Prof. Dr. Florian Leuschner
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 410 | 69120 Heidelberg
Type 2 immunity in cardiac injury and fibrosis
Type 2 immune reactions are best known for their role in parasitic infections and allergic inflammation. We recently identified a crucial role for basophils – prototypical cells in type 2 immunity – to regulate cardiac inflammation after myocardial infarction (MI). Here, we aim to a) define the regulators of basophil activation, b) determine the crosstalk between type 2 immune cells (basophils, IL-4 dependent macrophages and mast cells) and their role in activating fibroblasts, and c) modulate key pathways of type 2 immunity in vivo to determine its effect on cardiac healing.