Evaluation of monocyte and macrophage subsets in the presence of cytokines, their inhibitors and microenvironments: in searche of a new angiogenic therapy

• Grant number: 14/11028-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Sang Won Han
• Grantee: Vívian Yochiko Samoto
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ischemic and injured skeletal muscle repair is a complex process, which consists of inflammation, myofiber regeneration and angiogenesis. Few hours after muscle injury, polymorphonuclear cells are attracted to the injured area, followed by monocytes and macrophages, which are responsible for clearance of cell debris and production of soluble factors for promoting angiogenesis and regeneration. There are two main populations of monocytes and macrophages that differ of cell functioning and cell surface markers. Recently, several papers showed the importance of these cells in tissue repairing, mainly by pro-resolutive M2 macrophages. In this project, we intend to unveil which monocyte and macrophage populations are recruited by different cytokines, and to verify if the inflamed microenvironment is capable of changing the profile of the macrophage population. Information from this project can bring alternative ways of gene therapy to promote angiogenesis and tissue repairing more efficiently with less fibrosis. (AU)