Immunomodulation and -metabolism

In many cases not the pathogen itself, but the exuberant inflammatory reaction, causes severe disease. Latest observations imply that interfering with the cellular metabolism of immune cells can dampen local inflammatory immune reactions. We study compounds that target the immune metabolism and thus have the potential to modulate inflammatory responses in organs such as the gut.

Immune metabolism

Pathogens can affect the metabolism of the host by many ways, in order to influence the immune response. Tight regulation of cellular metabolic processes is central for the differentiation and function of immune cells. Many pro-inflammatory cells depend for example on aerobic glycolysis and de novo fatty acid synthesis, while anti-inflammatory cells have been characterized by increased mitochondrial respiration. The new field of immune metabolism opens novel avenues to modulate immune responses, e.g. by bacteria-derived metabolites.