Lymphatics as Targets - New Tools to Regulate Traffic and Immunity in Health and Disease

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Entrance to afferent lymphatics and egress to efferent ones are the two control points regulating immune cell trafficking both in health and disease and thus, determine the quality and quantity of our immune response to infections and cancer. This research proposal of the international consortium between Finland, Germany and China will tackle an unknown fundamental immunological questions: Which are the mechanisms allowing the leukocytes to enter the afferent lymphatics but letting only the lymphocytes to leave the draining lymph nodes to continue their journey into the efferent lymphatics and further to the blood circulation and other organs in the body and how the mechanisms are altered during infection and cancer. Elucidating them will increase our understanding of basic biology and immunology. Moreover, the results of this work will also provide new tools and technology for preventing unwanted cell trafficking such as is taking place in spread of cancer cells. The partners of this consortium has long expertise in immunology and especially in the field of cell trafficking.