
iHEAD
Research Initiative

Metabolic Rewiring of Macrophages upon Infection
It has been shown that infection initiate a metabolic rewiring in macrophages to clear the infection. In addition to the increase in mitochondrial metabolites with specific antimicrobial properties in macrophages during inflammation, it has been shown that other metabolic pathways such as nucleotides and cyclic nucleotides are affected. However, the role of these metabolites on macrophage function remains unclear.
Using metabolomic approaches, we want to characterize th dysregulation of nucleotide and cyclic nucleotide metabolism in mouse macrophages. Furthermore, we aim to manipulate relevant metabolic pathways to modulate the inflammatory response in mouse macrophages to unravel the metabolic role of nucleotides in macrophages during inflammation.

Publications published within the framework of iHEAD:
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Haase L, Frezza C. Itaconate promotes an unexpected tumor immune escape mechanism. Cancer Cell. 2024 Dec 9;42(12):1988-1990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2024.10.011

Prof. Dr. Christian Frezza
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Since 2021
Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Metabolism in Aging
CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne

Dr. Lara Hasse
Lara joined the iHEAD initiative in 2024 investigating the metabolic rewiring of macrophages upon infection.