Granty IDUB #UniLodz – nowe terapie dla osób z AZS

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurrent inflammatory skin disease, the causes and development of which are still not well understood. Using an innovative in vitro model of a human skin tissue, dr Marcin Włodarczyk from the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the University of Lodz is working on a new AD therapy based on preparations with immunosuppressive activity (inhibiting an excessive inflammatory reaction). Thanks to the research, the quality of life of people suffering from atopic dermatitis may significantly improve in the future.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with a genetic basis and a multifactorial aetiology. Globally, 3% of the adult population and 25% of children suffer from AD. The fact that this disease occurs in 1/5 of the world's population has made it possible to classify atopic dermatitis as a lifestyle disease of the 21st century.

Facilitation of the therapy – effective treatment – improvement of the quality of life

In Poland, according to the epidemiological studies, approximately 4.7% of children aged 3-18 and 1.4% of adults suffer from atopic dermatitis. In cities, the incidence rate rises to as much as 9% of children.

Due to the chronic nature and complicated pathogenesis, AD treatment is very difficult. It is mainly based on prevention, topical treatment and relieving the disease symptoms. An important element of topical treatment is reconstruction of the epidermal barrier structure, which in AD patients does not function properly, and therefore, irritants and allergens have an easier way to penetrate deep into the skin and cause an inflammatory reaction. 

In order to rebuild the skin's barrier function, specialized preparations containing ceramides and lipids are used, which build into the epidermis, restoring the proper hydration of the stratum corneum. Severe allergic reactions are observed in as many as 13% of patients treated for a long time with such preparations (Corazza M et al. Contact sensitization to corticosteroids: increased risk in long term dermatoses. Euro J Dermatol 2000; 10: 33-35).

Dr Marcin Włodarczyk summarizes:

That is why it is so important to undertake research aimed at finding alternative AD therapies. Implementation of the project will also enable me to learn about effective ways of moving from laboratory research to application activities. The above-mentioned results of the research may become a basis for new implementations in pharmaceutical companies that prepare topical preparations for people with AD, and thus, will have a significant social significance by improving the comfort of life of people suffering from atopic dermatitis.

So as to understand AD better

Insufficient knowledge about the pathogenesis of AD, imperfection of the available research models that do not reproduce the real microenvironment of the human skin tissue, and the lack of effective therapy contributed to the research proposed in the IDUB project. 

Dr Marcin Włodarczyk explains:

A better understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, explaining the basis of the immune and pathological reaction in the skin tissue affected by the disease will constitute a measurable effect of this research. Thanks to the development of an in vitro model of a human skin tissue, it will be possible to evaluate properties of the newly constructed biopreparations useful in AD immunotherapy in the future.

Novel research methods are the key to dealing with AD

The project will be implemented in cooperation with dr Katarzyna Nawrotek from the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology, where an innovative method of "controlled" delivery of modulators using a biodegradable polymer carrier will be developed. 

Dr Marcin Włodarczyk says:

The cells of the immune system are present in our body. The modulator proteins that I will study are designed to inhibit the excessive inflammatory reaction in the skin affected by AD.

The project "Regulation of tissue macrophages pathological inflammatory activity by the use of a microsphere system of delivery of epigenetic modulators - progress in the development of atopic dermetitis immunotherapy"  is carried out as part of a project financed from the funds of the #UniLodz  IDUB competition for young researchers.  

Dr Marcin Włodarczyk – a doctoral degree holder in the field of Biological Sciences, in the discipline of microbiology, in the field of immunology. Since 2015, he has been employed at the Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection as a research and teaching assistant professor. Currently, research assistant professor (contractor) in the project "Wielofunkcyjne kompozyty aktywne biologicznie do zastosowań w medycynie regeneracyjnej układu kostnego” [Multifunctional biologically active composites for applications in regenerative medicine of the skeletal system] (as part of the TEAM-NET competition of the Foundation for Polish Science financed by the European Union, Smart Growth Operational Programme Measure 4.4 - Increasing human potential, R&D sector, Intelligent Development). Scholarship holder of the programme "Regional Doctoral Investments in Young Scientists - Acronym D-RIM" co-financed by the EU from the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Operational Programme (HCOP), Priority VIII, Sub-measure 8.2.1. 38 / S / 10. Participant of international traineeships (Belgrade, Serbia; Munich, Germany; Tyler, USA, Linköping / Sweden) and numerous scientific trainings (SKILLS FnP). He is a co-author of original and review articles from the JCR list (Int J Mol Sci 2017, 2019, 2020; PLoS One 2017, 2019; Int J Toxicol 2018) and conference reports at national and international conferences. Member of the Organizing Committees of international (MIKROBIOT) and national (Microstudent) scientific conferences. Member of the Polish Society of Microbiologists and FEMS (Federation of European Microbiological Societies). His scientific interests include the following issues: clinical microbiology, immunological and molecular basis of pathogen-host interactions, cell imaging, flow cytometry, in vivo studies in animal models.

#UniLodz IDUB are grant competitions under which the University of Lodz funds research ideas of its scientists and doctoral students. By supporting them in conducting high quality research, the university implements its strategy of striving for research excellence in all fields and disciplines. The competitions also serve internationalisation – developing and tightening of cooperation between the university and international researchers. As part of grants addressed to scientists from the outside of the University of Lodz, the team is joined by experienced and young researchers. This favours the fusion of experiences and increasing the university's scientific potential, supports networking and employee mobility. 

The grants are financed as part of the subsidy increased by 2% for the universities that took part in the Initiative of Excellence - Research University (IDUB) competition in 2019. The University of Lodz will receive additional funding for research until 2026. Internal grant competitions have been implemented since 2020.

More on the UL website

 

Source: dr Marcin Włodarczyk, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, UL
Edit: Promotion Centre, UL

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