IL22_transcriptomics_in_intestinal_epithelial_cells

The Interleukin-22 (IL22) pathway plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis at the mucosal surfaces and is frequently dysregulated during infectious and inflammatory diseases. The IL-22 cytokine is produced by cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems within the intestinal mucosa and acts on the IL-22 receptor (IL-22RA1) that is present specifically on intestinal epithelial cells. Through a novel mouse knock-out model, we recently found that the IL22 receptor (IL22ra1) confers protective immunity to intestinal pathogens, including Citrobacter rodentium and Clostridium difficile. This project aims to further study the defense mechanism of IL22 signalling in enteric infections. In particular, we wish to identify epithelial cell-specific molecules or pathways downstream of IL22ra1 that could represent novel therapeutic targets in follow-up in vivo experiments.