RG Hegazy "Inflammatory Mechanisms"

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is the largest organ of the human body beside the skin. It is the organ containing the largest number of immune cells and harbours a large and diverse population of commensal bacteria that exist in a symbiotic relationship with the host. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the composition of this gastrointestinal microbiome and its interaction with the host immune system strongly influences the health of the host.

One disease complex, in which maladaptation in this host microbial dialogue is involved, is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, this maladaptation leads to an aberrant immune response in the gut, resulting in recruitment of various lymphoid and myeloid effector cell populations and inflammation of gut tissue. The exact aetiology of IBD remains uncertain, but it is a multifactorial disease that involves a complex interplay between genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors.

Deciphering the complex interplay between both the genetic and environmental factors and the microbiota, is therefore of great biomedical importance. By combining mouse and human T cell immunology, mucosal immunology and animal models of disease as well as clinical specimens, we aim to identify environmental, microbial, and inflammatory drivers that promote maladaptation and gut tissue inflammation. We use a combination of cutting‑edge technologies, high throughput culture methods, cell and organoid cultures, physiological mouse models of colitis and analysis of well‑defined patient cohorts.

We specifically aim to uncover new pathways involved in induction and regulation of tissue‑resident T cells, bacterial interaction and intestinal inflammation that may offer new therapeutic targets in inflammatory diseases such as IBD.