BSI Manchester Immunology Group Seminar Series, Professor Elvira Mass
| Dates: | 27 June 2024 |
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| Times: | 12:00 - 13:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | School of Biological Sciences |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Adults, Current University students |
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| Speaker: | Professor Elvira Mass |
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Developmental programming of tissue-resident macrophages
Tissue-resident macrophages are known for their role as professional phagocytes, responsible for monitoring their local environment, removing unfit cells, pathogens, and waste materials, and generating various bioactive molecules and growth factors. These specialized macrophage populations are tailored to the specific needs of their respective tissues. For instance, microglia in the central nervous system contribute to neuronal circuit development, Kupffer cells in the liver participate in the clearance of blood particles and dying red blood cells, and alveolar macrophages in the lungs play a key role in surfactant regulation and the removal of airborne contaminants.
Traditionally, it was believed that all macrophages originated from monocytes, and this view associated macrophages with a primary role in inflammatory pathologies, including degenerative diseases and chronic inflammation. However, recent research has revealed that the majority of tissue-resident macrophages actually originate from yolk-sac progenitors. As a result, especially during inflammatory conditions, a coexistence of yolk-sac- and monocyte-derived macrophages is observed in various tissues. This coexistence raises questions about how to track and study these distinct macrophage populations. Additionally, it prompts studying the implications of having long-lived, yolk-sac-derived macrophages developing together with an organ and persisting throughout an organism's life, while other macrophages have shorter lifespans and are continually replaced by new macrophages from circulating monocytes. In this presentation, I will explore practical examples of how the fates of these different macrophage populations can be traced and discuss the significance of their distinct origins in shaping organ development, function, and responses during inflammatory conditions, such as stroke, fatty liver disease and malaria infection.
Speaker
Professor Elvira Mass
Organisation: LIMES, University of Bonn
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Michael Smith Lecture Theatre
Michael Smith Building
Manchester
