The AG Schwartz at the Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Uniklinikum Erlangen, investigates the regulation of T helper cell responses through innate cells. A major goal for us is to understand how these interactions are regulated in the context of obesity. In particular, type 2 immune responses, which we find during allergies, parasitic infections, adipose tissue homeostasis, and wound healing, are at the core of our research.
Overweight and obesity already affects more than half the adult population in Germany and around one in six children. This chronic disease often leads to the development of further morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, also other less well-known conditions are associated with overweight and obesity:
development of allergies, such as atopic dermatitis
impaired wound healing and tissue regeneration
increased risk of bacterial wound infections
asthma
The underlying processes are not well understood and it is our goal to study the immunological and molecular mechanisms that cause obesity-associated peripheral inflammation.