Project information
Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles as immunomodulatory agents in intestinal inflammation

Inflammation-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are increasingly prevalent in high-income countries, however the precise biological mechanisms driving these disorders remain unclear. Recent studies highlight the crucial interplay between gut microbiota and the host immune system, particularly the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators of intercellular communication. Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (Mf-EVs) have been identified as key players in immune modulation and are hypothesized to carry bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns, potentially contributing to the dissemination of inflammatory signals. My project aims to investigate how bacterial stimuli influence Mf-EV production and cargo composition, focusing on whether these vesicles can transport bacterial components and trigger immune responses in distant tissues. This research could contribute to the understanding of inflammatory signal propagation in inflammation and the elucidation of the role of Mf-EVs in inflammation-related diseases.