Metabolic control of IL-23 production in resident and migratory dendritic cells – MetaMIG-23

Dendritic cells (DC) are crucial players in the initiation of adaptive immune response. A key feature of DC is their high capacity to capture antigens in peripheral tissues and migrate to draining lymph nodes (LN). In psoriasis, migratory IL-23-secreting DC drive T cell activation in LN and IL-17 release. Metabolism controls key DC functions but metabolic pathways governing migratory processes and IL-23 secretion remain underexplored. This translational project between clinical and basic research teams aims to decipher how metabolic components affect DC migration and IL-23 production, trigger psoriasis and colitis and contribute to their exacerbation in metabolic disorders. We will use pre-clinical models, pharmacological inhibitors and human samples to a) define the metabolic demands of IL-23 producing DC; b) investigate metabolic rewiring of DC during psoriasis and colitis exacerbation by High Fat Diet c) investigate the role of glucose metabolism in DC migration in human psoriasis