Studies of tissue microbiology and immunology – Mattias Svensson group

We conduct studies how the tissue microenvironment affects the development and function of human myeloid immune cells in homeostasis, infection and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Part of the:
Group photo of ten people outdoors.

Vår forskning

Gruppens forskning syftar till att förstå hur vävnadsmikromiljön påverkar myeloida immuncellers utveckling och funktion vid homeostas, infektion och kroniska inflammationstillstånd. Speciellt fokus är på vävnadsspecifika cellers, framförallt fibroblasters, förmåga att forma myeloida cellers funktion. 

Vi använder den senaste teknologin inom fluorescensmikroskopi och bildanalys, samt drar fördel av våra senaste framsteg inom utvecklingen av organotypiska vävnader med immunceller. Dessa immunokompetenta organotypiska vävnader återskapar viktiga egenskaper hos specifika vävnader, vilka har visat sig vara robusta verktyg för att modellera homeostas, inflammation och infektion. Målet är att påvisa nya mekanismer för vävnadshomeostas och inflammation, såväl som fibroblasters funktionella relation med myeloida immunceller vid infektion och inflammatorisk sjukdom, och därmed bana väg för nya terapeutiska metoder riktade mot fibroblaster.

Mer om forskningen i Mattias Svenssons grupp finns på den engelska sidan.

Publications

Selected publications

Funding

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    The biological importance of fibroblasts is undisputed. However, in depth fibroblast characterization on protein level in situ and ex vivo, as well their functional relationship with immune cells, such as macrophages, in microanatomical niches do not exist today. Macrophages are found in all tissues, and are important for tissue homeostasis, as well as in controlling infection and inflammation. We hypothesize that the contrasting functions of macrophages in tissue might be linked to tissue and context dependent modulation through fibroblasts. Our preliminary data indicate that (PDGFRA+CD142-) fibroblasts co-localize with monocytes/macrophages in human inflamed and non-inflamed intestine. Through access to organ donor tissue and well-characterized patient samples, as well as cutting edge single cells RNA sequencing, multiparameter flow cytometry, and novel ultra-high content imaging technologies combined with advanced in-house developed cell culture-systems, we will (1) investigate transcriptional fibroblast heterogeneity across and within human tissue (2) validate transcriptional data at protein and cellular levels, and (3) investigate the conditions and prerequisites for fibroblasts shaping the macrophage pool. The proposed research has the potential to provide new mechanistical insights into tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and resolution, as well as into fibroblast functions which can be explored in novel therapeutic approaches targeting fibroblasts in disease.
  • Assays for acceleration: from fit-for-purpose models to scalable assays of broad systemic and mucosal protection against all strains of Group A Streptococcus
    National Institutes of Health
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025