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Project
Analysis of the role of central macrophages in inflammation-associated anemia (AI) (FWOKN248)
Anemia of inflammation (AI) is the most prominent form of anemia in hospitalized patients, affecting quality of life and resulting from an imbalance between erythrophagocytosis and erythropoiesis.
Both infectious as well as non-infectious inflammatory diseases can lead to AI and therefore multiple mechanisms may contribute to its pathogenesis, including iron restriction, direct erythropoietic suppression and shortened red blood cell survival. However, one common parameter in AI is a persistent proinflammatory immune response of the host, whereby macrophages and more specifically their activation state play a key role. Though much is known about the role of macrophages in erythrophagocytosis, detailed information about their role in erythropoiesis is lacking. In this project we will isolate, characterize and determine the role of an enigmatic subset of macrophages, central macrophages, proposed to play a crucial role in erythropoiesis. By scrutinizing African trypanosomiasis as a model of infectious disease associated AI and validating these results in non-infectious disease associated AI models (cancer, rheumatoid arthritis), we will acquire better insights in the role of macrophages in erythropoiesis. This in turn might pave the way to develop innovative strategies aiming at reducing AI and improving the quality of life or even the life expectance of AI patients.
Both infectious as well as non-infectious inflammatory diseases can lead to AI and therefore multiple mechanisms may contribute to its pathogenesis, including iron restriction, direct erythropoietic suppression and shortened red blood cell survival. However, one common parameter in AI is a persistent proinflammatory immune response of the host, whereby macrophages and more specifically their activation state play a key role. Though much is known about the role of macrophages in erythrophagocytosis, detailed information about their role in erythropoiesis is lacking. In this project we will isolate, characterize and determine the role of an enigmatic subset of macrophages, central macrophages, proposed to play a crucial role in erythropoiesis. By scrutinizing African trypanosomiasis as a model of infectious disease associated AI and validating these results in non-infectious disease associated AI models (cancer, rheumatoid arthritis), we will acquire better insights in the role of macrophages in erythropoiesis. This in turn might pave the way to develop innovative strategies aiming at reducing AI and improving the quality of life or even the life expectance of AI patients.
Date:1 Jan 2012 → 31 Dec 2012
Keywords:Applied Biology
Disciplines:Biological sciences