Diny Group

Our group focuses on myeloid cell biology, in particular the role of eosinophils and macrophages in tissue homeostasis and disease. Eosinophils are pathologic effector cells in allergies and asthma, but also play homeostatic roles in tissue repair and immune modulation. As tissue-adapted cells, eosinophils take on specific transcriptional and functional programs, which enables them to maintain healthy tissue functions and contribute to the immune response. We identified the environmental sensor and transcription factor AHR as a key factor that drives eosinophil adaptation and function in the intestine. This demonstrated that eosinophil tissue adaptation is accompanied by transcriptional, phenotypic and functional changes to the cell. Local niche signals act on newly migrated eosinophils, resulting in a range of phenotypes and functions that are tailored to the specific anatomical compartment and disease state. Our group uses genetic tools and a range of in vitro and in vivo technologies to understand the interactions between immune cells in the tissue context and how inflammation or infection alter the behaviour and function of myeloid cells.

Our research group aims to answer open questions in the field of eosinophil biology:

1. Through which effector functions do eosinophils contribute to tissue homeostasis and disease?
2. How is tissue adaptation of eosinophils regulated by the local microenvironment?
3. How do eosinophils interact with other tissue-resident immune and stromal cells?

Publication (PubMed)