Innate Immunity
Maria-Rosa Sarrias
The Innate Immunity group has been active since 2009 and is focussed on the study of Innate Immunity in health and disease. It is located in the IGTP, Can Ruti Campus, and it is part of the CIBERehd Consortium of the Spanish Government (ISCIII) and the AGAUR Research Quality Group 2017-SGR-490. We are conducting research on three important aspects of human pathology: liver disease, atherosclerosis and bacterial infection.
Our aim is to define the role of Innate Immunity proteins as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers of disease. We also aim at generating knowledge for the development of new pharmacological agents that modulate Innate Immune responses. In this context, our interests are at present mostly centred on the role of macrophage protein CD5L in the control of immune homeostasis and inflammatory disease.
Research lines
Role of Innate Immunity in liver disease
Our main objective is to study microenvironment interactions in the setting of liver disease. Our functional studies are focussed on the intercommunication between two key liver cell types, macrophages and hepatic stellate cells, with hepatocytes. With a more clinically oriented goal, we are exploring the potential of several Innate Immunity proteins as biomarkers for the improvement of patient management. Both approaches will lead to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying liver disease.
This work has been funded by grants from ISCIII- ERDF (FIS PI13/1906, Miguel Servet CPII/14/0021, Juan de la Cierva, FJCI-2014-20505), and La Marató de TV3 Foundation (MTV3-20133610).
Role of CD5L and CD36 in the physiology of macrophages in atherosclerosis
Under persistent hyperlipidemic conditions, a series of changes in the vessel wall may lead to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory condition in which macrophages play a key role. Complications of atherosclerosis such as plaque rupture and thrombosis are the most common causes of death in Western societies. Our purpose is to determine the contribution of CD5L and its cellular receptor CD36 to key events of macrophage physiology in the context of atherosclerosis.
This work has been funded by grants from La Marató de TV3 Foundation (MTV3 080932), and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD).
Role of CD5L in bacterial infection
The Innate Immune response is the first line of defence against invading pathogens. We are devoted to understand the complex interplay between host defence and pathogen evasion. Our studies include the role of CD5L in modulating macrophage responses to bacterial products, from inflammatory molecules (eg LPS) to whole organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This line of research opens the door to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.
This work has been funded by ISCIII-ERDF (FIS IP10/1656, and Miguel Servet CP08/124).
Projects
Ongoing Projects
Novel cancer immunotherapy strategy and companion diagnostic
Code: 2019PROD00118
Principal Investigator Maria-Rosa Sarrias
Start Date: 01/01/2017
End Date: 21/07/2020
Perfil fenotípico-funcional del macrófago en cirrosis y cáncer hepatocelular y su manifestación en plasma: nueva oportunidad pronóstico-terapéutica
Code: PI16/00974
Principal Investigator Maria-Rosa Sarrias
Start Date: 01/01/2017
End Date: 31/12/2019
New in Vitro Diagnostic devices for the clinical management of tuberculosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Code: 2016 PRODUCTE 0094
Principal Investigator Maria-Rosa Sarrias
Start Date: 01/08/2017
End Date: 31/01/2019
Grup de recerca translacional en patologia hepàtica i immunitat innata
Code: 2017-SGR 490
Principal Investigator Carolina Armengol
Start Date: 01/01/2017
End Date: 31/12/2019
Children's Liver Tumour European Research Network
Code Grant Agreement: 668596
Principal Investigator K Wheatley (WP3 Leader: C Armengol, IGTP)
Start Date: 01/01/2016
End Date: 31/12/202
News
A project that develops a new immunotherapy based on a monoclonal antibody to treat cancer is one of the three initiatives chosen by CaixaResearch Consolidate
A project that develops a monoclonal antibody for cancer treatment, led by the Innate Immunity Research Group at the IGTP, is one of the three selected in the CaixaResearch Consolidate call of “la Caixa” Foundation to cutting-edge innovative biomedical projects.
Research identifies six groups in the population more susceptible to the impact of the pandemic
Researchers from the Experimental Tuberculosis Unit (UTE) led by Dr Cristina Vilaplana, have presented the results of the project COM-COVID, a questionnaire for the public aimed at understanding the effects of the pandemic on society. The COM-COVID is an initiative of the SMA-TB Consortium, led by the UTE and the IGTP, with the collaboration of the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute and the Fight AIDS Foundation. Dr Maria Rosa Sarrias from the Innate Immunity Group and Dr Carol Armengol of the c-LOG research group at the IGTP have also taken part. The results have been sent in a report by email to all the participants of the questionnaire who requested it, and the research article can also be consulted at medRxiv.
More information
Contact
Maria-Rosa Sarrias, Group Leader
(+34) 93 554 3060