Arylhydrocarbon receptor dependent homeostasis and function of skin gamma-delta T cells

免疫活性和免疫监视对皮肤的屏障功能至关重要。皮肤接触到病原体、异物和天然化学物质，或受到紫外线照射的损害，必须协调应对这些侮辱。化学物质可以刺激或抑制皮肤的免疫力，并本身成为抗原。在这里，我们想要分析芳烃受体的作用，它既是对多环芳烃等化学物质的反应的中介，也是参与细胞动态平衡和分化的生理信号通路。特别是，这个项目将阐明AhR在树突状表皮T细胞的功能和增殖中的作用，树突状表皮T细胞是皮肤中的一种天然免疫细胞，对免疫监测至关重要。

Immunocompetence and -surveillance is vital for the barrier function of the skin. The skin comes in contact with pathogens, xenobiotic and natural chemicals, or is damaged by UV-irradiation, and has to orchestrate a response against these insults. Chemicals can stimulate or suppress immunity in the skin, and become antigens themselves. We here want to analyse the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, both as a mediator of response to chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and as a physiological signalling pathway involved in cell homeostasis and differentiation. In particular, this project will elucidate the role of AhR for function and proliferation of dendritic epidermal T cells, an innate immune cells population in the skin, which is pivotal for immune surveillance.