INFORMAZIONI SU
MARTINIS Eleonora
 |
Supervisori: Prof. Pucillo e Dott.ssa Tonon Studying the crosstalk between B cells e CRC using murine AOM/DSS colon organoids as models of tumor |
| Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. The immune system plays a crucial role in its onset and progression. However, despite significant improvements in understanding the communications between the tumor and immune cells, some aspects of these interactions are still unknown. In particular, the function of B lymphocytes is controversial, as both pro- and anti-tumor effects have been reported. In this regard, my project aims to characterize the metabolic profiles of B cells in CRC in parallel with their phenotypes and functions. For this purpose, murine organoids derived from chemically induced colonic adenomas are used as model of the disease and co-cultures are set up with murine B cells isolated from the spleen, to study the interaction with the organoids. Rates of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, glucose uptake, mitochondrial mass and function, lipid storage, and metabolic protein expression are some of the aspects evaluated to characterize B-cell metabolism. In parallel, B-cell phenotypes and functions are assessed by cytometric analysis, protein and gene expression. A deeper understanding of the correlation between B cell metabolism and function in CRC may lead to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies targeting specific B cell metabolic pathways to rewire their phenotype according to context-dependent needs. | |