Macrophages for modeling tissues and diseases
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Macrophages for modeling tissues and diseases and as therapeutic targets and treatments
IRAS ID
314892
Contact name
Asme Boussahel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Macrophages are immune sentinels with roles in tissue homeostasis and inflammation. Macrophages are involved in the development of many diseases. There are two types of macrophages in tissues, tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). These two macrophages have different functions and are involved in a range of pathophysiologies. As such macrophages are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of a range of conditions. However, the development of macrophages targeted therapies has been hampered by the lack of in-vitro models that recapitulate the function of macrophages in-vivo [1]. This is particularly true for tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs). In fact, it was only recently with the advent of new techniques to study cellular ontogeny, that light has been shed on the embryonic origins and development pathways of TRMs [2]. This new knowledge provides an unprecedented opportunity to model TRMs through the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [1]. A High-throughput in-vitro model will enable the in-depth study of the role of these macrophages in human tissues, their involvement in disease development, and their potential as therapeutic targets. Using the latest advancement in tissue engineering and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) culture and differentiation methods, we will develop the first in-vitro model of macrophages in tissues that captures the origins of macrophages (embryonic and bone marrow) and the tissue microenvironment that grants them their specific functions.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
22/WA/0184
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion