Impact of TYK2-STAT on prototypic structural cells in homeostasis and under immune perturbations

  • Group Bock – Krausgruber

STATs as regulators of chromatin structure and immunological function in non-haematopoietic cells

  • Group Strobl – Müller

TYK2 and STAT1 as multi-layered regulators in splenic immune and stromal cells

Tissues and organs of the mammalian body are shaped and maintained by mainly three structural cell types. Endothelial cells form blood vessels and control access of metabolites and migration of cells to tissues; epithelial cells form barriers around tissues, organs and the body to isolate inside from outside; and fibroblasts provide the connective layers that support tissues and organs structurally. The lab of Christoph Bock performed a pioneering comparative analysis of structural cells in twelve mouse organs under homeostatic conditions and in response to systemic cytokine and viral challenges and found that in specific contexts these cell types contribute to immune regulation and defence. Importantly, epigenome and transcription profiling identified JAK-STAT as important mediators of the organ-specific immune responses in structural types.

The research area follows up on these initial findings and will investigate the role of TYK2, STAT1/2 and interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) proteins and their dependence of the upstream interferone (IFN) signals in controlling chromatin organization and transcriptional activity in structural cells in a cell type- and organ-specific manner.