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

免疫能力和免疫监测对皮肤的屏障功能至关重要。皮肤接触到病原体、外来生物和天然化学物质，或者受到紫外线照射的损伤，必须对这些损害做出反应。化学物质可以刺激或抑制皮肤的免疫系统，它们自己也会变成抗原。我们在这里想分析芳烃受体的作用，既作为对化学物质（如多环芳烃）的反应的介质，也作为参与细胞稳态和分化的生理信号通路。特别是，本项目将阐明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.