Visualization of IL-22 expressing cells during anti-infectious immune responses

This new project within the Research Unit 729 aims at the in vivo characterization and visualization of IL-22 in the regulation of anti-microbial effector programs. IL-22 has been implicated in tissue repair and host defense against infections by inducing the production of defensins and regenerating gene family proteins in epithelial cells. IL-22 deficient mice show an increased susceptibility for infections with Citrobacter rodentium and Klebsiella pneumoniae due to reduced production of anti-microbial peptides. The aim of the project will be to generate an IL-22 reporter mouse line by inserting an IRES driven YFP fluorescence cassette behind the stop codon of the endogenous IL-22 gene locus by homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. This mouse line will be used to visualize the IL-22 producing cells in the murine lung infection models of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Toxoplasma gondii. The project will contribute significantly to the definition of the IL-22 producing cell populations i.e. LTi and NKp46 cells, their interaction partners, and their effector mechanisms during anti-infectious immune responses.

Prof. Dr. Stefanie Scheu
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf

New project for funding period 2010-2012.

MediathekInformation und Wissen
LageplanSo finden Sie uns