell membranes, in recent years it has become clear that lipid metabolism and the cellular lipid status play central roles in the regulation of immune cell activation and function. As a result, cellular lipid metabolism is essential in controlling the outcome of immune responses during infection, inflammatory diseases and tumour progression. In this context, manipulating lipid metabolism can regulate immune cell function and beneficially control immune responses in a variety of diseases. Nonetheless, our knowledge of this metabolic-inflammatory circuit is still limited, and further understanding is needed to exploit its therapeutic potential.

Project Aim: This project intends to uncover the mechanisms by which cellular metabolism controls immune cell activation and function

Objectives:
Year 1/2. We will use a combination of next-generation sequencing and lipidomics to identify the molecular links between metabolic and immune pathways in lymphocytes
Year 2/3. We will take advantage of in vitro cultures and cellular and molecular biology techniques to manipulate lipid metabolism pathways and determine their effect on immune responses
Year 3/4. We will use transgenic mice and in vivo models of vaccination/disease to uncover the link between cellular metabolism and immune cell activation