Adaptive immunity is essential in e.g. vaccination response, and the fight against pathogen invasion and tumorigeneses. An adaptive immune response is launched in the lymph nodes, where dendritic cells present the antigens to the T-cells. Lymphatic vessels are essential for the build-up of adaptive immunity: Lymphatic vessels traffic the dendritic cells into the lymph nodes and directly prolong the time window of antigen presentation. Thus, lymphatic vessels present a prime target to tune the level of the adaptive immune response. We aim to discover molecular mechanisms that control the chemokine-mediated recruitment of dendritic cells into the lymphatic system. We also search for means to tune the lymphatic endothelial antigen capture, archiving, and transfer to dendritic cells. These studies culminate in deepened knowledge of adaptive immunity and form the bases for translational studies for the benefit of patients suffering from inflammation-associated diseases.

2023

2027