ImResFun – Identification of protective mechanisms of the skin using immunological 3D tissue models

By integrating human immune cells into a 3D skin model, we developed a test system that allows the analysis of defense mechanisms against invading pathogens [1]. With this tissue model and using gene expression analyses of individual cell types via next-generation sequencing, we have already identified dermal fibroblasts as a cell type that plays a significant role in the protection of the skin against C. albicans invasion.

Due to its properties, the skin model allows comprehensive, cell-type-specific molecular and functional analyses. These showed that in particular the innate immune receptor TLR2 and the messenger substance Interleukin-1β play a crucial role in putting fibroblasts into an antimicrobial status or triggering an antimicrobial response, depending on the presence of an acute fungal infection and of CD4 T-cells [2].

In future, we will expand these studies to other pathogens and epithelia in order to obtain comprehensive information on epithelial barrier functions. This will open up new possibilities for the treatment of infectious and immune diseases by targeted manipulation of specific signaling pathways using immune modulators.