Graalmann Lab
Immunology

Indirect effects of immunomodulatory drugs

No publications available

About this project

For the treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases, a whole bunch of immunomodulatory treatments is approved. Treatment strategies aim for blocking of cytokines, immune cell receptors or pathways, or even deplete complete immune cell subsets. Since immune responses are based on a close network and crosstalk between different cell types, the immunomodulatory treatment of one cell type can sustainably affect the overall immune response. In particular, upon vaccination responses and infections the mode of action of immunomodulatory drugs has to be clearly understood. This project aims to better characterize indirect effects of immunomodulatory drugs on vaccination responses to identify optimal drugs for patients to guarantee also optimal vaccination responses. 

Funding

DFG, German Research Foundation grant SFB900; Germany's Excellence Strategy – EXC 2155 “RESIST”;  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Klinische Forschergruppe (KFO 250) 

Image for visualization of the topicUpon influenza vaccination, therapeutically B cell depletion patients mount reduced CD8+ T cell responses (Graalmann et. al. 2021).