Phagocytosis and Tissue Repair Lab

Maschalidi Sophia

Maschalidi Sophia

Research Teamleader

Phagocytosis in inflammation and healing


The research in my lab aims to decipher the molecular and cell biology of phagocytosis and its importance for maintenance of tissue homeostasis and control of disease. Phagocytes are confronted daily with the immense task to respond to billions of dying cells and a plethora of pathogens.

Research in our lab identified dendritic cells and solute carrier transporters as critical players that regulate phagocytic clearance in the skin and opened possibilities for efficient treatment of chronic wounds. We also found that a form of cell death traditionally thought to be purely inflammatory, plays a crucial role in promoting healing. Our goal is to better understand phagocytes’ contribution to tissue homeostasis and pathologies like those associated with diabetes.

Phagocytosis is often studied without considering the complex physiological environment. We aim to map phagocytosis in the native environment by systematically addressing the diverse and dynamic transcriptome and interactome between cells upon dead cell engulfment (including various modes of cell death that are employed in cancer therapy) and in the neighborhood.

Using cutting edge technologies and sophisticated mouse models, my team will dissect the exquisite interconnection between epigenetic, metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming of phagocytes. Our research has the potential to reveal novel aspects of phagocytosis in healthy and pathological states and to enhance its targeting in tissue repair or in pathologies linked to defective clearance.

Areas of Expertise

  • Mechanisms of phagocytosis by dendritic cells and macrophages- genes, molecules, and pathways.
  • Innate immunity and dendritic cell biology.
  • Adaptive immunity and cytotoxic lymphocyte biology.
  • Mouse models of inflammation and diseases influenced by impaired phagocytosis.
  • Mapping efferocytosis in the native environment and study tissue level communication between phagocytes and the neighboring environment where phagocytosis takes place (single cell technologies).

Technology Transfer Potential

  • Novel treatments to improve chronic and diabetic cutaneous wound healing.
  • Drugs targeting the phagocytosis machinery to boost cell clearance in vivo.
  • Approaches targeting phagocytosis and cell clearance for cancer therapy.

Selected publications

  • Maschalidi, S. et al. Targeting SLC7A11 improves efferocytosis by dendritic cells and wound healing in diabetes. Nature 606, 776–784 (2022). Visit ➚
  • Mehrotra, P.*, Maschalidi, S.* et al. Oxylipins and metabolites from pyroptotic cells act as promoters of tissue repair. Nature 631, 207-215 (2024). *shared first authors Visit ➚
  • Wiernicki, B. et al. Cancer cells dying from ferroptosis impede dendritic cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Nat Commun 13, 3676 (2022). Visit ➚
  • Maschalidi, S. et al UNC93B1 associates with the calcium sensor STIM1 for efficient antigen cross-presentation in dendritic cells. Nat Commun 8, 1640 (2017). Visit ➚
  • Maschalidi, S. et al. Therapeutic effect of JAK1/2 blockade on the manifestations of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in mice. Blood 128, 60-71 (2016). Visit ➚

Bibliography


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Presence and phagocytosis of apoptotic corpses (depicted in red) in the spleen. Image also depicting phagocytes such as neutrophils (magenta) and macrophages (green) and nuclear counterstain (blue). Scale bar: 500 µm.