To elucidate mechanisms of adverse effects of environmental factors (microbial factors, pharmaceuticals, food constituents) on the mucosal immune response.

In vivo: mouse models for food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease.

In vitro: different epithelial cell cell lines (Caco-2, mICc12, IEC-6) and isolated tissues (lymph nodes, spleen) to study specific cell reponses.

The challenge of the intestinal immune response is to discriminate between harmless components that appear in the gut (i.e. commensal bacteria, pharmaceuticals and nutrients) and dangerous pathogens. This requires a tightly regulated immune environment. In concert with other cells present in the gut (e.g. antigen presenting cells and lymphoid cells) intestinal epithelial cells are important contributors to mucosal immune responses. Adverse immune responses in the mucosa resulting from epithelial interactions with environmental factors such as pathogenic bacteria and their products in combination with drugs or food components may contribute to development of food or drug allergy, or inflammation in susceptible individuals. It is also becoming increasingly clear that commensal bacteria are necessary for proper mucosal (gut) immune function.

In view of possible influences of environmental factors on mucosal immune responses this project aims to assess the effect of these factors on intestinal epithelial cell functioning. Eventually, results will provide more insight in circumstances causing immune dysfunction in the gut, which will help to better understand pathogenesis of diseases such as IBD, food allergy and drug allergy.

Food allergy: Risk evaluation and therapy