Pathophysiology of Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration

Responsible: 

Anna Serrano Mollar

Tenured Scientist

The research carried out by our group aims to study the mechanisms related to the regulation of inflammation and tissue regeneration using different models of pancreatic and lung diseases. We have experimental models of acute pancreatitis and pulmonary fibrosis that have allowed us to address a number of issues related to inflammation control and repair with the goal of identifying new targets and therapeutic strategies. For this we use a wide range of techniques, which include different in vivo models, primary cell cultures, cell lines and co-cultures with different cell lines, evaluation of signal transduction pathways, analytical determinations or studies with biophysical approaches. Some of the topics we are currently addressing are:

* Cell therapy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

In an experimental model, our research group has shown that type II alveolar cell transplantation can reverse pulmonary fibrosis. Based on these findings, we have started a clinical study consisting of the transplantation of heterologous type II alveolar cells in IPF patients with progressive disease in order to evaluate the efficacy of this therapy in humans. In parallel, we will characterize the mechanisms involved in the effects of cell transplantation in IPF. Since the alteration in the surfactant system during fibrogenesis causes a deterioration of its functional properties and contributes to increase fibrotic lesions, one of our objectives is to investigate the modifications in surfactant proteins and the degree of reversion achieved with transplantation of type II alveolar cells. On the other hand, the accumulation of fibroblasts in IPF can come from the pulmonary interstitium or from the recruitment of fibrocytes from the peripheral blood. The recruitment of these fibrocytes is regulated by the CXCL12 / CXR4 molecules, whose action could be inhibited by inhibitors secreted by type II alveolar cells. Another of our objectives is to investigate the effect of type II alveolar cell transplantation on fibrocyte recruitment.

* Phenotypic changes of the different macrophage populations during the development of pathological processes.

In the presence of various microenvironmental signals, macrophages launch different functional programs that result in physiological processes (defense, repair, inactivation). During inflammatory processes, macrophage populations (peritoneal, hepatic and pulmonary) present different inflammatory / regulatory phenotypes. This indicates that the signaling between these cell types is regulated by a wide range of mediators that can also play different roles depending on the specific pathology. We currently intend to characterize the changes experienced by macrophages, designing strategies that allow us to modulate the activation mechanism of some of these populations in order to control the progression of inflammation or repair in the different affected organs.

* Role of exosomes in the progression and control of inflammation.

Exosomes are a signal exchange system between cells that plays a very relevant role in pathological processes. We intend to establish the profile of proteins and microRNAs transported by the different populations of exosomes generated in pathologies with an inflammatory component to determine their potential as therapeutic targets or, alternatively, as therapeutic agents. We also intend to establish the changes experienced by exosomes when exposed to the different microenvironments that emerge throughout the progression of the pathological situation. This includes from changes in membrane proteins to the degree of posttranscriptional modifications of proteins carried by exosomes.