Neuroimmune organ interactions

Content

The excellent cardiopulmonary research in Giessen offers interdisciplinary research potential in the area of organ-organ interactions. Neuroendocrine and immunological signals of communication between peripheral organ systems and the nervous system remain to be further investigated in detail. We aim to achieve a better understanding by combining research on peripheral organs (lungs, heart, liver, skin, muscles, and gut) with research on the nervous system. The objective of the topic “Neuro-immune organ interactions” is to gain more insights into mechanisms and mediators how inflammatory diseases in various organs influence the central and/or peripheral nervous system under physiological and pathophysiological conditions i.e. preexisting disease states. Such bidirectional interactions most likely exacerbate pathological processes and diseases in peripheral organs as well as in the nervous system.

Projects in process

“Lung-brain axis in health and disease”

The initiative “Lung-brain axis in health and disease” connects excellent research on lung diseases at the FCMH with leading expertise on brain inflammation and neurodegeneration within the “Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior” (Gießen/Marburg). This consortium bundles the local interdisciplinary expertise in innovative research on lung-brain interactions. In particular, we focus on potential changes of brain homeostasis/plasticity in well-defined lung disease models and, vice versa, we study alterations of lung homeostasis in brain disease models as well as the impact in combined models of lung and brain insults. The well-established infrastructure in the disciplines of lung and brain research is connected in a synergistic network, thereby creating extraordinary additional value in the field of lung-brain communication and expected innovative therapeutic strategies. This includes cutting edge techniques in in vivo as well as in ex vivo experiments complemented by in vitro model systems according to the 3R principle. Applicants from human medicine (laboratory medicine, anatomy, pneumology, neurology, neuropathology), veterinary medicine (physiology, (neuro)pathology), and pharmacy (pharmacology, clinical pharmacy) supported by bio-imaging/bio-informatics/data analyses groups are building the backbone of an interdisciplinary consortium that will create essential translational groundwork as a basis for establishing collaborative research units at the FCMH.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9677835/