Start of funding 01.07.2001

Role of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) in macrophage-survival in chronic and acute mucosal inflammation

PD Dr. Hans Herfarth
University of Regensburg
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I

Prof. Dr. Christopher K. Glass
University of California, San Diego
Department of Cellular und Molecular Medicine

Dr. Gerhard Rogler
University of California, San Diego
Department of Cellular und Molecular Medicine



Peripheral blood monocytes (MO) spontaneously undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis unless they are provided with signals that allow their survival and/or differentiation into macro-phages (MAC). Resident intestinal MAC are protected against apoptosis. Invading MO during acute intestinal inflammation undergo apoptosis whereas MO/MAC in chronic intestinal inflam-mation survive and induce local tissue damage. PPARg has been shown to modulate apoptosis MO/MAC. As PPARg is expressed in MO and MAC with higher levels in MAC and is known to regulate adhesion molecule expression and cytokine secretion this nuclear receptor could play an important role during the events described above. The overall purpose of this project is to further analyze the role of PPARg in survival of peripheral MO and gut MAC in both acute and chronic mucosal inflammation.