High-throughput single cell proteomic analysis as novel approach to characterize CRC mouse model- derived NK cells
| Componente | Categoria |
|---|---|
| Gianluca Scarno | Dottorando/Assegnista/Specializzando componente il gruppo di ricerca |
| Marella Maroder | Aggiungi Tutor di riferimento (Professore o Ricercatore afferente allo stesso Dipartimento del Proponente) |
NK cells and innate lymphoid cells provide protection against pathogens and help to maintain homeostasis in distinct tissues, including the intestine. However, their deregulated function has been associated with intestinal pathology, comprised inflammatory disorders and CRC. Gene expression signature and heterogeneity of NK cells and ILCs subsets have been recently defined by distinct high-dimensional single cell RNA sequencing approaches. However, several molecular aspects of NK cells as well as their role in tumorigenesis is still debated. In particular, diversity of tumor infiltrated-NK cell subsets at protein level has not been clarified, yet.
In the proposed research plan, we will combine single cell sorting approach with high-throughput proteomic based mass-spectrometry analysis to deconvolute at single cell level the proteomic profile of tumor-infiltrating NK cells using mouse models of CRC. We aim to understand the plasticity of proteome in NK cells and to clarify the NK cell-mediated mechanisms of immunosurveillance and immunoevasion.