Enderlein & Janshoff

Project Summary

Interactions between macrophages and epithelial cells play a critical role in maintaining lung homeostasis, defending against infections, and promoting tissue repair. To gain a comprehensive understanding of how these interactions safeguard lung tissue, we must move beyond traditional biochemical and cellular approaches that primarily focus on signaling pathways. Our research adopts a mechanical and structural perspective, integrating techniques that span multiple length and time scales—from single-molecule dynamics to mesoscopic phenomena involving cell collectives. Specifically, we aim to investigate how mechanical forces are transmitted between alveolar macrophages and pneumocytes, and how cortical activity in pneumocytes responds to mechanical and chemical cues from macrophages. In our upcoming study, we will characterize the mechanical interactions between these two cell types and assess force transmission across their interfaces. By combining electrochemical techniques with super-resolution optical microscopy, we will also examine how macrophage activity and polarization influence epithelial barrier integrity. This will provide key insights into how pneumocytes respond to both biochemical signals and physical forces imposed by macrophages.