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

免疫活性和免疫监视对于皮肤的屏障功能至关重要。皮肤与病原体、异生物质和天然化学物质接触，或者受到紫外线照射的损害，必须协调对这些损害的反应。化学物质可以刺激或抑制皮肤的免疫力，并成为抗原本身。在这里，我们要分析的芳香烃受体的作用，作为一个调解人的化学品，如多环芳烃的反应，并作为一个生理信号通路参与细胞内稳态和分化。特别是，该项目将阐明AhR对树突状表皮T细胞的功能和增殖的作用，树突状表皮T细胞是皮肤中的一种先天免疫细胞群，对免疫监视至关重要。

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.